This week You! shares how you can take inspo from your fathers closet and turn it into something stylish…
Alot of everyday dressing starts from home, often without any real intention behind it. A shirt picked up from a father’s wardrobe, jeans that fit differently but still get worn or sandals that end up replacing everything else because they simply work. Over time, these small choices turn into familiarity and familiarity turns into a clear influence on personal style.
That is where ‘dadcore’ enters. It is not a planned style direction but a reading of clothing that has always been around. A father’s wardrobe usually stays consistent over the years, built on repeat pieces, practical decisions and comfort-first dressing.
Dadcore follows the same logic. It is built on relaxed fits, neutral tones and clothes worn without overthinking. Jeans usually stay straight or loose, shirts are simple cotton or linen worn casually and shalwar kameez carries the same ease in soft fabrics and muted colours. Footwear and layering stay practical, with sneakers, sandals or loafers doing most of the work.
With Father’s Day coming up on 21 June this year, it also becomes a reminder of how familiar these clothing choices already are and how often they appear in everyday life without being labelled. This week You! shares how you can take inspo from your fathers closet and turn it into something stylish…
The dad jeans
Jeans in dadcore dressing usually lean towards straight or relaxed fits that feel easy through the day without needing constant adjustment. Choose straight or relaxed fit jeans that you can wear through the day without thinking about them. Go for cuts that stay consistent rather than changing with every trend cycle. These work best when your day moves between errands, work and casual plans, because they don’t demand attention or adjustment. Pair them with simple cotton T-shirts or polos that keep things minimal in tone and design. Add a button-down shirt on top when you need an extra layer, worn open or loosely tucked so it adds shape without feeling styled. Let everything fall naturally instead of adjusting or over-arranging. Keep footwear practical and repeatable. White sneakers work across most outfits, loafers add a slightly sharper edge when needed and sandals fit warmer or more relaxed days. Stick to a small rotation so the look stays consistent without effort.
Shirts he would
approve of
Wear button-down shirts in cotton or linen that you can return to often without them feeling repetitive. Stick to checks, stripes or plain neutral shades instead of anything too loud or overly designed. Keep the fit slightly relaxed so it moves easily without looking oversized on purpose. Style them in a way that feels unforced. Roll up the sleeves when it makes sense, leave the collar open when you want ease and don’t overthink how often you repeat them. Wear the same shirt across different days if it works, because repetition is part of how this style functions rather than something to avoid.
Straight out of his closet
Use shalwar kameez as a base that already fits into comfort-led dressing. Choose cotton or lawn fabrics that work in everyday weather, especially in shades like white, soft blue, beige and muted grey. Keep the fit relaxed so it allows movement throughout the day without feeling restrictive. Style it in a simple, functional way. Roll the sleeves casually when needed, avoid constant adjusting and keep the overall look steady. Pair it with leather sandals for everyday wear, loafers when you want something slightly sharper or sneakers for a more modern feel. The outfit works best when it feels lived in rather than carefully put together.
Walk like him
Shoes tend to decide how grounded the whole outfit feels, which is why the same few pairs usually end up doing most of the work. They are rarely chosen as statement pieces and are instead kept in steady rotation because they simply fit into everyday life without effort. White sneakers carry most casual looks with ease, loafers step in when the outfit needs a slightly sharper direction and sandals take over on slower, warmer or more relaxed days. What keeps everything consistent is not variety but repetition, where the same shoes return across different outfits and different settings. That repeated use becomes the thread that holds the entire look together.
Layer the dad way
Layering works best when it responds to function rather than being treated as a styling exercise. A shirt gets a light jacket when the weather shifts or when a bit of structure is needed, a T-shirt picks up a cardigan when things feel cooler and shalwar kameez sometimes gets a waistcoat when the setting calls for something slightly more put together. The approach stays simple throughout, with each layer serving a clear purpose rather than being added for visual impact. One additional layer is usually enough to complete the outfit, while anything more starts to feel like it is trying to build something that does not need building. The overall effect works best when it remains easy, direct and unforced.
Colours he never overthinks
The colour story stays rooted in what already exists in most wardrobes, which is why it feels familiar and easy to repeat. Whites, greys, navy, olive and muted browns appear again and again because they work across different outfits without needing coordination or planning. These tones allow the same pieces to be worn repeatedly. When patterns do show up, they stay subtle and controlled, usually in checks or thin stripes that sit within the outfit rather than changing its direction. The result is a wardrobe that can be worn often without ever feeling visually overwhelming.
