Millennial men spend almost two hours a week planning what to wear – largely due to social media pressure

SAM | 13th September 2018

 

Researchers found 15 minutes of every day is spent rummaging through the wardrobe and laying out an array of outfits.

 

The biggest concerns during this super stressful quarter of an hour include ‘is my outfit appropriate for where I’m going?’ and ‘have I worn this too recently?’.

 

‘Does my top match these trousers?’ and ‘does this fit me properly?’ are other key considerations during their endless quest to impress friends and followers.

 

The research of 1,000 men aged 18 to 34 was commissioned by Oxfam to support its menswear campaign which is being launched by their ambassador, Simon Pegg.

 

 

The 48 year old actor, writer and producer recently donated some of his clothes to the charity for sale through its online shop.

 

He said: “Clothes are one way I express my personality so, like lots of people, I want to feel good as well as look good in what I wear.

 

”That’s why I support Oxfam fashion, which raises money to help the world’s poorest people.

 

“Some of my favourite clothes have come from charity shops, and I’ve recently donated what’s spare in my wardrobe to Oxfam.

 

“I hope those donations make someone else look and feel good, because they were given and will be bought with the intention of making the world a kinder, fairer place.

 

“Oxfam recycles all its donated clothes one way or other, so nothing ends up littering the environment as landfill. I think that’s really cool too.”

 

 

The research also found 45 per cent are self-proclaimed followers of fashion. And two thirds take their image so seriously they’ll plan what to wear in advance.

 

This could be because 72 per cent believe others care about what they are wearing. Half make an extra effort to dress a certain way due to the pressure of looking good on social media.

 

While 58 per cent think the best way to express their personality is through their fashion choices.

 

It also emerged men shop for clothes on average nine times a month, five times in high street shops and four times online.

 

And in doing so they purchase three new items per month spending an average of £413 a year. They also ‘window shop’ at least twice a week.

 

Around half of millennial men already buy clothes from charity shops – and a further 42 per cent would consider doing so.

 

A fifth purchase items from charity shops for environmental and ethical reasons, 57 per cent do so to support a good cause and two thirds ‘like a bargain.’

 

Two thirds of those polled take an active interest in what men are wearing on TV, in movies and on social media.

 

However, a fifth are most influenced by their partner, closely followed by what their friends are wearing.

 

Carried out by One Poll, the research found half try to wear a completely different outfit every day. Almost nine in 10 men say they feel more able than ever before to express themselves through their wardrobe choice.

 

More than half say what they wear is one of the most important things to them.

 

Fee Gilfeather, head of customer experience for Oxfam, said: “This survey shows men are more interested that ever in the image they present. They invest time thinking about what they want to wear and shopping, so it makes total sense that they also love a bargain.

 

“Our shops are full of affordable men’s clothes all kindly donated by people like Simon. You can see why so many millennial men already love charity shopping. We hope more people explore what individual styles they can create in our shops.”