Fashion may evolve, but queer taste? Immaculate, eternal, and usually ahead of the curve.
LGBTQ+ people have long been cultural tastemakers shaping fashion, music, art, nightlife, and aesthetics that the mainstream eventually copies, waters down, and sells back to us at a markup. But even icons get nostalgic. And lately, many gays are looking at today’s baggy silhouettes, phone-addicted manners, and “effortless” grime-core aesthetics and wondering: where did the hot go?
So we asked: What trends do you wish would come back?
The answers were horny, heartfelt, and occasionally grumpy in the best possible way.
The Death of Tight Jeans (And the Rise of Grief)
“Tight jeans from the ’70s. Miss seeing a man with a great ass cupped in stretched denim. Also, a bulge you can actually see.” Seph, Iowa
Skinny jeans once did what gray sweatpants do now: tell a story without saying a word. They celebrated legs, backsides, and yes geometry. The pendulum may have swung toward baggy cargos, but many gays are still mourning the loss of denim that worked overtime.
Daniel from Brooklyn echoed the sentiment, declaring skinny jeans “the equivalent of gray sweatpants” and refusing to retire his pairs despite Gen Z’s protests. Honestly? Hero behavior.
Platform Shoes: Justice for Short Kings
“’70s platform shoes. They were a blast!” PJ, NYC
Platforms weren’t just fashion they were architecture. A gift to short kings, disco lovers, and anyone who believes confidence should start at the feet. In an era obsessed with flat sneakers and dad shoes, the yearning for height, drama, and unapologetic glam is real.
Masculinity, Reclaimed (And Tailored)
“Barrel-chested men in suits. Yum!” Kane, Kentucky
There’s something timeless about a broad man in a well-fitted suit shoulders sharp, waist defined, intention clear. It’s not about conformity; it’s about craft. Clothes that say, “I showed up on purpose.”
When Gay Trends Stopped Being Ours
“The world used to look at the gay world and take our trends. Now gay men have taken over straight men’s trends. I don’t like it!” Damyon, San Diego
Damyon is pointing to a real cultural shift. As straight men adopt short shorts, painted nails, and gym-core aesthetics, some queer men have swung toward rugged, hyper-masculine looks mullets, baggy cargos, workwear chic.
We wear it better, obviously. But the identity whiplash is real.
Crop Tops, Bulges & Confidence
“Men in crop tops. I need every day to look like the baseball scene in Sleepaway Camp.” Finnick, Virginia
Crop tops are back and thriving. Paired with baggy pants or tight jeans, they signal confidence, body positivity, and a refusal to hide joy. Add a visible bulge and suddenly fashion becomes community service.
Phones Down, Faces Up
“I miss when people actually talked at restaurants instead of staring at their phones.” Matt, New York
Beyond clothes, many gays miss presence. Eye contact. Conversations uninterrupted by scrolling. Respect for servers, drivers, and people existing off-camera. Kind of radical, actually.
Grooming Wars: To Shave or Not to Shave
“Shaving. It’s cleaner.” Alan, England
Facial hair may dominate right now, but there’s a quiet contingent longing for smooth faces and tidy lines. Trends cycle. Razors await their comeback.
Pajamas in Public? Let’s Discuss.
“I am SO over pajamas and slippers worn everywhere.” Rad, Rhode Island
Comfort is valid. Total surrender is questionable. There’s a middle ground between tailored elegance and looking like you escaped the house during a fire drill.
And the Trend We Need Most
“Kindness.” Zac, Pennsylvania
No notes. No irony. Just yes.
In a world obsessed with aesthetics, algorithms, and attention, kindness remains the most timeless look of all.
Fashion will continue to change. Trends will recycle. Skinny jeans will rise again. Platforms will stomp back onto dance floors. Bulges will re-emerge, unashamed.
And when they do?
The gays will be ready.