For a long time, fashion was considered to be an exclusively female domain. However, times have now changed. No longer is the fashion industry dominated by a particular sex.
Men are no longer confined to basic and mundane articles of clothing. In fact, fashion has become more gender-fluid and all-comprehensive. Men have started to foray deep into the nitty-gritty of it all, at times betraying expectations.
The rise of social media has also pivoted this trend to altogether new heights. The need to appear prim and proper, especially on social media, has also invigorated men to experiment more in fashion.
That said, metrosexuality is rising, entailing a plethora of change. Young men and boys are becoming more conscious and aware about their appearance, and rightfully so.
Aesthetic fashion has become a mainstay for the current generation. It doesn’t matter if one is a fashion “influencer” online or a commoner; you’re likely to see most people wearing aesthetic clothing as part of their everyday lives.
Different styles and aesthetics help people express themselves. It lends them an identity of sorts, allowing the manifestation of one’s individuality and so much more.
Having said that, we’ve listed below a definitive guide on some of the best aesthetic boys’ outfits for you to choose from.
Best Aesthetic Boy Outfits
1. Skater Boy Aesthetic
As the name suggests, this aesthetic category is centered on skater culture dating as far back as the 1940s.
Obviously, it has evolved over time, incorporating various new elements without compromising on the basics.
This is quite similar to what people refer to as streetwear but is a rather toned-down version in essence.
Comfort remains the key to this aesthetic and therefore includes a basic setup of a tee shirt and baggy trousers. You can also incorporate denim jeans which are baggy in style in place of dungaree trousers.
This style’s other rudimentary staples include the familiar baseball style hat, also referred to as dad cap in skater lingo.
Flat-bottomed shoes such as those of Vans or even Converse form part of the style, coupled with tall socks.
To completely round off the style, it’s only natural that you’ve got a skateboard to glide around. Although this aesthetic has been part of the fashion landscape for a long time, it perhaps achieved its pinnacle during the early 2000s.
Avril Lavigne was one of the prominent names to have epitomized this fashion.
Obviously, you don’t need to be a skater per se to rock this style. That said, it’s an aesthetic that suits young people the most.
2. Soft Boy aesthetic
The soft boy is perhaps one of the more recent aesthetics to emerge on the back of unprecedented popularity online. Due in large part to Tik-Tok and Instagram, the aesthetic has been on the rise since the late 2010s.
It’s easy to presume from the name itself that this style is almost a polar opposite of the hard, masculine look.
Instead of professing toughness, the soft boy aesthetic portrays more feminine traits like being sensitive and artistic.
Popular especially amongst Gen-Z, the soft boy aesthetic incorporates pastel colors, clothes made of rich fabric, and floral prints.
It’s not hard to guess where this style gets its inspiration from. K-Pop culture, of course!
Staple clothes include fluffy sweaters and jackets, windbreakers, and even cardigans. Along with that, high-waisted trousers are a common item of preference among soft boy aesthetic enthusiasts.
Suited best for the spring season, people also incorporate basic bowling shirts as part of the setup. This is coupled with classic sneakers, including Nike Air Forces and slip-on Vans, worn mostly over white tube socks.
As part of the overall style, people tend to cuff their pants so as to reveal the socks underneath.
Prominent names often associated with this aesthetic include the likes of Timothee Chalamet, Harry Styles, and K-POP stars.
3. Bad Boy Aesthetic
Among the many styles and aesthetics that have emerged, you cannot dispense with the presence of the bad boy aesthetic.
The style has been part of the fashion scene for a long time now, with ever-increasing proponents.
As with most fashion sense, the bad boy aesthetic has evolved over time. If studded leather jackets and flared pants were a mainstay in the 50s, bad boys from the 80s had a more exuberant dressing sense.
Though the name carries an undertone of mischief and seriousness, bad boy aesthetics are incorporated by those who are essentially confident and exude finesse.
The most common piece of clothing under this style is perhaps leather jackets and denim jeans.
This particular setup is often refashioned so as to include button-down shirts and sometimes cotton chinos in place of jeans. Other staples include chambray shirts and flashy boots.
This type of aesthetic is a perfect blend of style and comfort. It integrates clothes that appear rugged and distressed.
Though black is a color most common among bad boy enthusiasts, experimentation and the use of bright colors are also becoming quite common.
Suffice to say, this style has a rather minimalist approach to fashion without comprising the elegance quotient. If you don’t believe so, try considering James Dean’s aesthetics.
4. E-boy Aesthetics
This particular style is not suited for everyone and is preferred mostly by teenage boys. In essence, Eboy is the style that is often associated with young men with a penchant for an edgy, more alternative fashion sense.
The overall look has heavy influences ranging from punk music to K-POP. Hence, it allows for a certain amount of individualization within it.
One certain Eboy might prominently be featured with more punk influences, while another with a more soft approach to the aesthetics.
Although the style is often interchangeably considered with that of the soft boy aesthetic, there are nevertheless certain nuanced differences to it.
For one, the Eboy style is centered around the color black, most notably in its incorporation of skinny black jeans. The dressing is mostly monochromatic, featuring an abundance of black and grays.
Other staple items of clothing include oversized tees and cuffed pants. Crewneck sweaters are another go-to piece, often paired with black joggers or distressed denim.
As mentioned before, the style is heavily reliant on solid colors, at times incorporating checkerboard prints as well. Aside from clothing, you’ll find fashion accessories such as chain belts or wallets, beanies, and white tube socks featuring prominently as part of the aesthetics.
5. Grunge Aesthetics
Another aesthetic to have emerged from the 90s is that of Grunge. The era was known for having ushered in a new genre of music that took the industry by storm.
Bands such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and the like had a massive influence on the style, which revolves around dark and somber shades.
In essence, the style has a laid-back and carefree feel to it, one that some might even consider as an anti-fashion fashion.
The main staple of this aesthetic includes baggy clothes such as oversized jackets and flannel shirts.
Ripped jeans are also part and parcel of the grunge style. You can incorporate and experiment with graphic tees, oversized hoodies, and cotton chinos.
To round off the look, you’d need a great pair of kicks, and Dr. Martens’s brand of footwear is a great option for that.
Combat boots and platform sneakers are the go-to options when it comes to shoes.
6. Cottagecore Aesthetics
Cottagecore aesthetics is a style perhaps used interchangeably with others, such as the soft boy aesthetic.
But rather than being a fashion style, Cottagecore is more of a lifestyle. In essence, it romanticizes the past and, therefore, has a vintage vibe.
The main inspiration for this style comes from the past, about the lives which were frittered away in simplicity doing labor and farm work.
Having said that, it incorporates clothing items such as flannel shirts or ones with plaid patterns.
Tweed is the most preferred material for the items for the reason that it has a natural, somewhat rustic feel about it.
Men’s denim overalls, although seemingly childish, can augment a farmer-like style often associated with Cottagecore.
Other staples include wearing button-up shirts along with suspenders and simple plaid pants. A waistcoat or vest is something that can also reinforce the masculine aspect of the aesthetics.
Though cottagecore as a fashion style is feminine and associated more with women than men, the overall aesthetics have become gender-neutral in recent times.
The colors and shades best associated with cottagecore are those which are bright and neutral such as green, brown, and off whites.
7. Athletic Aesthetic
Athletic, as the name suggests, is an aesthetic style wherein casualwear is coupled with elements of athleticwear.
At the center of it lies the need to sport workout clothing which has a style quotient as well.
Athletic fashion sets itself apart from other styles due to its emphasis on a superior fit.
Having said that, if you wish to incorporate athletic aesthetics, you must do away with baggy clothes. That is because streamlined silhouettes appear to give off a more fit and well-built figure.
The style is easy to follow because the majority of athletic wear is the mainstay of everyday fashion. That includes basic lightweight tees and slim-cut sweatshirts accompanied with a pair of sweatpants or joggers.
Outerwear is given a special emphasis in this style, offering various options for those wanting to experiment. Varsity and bomber jackets are the most preferred option in that regard.
Classic running shoes from the house of Nike or Adidas, or any other sportswear company for that matter, will round off the complete athletic look.
Because the athletic aesthetic is about mobility just as much as style, performance and flexible fabrics such as polyester and nylon are made use of to create the majority of the clothing item.
8. Gothic Aesthetic
The gothic style needs no introduction at this point. It has been part of the fashion scene for as long as people can remember.
Though it’s not a style for everyone, it’s one that must be experimented with at least once.
It’s a style that incorporates black and somber themes and is heavily reliant on dark, somewhat mysterious features. But then again, it’s not just as simple as wearing all black.
The Gothic aesthetic is also about accessorizing and layering, incorporating elements such as exotic hairstyles and makeups.
In terms of main items of clothing, gothic enthusiasts should obviously stick to black. Look for shirts and tops that fit tighter and come in fewer details.
If at all you like having graphic designs, go with occult images of skulls and goat heads, crosses, etc.
As for pants, black denim is the best option that doesn’t hang loosely below the beltline. You can experiment more and integrate the pants with zippers and chains along with the belts.
Though black canvas sneakers are also a great addition to the overall gothic aesthetic, the goth look is best epitomized by boots.
You can go for boots made by Dr. Martens or New Rock to round off the perfect goth look, subverting traditional expectations.
9. Biker Aesthetics
There prevails a certain misconception around the Biker aesthetic. Most often, it is associated with a biker or the bike itself, but at best, it’s a style statement that epitomizes the attitude revolving around the subculture.
Having said that, it’s not necessary per se that you should be a biker to pull off the biker aesthetics. Even so, being one is certainly an added advantage.
Because the aesthetic is all about toughness and sex appeal, it shares many resemblances with the bad boy aesthetic.
The main staples of this style include basic tee shirts and tight-fitting ripped blue jeans with chains on them.
As outerwear, a flashy leather jacket, ones which are also bright in color such as red, gives off the perfect rugged and edgy look.
It’s a style statement that is being appropriated even by fashion-forward men who aren’t necessarily bikers but like the tougher appearance of it all.
10. Emo Aesthetics
Emo is another subculture that needs no introduction, popular as it has been since the early 2000s on the back of punk influences. A fad most popular with teen boys, incorporating emo aesthetics is not that hard.
The main staples include striped tops and tees and skinny jeans. Besides outfits, there is equal emphasis on makeup, even for guys, to pull off the perfect emo aesthetic.
Be it choppy hair, painted nails, or black eye-liners, and you need to put effort into makeup to get the authentic emo appearance.
Other major items of accessories include rubber bracelets, blade necklaces, arm warmers, and even studded belts.
11. Classy Casual Aesthetic
The aesthetic is a toned-down version of the business attire, meaning it has a more liberating aspect. It’s not as rigid and formal as basic office wear but offers a professional setup and a style quotient.
You can start off with a tight and tailored blazer underneath, which you can incorporate into a button-down shirt, preferably in monochromatic colors. Other variants of the aesthetic can also imply the inclusion of tight-fitting turtleneck sweaters.
A pair of crisp, cotton chinos would be perfect to complete the clothing items. There’s nothing better than loafers and Oxford shoes as far as footwear is concerned.
Other variants of the aesthetic can also imply the inclusion of tight-fitting turtleneck sweaters. All such items can make way for a perfectly slim and sleek look.
Conclusion
We’ve come to the end of our listing of the best aesthetic boy outfits with that. We hope that after going through this article, you’ll be able to understand the finer nuances of fashion.
Before incorporating any style or aesthetic, it’s important to understand what one is looking for and why.
If you want to channel the inner fashionista in you, then you have all the more reasons to go through our listing to find out what style suits you best.
And while some of the styling needs might end up costing you a bit, it’s a small price to pay considering the increasing importance of aesthetics in everyday life.
We are sure you’ll be able to pull off a great look in whatever style you choose. After all, fashion is all about confidence just as much as style.