By: Yuming Sun

The idea of what a perfect look for a male looks like is changing and evolving. You can thank social media for this. Apps like Tik Tok are changing male beauty standards and stars like British model Ben James are changing the way we view larger men. Ben took part in an advertising campaign for the clothing brand Simply Be in 2019. Ben says that the work he does “gives comfort and confidence to boys and men alike, it tells them that they are wanted and they are worthy.” Actors and famous stars on the big screens influenced the fashion we have today.

Back in the 1900’s “tall, dark and handsome” was considered the beauty standard. These days, a beautiful person with these standards would be actor Michele Morrone. Today, the fashion world is expanding. Pop culture in South Korea has been getting influenced by popular K-pop bands like BTS who are known for their vibrant hair and makeup. This traditional Western standard is now highly sought after and has influenced media since.

Asian beauty standards have also expanded. Model Dae Na says “When I first started there was a handful of Asian models but now you see multiples. Exponentially, it just kind of grew as the industry geared more toward Asian buyers or [the] Asian market.” It is still growing today. Older models have also significantly risen in popularity. Older male models are now being used in advertising campaigns and on runways. According to Orlando Hobechi, “Age isn’t the turn-off it used to be. Over the last 30 years, we’ve seen cool young people age-you can be older now and still cool and relevant… People want to see people who look like themselves represented.”

Fashion in boys has evolved since the 1900s. As decades have passed, social media sites like Tik Tok and online shows have greatly influenced how people dress. Compared to the 1900s, we have gone a long way in fashion and choice. Back then what was considered beauty would be shocking to most people today. Today we have people who have vibrant hair and wear makeup which is highly sought after. All standards have expanded over the years and decades.