Performative—an adjective that means “done or expressed insincerely or inauthentically, typically with the intention of impressing others or improving one’s own image. The “performative men” trend has shaped 2025. Characterized by their adoption of many traditional feminine hobbies and their determinedness to paint themselves in a certain kind of aesthetic to appeal to women. What is this aesthetic? Find out more by reading about the defining elements of performative men.
15. Matcha
Matcha is the signature drink of a performative male. Made from green tea, it has a savory flavor and is widely considered an “acquired taste.” With its often pricey cost and unique flavor profile, only the most willing performers are up to the task of regularly drinking it.
14. Wired headphones
Wired headphones are a staple for those who want to seem like they hold appreciation for a bygone era. In an effort to look different in a world full of AirPods users, performative men are seen wearing a pair of these attached to an MP3 player, blasting indie artists or a feminist podcast.
13. Leather loafers
These old-style shoes are making a comeback; instead of being worn with top hats, loafers have been adopted into a new style, which is a blend of old-fashioned sophistication with the laid-back environment of new-style streetwear.
12. Collared shirts
Collared shirts have turned into a uniform for performative individuals. In opposition to the “atheleisure” style that is very prominent today, performative males wear collared shirts to invoke an old-fashioned sense of sophistication; they are typically paired with baggy sweatpants, rather than slacks.
11. Feminist literature
Books like “The Bell Jar” and “The White Album” are staples for performative men. Rather than actually reading them, performative men pretend to read feminist literature and carry the books around as props in an effort to appeal to women.
10. Quarter zips
Similarly to collared shirts, quarter zip sweatshirts are donned by the more performative. Viral online videos jumpstarted the quarter zip movement by stating that behaviors like wearing Nike Tech hoodies or drinking coffee are now out of style, and that in 2025, the new norm is to wear quarter zips and drink matcha. So far, performative males have upheld these standards.
9. Thrifting
A performative man in a thrift store is like a kid in a candy shop. To be more environmentally sustainable—and also to acquire clothing items with a pre-worn aesthetic—performative males regularly attend thrift stores in search of garments like baggy jeans, collared shirts, loafers and silver jewelry.
8. Baggy jeans
Baggy jeans have seen an increase in popularity since 2020, and have recently been adopted by performative men. Their first wave of popularity was during the 1990s and early 2000s, and to show their appreciation of retro culture, performative men can be found wearing these pairs of loose-fitting denim. Often, these jeans are made in a “selvedge” style, which is seen as more prestigious in the performative community—bonus points if they are made in Japan.
7. Circle glasses
Rather than wear contacts or more modern-looking eyewear, performative men will wear metal-framed glasses, generally in a circular shape. This is done in an effort to appear more wise or “born in the wrong generation,” a common theme among performative items.
6. Tote bags
For performative men, tote bags are the go to way of lugging around cargo. In one, you’ll often find introspective narrative books, music players from the 2000s, skincare items, and a sustainably-made quarter zip. In addition, they are often seen with matcha stains and hand-sewn stitches.
5. Listening to female indie artists
Female indie artists like Lana Del Rey, Clairo, Laufey and beabadoobee are heavily listened to by performative men. They listen to these artists solely to appeal to the interests of women, rather than for their own enjoyment. You can find performative men enjoying these artists through MP3 players and vinyl record players.
4. MP3 players and iPods
Another item appealing to retro-ism, performative men use these antiquated devices to provide auditory entertainment for themselves, usually in the form of the aforementioned female indie artists, self-care affirmations or feminist podcasts. MP3 players and iPods are adopted among performative individuals to revolt against the modern narrative of using your phone for everything.
3. Labubus
At this point, everyone knows about these weird looking monsters. Manufactured by the Chinese toy company PopMart, Labubus first gained mass popularity in the first few months of 2024, becoming an instant hit among the performative crowd. Their bright colors and fuzzy textures make many performative men believe that owning one is a sign of approachability and quirkiness. In the wild, Labubus are often seen attached to a tote bag or to the belt clip of a pair of thrifted jeans.
2. Self-care routines
Self-care routines, usually involving EOS lotion and Aesop soap, are widely discussed by but rarely executed by performative men. Since performative men cannot be witnessed doing self-care routines in public, they refrain from actually doing them, because, to them, there is no point in doing something if it doesn’t impress others.
1. Consuming analog media
Vinyl records, VHS tapes, physical film and more are adored by performative men around the world. In today’s age of books, television, movies and music being completely digital, performative individuals like to give the appearance of both owning and consuming media stored in an analog format in order to match their retro aesthetic.