THE JOURNAL
Left: Ms Kaia Gerber and Mr Austin Butler, West Hollywood, 7 February 2022. Photograph by Backgrid. Right: Rihanna and A$AP Rocky, Harlem, New York, 29 January 2022. Photograph byDIGGZY/Shutterstock
There must something in the water out in Hollywood because there’s a peculiar trend afoot. From A$AP Rocky and Rihanna to Machine Gun Kelly and Ms Megan Fox, celebrity couples are the most interesting dressers right now. Boyfriends, in particular, seem to be adopting a look that we might have called “messy” in the past, but today is speaking to us in an unexpected way that we will try, in the course of this story, to put our finger on. Sure, they’re mostly wearing sweats and hoodies, but they also look kind of great? What’s going on, and what does it have to do with Mr Pete Davidson and goblins? Let’s go on this journey together.
So, celebrity couples are wearing sweatpants to go and get coffee. What’s new?
Menswear has been increasingly visible in recent years, which means that, for better or worse, the sartorial pressure is on these guys every time they leave the house. That means that, where in the past we may have seen, say, ill-fitting jeans and a grimy old T-shirt, we’re now seeing some interesting looks emerge. These guys know that eyes are on them as well as their partners, so they dress accordingly.
But as they’re already in relationships, they’re sort of dressing like there’s nothing to prove?
Right. The celebrity boyfriends of 2022 don’t need to dress to impress anyone. They generally wear a reliable rotation of sweatshirts, hoodies and baseball caps, but in a way that looks comfortably at ease rather than slovenly. Think of it like going goblin mode, but with fancier clothes.
Sorry, say that again?
Goblin mode. It’s a phrase that’s been trending lately as a kind of rebuttal to early pandemic self-improvement culture. It entails not learning a language or baking banana bread, and instead purposefully sitting in bed wearing sweatpants while scrolling on your phone and eating fistfuls of dry cereal. You know, like a goblin might do.
Right… So this “boyfriend dressing” thing is characterised by an absence of effort?
Exactly. Or just taking what seems like lackadaisical approach to getting dressed, because you’re famous and in love and don’t care that much. Look at A$AP Rocky, who was uber relaxed in a Carhartt jacket, cricket sweater and leather pants when he and Rihanna announced her pregnancy in February. She took the lead of course, but he looked good, too; a man happy in his lane.
Who else have you got?
Mr Jacob Elordi, who’s coupled up with Ms Olivia Jade, does comfy boyfriend style well, as does Mr Tom Holland. The actor is dating fellow Spider-Man star Zendaya, and was pictured with her in London last month wearing a dusty pink Carhartt sweater with a beanie and baggy jeans. Mr Austin Butler is something of a sartorial dark horse, too, and has mastered loved-up style while dating Ms Kaia Gerber. His looks lately consist of scuzzy vintage tees and sweatpants, as well as oversized coats. Simple? Absolutely. Lazy, maybe, but that’s why it looks cool.
Ms Kim Kardashian and Mr Pete Davidson, New York, 13 February 2022. Photograph by Splash News
Next you’re going to tell me that Mr Pete Davidson is a style icon just because he’s dating Ms Kim Kardashian.
Funnily enough, Davidson is a good example of what we’re talking about here. Famous for being funny and tall, Davidson was an original arbiter of scumbro style, and mostly dons baggy hoodies, baseball caps, oversized shorts and beaded jewellery. His style is all very “I’m just wearing what I found on the bedroom floor”, but with that dating history, he’s clearly doing something right.
Or, you know, maybe it’s because he’s funny and tall.
Yeah… you’re probably right. But there’s no denying that scumbro style has seeped into the fabric of popular contemporary menswear. And in 2022, it seems all celebrity boyfriends are scumbros.
The depressing thing I’m taking away from this is that as long as you’re dating someone famous, you can wear whatever you want.
That’s basically it. Dressing like a slob just doesn’t look as good when you’re sitting alone on a couch.