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I wonder how much of this is just more handwringing about the death of menswear. Is there evidence that Gen Z is some sort of outlier?
Let’s look at what we are talking about here. The oldest members of Gen Z are just now graduating from college, the youngest are what, something like 12 years old?
In that case, if we take Gen Z out of it - Is this some sort of new phenomena where 12-23 year olds or so aren’t interested in classic menswear or tailoring?
I’m not much of a fashion historian, maybe someone like @dieworkwear would know - But when is the last time it was more common than not for teenagers to regularly (and I suppose maybe framed a different way, voluntarily) wear classic menswear other than to some very specific events?
As an elder millennial, tailoring was around in the 12-18 range in very specific circumstances. If 1) it was part of a school uniform (what’s up navy blazer and tie with khakis) 2) was for cotillion/Young Gentlemen of Distinction/Deb Balls 3) Events (school dances, Bar Mitzvahs, weddings etc) 4) Holiday dinners at the club.
Its been a while but I seem to remember in that timeframe outside of school uniforms, we mostly ran around wearing Abercrombie graphic t’s with destroyed jeans, polos from Lacoste, etc. The girls wore Abercrombie or their Juicy tracksuits.
In college in the 18-22 range where the oldest zoomers are it was for some events, interviews, internships, occasionally professors in the school of business would ask us to wear a suit or jacket for presentations. Daily dress got a little better.
Sure - Tailoring, particularly with regard to suits and ties, is less common than it was in the workplace as things get more casual. I think there’s a few threads on it. But the idea that Gen Z is driving anything at this point seems to have little to no evidence when compared to recent past generations but maybe someone has some evidence to the contrary.
Anecdotally, I’ve got friends with Gen-Z kids. They still seem to wear suits to recitals, homecoming etc, crappy rented tuxes to prom, suits to weddings. I’m just not sure it’s that different when you look back at that age range.
Let’s look at what we are talking about here. The oldest members of Gen Z are just now graduating from college, the youngest are what, something like 12 years old?
In that case, if we take Gen Z out of it - Is this some sort of new phenomena where 12-23 year olds or so aren’t interested in classic menswear or tailoring?
I’m not much of a fashion historian, maybe someone like @dieworkwear would know - But when is the last time it was more common than not for teenagers to regularly (and I suppose maybe framed a different way, voluntarily) wear classic menswear other than to some very specific events?
As an elder millennial, tailoring was around in the 12-18 range in very specific circumstances. If 1) it was part of a school uniform (what’s up navy blazer and tie with khakis) 2) was for cotillion/Young Gentlemen of Distinction/Deb Balls 3) Events (school dances, Bar Mitzvahs, weddings etc) 4) Holiday dinners at the club.
Its been a while but I seem to remember in that timeframe outside of school uniforms, we mostly ran around wearing Abercrombie graphic t’s with destroyed jeans, polos from Lacoste, etc. The girls wore Abercrombie or their Juicy tracksuits.
In college in the 18-22 range where the oldest zoomers are it was for some events, interviews, internships, occasionally professors in the school of business would ask us to wear a suit or jacket for presentations. Daily dress got a little better.
Sure - Tailoring, particularly with regard to suits and ties, is less common than it was in the workplace as things get more casual. I think there’s a few threads on it. But the idea that Gen Z is driving anything at this point seems to have little to no evidence when compared to recent past generations but maybe someone has some evidence to the contrary.
Anecdotally, I’ve got friends with Gen-Z kids. They still seem to wear suits to recitals, homecoming etc, crappy rented tuxes to prom, suits to weddings. I’m just not sure it’s that different when you look back at that age range.
