I’m 30. Why Am I Taking Style Cues From an 18-Year-Old?

As someone who’s often veered towards an all-black wardrobe, I’m inspired to recreate Barker’s outfits. It’s a nostalgic feeling, if anything: I once dressed just like him at the height of emo/scene fashion back in the 2000s. Only problem is: I’m not 18 anymore. Is it sad to be revisiting my angsty teenage wardrobe? I asked some friends for their opinions. My best friend Nadine says, “I don’t think his style is too young for you; Inspiration lives everywhere. That’s the beauty of personal style.” My colleague, production and editorial coordinator Irene Kim, echoes the sentiment. “Landon is a Gen Z punk It boy in the making, so why wouldn’t everyone be following his style tricks? Everyone, including millennials, can learn a tip or two from him.”

Another colleague, fashion news writer José Criales Unzueta, even argues that his style isn’t really that young. “The bottom line is that Landon is dressing a lot more like his own father than any other 18 year old…So really, by dressing like him, you’re dressing like his dad, and a long line of very cool men who are definitely older than 18.” He also adds, “The funny thing about this too, is that this aesthetic is defined by men older than 18—but it is inspired by youth culture (see: anything by Raf Simons, really, or labels like R13).”