A subtle yet noticeable shift in men’s style is emerging, driven by the popularity of the quarterzip, which has become a symbol of maturity and discipline among teenage boys and young men. The trend, largely fueled by social media, reflects a shift in society towards a more polished and put-together look as many young men trade in their formal “Nike Tech” streetwear for this new fashion statement.
The trend was sparked by influencer Charlie Boy, whose video quickly went viral with millions of views. The video featured Charlie switching his all-red Nike Tech look to a more presentable look, topped off with a quarter zip, claiming it’s a “lifestyle.” This style switch didn’t just influence Charlie, as many other videos emerged, where creators shared their own style transformations, resulting in a massive trend. TikTokers @whois.jason and @Richdafifth posted a video on November 6th that quickly went viral. Both dressed in quarter zips, Jason said his friend wanted to go out wearing a Nike Tech. “We don’t do Nike Techs, we don’t do coffee. It’s straight quarter zips and matcha around here,” Jason said in response.
The trend has generated over 38,000 posts with the hashtag #quarterzip, collectively reaching over 50 million views. What started as a subtle joke online has quickly turned into a cultural wave of mature style. Students have noticed the impact firsthand, describing how the trend has transformed the look and demeanor of their classmates.“It turned people who wore streetwear into more elegant and more classy-dressed individuals,” freshman Miles Shelton said.
Even though the trend has begun to die off on social media, the style still seems to stick. Around the hallways of Benilde- St. Margaret’s, men have been influenced by this popular style shift and taken it upon themselves to wear quarterzips, too. Especially on school mass days, it’s hard not to spot a male in a quarterzip throughout the school. This not only demonstrates a shift to a more put-together and mature style but also the influence social media trends have on societal trends. If something goes viral on social media and is perceived as a positive label, such as the quarterzip, it is likely to influence others who see this trend to participate in it, allowing them to feel a part of it. Style trends that influence a certain gender are also not new, as the internet doesn’t stop influencing others. “I feel like trends influencing what people wear aren’t really new. Like, there’s always been trends that affect what people wear,” sophomore Sarah Cronk said.