There’s a pretty lengthy article in New York mag about this concept of ‘Grups’ - thirty and forty somethings who refuse to grow up. It says:

It is a story about 40-year-old men and women who look, talk, act, and dress like people who are 22 years old. It’s not about a fad but about a phenomenon that looks to be permanent. It’s about the hedge-fund guy in Park Slope with the chunky square glasses, brown rock T-shirt, slight paunch, expensive jeans, Puma sneakers, and shoulder-slung messenger bag, with two kids squirming over his lap like itchy chimps at the Tea Lounge on Sunday morning. It’s about the mom in the low-slung Sevens and ankle boots and vaguely Berlin-art-scene blouse with the $800 stroller and the TV-screen-size Olsen-twins sunglasses perched on her head walking through Bryant Park listening to Death Cab for Cutie on her Nano.

Which in reality is a load of bollocks. Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot of thirty and forty year olds running around NYC city looking like a bunch of sloppy c-u-next Tuesdays (I’m probably one of them) - there is a trend here - but don’t think they’re imitating 22 year olds.

Personally, I don’t know many American 22 year olds who fit that description - there’s no mention of Hip Hop, text messaging, gaming or blow job parties. (Ok, ok, I Know: the parties are held by younger Americanos - but 22 year olds don’t wear Rogans - I promise you.

Anyway, do read the article as it has some great insight - but check your thinking and consider whether this trend is less about being young as about making steps to remain relevant, connected and youthful. They’re inventing their own version of youth and trying to ignore their mortality that they have now realized after their twenties.

Up With Grups - New York Magazine