Dad style is in! A guide to Dadcore and cool-dad-dressing

We never thought this day would come, but in 2024 dressing like your dad is actually pretty cool. The “Dadcore” aesthetic has been ruling streetwear since around 2018 when awkward, ugly-chic dad sneakers—like the New Balance 990s—became a fashion staple. Cargo shorts, relaxed-fit denim, and even the infamous socks and sandals combo: everything in your old man’s closet is up for grabs.

There’s an art to the madness, though, and dressing like your pop is no easy feat. As they say, anyone can be a father, but it takes a real man to be a cool dad.

A good understanding of proportions is the key to acing the cool dad look: an oversized fit is what will take your look from regular dad to cool dad. Case in point, Adam Sandler is the undisputed king of summer dressing: his uniform comprising of an oversized tee, baggy basketball shorts, and sporty sunglasses perfectly embodies Dadcore, or better, Sandlercore.

Now that we’ve got the basics out of the way, it’s time to build the perfect Dadcore outfit. Here are the staples every cool dad needs in their wardrobe.

From mowing the lawn to going out for an iced latte on a Saturday morning, every respectable cool dad needs some uncool dad sneakers. The aforementioned New Balance 990s are a great pick, but so is any pair that puts function over form (we love a good arch support).

Socks and sandals are the epitome of dad style… often not in a good way. The trick to making the look work is having the right pieces, namely a pair of fashion-forward, Gorpcore-inspired practical sandals, like KEEN’s UNEEK or the Hoka Hoparas.

Sporty wraparound sunglasses have been a huge trend in the spectacles world since last year, and they add the right amount of coolness to any dad outfit. No one can judge you for your cargo shorts + white crew socks + sandals if you’re wearing Balenciaga sunnies. Just saying.

Dadcore is at its, well, core all about comfort, ease, and practicality. Relaxed-fit denim ranging from the classic Levi’s 501 and 557 to super oversized silhouettes—take notes from this Cole Sprouse look at London Fashion Week last September—is the key to achieving maximum cool-dad status.

The same applies to short pants, like cargo and denim shorts. An ultra-baggy pair of shorts that reaches the knee is also reminiscent of 90s and early 2000s hip-hop fashion, which surely contributes to the cool factor. Cargo shorts, on the other hand, are perfect when paired with oversized casualwear à la Adam Sandler.