You've heard the term soft boy, but what does this viral aesthetic really mean? These 11 celebrities are here to show you.

Recent years have seen a resurgence in the soft boy aesthetic, but it goes beyond just style. As the name suggests, soft boys are male-identifying individuals that display more tender traits, from how they act to how they dress, that are stereotypically associated with the <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/giant-flowers-at-valentino-show-autumn-winter-2018-2019">feminine</a>. In touch with their emotions and often outfitted in a <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/cardigan-fall-fashion-trend-billie-eilish-celebrity-style" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cardigan</a> or vintage tee, soft boys challenge toxic masculinity.&nbsp;If you use the word "beautiful" to describe him, he's probably a soft boy.
The soft boy has been re-popularized on <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop%20culture/tiktok-accounts-follow-guide-2020">TikTok</a>, with accounts that embrace the aesthetic skyrocketing to Internet fame and gaining an array of dedicated followers.&nbsp;Soft boys share style similarities with <a href="https://parentology.com/what-is-an-eboy-on-tiktok/">e-boy</a> fashion, characterized by traditionally feminine shapes, painted <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/nail-art-styles-summer-2022-manicure-inspiraton" target="_blank" rel="noopener">nails</a>, and typically a&nbsp;floppy haircut. Much of the fashion associated with soft boys can be traced to <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop%20culture/got7-fashion-evolution-jackson-wang-park-jin-young-k-pop">K-pop boyband</a> aesthetics, as they explore more androgynous modes of expression.

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In the fashion world,&nbsp;any recent designer runway features soft boy equivalents&ndash;<a href="https://www.lofficielarabia.com/Men/celine-homme-summer-2021-the-dancing-kid-e041f00f-241b-4890-a135-d44e86155570">Celine's Spring/Summer 2021 men's collection</a> had hoodies and flannels galore, while both <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/men/Amoako-Boafo-dior-mens-spring-2021">Kim Jones'</a> tenure at Dior Men and <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/louis-vuitton-fall-2020-mens-runway-show">A</a><a href="https://www.lofficielmalaysia.com/fashion-week/alessandro-michele-cast-his-design-team-as-the-faces-of-gucci-epilogue">lessandro Michele's</a>&nbsp;direction for Gucci's&nbsp;men's collections have been marked by designs that skirt the boundaries of the masculine and feminine. Reacting to today's progressive ideals, designers are encouraging men to explore a less rigid sense of what it means to dress like a man.&nbsp;Fashion has never been more fluid, and the soft boy style is a manifestation of this.&nbsp;
If you're still having trouble picturing what a soft boy looks like, plenty of celebrities fit the bill. Think Timoth&eacute;e Chalamet or <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/harry-styles-fashion-moments-golden-music-video-tattoos-shirtless">Harry Styles</a>. Something else that might differentiate a celebrity soft boy is that they&rsquo;re actually&nbsp;softies. Styles once <a href="https://www.wonderwall.com/news/harry-styles-sends-fans-pizza-ahead-snl-3005355.article">sent fans</a> awaiting his Saturday Night Live&nbsp;performance&nbsp;pizza and bagels, and more recently, <a href="https://www.eonline.com/news/1203292/heres-the-adorably-bizarre-story-of-how-harry-styles-ended-up-feeding-a-fans-fish">fed a fan's fish and left a handwritten note</a> for her after stopping at her house when his car broke down.
Here, L'OFFICIEL rounds up some of the most endearing and stylish celebrity soft boys.

Paul Rudd is the original soft boy, making audiences fall in love since his "Clueless" days.

Harry Styles often incorporates traditionally feminine elements into his fashion. Here, he pairs high waisted trousers with a cardigan, pearl necklace, and painted nails.

Frank Ocean's ‘Blonde’ is a widely accepted soft boy soundtrack, so naturally, the artist himself exemplifies the aesthetic.

Playing up his waif-like look, Timothée Chalamet embodies the soft boy persona with pastel pants, a stack of bracelets, and floppy hair.

From his emotionally wrought tweets to his mix of streetwear and soft boy style, Jaden Smith owns the aesthetic.

Don’t let the frown fool you, the skinny jeans and sherpa jacket prove Evan Peters’ softie status.

With witty Instagram captions that sometimes remark on toxic masculinity, Cole Sprouse is the perfect example of the cerebral soft boy, playing on sarcasm to reel you in.

Known for playing awkward teen Otis on “Sex Education,” British actor Asa Butterfield of has the endearing aesthetic down pat.

Joe Keery of "Stranger Things" fame nails the sweet and approachable nature of the style.

Musician Steve Lacy has the aesthetic down to a science, from his music to his styling to his endearing smile.

Alex Lawther of Netflix's "The End of the F***ing World" is a prime example of the artsy e-boy brand of soft boy.

Decoding the Soft Boy Aesthetic

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