25 Style Risks You Should Take Before You Turn 25

Image via Complex Original

Do you remember when mom took you to buy new jeans because you fell outside during recess and ripped your Bugle Boys a little? Go find those joints and fall, like, 10 more times. Your rebellious style will be louder than the weak-ass screams you let out on the playground from a skinned knee. Denim ripped up at the knees and cut at the hem is definitely a move to enjoy fully in your youth. Just imagine how distraught your mom will be when you walk in the house for Thanksgiving with them shits on. 

When Cobain dyed his hair green back in the '90s (when you were 5), it was ethereal. If he wasn't before, he immediately became the epitome of rock 'n' roll. Your natural hair is so bleh, so why not pretend to be someone that isn't completely lost in life and still trying to figure out what they want to do for the rest of it? Bleach that shit blonde or any other color and watch the grown-ups gawk and ask themselves silently, "Where are his parents?"

Everyone gets their ears pierced. Hell, your dad got his ear pierced back in the '70s. But nothing says, "Fuck your hoop earring, dad," like a nose piercing. You can keep it easy and pierce the nostril to go thug life like Pac or go full H.A.M. with a the pierced septum like those super-chic lookbook models who have sex with other super-chic lookbook models while they stare into each other's lifeless eyes and try not to get their nose piercings tangled.

White is an angelic, ethereal color. It's pure. Clean. And, generally, after 25, that is all you're supposed to be about. But showing up to a dirty ass house party in a white tee, some ecru denim and white kicks just ready to get that shit blasted with all sorts of booze and bodily fluids is a whole 'nother page of the game. If you wear anything white after 25, you're also carrying about three Tide sticks in your back pocket for fear of looking like an incompetent slob. But as a youth, those stains and scuffs are marks of living life to the fullest.

Religion can be a slippery slope, but not when you're an adolescent. At that point, what's better than pissing off stodgy, older people? And there's no faster way to do that than with sacrilege expressed through clothing. There's no better time to enjoy blasphemous dopeness, and you better enjoy it before you become the one who sees someone wearing something wild and you shake your head, muttering, "Kids these days..."

Clean, button-down collared shirts with a tie is what you'll be spending most of your days in somewhat soon, and what you'll probably even die in. Hell, you'll probably even spend the majority if your social life in that get-up to stupid ass functions you can't even get properly drunk at. How boring is that? Stay as far away from symmetry and squareness as much as possible with your tops until you're 25. Uneven or dropped hems. Diagonal zippers and plackets. Once the turbulence of youth calms down, then you can signify you're ready for 2.5 kids and a white picket fence with even tops.

When you're expected to be an "adult," things that are considered loud or attention-seeking are immature. So rocking a pair of monochromed neon sneakers is, quite possibly, the most un-adult thing you can try while you have time. Go for the gusto with volt, fuschia, or infrared joints to stand out as a sneaker-loving, attention-seeking, loud motherfucker. Like an old baseball glove, when you come across these later in life, you'll think back upon the fond memories with bright, style-infused nostalgia.

Printed clothes, like your body's cells, slowly die as you age. Older guys might try to throw in a camo or floral option in there every once in a while, but most don't have the balls to touch leopard print. A dope leopard print outerwear piece not only accentuates everything you're wearing underneath, but immediately signifies that you're a bit of a wild child, which is pretty dumb to convince people of once you're staying in on Fridays to wake up early for a Saturday morning Zumba class because that's when your favorite instructor teaches.

LOL @ PETA trying to keep you away from #fashion. It's not like you killed an actual pony or baby calf for that hair on your kicks. As long as you act ignorant to how it got there, you can't be touched. Well, you can't be touched anyway because you're an invincible gawd, but ignorance and sweet as hair-covered kicks make you even more invincible-ier. 

Of course you don't own a motorcycle because you're broke city, but your rebellious-ass look alludes to the fact you have one or at least plan on having one once your funds come up. A key factor in that look is some dope biker denim with knee detailing that's made one hell of a resurgence, and at least tells people that you're thinking of being all about that bike-life. A sweet bike. A sweet bike you bang sweet chicks on. A sweet bike you bang sweet chicks on while you wear sweet biker denim. It's all about perception and fantasy when you're under 25, really.

Staying fit is fucking tough after 25. Your concave chest and beer gut become things that require crewnecks and layering in order to hide the embarrassment and shame. Luckily, as an early 20-something, you are naturally in shape even after a week full of binge drinking and ham and cheese Hot Pockets. So a boat or scoop neck collared T-shirt which shows a little bit more of your clavicle-meets-chesticles is still acceptable. Well, maybe not "acceptable" to a majority of people, but those weird stares won't be because your titties are touching your belt buckle. It's definitely a style risk, which is why trying it out now will let you know if it's something you want to keep rocking or not.

Being clean-shaven is literally rule No. 1 to becoming a respectable adult male (or female if you have those types of issues). Unkempt facial hair shows signs of laziness and care-freeness that no tax-paying, couples' game-night-hosting adult wants to be associated with...which is exactly why that shit is perfect to rock, if you're physically capable. The patchier, blotchier, and more matted, the better. Looking as if you rolled out of bed and may or may not have brushed your teeth is a trill maneuver that really should be accomplished by 25, and not much later.

Most offices in America on a Friday are full of wildly lame boot-cut jeans and #NTdenim. Before you meet this cruel fate, skinny- and slim-cut denim that stacks on your kicks is definitely the move. The sloppiness of the denim sitting on top of the hem along with a rock 'n' roll fit is something your future boss will definitely not understand, since most of his pants have "Roomy Fit" on the tag.

Holy shit, dude. Flamingos? Fire. Naked women? You dog, you. Flying dicks? Okay you haven't seen your therapist lately, have you? Bold, unusual prints is the calling card of adolescence. A 29-year old wearing a collared shirt covered in mustard-topped hot dogs will likely get Child Protective Services immediately called on him simply because some nosey neighbor will infer numerous innuendos. Meanwhile, a young buck rolling down the street in a neck-snapping print that borders on abstract is simply killing it.

Lil Wayne said it best: " long hair, don't care." And guess when he said that shit? WHEN HE WAS 25 YEARS OLD. Growing out your hair is the ultimate sign of rebellion and not bowing down to dress codes and authority. The only downside is that you no longer visit the awesome barber who had those dirty Playboy trading cards he let you check out while you waited. But now, your hair's length is directly proportionate to your swag levels. The longer, the swaggier. Your hair is essentially an extension of you, but not, like, actual hair extensions.

Curse words are the best, right? Saying them. Writing them down on the Internet. Just amazing. But you can't really wear them when you're an adult. Nope. Not an acceptable act of a mature human being. While you can, let your adolescence shine with a snapback (the youth's cap of choice, duh) that tells everyone to "Comme des Fuckdown" because everyone just needs to fucking relax and shit and the only way for that to happen is that they listen to your dirty, filty headwear.

As an adult, it's likely that you'll be attending numerous events and instances where the dress code is deems you wear a collared shirt. Guess what? As a pre-adult, fuck a dress code, because teetering on the edge of acceptable formal attire is what youthful rebellion is all about. Because you've put a twist on the norm and your shirt's collar isn't folded in half like a coward and you don't conform to the rest of the plebeians at the wine tasting will mean people around you  will interpret you as a weirdo. But that's collar discrimination and, frankly, you don't have to stand for it any longer.

Sweatpants no longer mean you've given up on life. Now, enough brands are fully on board the cozy boy train and are slimming down sweats to make them look less uncouth. They are still a young man's game, though, even if you get the more tailored options. As you age, there is a stage in life when "comfort" is literally the last thing on the list of attributes you look for in clothing. Wrinkle-free and stain-resistant become more important as laundry and dry cleaning starts eating away at the budget, and it's not like you're ever really in a situations when you can scream "fuck the haters." But at 25 and below, you can always fall back on the comfort and style of tailored sweatpants while you press the button on the bullhorn and get to yellin'.

Fitted. Tailored. Slim. All buzz words you will find in the menswear world, meaning at this point, American Eagle can cover you on all of them. But can they help you out when you're wanting to get your grunge goth on with a baggy, ill-fitting, oversized, long flannel shirt to layer with? Probably not, and the basic-ass store manager will probably guffaw as you ask for it. Little does he know that his girl is gonna be wearing the one you have on right now. Flannels are a mainstay in style, but the different iterations that have popped up over the years fit different genres. Luckily, the youth's version is probably the coolest. 

The youth of today is a melting pot of people, styles and cultures. It's refreshing to see all these different people blending together to create a larger community. It's also great to see them clashing with their patterned gear. This is not necessarily something new, but the purposeful amalgamation of colors and patterns that have no business being together gives off that "IDGAF, but kinda GAF" attitude that is the very embodiment of rebellious style that is all about the liveliness of  youth, before your shoulders are crushed by the weight of the world.

"I would only wear a jersey to an actual sporting event," the 28 year-old bank employee said to himself while sipping a latte and listening to sports talk radio in his Corolla. So, as someone who doesn't think they're above two thirds of the population, jerseys that don't rep any particular team is definitely a move to be rocked. And you have plenty of options to give you the type of shit where people ask you, "What team is that?" and you can legitimately tell them to "fuck off" because it's an acceptable answer for a non-sports, fashion-centric jersey worn by a young buck.

Flip-up sunglasses were truly poppin' in the '90s when you were still sipping titty milk. The functional and fashionable aspect of the glasses have always kept them in the mix, but the true nature of them are rebellious in and of itself. The round shape, the unconventionality of the duo glass; both things that truly differentiate it from its classic Wayfarer or Aviator colleagues. Plus you can block the haters until one of them asks you a dumb ass question, flip the sunglasses up so they can see the true disgust in your eyes. Rock these daily until your vision leaves you along with your knees' cartilage and you have to start wearing Transitions.

Messenger bags are lame and tote bags are for the birds. Even though technically everyone should've given up backpacks in post-college life, guys' affinity for them is unyielding. Taking it to the next level with a fashion-forward upgrade allows you to keep your youthful two-strapped companion while complementing the style on your actual body. Granted, you're only carrying a magazine, an iPhone charger, a Gatorade bottle filled with whiskey, and a spare shirt in case you spill whiskey on your current one. But at least the outside looks dope, and once you do enter full adult territory, you'll most likely have to give up the backpack for something much worse (at least, during the week).

High, black shit-kickers are a key part of any stylish, rebellious youth movement. Boots that could take a beating, but looked better with wear-and-tear were and still are a style staple. While other brands certainly churn out imitations and boots that are in the same vein, Dr. Martens are the originals that have cemented their place in youth culture. Easy to wear with just about anything, they just don't have the same type of effect on old dudes as they do with the young'ns who stomp around all angst-filled and what not.

Don't mind the above mode's mullet, and focus instead on the dope patched-up pants he's rocking. Rocking some dope, mix-and-match trousers or denim is a surefire way to turn heads and stick out with something that not many people have the cajones or skill to pull off. These definitely will get you called into HR at the workplace, so make sure you embrace this grunge and punk-fueled move in your youth. Whether you pay top dollar for a designer model, or since you're young and broke, do it up DIY-style, make sure you take this risk while you have the chance.