11 of the Worst Men’s Fashion Trends We Seriously Need to Leave in the Past

Let’s be real—personal style is entirely subjective, but there are absolutely some of the worst men’s fashion trends circulating right now that are giving the internet a collective “ick.” While fashion is all about expressing yourself, experimenting with new silhouettes, and having fun, certain aesthetics have officially crossed the line from edgy and experimental to…

Let’s be real—personal style is entirely subjective, but there are absolutely some of the worst men’s fashion trends circulating right now that are giving the internet a collective “ick.” While fashion is all about expressing yourself, experimenting with new silhouettes, and having fun, certain aesthetics have officially crossed the line from edgy and experimental to completely cringe.

If you’ve spent more than five minutes scrolling through your TikTok FYP or walking down a busy city street, you’ve likely encountered a few of these fashion offenses in the wild. Thanks to a recent viral Reddit thread where people aired out their biggest stylistic grievances, the verdict is officially in. If you want to elevate your wardrobe (or help your boyfriend elevate his), it’s time to take notes.

The Ultimate List of the Worst Men’s Fashion Trends Right Now

Whether it’s questionable grooming choices or styling hacks that absolutely nobody asked for, here are the style missteps we are begging guys to leave in the past.

1. The Infamous “Broccoli Head” Haircut

We have to start with the hairstyle that has completely taken over Gen Z: the broccoli head. You know the one—shaved tightly on the sides with a massive, permed mop of curls overflowing on top. While we love a guy who embraces his natural curls, the intentional “broccoli” perm has quickly become one of the worst men’s fashion trends of the decade. Let the vegetables stay in the crisper drawer, please.

A young man with a modern curly perm fade haircut wearing a beige houndstooth zip-up jacket over a tan sweater, holding a coffee cup on a sunny city street.

2. Dress Shoes With Zero Socks (and High-Water Chinos)

There was a brief moment in the mid-2010s where exposing the ankle in formalwear was considered high-fashion. That time has passed. Today, pairing overly tight, high-water chinos with polished dress shoes or animal print loafers—sans socks—feels incredibly outdated. Not only does it look uncomfortably disproportionate, but the blister situation alone makes it a massive fail. Buy some dress socks. Your feet will thank you.

Close-up of people walking on a cobblestone street, contrasting uniform trousers with red stripes and shiny black shoes against bare legs with botanical tattoos wearing a dark skirt.

3. Tucking Designer Joggers Into Socks

Athleisure is supposed to look effortlessly cool, but meticulously tucking the hem of expensive designer sweatpants into calf-high white athletic socks? It’s giving “I’m about to wade through a flooded basement” rather than “streetwear icon.” It disrupts the natural drape of the pants and completely ruins the silhouette.

Street style photo of a person walking in a park wearing a layered winter outfit: a long burgundy wool coat over a grey hoodie, black sweatpants, and white New Balance sneakers.

4. The Unironic Mullet

There is a fine line between a trendy, modernized shag and a full-blown Joe Dirt mullet. Unfortunately, many guys are falling onto the wrong side of that line. Unless you are actively fronting an indie-rock band in Brooklyn, this is easily one of the worst men’s fashion trends to attempt to pull off. It’s hard to take a guy seriously when it’s business in the front and a 1980s party in the back.

Portrait of a man with a classic mullet haircut and mustache wearing a vintage Iron Maiden World Slavery Tour graphic t-shirt in a garage workshop setting.

5. Sunglasses Resting on the Back of the Head

This isn’t even an item of clothing, but rather a styling choice that genuinely boggles the mind. When guys rest their Oakley sunglasses on the back of their heads instead of their faces or collars, it completely ruins the vibe. Nine times out of ten, it just looks like you have a very confused set of eyes watching your back.

Back view of a man wearing a backward dark canvas baseball cap with black sports sunglasses resting casually on the back of his head.

6. Flat-Billed Hats That Cover the Ears

We love a good baseball cap, but the way a hat is worn matters. Shoving a stiff, flat-billed cap so far down your head that it tucks your ears in is a fashion crime. It alters the shape of your face and looks incredibly uncomfortable. Let your ears breathe!

Profile portrait of a bearded man outdoors wearing a unique blue flat-billed baseball cap designed with side flaps covering his ears.

7. Sandals With Socks (The Ultimate Dad Move)

Gen Z tried to rebrand the “socks and sandals” look as a core staple of the cozy streetwear aesthetic, but some things are better left alone. Whether it’s woven leather sandals, slides, or suede clogs paired with thick crew socks, this combo will always trigger our fight-or-flight response. It’s a polarizing look that solidifies its spot on the list of the worst men’s fashion trends.

Close-up fashion shot on a cobblestone street showing a person's lower legs wearing white athletic crew socks with green and black stripes paired with brown woven leather sandals.

8. The Entire “Looksmaxxing” Movement

While it leans more into an internet subculture than a pure fashion trend, “looksmaxxing” is an aesthetic obsession that needs to end. From hyper-fixating on “hunter eyes” to aggressively chewing jaw exercisers to achieve a specific facial structure, this trend is toxic, exhausting, and entirely unappealing. Confidence is the best accessory a guy can wear, not a strained jawline.

9. Short Athletic Shorts With Suede Clogs

Mixing hyper-athletic wear with cozy, cottagecore footwear is a chaotic aesthetic choice. We’re seeing a massive rise in guys wearing super short, retro athletic shorts paired with high white socks and suede slip-on clogs. It looks like you got dressed in the dark during two completely different seasons. Pick a lane—are we running a marathon or lounging in a cabin?

A young man on a city sidewalk wearing casual street style, featuring blue running shorts, a t-shirt, tall white tube socks, and brown suede clogs while holding an iced coffee.

10. Sagging Pants Under the Butt

It’s 2026. The fact that sagging pants is still an aesthetic choice some guys are making is genuinely baffling. Belts were invented for a reason, and nobody on the street wants to see your boxer briefs. It’s unpractical, uncomfortable, and universally agreed upon as a major fashion ick.

11. Unbreathable Suits in the Dead of Summer

While this is more of a structural issue than a stylistic one, men forcing themselves into heavy, suffocating wool suits during a July heatwave is a tragedy. We need to normalize lightweight, breathable linen and cotton tailoring for men. Sweating through a three-piece suit isn’t a good look for anyone.

A sweating man in a heavy dark wool three-piece suit wipes his forehead under a 98°F temperature sign, contrasting with a cool man in a light linen suit holding iced coffee

At the end of the day, you should wear whatever makes you feel good. But if you’re looking to refresh your closet and dodge the ultimate style icks, avoiding these worst men’s fashion trends is the perfect place to start.

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