The Look of Becoming: Black Menswear
What appears to be a shift in personal style is actually a deeper cultural evolution. As Gen Z enters professional life, young Black and Brown men are redefining what it means to grow up, show up, and claim space, with intention, confidence, and purpose.
What looks, on the surface, like a change in how young men present themselves is, in reality, a quiet transformation in how they see themselves. This moment isn’t about fashion, it’s about growth. In an era where presentation once again carries meaning, how one shows up has become a reflection of readiness, self-respect, and earned confidence.
At the center of this shift is Black Menswear, a platform that has long treated style as an extension of mindset. More than documenting looks, the brand has helped reshape the conversation around maturity and presence. Through community-driven storytelling, cultural context, and intentional visibility, Black Menswear has reframed what it means for young Black men to “look the part, not for validation, but as an act of alignment with who they are becoming.
Across cities and social feeds alike, the evolution is unmistakable. The aesthetic of hyper-casual uniformity is giving way to something more deliberate. What may appear to be a surface-level refinement is actually a deeper narrative about identity, belonging, and the quiet pride that comes with leveling up. This isn’t performative polish. It’s personal growth made visible.
For Gen Z, many are navigating first jobs, first paychecks, and first moments in professional spaces, and appearance has become a visual language of intention. It signals presence without excess, confidence without noise, and ambition without apology. For young Black men in particular, this evolution carries added weight. It represents a move away from being culturally defined toward self-definition—embracing structure without sacrificing authenticity, and maturity without losing identity.
What began as a visible shift online has now moved decisively into the real world. Earlier this month, Black Menswear brought the conversation to life with a flash mob menswear activation in Los Angeles, an unscripted, public moment that stopped passersby and reframed how modern masculinity, maturity, and presence can occupy space. The activation wasn’t about spectacle for spectacle’s sake. It was a declaration: this evolution is happening now, in public, and on its own terms.
The Los Angeles flash mob underscored something larger than style. It demonstrated how this movement has grown beyond digital discourse and into a shared cultural experience. Men from different backgrounds, professions, and stages of life gathered with a unified sense of intention, signaling that this shift isn’t isolated—it’s collective. What once lived in comment sections and social feeds has become embodied, visible, and impossible to ignore.
This is the difference between a trend and a phenomenon. Trends circulate. Phenomena mobilize.
This evolution didn’t happen by accident, nor did it remain confined to screens. Few people have had a clearer vantage point on this moment than Evan Marshall, COO of Black Menswear. As the platform continues to shape how young Black men see themselves—and how they choose to show up—Marshall has witnessed this transformation unfold both online and in real life.
In conversation with The Garnette Report, Marshall reflects on how this shift became a phenomenon, the responsibility that comes with visibility, and why this moment is ultimately less about fashion and more about becoming.
Evan Marshall, COO of Black Menswear, In Conversation
Zoey: What cultural shift is happening among Black and Brown youth right now?
Evan Marshall: Right now, we’re seeing a major shift toward intentionality. Black and Brown youth are choosing to show up in the world with more purpose—whether that’s in their style, their mindset, or their ambitions. They’re not trying to fit into an identity that was defined for them. They’re shaping one that reflects who they’re becoming. This generation is stepping into adulthood earlier and with more self-awareness, and it shows in the way they carry themselves. It’s less about signaling cool and more about signaling growth.
Zoey: What moment made you realize this movement was bigger than fashion?
Evan Marshall:It clicked for me when I started seeing young Black men online joking about leaving “YN-core” behind, but beneath the comedy, there was real pride. You could tell they weren’t just putting on a different outfit—they were stepping into a new phase of life. That was when I realized we weren’t witnessing a trend, but a generational milestone.
Zoey: Why are young Black men gravitating toward pieces that signal maturity and structure?
Evan Marshall: Aspirational style has changed. Structure feels like the new luxury. Many of these young men are entering their first jobs, internships, or leadership roles. The polished look isn’t just aesthetics; it’s confidence, readiness, and control over their narrative.
Zoey: What deeper story does the shift from tech suits to more refined looks tell?
Evan Marshall: It’s about self-definition. Young Black men are making intentional decisions about how they want to be seen and how they see themselves. It’s a subtle but powerful rejection of stereotypes.
Zoey: How is Gen Z rewriting what adulthood looks like?
Evan Marshall: They don’t see adulthood as losing yourself. They see it as becoming more intentional. Growing up isn’t about age; it’s about arriving at a mindset.
Zoey: How does Black Menswear support intentional dressing as self-affirmation?
Evan Marshall: We create spaces where Black men can show up as their best selves and be celebrated. From flash mobs to partnerships with Dillard University, My Brother’s Keeper, and Florida Memorial University, everything we do reinforces that their growth deserves to be seen.
Zoey: Is this shift reactive or proactive?
Evan Marshall: It’s proactive. This is evolution, not rebellion. They’re saying, “I’m not who I was, and I’m proud of who I’m becoming.”
Zoey: What does evolution look like for the modern Black man today?
Evan Marshall: It appears that self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and intention, being rooted in culture while building something new, play a crucial role.
What’s happening right now isn’t loud, and it isn’t forced. It’s a quiet recalibration. Young Black and Brown men are choosing intention—how they move, how they present, how they define success. It manifests in small decisions and public moments alike, from everyday professional spaces to flash mobs that transform sidewalks into powerful statements.
Black Menswear hasn’t created this shift—it’s amplified it. By giving visibility to growth, pride, and self-definition, the platform has helped document a generation that is no longer waiting to be understood. They are arriving fully formed, grounded in who they are and confident in who they’re becoming.
This isn’t about dressing up or growing out of anything. It’s about stepping forward with clarity. And once you see it, you realize it’s already everywhere.
photo credits: NolanRoy