Fashion and Subversion

One theme that emerges constantly in my study of menswear and fashion is subversion. Fashion often reflects the cultural zeitgeist, and many trends emerge as a reaction against the mainstream.

Streetwear, for instance, emerged from a fusion of New York’s hip-hop culture and California’s skateboarding scene - two niche subcultures that valued uniqueness, creativity, and challenging the status quo. The streetwear aesthetic, with its sneakers, oversized t-shirts, and workwear, reflected the outsider status of these subcultures.

I also wrote about the history of T-shirts recently. They originated as undergarments, before being adopted by the military. Eventually, t-shirts became a garment of choice for rebels, as wearing what was once considered an undergarment publicly took on a subversive nature.

A recent trend in the workforce is called “corpcore,” which refers to young professionals, particularly those from Generation Z, dressing in business casual attire for their remote jobs. This is a shift from the ultra-casual work-from-home (WFH) style that became prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite working remotely, they’re ironically adopting a more formal, corporate-like aesthetic, wearing items like blazers, button-down shirts, and ties.