Bit off-topic, but that sub has always been a prime example of why the argumentum ad populum is a logical fallacy.
Very popular, very bland, inoffensive, boring and vanilla 'fashion'.
I mean, better than walking around in 90s basketball shorts, but if I was forced to dress like someone in the GAP catalogue, I'd feel dead inside.
That's not 'fashion'. That's a smart casual uniform for an office world that is dying post-covid, and for men who primarily want to avoid being noticed for the way they dress.
People who worry about the colour of their belt and shoes not following arbitrary rules, because they're children pretending to be adults, rather than adults who buy and wear clothes that they think look nice and make them look nice, and have run out of fucks to give because they're men not boys.
This comment is far too harsh, I'm being deliberately hyperbolic.
Is it that difficult to let people enjoy finding clothes they like to wear? The subreddit had 5.4 million subscribers. That's 5.4 million people who disagreed with your opinion. Hopefully that gives you some perspective.
People like this love when their elitist or exclusionary opinions are countered by the masses. Just makes them feel even better. Source, I was one of them in my younger days.
I find it depressing that young men feel forced to conform to societal and corporate expectations, rather than developing their own sense of style and buying the clothes they actually want to wear because they're old enough to have run out of fucks to give and lack the confidence to take risks.
I get that in your twenties and thirties, you're at the bottom of the corporate ladder, but live a little.
I mean, imagine if the only ice cream flavour was vanilla. That's what that sub was often like. I mean, it's fashion. Wear something fun or exciting, rather than dressing like an NPC all the time. You also need to live outside the office and you're not losing a promotion because your chinos were the wrong colour.
And I have zero problem with that. Quite the opposite.
Wear full tech wear. Wear a bright orange tracksuit and peacock the shit out of life. Wear a turqoise gown with gold bangles and flounce around like you're Jesus.
But a lot of what that sub was about, wasn't that. It was often about arbitrary rules and stuffy outfits.
Just because an opinion is popular, does not mean it is correct. That is literally the argumentum ad populum logical fallacy.
And having lurked there, many of the people didn't visit to find clothes they liked wearing. The went there to find clothes that would conform to corporate/societal expectations and look 'smart'.
They probably didn't know that you in particular, u/Hyperreality, held this opinion, or they surely wouldn't think this way. Shout your ideas from the rooftops bro. Put in an article in a newspaper. Let the people know and I'm sure they'll come to their senses.
Or they could read any fashion magazine, style guide or ask a woman or a well dressed friend for advice, rather than relying on the advice of internet strangers.
That sub has always been a bit too online. If you want fashion advice, who would you ask? Someone who seems to always look great? Or someone anonymous who spends far too much time on an internet forum?
Have a little fun, buy something that makes you look good and feels comfortable.