The following current fashion trends are perplexing to people who are not chronically online: babygirl men and mob wives. This movement is a continuation of TikTok cementing trends that are reminiscent of personas or characters which constantly change depending on what is popular on the algorithm and are packaged under labels deeply rooted in internet vernacular. Think cottagecore, Y2K, clean girl, Barbiecore, old money aesthetic and indie sleaze. While dominant trends, micro-trends, and subcultures have existed before social media, TikTok has changed how we interact with fashion trends, specifically speeding up the trend cycle, homogenizing style and, often, setting the trends (rather than the runways).
He’s so Babygirl!
Jacob Elordi, Paul Mescal, Timothée Chalamet and Lewis Hamilton are just a few celebrities labeled as “babygirl.” Babygirl is more of a vibe rather than a label with a clear definition. Pop culture consultant Evan Ross Katz explains the term in Vogue Business:
Babygirl is a designation that’s given out when we find this person not just hot, but interesting; worthwhile. It’s a word that gets ascribed to a guy who is adorable and of whom there’s a general sentiment of acceptance in culture.
These babygirl men often adopt a style that blends fashion elements that are traditionally labelled as masculine and feminine. For example, Jacob Elordi’s street style has been incorporating feminine handbags such as a Louis Vuitton Monogram Speedy, a Bottega Veneta Andiamo bag, and Celine logo Messenger bag. In Vogue Business, celebrity stylist Britt Theodora compared men wearing feminine accessories to girlfriends wearing their boyfriend’s oversized hoodies. I would also add that it is adjacent to Tate McRae wearing sports gear and cut up jerseys. This mixture of feminine and masculine adds to these men becoming interesting as their style isn’t basic—it becomes complex and adds confidence because they don’t care about being perceived as trying with their style, being associated with femininity, and potentially making fashion mistakes. This aesthetic is apparent in Loewe’s Autumn/Winter 2024 menswear show by creative director Jonathan Anderson. The show featured stained glass window designs featuring babygirl celebrities and the clothing that reflected a modern idea of masculinity that doesn’t have a clear definition anymore.
Interestingly, this trend is becoming popular alongside the increasing linkage between high fashion and athletes. NBA tunnel walks and NFL plane walk-offs have become opportunities for athletes to show off and play with style—including mixing feminine and masculine. For example, Stefon Diggs from the Bills sparked online conversations when he wore a slightly feminine chunky colour-blocked knit sweater. Babygirl men’s fashion is happening during a time where more men are caring about curating an interesting style.
Goodbye Clean Girl, Hello Mob Wife
In the early beginning of the new year, TikTok seemingly called for the end of the clean girl aesthetic in exchange for a new messy, tacky, and extravagant look of a mob wife. This means retiring puffer coats, matching plain sets, sleek hairdos, and glowing minimal makeup for fur coats, animal prints, tacky sweatsuits, leather, designer handbags, and messy eyeliner and hair. The whole goal is to emulate Carmela Soprano. Interestingly, it comes along with an attitude of “standing on business” which just means doing what you need to do, focusing on yourself, and not tolerating boundaries being crossed (which is contrary to the unproblematic clean girl). Perhaps this is related to the aesthetic of being a woman rather than a “girl.”
Are We Tired of Tik Tok Trends?
While the babygirl men’s fashion seems more like the freedom to play with style being paired with internet slang, mob wife seems like a persona or character that originated from TikTok. This raises a question: why do we have to change everything about ourselves? Fashion is the most fun when it is not about looking conventionally “good” and is instead about personal exploration and expression, like the babygirl men’s trend. These TikTok trends encourage us to craft the same identity to be trendy, rather than pick and choose trendy elements to incorporate into personal style to signal that we know what’s in. Further, we never know how long the trend will last. These negatives aside, these trends have allowed us to enjoy fashion as a community experience. Further, mob wife has given cultural approval to exploring a more extra and maximalist style which lacked credence in the era of clean girl aesthetic and silent luxury (i.e., Sofia Richie). Either way, being yourself is never out of style.