You don’t need to look far to see their influence. British GQ‘s Instagram feed is almost exclusively populated by images of babygirls, because they’re the people who will set the men’s style agenda in the coming years. Even if you, or the men in your life, find the babygirl aesthetic OTT, just wait a few years – the influence will percolate, and eventually, we’ll start seeing glimpses of the babygirl aesthetic in the menswear departments of M&S and John Lewis . By then, it may not seem quite as outre to you either.
Alison Bringé, chief marketing officer at Launchmetrics, is already seeing that shift take place: “Today’s leading men redefine charisma and challenge traditional norms of masculinity,” she says. “Thanks to their confidence and playful approach to fashion, people gravitate toward them and look to them for style cues… We’ll continue to see a significant influence on consumers, especially as the men’s accessory market continues to expand.”
Can you be a babygirl at any age? Internet culture commentators are divided on this, but, with the exception of Pharrell and Jared Leto, Mohammed thinks not: “You can embrace your inner babygirl if you’re an older man, but it’s more of a youthful thing. It’s not for everybody. It’s less of a thing for older men because typically, when they think ‘camp’, it’s a bit more Elton John than Jacob Elordi.”
Men’s fashion has entered a new era and these are the men to watch.
Jacob Elordi
King Babygirl, Elordi, 26, is the man of the moment thanks to his role in Saltburn, Euphoria and, most recently, as Elvis Presley in Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla. Fond of a luxury handbag, he’s been seen with Valentino, Louis Vuitton, Bottega Veneta and Celine designs.