Photo by Getty Images
Both Barry Keoghan and Jacob Elordi, the male actors of the 84th Golden Globe shortlisted film “Saltburn”, and Sessa, the fledgling Dominic in Payne’s new film “Life in School” by the American independent filmmaker Alexander, have recently joined Harry Styles, Oscar Issac and Jeremy Strong, becoming the latest celebrity face of the label “babygirl female treasure man. In addition, many South Korea pop stars, including RM of BTS and Felix of Stray Kids, and racer Lewis Hamilton have also won such a chic title.
Industry prospect
Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi, Dominic Sessa, Lewis Hamilton Photograph: Arnold Jerocki/GC Images, Getty Images, Emma McIntyre/WireImage
2023 can be described as an important year for babygirl “female precious men” to consolidate their position in the European and American popular context, dominating the main trends of social media platforms, especially TikTok and Twitter. But what exactly is babygirl “female male”-what does the rise of this male style mean for the future of fashion?
“When we find a man not only sexy but also funny, we give him the title ‘female treasure, ‘” said author and pop culture consultant Evan Ross Katz. Katz further explained, “The word is often used to describe a cute male, and this cute temperament that he shows is generally accepted by the public in current popular culture. We all decide to like this person more or less.”
Men who are labeled baby “female precious men” are not always feminine or feminine, on the contrary, these people usually feel comfortable enough with their masculinity to make them more willing to break the binary gender rules in their dress.
Pedro Pascal, Timothée Chalamet (known to Chinese moviegoers as “sweet tea”) and Barry Keoghan all stunned in women’s wear at the recently attended awards ceremony. Gender-fluid menswear was named the industry’s favorite 2023 trend in Vogue Runway’s year-end poll.
Jacob Elordi’s public appearances over the past year or so have also worn designer handbags almost exclusively. This has led to a rapid influx of brands: the Saltburn star has been photographed carrying yellow Louis Vuitton Monogram Speedy, Bottega Veneta Andiamo and Celine logo messenger bags.
At the media promotion of the Wonka film, Timothee Chalamet appeared in Tom Ford SS24 show women’s clothing.
Credit: Julien Hekimian/WireImage, Daniele Oberrauch/Gorunway.com
Pedro Pascal’s dress at this year’s Golden Globe Awards was inspired by a Bottega Veneta SS24 show.
Photograph: Dan Doperalski/Getty Images, Filippo Fior/Gorunway.com
“They play the male lead in the movie we all talk about, and now it’s great for me as a stylist to see their street-style moments also enjoy the fun of fashion, not just on the red carpet,” said Theodora Britt, whose clients also include Pete Davidson and Celine Song. Theodora note that recently, female and neutral brands have provided more and more inspiration for male celebrities, and the demand for handbags from male customers is also increasing.
She believes that the social mentality behind this new cultural phenomenon is the same as that of men who always say they like to see their girlfriends wearing oversized T-shirts and hoodies. “It’s the same thing,” she said. “All these Hollywood heartthrobs are wearing these little tops and carrying these little bags.”
“It’s very interesting to see traditional female accessories being taken ‘out of content’ like this.” Public relations and brand consultant David Siwicki agrees.
Celebrities such as A$AP Rocky, Kid Cudi and Harry Styles began embracing women’s clothing such as dress and skirts in their daily dress as early as 2021 or even earlier, paving the way for the rise of the baby trend of “female precious men.
Katz says this reflects a broader sociocultural mood shift. “We have eliminated the traditional notion that a male interested in fashion will somehow make your image feminine or considered gay, or that it says something about who you are as a person.” But now, it’s “cool” to have the ability to play tricks on fashion.
A$AP Rocky, Kid Cudi, Harry Styles Photo Credit: Getty Images, Tyler Mitchell, Doug Segars
Fashion commentator Romane Delvallee agrees: “Fashion often reflects what’s happening in society, and the exploration of gender and personal identity is on the rise,” she says. “Both men and women seem to want to explore this and find something empowering out of it.”
Social media is a key driver. “TikTok, fan videos and editing have really changed the way we think, influence and think about men’s fashion, moving us away from just focusing on suits,” says stylist and fashion historian Kim Russell. “Iron fans are very good at what they do and change the mentality of the mainstream group. There are often heterosexual men willing to carry handbags, which is really powerful. Our dynamic is constantly being forwarded and actively encouraged.” Now women are being influenced by menswear like never before, and vice versa, she said.
Pedro Pascal attended the event wearing the Isa Booooulder cardigan, known for its bikini products. Photograph: Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images
Retailers are taking note and buying accordingly. “The Row’s Margaux bag is the best seller in menswear, but the source of this bag started with the brand’s women’s collection,” said Sophie Jordan, Mytheresa’s head of men’s clothing purchasing. “We are adding women’s bag collections Bottega selected brands such as Veneta, Loewe and The Row directly to our men’s shopping area.”
01 Babygirl Why is Babygirl on the rise?
Image source: MYTHERESA
Fashion may reflect what is happening in society today, but it is also a marketing tool. Fashion and pop culture commentator Megan Ford said that time is increasingly being used by leading figures and their stylists to get coverage and create new discussions on and off the red carpet.
Delvalee points to the success of Barbie, the social media craze for Margot Robbie’s Barbie look. “The more unique and original the look, the more attention you can get from the many fashion accounts.”
Pedro Pascal has sparked internet buzz by appearing on the Met Gala red carpet in a Valentino red suit. Photograph: Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
On the red carpet, we can see the direct display of women’s clothing items (provided by Chalamet and Pascal, etc.), but on the street, baby “female” is more likely to drive consumer buying behavior. Katz said that photos of celebrities at airports and gas stations will convince consumers that these are the direction their personal style should pursue, rather than the red carpet shapes carefully planned by smart stylists. These moments tell consumers that celebrities like Elordi are not only repeatedly involved in fashion, but also in their daily lives. “This signal is important,” Katz said. “It translates into a degree of authenticity, and I think this authenticity will penetrate consumers and affect consumers’ purchasing decisions.”
Image source: GQ
However, Theodora believe the red carpet of this year’s awards season will have a bigger impact than ever. She pointed out that the current heat of TikTok and Instagram, coupled with the proper return of the media at the awards ceremony, will be a pivotal moment. “We will again see a huge rise in fashion styles inspired by red carpet photos.” Given that many leading men have begun to show women’s clothing on the carpet, this is also a good sign for the brand to expand its business.
02 From fine red carpet to casual street
In a time of fast-changing trends, one may wonder if this trend of gender fluidity will continue, or if men will return to their love of traditional suits next season.
The industry consensus is that this is more of a paradigm shift than a flash in the pan. Fluid gender dress is not new and has been on the rise in recent years, and vice versa. “I ‘ve always been an advocate for women to wear suits in menswear collections,” says Theodora, recalling an incident five years ago when the brand refused a female client to wear a menswear suit to the VMAs. “It’s very, very different now,” she said. (See Greta Lee, who is dressed in Loewe SS24 menswear at this Golden Globe Awards.)
Photo by VOGUE
The male embrace of women’s clothing in Babygirl trends is only a small part of this broader shift. “Menswear fashion has been boring in the entertainment industry for far too long, and I’m excited to have a major shift,” Russell said.
VOGUE Runway contributor Tiziana Cardini also noted in the VOGUE Business and VOGUE Runway Fashion Week Briefing that many of the backstage mood boards featured female-inspired images on the Menswear Week in Milan Autumn/Winter 2024 this season, indicating that menswear is increasingly embracing the trend of femininity.
Whether this can support the babygirl “female precious man” trend to go further is another matter. “I wonder, how long is this going to last?” Katz said. “When these images first appeared, I felt like, ‘Oh, I didn’t expect someone like Jacob Elordi to be carrying these bags or something’. But now that this expectation has been formed, I wonder if we will also be crowning the next new babygirl woman, or if people are always reacting to this phenomenon.”
Jacob Elordi with a Burberry crossbody.
Katz said the continued resonance of babygirl “female gems” and their ability to market to women will depend on the next generation of male movie stars and their level of attractiveness. “It depends on: Are high-viscosity stars going to reappear? Are they super stars that are attractive in all directions?”
(Source: Vogue Business)
