Trend Intel: ‘Performative male’ cosplay inspo and books, and the Kodak Charmera

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This week, we're raving on the 'performative male,' including the clothes and accessories he wears and the books he reads

Hey trendsetters,

If there’s one thing the internet loves, it’s a character to obsess over. Enter the “performative male” — a being who’s haunting Tinder, Bumble, and probably your local bookstore or coffee shop. Simply put, he is a man waving green-dyed red flags looking for someone to impress. At first, he was just a meme, but the internet being the internet, it didn’t stop there. 

We now have people ironically dressing up as performative males and joining contests where they outdo each other’s performances. In this week’s edition, we break down who they are, what they’re wearing, and what they claim they’ve been reading. Perhaps you, too, can win a performative male contest or at least have your Halloween costume figured out.

Performative male cosplay

The “performative male” is no longer just an online archetype; it’s creeping into costume territory. So we’ve combed through the videos and figured out what they’re wearing and where they buy from. Whether you want to lean into the satire, just poke fun at the men of the hour, or win a performative male contest yourself, this one’s for you. Yes, it’s a lot of tote bags, matcha lattes, and labubus.

🔗 Full list of cosplay inspo

Books worth the performance

The internet may clown on performative males for their obsession with certain titles, but here’s the thing: the books are actually worth reading. From Joan Didion to Yuval Noah Harari, these are bestsellers for a reason. The books they wave around are often essential reads with ideas that could actually make us better people if we took them seriously. I haven’t read a lot of them myself, but if you want to join me on this journey of self-discovery, let’s outdo these performers and actually read and learn from the books they brandish.

🔗 Read the full book list here

Blind box nostalgia: Kodak Charmera

Just when you thought blind boxes were slowing down, Kodak drops a surprise: tiny working camera keychains. Called the Charmera, these pocket-sized collectibles combine analog nostalgia with the thrill of not knowing which retro design you’ll unbox. But that’s okay because all of them are uber cute. The performative male may like this one, but they’re really for everyone.

🔗 Get a closer look at the Kodak Charmera.

Why this lineup works

Together, these stories capture how trends bounce between irony and sincerity. We poke fun at performative males, yet can’t deny the power of their books or the fun of dressing like them. And while blind boxes are gimmicky, Kodak’s Charmera taps into a real craving for analog play. Today’s edition is all about what made the internet laugh and entertained, and how to be a part of it.

Until the next scroll. – Rappler.com