Take It From Travis Kelce: Handlebar Mustaches Are In
Men's grooming trends have been the subject of plenty of public debate as of late, but the most recent topic charting social media? None other than Travis Kelce's facial hair.
Many of the Internet's favorite male celebrities, ranging from Miles Teller to Donald Glover to Justin Bieber to Dev Patel to Jacob Elordi, have found themselves at the center of a decades-long debate on the merits of facial hair. '70s-inspired mustaches, subtle scruff, and full-on beards all have had their own stints in the spotlight over recent years, but lately, an unlikely contender in the world of men's grooming has emerged—the handlebar mustache. This style had a major moment at the 2024 Met Gala, where millions of onlookers watched as stars like Coleman Domingo, Jeremy Strong, and Dan Levy walked up the famed steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, clad in brilliant creations designed by leading minds in the industry, for fashion's biggest night of the year. While clean-shaven looks are classic, go-to style for many men, this momentous night spurred an ongoing cultural conversation—does the mustache ever truly go out of style?
As it so happens, the answer is yes. Many of the Internet's biggest celebrity crushes of the moment—Barry Keoghan, Louis Partridge, and Rami Malek, among others—are known for rocking clean-shaven looks. That being said, if there were ever a year of the mustache, so to speak, 2024 would most certainly be it. Of the rugged style's most staunch supporters? Callum Turner, Austin Butler, and perhaps most prominently, Travis Kelce.
Over the years, three-time Super Bowl champion Travis Kelce's facial hair has shifted numerous times, ranging from a full-on beard—creating a striking resemblance to his brother, Jason Kelce's famous facial hair—to effortless scruff, but more often than not, the NFL player returns to the classic handlebar mustache.
As the boyfriend of one of the most famous—and most closely followed—popstars on the planet, fans take note of everything from Travis Kelce's facial hair to the football player's off-duty outfits. The 'Travis Kelce mustache,' as it's been dubbed on social media, has become a phenomenon watched by millions around the world, who seem to spot a subtle difference in Kelce's facial hair each and every time he appears in public.
Although he's tried out numerous styles over the past year, the one that truly seemed to stick is the now-iconic Travis Kelce mustache, which at its core, is a bold, clean-cut handlebar mustache, usually accompanied by little to no scruff.
Across the couple's trip to New York City—which fell during New York Fashion Week and the US Open—Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have been spotted out a number of times, ranging from a late-night dinner date in Brooklyn to an appearance at Karen Elson's buzzy Electric Lady Studios wedding to the final matches of the US Open. Each and every time, fans online have pointed of course, to how content the couple seems with one another, but next, to Kelce's facial hair, noting that the Travis Kelce mustache seems to have become a permanent fixation.
Since his relationship with Swift went public, and the two began appearing at events with one another, there's no denying the exponential rise in attention the NFL player has received, which many have speculated has led to a certifiable fashion evolution, as seen in the eye-catching series of outfits worn throughout his time in the spotlight over the past year.
While Travis Kelce's mustache may simply be a personal preference, many have posed the question, is the prominent Travis Kelce facial hair a choice of convenience, or is it a signal that a more widespread men's grooming trend—in line with the famous Travis Kelce mustache—is here to stay?