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    Here’s What TikTok’s Latest, ‘Performative Male,’ Is All About

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    A photo collage of items that define a "Performative Man"



    Labubu/Popmart, Feminism for Girls/Walmart, Getty Images; Tyler Le/BI

    • Welcome to TikTok’s latest obsession — the performative male.
    • An ideal performative male wears baggy jeans, drinks matcha, has a Labubu, and reads feminist literature.
    • While mostly a joke, a stylist told BI that the trend opens doors to more diverse narratives of men.

    Labubu, Clairo, feminist literature, matcha lattes, wired headphones.

    What sounds like a sentence straight out of internet brainrot is the recipe for the perfect performative male, a satirical TikTok trend that mocks men who “perform” in a way that appeals to women.

    Performative male dress-up competitions have popped up worldwide, from colleges like USC and UC Berkeley to parks and cafés in Berlin and Toronto.

    In a recent such event in Singapore, participants dressed in oversize jeans and vests, cried out slogans like “We must stop period cramps,” threw sanitary pads in the air, burned sage, and played songs by singers like Clairo and Beebadoobee.

    Amanda Massi, a luxury personal stylist based in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, said that the performative male aesthetic has become a joke because of the numerous memes about it.

    But beyond that, she said, “there’s a significant, deeper psychological and cultural narrative at play.”

    “The performative male aesthetic is a fascinating intersection of identity, intention, and cultural signaling,” Massi said.

    She said the trend “blends elements traditionally associated with progressive values, intellectual engagement, and a casual yet cultivated masculinity.”

    Here’s what goes into looking the part.

    Slouchy jeans and graphic tees


    A guest wears black sunglasses, white buttoned up long sleeve shirt, bright blue coat with black collar and black detail, dark blue pattern/print loose denim jean pants, light brown boots Timberland shoes, outside Dhruv Kapoor, during the Milan Fashion week Men's Fall/Winter 2025-2026 on January 19, 2025.

    The biggest giveaway of a performative male is his jeans.

    Edward Berthelot/Getty Images


    The performative male trend is not a safe space for skinny jeans lovers.

    The biggest giveaway of someone jumping on the performative male trend is his baggy, slouchy jeans or jorts, often high-waisted and thrifted. Extra points if they are light-wash denim.

    Massi, the stylist, said denim shorts or jorts convey a “nostalgic yet deliberately retro vibe.”

    If you’re trying to nail the look, you’ll want to pair that pair of jeans with an oversize cotton T-shirt or vintage-inspired graphic tee to signal effortless cool, she said. Then accessorize with a light-colored tote bag.

    The overall color palette is muted and earthy.

    “Think sage greens, oatmeal beige, faded indigos, and warm terracotta,” Massi said. “These shades suggest a closeness to nature and understated elegance without screaming for attention.”

    Matcha latte


    Matcha is added to beverages on offer at Kettl Tea in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles, California on May 20, 2025. The word matcha means "ground tea" in Japanese, and comes in the form of a vivid green powder that is whisked with hot water and can be added to milk to make a matcha latte.

    A performative male carries an artisanal drink like a matcha latte.

    FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images


    You are what you drink, and performative males drink matcha lattes. At least, according to TikTok.

    Massi said the trend called for “artisanal or niche beverages like matcha lattes.”

    Many participants of the performative male contests carried around a disposable cup of iced matcha, which they balanced in one hand while toting a book of feminist literature in the other — more on that later.

    Matcha, a tea made almost exclusively in Japan from green tea leaves, has exploded in popularity around the world and become a TikTok obsession.

    In Singapore, where sober parties are taking off, matcha raves have become a thing.

    A Labubu plush doll


    A guest wears a tan suede coat with a visible black lining. The coat is layered over a white garment. A brown leather handbag from Prada with a gold triangular logo and buckle details is carried. A small plush Labubu accessory with a beige hat, white fluffy face, and blue eyes is attached to the bag.

    Part of the performative male uniform is a Labubu clipped to his jeans with a carabiner.

    Edward Berthelot/Getty Images


    An interesting addition to the performative male outfit is a Labubu plush doll attached to jeans with a carabiner, per videos on TikTok.

    The Labubu doll, made by Chinese toymaker Pop Mart, has exploded in popularity over the past year. Carrying a Labubu isn’t exclusive to the performative male look, though. People around the world, from US and South Korean celebrities to athletes, have been adorning their bags with the toothy dolls.

    This part of the look brings to mind another TikTok-famous fashion trend — bag charms.

    “It’s adornment, sure, but also a way of sharing oneself with others,” Carol Davidson, an NYC-based stylist, told Business Insider in April.

    “A cluster of charms gives others a snapshot of how someone sees themselves and how they want others to see them,” Davidson added.

    Wired headphones


    A Fashion Week guest is seen wearing rectangular black sunglasses with silver-adorned temples from Saint Laurent; a long-sleeved button-up shirt featuring irregular sections of varying striped patterns in black, white, and blue.

    Wired headphones are a must.

    Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images


    According to TikTok, a performative male shuns wireless headphones, opting for wired ones instead.

    While some go the easy route by using Apple’s old wired ones, others wear bulkier over-the-ear wired headphones — think the square-shaped headphones by Marshall.

    Massi said wired headphones are part of the trend’s accessories, which include minimalist leather sandals or sneakers, retro eyewear, and artisanal jewelry like handmade silver rings over leather bracelets.

    “Stylistically, this aesthetic draws from streetwear, vintage fashion, and normcore influences, yet it also incorporates subtle luxury or artisanal cues conveying discernment and refinement, such as handmade jewelry or sustainable brands,” Massi added.

    Wired headphones have been cool for years, and not just in the performative male sphere. Bella Hadid, Zoë Kravitz, Lily-Rose Depp, and others have been spotted listening to music the old-fashioned way.

    Feminist literature


    A reader waits as part-time actor Ashley Green (not seen) reads chapter ten of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice at the Jane Austen Centre on January 28, 2013 in Bath, England.

    Carrying around a book of feminist literature is the cherry on top.

    Matt Cardy/Getty Images


    Last but not least, the performative male trend is incomplete without a book of feminist literature — think “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen or “The Bell Jar” by Sylvia Plath.

    “There’s an intentional nod to feminist literature or other socially conscious media, suggesting intellectual and ethical awareness,” Massi said.

    Massi said part of the trend involves very vocally aligning yourself with “culturally ‘hip’ or ethically aware communities” to boost social capital.

    It’s all (mostly) a joke. And Massi said the performative elements make one question the sincerity of the trend.

    However, she said, “they also open the door to richer, more diverse narratives around who men are and how they present themselves to the world.”

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