8 Dad Style Moves That Are Actually Cool Right Now

Who knew your old man’s steez was ahead of the curve?
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Somewhere along the way, dad style got a bad rap. Maybe it was the not-really-any-fit jeans. Maybe it was the blinding white mall-walk-ready sneakers. Maybe it was the fact that your dad was wearing it.

These days, add "dad" to anything—dad jeans, dad bod, dad style—and you're implying that it's not hip, hopelessly out of touch. Then again, look at things a little more closely and you might realize dad style isn't so off the mark. In fact, your old man's steez might have been predicting the future of menswear all along, pre-cog style. Maybe dad style is actually, on the low, the coolest style out there. We see your doubtful-face emoji and we understand that this sounds...unlikely, if not downright dubious. But we did the research. Below, 8 very cool trends that dads started.

The T-Shirt Tuck##

Left: President "Dad" Obama; right: A$AP Rocky

Getty; Christopher Polk/Getty

Just three weeks ago, we called it: tucking in your T-shirt was the newest style move we stole from dad. While the ultimate dad, President Obama, demonstrated the incorrect way to embrace the trend—with a boxy, limp shirt tucked into some khakis that are seriously questionable on their own—a new generation of street-savvy scenesters has made it theirs, with winning results.


Pleated Pants##

Left: Jim Harabaugh and his infamous khakis; Right: Street style shot from London

Wesley Hitt/Getty; Dan Roberts

After years of slimming, tapering, and generally whittling down the overall menswear silhouette, with the go-to cry to arms being NO PLEATS EVER, the pendulum has started to swing back to a looser, slouchier silhouette that (gasp!) is incorporating the once-forbidden pleat. It started trickling onto runways a few seasons back, and now we're seeing an embrace from forward-thinking aesthetes. Hey, when J.Crew is selling pleated yet slim pants, it's time to reconsider.


Dad Caps##

Left: Larry David; right: Wiz Khalifa

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These hats used to be most commonly seen on the post-retirement set at the local golf course, and yet hip-hop's hottest names are now taking on the once frowned-upon headgear. Chalk it up to the influence of normcore, the un-trend that won't give up.


Stonewashed Jeans##

Left: Jerry Seinfeld; right: Kanye West

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After a decade of lumberjack selvage denim, we needed a break from the dark-dye indigo. The perfect breather is a lighter stonewashed (but not acid-washed) pair—like the ones dear old dad used to sport. Suddenly the look is, well, cool. Just check out the stylish kids in London, New York, and beyond for a glimpse at how these faded hues are starting to make their way back into the fashion landscape. Or, of course, just take your cues from Mr. Kanye West himself.


The Vacation Shirt##

Left: Jack Nicholson; right: Harry Styles

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Designers like Saint Laurent, Valentino, and Louis Vuitton have taken the cheesy tropical-print Hawaiian shirt, à la Tommy Bahama, and given it a fresh spin, slimming down the shape and focusing on spirited yet sophisticated prints.


Dad Sneakers##
Getty; Matt Martin

Thanks to the rise in athleisure, sneakers have gotten some serious attention of late, and it's no big thing to see guys who used to sport only brogues and monk straps don a sportier pair of kicks. If they have some throwback appeal, like many of the styles from Adidas, Nike, and New Balance do, all the better.


Pulled-Up Socks##

Left: Courtesy of Instagram account Fashion Dads; right: Harry Styles

Getty; FameFlynet

Remember the good ol’ days (like two summers ago) when no bearded, man-bun-having hipster would be caught dead with a pair of socks hiding his handsome ankles? Well, dads never subscribed to that ideology. The higher the sock, the closer to style Nirvana was their silent mantra. Now cool kids like Harry Styles and Shia "The Legend" LaBeouf have been spotted embracing the half-calf skater-inspired move. Do dad proud and don't be caught showing ankle this summer.


Fanny Packs##

Right: Valentino, spring/summer 2016 collection

Everett Collection; Getty

Not even we could have predicted this bananas accessory trend. But for those who don't need a briefcase (too corporate) or a backpack (too collegiate) or a tote (too over-the-shoulder-y), consider...wait for it...the fanny pack. Hey, it's small enough to carry the essentials, and you can strap it to your damn body so you'll never forget it.