Who’s dressing the men now? The rise of the fashion boyfriend
Menswear has entered a new era—and this time, it’s personal. Gone are the days of forgettable tuxedos and “safe” suits. Today’s leading men are taking up space on the red carpet, in front rows, and on your explore page. They are styled, deliberate, and unafraid to dress like they mean it.
From Barry Keoghan’s experimental silhouettes to Jacob Elordi’s curated minimalism, the modern male celebrity is not just wearing clothes, he’s building a fashion identity.
Barry Keoghan: The maximalist romantic
Barry Keoghan doesn’t just dress—he commits. Whether he is wearing cropped Louis Vuitton suiting, full leather looks, or a velvet robe coat straight out of a 1940s Hollywood fever dream, his fits are always cinematic. He is styled by Ilaria Urbinati, but there is nothing “stylist puppet” about him—it is theatrical, a little eccentric, and always on-brand. He is the kind of fashion boyfriend who will take your picture and outdress you at dinner.
Jeremy Allen White: The thirst trap everyman
He started with grease-stained tees on “The Bear” and ended up in Calvin Klein briefs on a Times Square billboard. Jeremy Allen White’s fashion evolution is less “celebrity stylist fantasy” and more “hot guy you secretly dated in art school—but now he does Pilates.” Off-duty, he leans into normcore: white tanks, straight-leg jeans, New Balances, and a deeply committed five o’clock shadow. But on the carpet? It’s The Row, Paul Smith, and tailored simplicity with just the right amount of mess. A fashion boyfriend you can project onto.
A$AP Rocky: The fashion dad who invented the game
A$AP Rocky did not walk so the others could run—he sprinted in Raf Simons while everyone else was still figuring out how to pronounce “Rick Owens.” Now in his fashion dad era (literally), Rocky is still the most daring dresser in the room. He wears knee-length Loewe denim with a baby bottle in one hand and a custom Bottega coat in the other. His fits are playful, archival, and styled like art direction. Being Rihanna’s partner might have put him on another level, but Rocky has been curating his wardrobe like a gallery since day one.
Jacob Elordi: The minimalism king
Jacob Elordi dresses like a man who has nothing to prove– which is exactly why everyone is watching. His wardrobe is a masterclass in restraint: oversized blazers, vintage denim, muted palettes, and clean, razor-sharp tailoring that says “yes, I drink espresso in silence.” He has been dressed by Bottega, Burberry, and Valentino, but it never feels costume-y. Elordi’s style is low-effort only on the surface—beneath the linen and loafers is someone who understands how to turn quiet into a statement.
But it is not just the celebrities, it is the visionaries behind them. The modern fashion boyfriend did not emerge from a vacuum. He is being dressed, elevated, and in some cases fully rebranded by a wave of stylists who understand that menswear does not have to mean minimal. It can mean moody. Romantic. Weird. Emotional.
Ilaria Urbinati, who styles Keoghan, Donald Glover, and Dwayne Johnson, is the queen of giving male celebrities personality through tailoring. Ryan Hastings, the quiet genius behind Timothée Chalamet’s most avant-garde looks, works like a gallery curator—styling as moodboard. Jason Bolden, who has styled Michael B. Jordan and Dwyane Wade, knows exactly how to balance classic with head-turning. And then there is Matthew Henson, A$AP Rocky’s long-time style partner and arguably the one who started it all—merging streetwear, luxury, and runway before most fashion houses were even taking menswear seriously.
These stylists are not just picking outfits. They are building characters, and the guys are the ones showing up with the full storyboards on the carpet.
The age of forgettable menswear is over—and good riddance. Today’s best-dressed men are not just showing up in suits. They are showing up with stories, stylists, and a point of view. Whether it is pearls and leather or white tanks and vintage denim, the new fashion boyfriend is not afraid to take risks– or take up space.
Turns out, when the boys show up, they clean up too.
