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Man trend that no one can stop

There’s a trend that just won’t go away and no newly divorced man is safe from it.

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There’s nothing I love more in life than observing a newly divorced man’s unexpected wardrobe choices.

A-lister Ben Affleck recently decided to wear aviators like he’d just been inspired by Top Gun, get his hair cut into a mini Mohawk, and wear a leather jacket.

Affleck looked like James Dean if he’d joined a mid-2000s grunge band that wasn’t very good.

Of course, the shake-up comes after there have been so many reports; seriously, at this point, there are too many reports to count that he and Jennifer Lopez are heading for divorce.

Obviously, we can’t say that this outfit confirms it.

But starting to dress like a teenager who read Anthony Kiedis’ scar tissue doesn’t exactly scream, “I’m in a happy marriage and doing great.”

Ben Affleck chose chaos with this look. Pictue: BACKGRID
Ben Affleck chose chaos with this look. Pictue: BACKGRID
Not long ago Jennifer Lopez posted this photo of Ben. Picture: Instagram/JenniferLopez
Not long ago Jennifer Lopez posted this photo of Ben. Picture: Instagram/JenniferLopez

Affleck isn’t the only leading man to go through a break-up and then suddenly start dressing like a teenage version of themselves.

Even Brad Pitt has gone through this journey.

Angelina Jolie and Pitt went their separate ways in 2016, and that is when he decided to work on himself. Well, maybe, but he also thought now it is time to embrace fashion.

Suddenly, Pitt - who used to rely heavily on the fact that his cheekbones were the kind eastern suburbs women would pay good money to copy as his main wardrobe accessory - thought, ‘nah it is time to dress like a teen’.

Brad Pitt used to dress more sleek. Picture: Wire
Brad Pitt used to dress more sleek. Picture: Wire
And now he has gone in this direction. Picture: Ben Kriemann/Getty Images for Sony Pictures
And now he has gone in this direction. Picture: Ben Kriemann/Getty Images for Sony Pictures

Forget a suit and tie; Pitt was all about loose shirt and a matching brown set which made him look more like he was about to ditch a uni lecture than go on a red carpet.

The skirt is a vibe, but the high socks on a grown man are a cry for help.

It was big divorced dad energy. Suddenly, Mum’s not around to dress him anymore, and he started getting experimental.

We’ve also seen this happen with Chris Pratt.

After divorcing Anna Faris in 2017, he went very gym bro.

When he married Faris, Pratt dressed like a hot man who didn’t know how to dress himself, making him even hotter.

Chris Pratt is now full gym bro. Picture: Instagram/ChrisPratt
Chris Pratt is now full gym bro. Picture: Instagram/ChrisPratt
He used to take a more casual approach. Picture: Michael Buckner/Getty Images
He used to take a more casual approach. Picture: Michael Buckner/Getty Images

He’d wear polos on red carpets and occasionally try to be fashionable by wearing odd little hats.

He just oozed the energy of a man who wasn’t trying.

Then boom, he was single, and suddenly, it was all gym shorts, half-naked photos on Instagram, and always looking like he should be holding a protein shake.

Even Hugh Jackman needs to be discussed.

He has ditched the hot, rugged man with a beard thing and is now wearing white pants and posting far too much on Instagram.

Hugh used to rock a beard. Picture: Instagram/HughJackman
Hugh used to rock a beard. Picture: Instagram/HughJackman
Now he is more coastal finance bro. Picture: by Cindy Ord/Getty Images
Now he is more coastal finance bro. Picture: by Cindy Ord/Getty Images

He has gone from dressing like a hot Aussie to a coastal finance bro.

It isn’t that it looks bad because Jackon could never not look hot but it does scream “I’m going through something”.

Gavin Rossdale is another victim of this sad man trend but with a grim twist.

After he called it quits with Gwen Stefani in 2015, he continued to dress like himself, a rocker that isn’t afraid to rock a necklace.

But then he started doing something even weirder than changing his style.

Yes, she looks like his ex. Picture: HEM / BACKGRID
Yes, she looks like his ex. Picture: HEM / BACKGRID
Gavin Rossdale and Gwen Stefani when they were married. Picture: Jordan Strauss/Getty Images for MOCA/AFP
Gavin Rossdale and Gwen Stefani when they were married. Picture: Jordan Strauss/Getty Images for MOCA/AFP

He started dating Xhoana X, who looks freakishly like his ex-wife. It isn’t just that she looks like her, she dresses like Stefani too. People have types.

She’s all a little bit grungy meets quirky meets much bleached blonde hair.

So yes, he hasn’t had a style overhaul but the fact he is still dressing the same as when he was married and dating his ex-wife’s doppelganger just makes photos of him look like a weird time capsule of his marriage.

Men get divorced and start dressing a little weird, and there’s nothing we can do to stop them. Just like any mate going through a break-up, we have to be there for them … and try not to judge them too much.

Originally published as Man trend that no one can stop

Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/lifestyle/fashion/divorced-man-trend-that-no-one-can-stop/news-story/cea510ae3e7024b78d5ab41aa66e564b