By skyforbes 
You have probably come across a few posts online about a “performative man”. Usually, this will describe a guy who likes to dress a certain way, collect Labubus, drink his matcha, carry around a tote bag, and listen to a variety of female artists (usually Clairo or Beabadoobee). These posts have become so popular in fact that Seattle hosted the first ever “performative male competition”. So if you are looking to win one of these competitions or curious about what a performative male looks like, let’s break down how you can look performative!
How Do You Dress “Performative”?
As a performative person, you don’t want to look like a rugged casual dresser. To fully embrace your performative self, you’ll want to dress “not like other guys”. Here are some good options to follow
Cropped Shirts
An essential piece in your wardrobe, the cropped tee tells everyone else that you have a sense of style. You know your proportions well, and you are not afraid to step outside of your comfort zone. If the shirt is also a niche artist concert tee, then this adds more points to your performative look.
Button-up shirts
Whether it’s a camp collar or a long-sleeve shirt, you can easily pair this with your cropped tee to add some layering. This once again shows that you know your style and don’t dress like “the other guys”.
Wide Jeans or Shorts
Any pair of wide jeans or shorts will do just fine. However, keep in mind that the wider the better. This will further add to your knowledge of style by adding a contrast to your cropped tee.
Loafers or Any Smart Shoes
Lastly, you’re gonna want to grab your smartest piece of footwear that you own. Loafers or derby shoes add a smart look that will counter your cropped tee and denim look. Check out my 5 tips on loafers if you’re really interested in getting into loafer wear!
Accessorize
Finally, to add the cherry on top, add as many rings as you can find. Each finger should have at least one ring on it, and bonus points if you choose to layer your rings, too. Remember, you want to act as though you know what you are doing with your outfit. On top of rings, find a pendant or necklace. If you wanna be bold, you can choose to have the necklace be a different color.
For the finishing touches, grab any sort of shoulder bag, again, bonus points if you have a tote bag. Finally, clip on a keyring with as many keychains as possible, or if you really want to show how performative you are, attach your Labubu instead.
How can you Act Performative?
So you have your cropped tees and your loafers on and you’re ready to show the world how performative you are! But wait, there is still much to learn before you can truly call yourself a “performative person”.
Stop for Matcha
Before you step foot into any establishment, you must always stop by your local coffee or tea shop and purchase a matcha drink to go along with your outfit. You might be asking, Why do I need a matcha drink? Well, honestly, I don’t know. However, my assumption here is that TikTok exposed this drink to a larger audience. So much so that there seems to be a shortage of matcha supply!
Additionally, this adds to the “I’m not like other people” aesthetic. While they are sipping on their coffee, you’re over here with your match in hand.
Vibe with Performative Music + Earbuds
So you got your matcha, now it’s time to listen to some tunes while you’re out and about in the city! As a performative person, your goal is to like the things that other guys would not like. Some common artists that you can jam out to are Clairo, Beabadoobee, Olivia Rodrigo, and Chapell Roan. Also, remember you are trying to be niche here, so also make sure that you use wired earbuds. So put away those AirPods and Sony headphones.
Bring a Book (Yes, Really)
So you got your matcha and you’re playing some really good tunes, what do you do now? Well, you reach into your tote bag and reach for a book that you always carry around! So grab yourself a seat near your local coffee shop or at a park bench and catch up on some literature.
Congratulations, You are Now Performative!
All jokes aside, I think this performative aesthetic trend is a really funny way for other people to try and experiment with things that they normally wouldn’t do. Even The New York Times reported on this, too. Maybe this opens up the door for you to try out cropped looks or loafers. Maybe it allows for your music mindset to open up (Beabadoobee is actually really good). So, to be performative on purpose or not, I hope this post gave a couple of laughs here and there.