Is men’s fashion in Charlotte that bad? TikTok says yes. What do you think?
A Charlotte TikToker may have touched a nerve when he declared that men’s fashion in the Queen City is, well, trash.
Earlier this year, TikTok creator Steffy posted a video criticizing what he sees as the city’s unofficial male uniform: polos, khaki shorts or pants, quarter-zips and Patagonia vests. His verdict? Charlotte men need to step it up.
“The men in Charlotte simply cannot dress,” he said in the video.
And plenty of people agreed.
The video may have been aimed at younger men, but Charlotte’s unofficial uniform of polos, khakis and quarter-zips isn’t exactly exclusive to millennials and Gen Z.
“This is quarter-zip finance capital. It’s never going away here,” one commenter said.
“Help my boyfriend … we have way too many polos in this apartment,” another wrote.
The post quickly filled with users poking fun at the city’s finance-bro aesthetic, joking that you can spot half of South End and uptown by their matching quarter-zips and golf shirts alone.
To be fair, Charlotte has some built-in fashion challenges. For much of the year, it’s hot, humid and sticky. A lot of residents also work in banking, consulting and corporate jobs where business-casual still reigns supreme. Practicality often wins over runway inspiration.
Still, commenters said there’s a difference between dressing comfortably and looking like you’re headed to a networking event at all times.
Whether you see Charlotte men as stylishly understated or trapped in an endless cycle of quarter-zips, one thing is clear: the conversation struck a chord.
And somewhere in South End, a Patagonia vest just got a little self-conscious.
What do you think? Is Charlotte’s men’s fashion unfairly criticized, or are we truly a city of quarter-zips and khakis? Email me at emoore@charlotteobserver.com with your hottest take.
This story was originally published June 9, 2026 at 6:30 AM.
