We believe dad style isn’t dressing like a dad. It’s dressing as one.
Masculinity is having a moment. Between the rise of the 'manosphere' and the constant noise around what it means to “be a man”, the conversation has become increasingly performative, loud, rigid, and often disconnected from real life. At the same time, fatherhood has quietly evolved. Dads today are more present, more involved, and more visible. They’re not on the sidelines, they’re in it. School runs, work, cooking, weekends, and everything in between.
Culturally, something else has happened too...“Dadcore”, the ironic adoption of stereotypical dad style, has become one of fashion’s most persistent trends. But it’s largely been defined by people who aren’t dads at all. An aesthetic built on exaggeration, nostalgia, and the idea of giving up. There’s something honest in that shift, a rejection of perfection, of algorithm-driven style, of trying too hard. But somewhere along the way, “dad style” became shorthand for not trying at all. And that’s where we see things differently.
Watch below to discover middle age spring styling tips
When did becoming a dad start to mean giving up on style?
Somewhere along the way, menswear decided that fatherhood came with a uniform: three-quarter zips, gilets, performance fabrics, and boring 4 for shirt deals in increasingly poor quality. The result was the slow disappearance of personal taste. It wasn’t intentional. It was just what happened. Brands stopped designing for fathers and started designing at them: functional, forgettable, built to blend in. And fathers accepted it, because there weren’t many alternatives.
But the truth is simple: you didn’t give up on style when you became a dad. Menswear, at times, gave up on you.
The answer is simple: a considered wardrobe
A considered wardrobe is the answer. Built for home, the city, and everything in between.
A hot dad isn’t a contradiction. He’s simply a man who refused to disappear. He dresses for real life: lightweight layers that work across the day, natural fibres that feel good, and pieces that move easily between moments without needing to be changed.
The Uniform of Hot Dads is built on that idea: a modern wardrobe that works wherever life takes you. Not trend-led, but comfortable, quietly confident and always using ecological fibres. At a certain point, you start thinking about the world you're leaving behind, that the choices you make actually matter. This is why we use recycled fibres with lower environmental impact. We avoid synthetics like polyester and elastane, no microplastics on your skin. We work directly with Italian makers who share our values and use renewable energy, therefore knowing where every fibre comes from and who makes it. Transparency isn't a buzzword for us. It's how we operate.
That's why we can confidently say: ethical menswear, built to last.
What is a hot dad?
It’s not about age or trends.
A hot dad is someone who feels comfortable in who they are, and dresses like it. Confident, modern, and uncomplicated, he’s balancing the realities of life - work, family, time - without losing his sense of self in the process.
He cares about what he wears. It’s considered, not over-complicated. Practical, but never careless. Increasingly, that mindset extends beyond clothes into how he eats, travels, and lives. Because style isn’t separate from life. It’s part of it.
This isn’t dressing like a dad. It’s dressing as one.
In conversation with Nick Reed
To explore this idea further, we spoke to Nick Reed, founder of Neem London and father of three, about style, fatherhood, and what it means to be a man today…
Question 1
WHAT IS DAD STYLE?
"Dad style is really just knowing who you are and dressing like it. Not clinging to your twenties, not throwing in the towel. Just owning your style.
A few gentle rules help: Wear colours that actually suit you. Layer…. all year, it’s the easiest upgrade going. Higher necklines tend to look sharper. Denim isn’t essential, but four‑pocket trousers are always a yes. Corporate gear is a no; clean, simple, single‑colour pieces are a yes. And honestly… try wearing a little less blue."
Question 2
HOW HAS YOUR STYLE CHANGED SINCE YOU HAVE MATURED?
"Comfort has moved right to the top. I still love a suit, but now it’s cord or cotton, softer, easier, more lived in than the old structured wool. Jackets have become my go to layer.
And I’ve never worn denim in my life, my one true oddity."
Question 3
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE DAD IN TODAY'S WORLD?
"Keep talking to your kids.
Know what’s on their TikTok feed. Teach them the value of hard work, in sport, in school, in life. Be there. They come first. Cook for them, it makes everyone happier.
And teach manners. Eye contact still matters."
Question 4
HOW HAS YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF BEING A MAN CHANGED SINCE BECOMING A DAD?
"With three boys, 17, 15 and 11... it’s shifted from caring, to showing, to guiding.
You have to be seen giving things a go. You have to spend time with them, even when they pretend they don’t want it.
Grit, determination, kindness…. the basics still count."
Question 5
WHAT IS TOXIC MASCULINITY, AND HOW DO WE MANAGE IT?
"For me, it’s objectifying people and refusing to understand their story. Co‑ed education helps. So does making sure boys have female friends, not always easy, but important.
Call it out when you see it. And widen their world."
Question 6
DOES CARING ABOUT HOW YOU LOOK FEEL 'MASCULINE' TO YOU?
"When I was young, not at all.
I went to a very traditional school. When I said I wanted to study fashion, the UCAS master tried to talk me out of it. Things have changed.
Now I enjoy a kind of messy chic, relaxed, comfortable, evolving with time.
Caring about how you look isn’t about masculinity. It’s about feeling like yourself."
If you've struggled to find ecological clothes that will last, wear well, and still look modern, The Uniform of Hot Dads collection was built for you.