You’re about to dive into the top 10 most bone‑tingling details about Japan’s very own Slender Man, known locally as Hachishakusama. This ghostly figure prowls the shadows of Japanese folklore, offering a spine‑chilling twist on the Western urban legend. If you thought the original Slender Man was creepy, wait until you meet her towering form, eerie noises, and deadly rituals.

Why These Ten Details Define the Top 10 Most Terrifying Traits

10 She’s 244 Centimeters (8’0”) Tall

Picture a child peeking out of a second‑floor bedroom window and spotting a woman who stretches a staggering 244 centimeters—about eight feet tall—staring directly back. The sheer disproportion of a human‑shaped silhouette that dwarfs everything around it taps into a primal fear of the uncanny, making Hachishakusama’s height a nightmare in plain sight.

Imagine the moment your legs give way at the sight of an eight‑foot specter looming in the night; the world suddenly feels too small, and the safety of your own home collapses under the weight of that impossible stature.

Slender Man shares a similar obsession with impossible height and unnaturally thin limbs, a visual that sends shivers down anyone’s spine, especially when encountered by children who are still learning to gauge the world around them.

9 She Makes A Terrifying Noise When Close

When Hachishakusama draws near, a deep, almost masculine voice erupts in a repetitive, three‑beat pattern: “Po … Po … Po.” This unsettling chant is her unmistakable warning that she’s closing in, and there’s little a victim can do to escape its echo.

She doesn’t rush; instead, she lets the sound linger, letting it reverberate from a bedroom window, a playground swing set, or even a parent’s living room, announcing her presence wherever she wishes to be felt.

The effect mirrors the Slender Man’s infamous “slender effect,” where proximity triggers disorientation and nausea. Both entities give off a clear auditory cue that they are near, heightening the dread for anyone who hears it.

8 She Preys Upon Children

While Slender Man is known to stalk both youths and adults, Hachishakusama’s appetite is singularly focused on young children. Scholars speculate she feeds on their innocent essence, which could explain occasional depictions of her appearing as a youthful woman.

Children’s impressionable nature makes them especially vulnerable; their willingness to trust and follow instructions becomes her most potent weapon, allowing her to lure them with ease.

7 She Can Mimic Loved Ones

One chilling account tells of a boy who, after encountering Hachishakusama, confided in his grandparents. In a desperate attempt to free him, his family performed a ritual, only for the spirit to imitate their voices, urging the child to open the door.

The phantom’s voice sounded exactly like his grandparents’, coaxing him toward a fate he could not escape. The following day, the boy recounted hearing familiar voices from outside his door, yet his grandparents swore they never spoke.

This mimicry showcases her cunning ability to exploit familial bonds, turning love into a terrifying trap.

6 You Are Destined To Die After Seeing Her

Just as a casual internet search can plunge a Slender Man follower into a vortex of unsettling images, Hachishakusama randomly selects child victims across Japan. Once she fixes her gaze on a youngster, there’s little hope; the child’s fate is sealed, and goodbye to their family becomes inevitable.

Her methodical stalking may take weeks or months, but the moment she strikes, you’ll hear her signature “Po … Po … Po” echoing in the darkness, a sound that signals the final approach.

Survival isn’t impossible—there’s a ritual that can break her hold, but that knowledge comes at a steep price, as we’ll explore later.

10 Freakiest Modern Monsters Found In The United States

5 She Wears A Long White Dress

The flowing white dress is a hallmark of many ghostly figures, often representing a tragic death that occurred during a moment meant to be joyous, such as a wedding. This attire cements her as a haunting presence from beyond the veil.

Both Slender Man and Hachishakusama favor formal clothing, a visual that juxtaposes elegance with horror, compelling us to confront the terrifying beauty of a specter draped in purity.

It’s this clash—graceful fabric against a malevolent soul—that amplifies our shock, forcing us to reconcile the beautiful with the grotesque.

4 You Must Perform A Ritual To Get Away From Her

Once Hachishakusama latches onto a victim, escaping her grasp seems impossible. She stalks relentlessly, waiting for the perfect moment to strike, but a faint glimmer of hope lies within an ancient ritual.

The family must seal the victim in a secluded room, covering every window with newspapers inscribed with protective symbols. This creates a barrier against her prying eyes.

Four bowls of salt are placed in each corner, while a Buddha statue occupies the center. The victim endures the night, praying fervently, as the salt slowly darkens—an ominous sign that she has been repelled.

When dawn breaks, the blackened salt confirms her presence was forced away. The final step? The survivor must leave Japan forever, lest they fall back under her relentless curse.

3 She Has Long Black Hair And A Straw Hat

Long, jet‑black hair has become a staple of Japanese horror, appearing in classics like The Grudge and The Ring. The flowing strands conceal the monster’s true visage, amplifying the dread as viewers anticipate a sudden, terrifying reveal.

When the hair finally parts, the demonic features emerge, marrying elegance with evil. Paired with a stark white dress, the image becomes a haunting blend of beauty and menace that lingers in the mind.

2 She Can Be Attractive

One of the most unsettling aspects of Hachishakusama is her occasional allure. Her attractive appearance can lull children into a false sense of safety, making them more likely to follow her willingly.

Some accounts suggest she can shift between youthful beauty and an older, more ominous form, yet her primary focus on children hints that her youthful charm is a calculated tool for abduction.

The origins of this paradoxical attractiveness remain shrouded, but it reinforces the notion that even the most beautiful facades can hide deadly intent.

1 She’s An Onryo

An onryo is a vengeful spirit born from betrayal or injustice, returning to wreak havoc on the living. Hachishakusama embodies this archetype, wielding terrifying powers rooted in unresolved anguish.

Most onryo legends feature women, and Hachishakusama’s signature long black hair, ghostly white dress, and manipulative tactics align perfectly with this fearsome tradition.

Her relentless pursuit of children, coupled with her ability to mimic loved ones and charm victims, solidifies her status as one of Japan’s most feared onryo spirits.

10 Creepypastas Adapted Into Even Creepier Short Films

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When you hear the phrase “top 10 infectious” you probably think of current outbreaks, but history is littered with victories where science and determination knocked out some of the world’s nastiest bugs. From the scourge of smallpox to the relentless mosquito that spreads malaria, humanity has turned the tide on diseases that once threatened entire continents. Below is a lively rundown of the ten most remarkable infectious defeats, complete with the stories, the heroes, and the breakthroughs that made them possible.

Why the Top 10 Infectious Victories Matter

These triumphs aren’t just footnotes in a medical textbook; they are proof that coordinated global action, relentless research, and clever public‑health strategies can erase even the most terrifying pathogens. Let’s dive into each conquest, starting with the disease that claimed more lives than any other.

10 Smallpox

Smallpox was a ruthless airborne virus that claimed about one‑third of every person it infected. With no cure in sight, physicians could only watch a two‑week waiting game to see who would survive; those who did were left with the unmistakable, scar‑filled pockmarks that gave the disease its name.

In 1796, English doctor Edward Jenner observed that milkmaids who had previously caught cowpox never seemed to contract smallpox. To test his hunch, he inoculated the eight‑year‑old son of his gardener with cowpox and later exposed the boy to the deadly smallpox virus. Remarkably, the youngster remained healthy – Jenner had unintentionally created the world’s first vaccine.

Jenner’s breakthrough dramatically cut smallpox deaths. By the time the World Health Organization (WHO) launched an eradication campaign in 1959, the disease was largely confined to South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia.

WHO orchestrated massive vaccine drives and guided nations on proper administration. The final known case surfaced in Somalia in 1977, and in 1980 the organization proudly declared smallpox the first disease ever eradicated by human effort.

9 Rinderpest

Rinderpest, often called “cattle plague,” never infected humans, yet its impact on livestock was catastrophic. In the 1890s, the virus wiped out 80‑90 % of cattle across sub‑Saharan Africa, leaving farmers without meat, milk, or draft animals and causing a population drop of at least one‑third in the affected regions.

Any animal that survived the infection developed lifelong immunity, and the high mortality rate meant that wild hosts such as buffalo and giraffes were also decimated before they could transmit the virus to domestic herds.

In the 1960s, British scientist Walter Plowright engineered a vaccine, which the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization began purchasing in bulk during the 1990s. Veterinarians across Europe, Asia, and Africa vaccinated cattle worldwide, finally eradicating rinderpest in 2011 – the second disease ever to be wiped out.

8 Polio

Polio, short for poliomyelitis, is a virus that can cause temporary or permanent paralysis, and in severe cases it attacks the lungs, leading to death.

In 1953, Jonas Salk announced he had created a safe polio vaccine and deliberately refused to patent it, ensuring the serum could be distributed as widely as possible – a decision that cost him billions in today’s dollars.

The March of Dimes funded a massive trial, and by 1979 the United States was declared polio‑free, just 24 years after the vaccine’s introduction. The WHO’s Global Polio Eradication Initiative, launched in 1988, has driven a 99.99 % drop in cases, leaving the disease endemic only in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nigeria.

7 Guinea Worm

When a person drinks stagnant water teeming with Guinea worm larvae, the parasites travel to the intestines, mature, and after 10‑14 months a female worm migrates to the lower limb, forming a painful blister that forces the host to dunk the foot in water, releasing new larvae back into the source.

Although the lesions are excruciating and can become infected, the disease is rarely fatal. Still, no one enjoys having worms reproducing inside their bodies.

The Carter Center has spearheaded a water‑purification campaign that has been wildly successful. In 1986, an estimated 3.5 million cases plagued South Asia, Yemen, and sub‑Saharan Africa; by 2018, only 28 cases were reported worldwide.

6 Yaws

Yaws, also known as frambesia, spreads through skin‑to‑skin contact with the bacterium Treponema pallidum pertenue. Within three months of infection, patients develop raspberry‑like lesions, especially on the face, which fade after six months but may recur later, often leaving disfiguring scars that can lead to bullying.

In the 1950s, yaws affected over 70 countries. Because a single dose of the antibiotic azithromycin can cure it, WHO targeted the disease early on for eradication. Efforts in the 1960s nearly eliminated it, but attention shifted to smallpox, and yaws lingered.

As of 2019, the disease still persisted in 15 nations, reminding us that vigilance is essential even after major successes.

5 Hookworm

Hookworms thrive in soil contaminated by sewage and penetrate the skin, usually through bare feet. Once inside, they travel to the small intestine where they feed on the host’s blood, causing fatigue, anemia, bloating, and stunted growth.

Because they live where sanitation is poor, infected individuals often excrete the worms, contaminating the ground again and perpetuating the cycle of infection.

In 1910, philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Sr. donated $1 million to a campaign aimed at eradicating hookworms in the American South. The five‑year effort dramatically lowered infection rates and boosted school attendance, as children were no longer drained of energy by the parasites.

Although near‑elimination has been achieved, reinfection remains common. The Human Hookworm Vaccine Initiative is now developing a drug that blocks the worm’s ability to feed, promising a future where hookworms could finally disappear.

4 Measles

Measles has made a modest comeback in recent years as vaccination rates slipped, yet the global burden has plummeted over the past half‑century.

Before 1963, virtually every American child contracted measles by age 15, with major epidemics every two to three years and an average of 2.6 million deaths annually worldwide. The virus spreads through coughing and sneezing.

In 1954, Harvard’s Dr. Thomas C. Peebles asked 11‑year‑old patient David Edmonston if he wanted “to be of service to mankind.” Edmonston consented, allowing Dr. John F. Enders to isolate the virus and develop the Edmonston‑Enders vaccine, which remains in use today.

From 2000 to 2018, measles deaths fell 73 %, saving an estimated 23.2 million lives. The United States declared measles eliminated in 2000, yet 1,282 cases were still reported in 2019, underscoring the need for continued immunization.

3 Tetanus

Tetanus is caused by the bacterium Clostridium tetani, which resides in soils worldwide. When it enters an open wound, the microbe releases a toxin that induces painful muscle spasms and can cause paralysis.

Because the bacterium is heat‑ and chemical‑resistant, eradication is unlikely, but widespread vaccination has effectively eliminated new cases in many regions.

In 1990, roughly 314,000 people died from tetanus globally. By 2017, deaths had dropped to 38,000 – an 88 % reduction – with the highest burden still found in South Sudan and Somalia.

2 Elephantiasis

Elephantiasis stems from three species of threadlike worms that lodge in the lymphatic system, impairing fluid regulation and causing limbs or genitals to swell to elephant‑like proportions.

The infected worms release larvae into the bloodstream; when a mosquito bites an afflicted person, it can transmit the disease to subsequent victims.

Medications can treat the infection, and combined with mosquito‑prevention measures, the spread can be halted.

Since 2000, more than 7.7 billion treatments have reached over 910 million people. Sixteen countries have eliminated the disease, with seven additional nations under surveillance for possible eradication.

1 Malaria

Malaria is driven by a tiny blood parasite transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes. Symptoms range from fever and chills to severe headache, nausea, and body aches.

The disease has plagued Europe, Africa, and Asia for centuries. When Europeans colonized the Americas, malaria rode along, exposing an estimated 53 % of the world’s landmass to infection at its peak.

In the early 1900s, understanding of mosquito‑borne transmission led to massive public‑health actions: draining wetlands, widespread insecticide spraying, and the creation of the Office of Malaria Control in War Areas, which later evolved into the Centers for Disease Control.

The 21st century has seen remarkable progress. Between 2000 and 2015, malaria deaths fell from 840,000 to 440,000 annually, with most fatalities occurring among African children.

Continued innovation, from rapid‑diagnostic tests to novel antimalarial drugs, keeps the momentum going as the global community strives to push the disease toward eventual eradication.

We all recognize Slender Man as a purely digital urban legend that first surfaced on an Internet forum back in 2009. Yet, over the years, the figure has sprouted a tangled web of real‑world consequences, ranging from shocking attempted murders to a disturbing cluster of suicides and even an almost‑realized mass suicide plot. These ten blurred lines peel back the layers of myth and reality, showing just how tangled the legend has become.

10 Very Definite Origins

Unlike many ancient myths whose beginnings are shrouded in mystery, the Slender Man story can be pinpointed to a precise moment in time. On June 10, 2009, the humor‑laden forum Something Awful released two fabricated photographs. They were the brainchild of a user known as Victor Surge, whose real name later emerged as Eric Knudsen. Knudsen crafted the images in response to a challenge from the forum’s administrator to produce “paranormal” pictures that might convince viewers they were genuine.

The first image, dated 1983, depicts a group of children with anxious, frightened expressions. Looming in the background is an unnervingly tall, faceless figure. Its caption reads: “We didn’t want to go, we didn’t want to kill them, but its persistent silence and outstretched arms horrified us and comforted us at the same time!” The quote is attributed to an unnamed photographer, described as “presumed dead.”

The second photograph, marked 1986, shows the same children—this time smiling and playing in a park. Yet the same towering silhouette can be seen lurking behind them. The caption claims the picture is “one of two recovered photographs from the Stirling City Library blaze” and notes it was taken “the day which fourteen children vanished,” explicitly referencing Slender Man. This image is credited to a photographer named Mary Thomas, who had been missing since June 1986.

These twin pictures sparked the birth of the Slithering Man myth, instantly captivating thousands of internet users and setting the stage for a legend that would soon leap far beyond its digital origins.

9 A Legend Made by “The People”

While Eric Knudsen planted the initial seed, it was the countless contributors to the Creepypasta community who nurtured the Slender Man into a fully fledged myth. As more netizens encountered the figure, they each added their own twists, details, and backstory elements, collectively expanding the legend.

The archetype that emerged typically shows a gaunt, featureless‑faced entity, unnaturally tall, sometimes sprouting tentacle‑like appendages from its back. He became linked with abandoned structures and deep, foreboding woods. Later contributors even claimed he could teleport at will. Enthusiasts began to claim that certain signs—sudden paranoia, inexplicable nosebleeds, or vivid nightmares—were evidence of his presence watching from the shadows.

This crowd‑sourced evolution mirrors the way traditional folklore grows: each storyteller adds a new layer, and the collective narrative swells. The next point delves into how scholars track and analyze this very phenomenon.

8 See a Legend Grow and Develop

Folklorists, mythologists, and cultural scholars have turned their analytical lenses toward the Slender Man phenomenon, treating it as a modern case study of legend formation. By charting how the story spreads and mutates online, they aim to draw parallels with historic myths that grew through oral transmission.

The Slender Man saga illustrates a collective storytelling process: as the tale is retold across forums, each iteration introduces subtle variations—different descriptions, new abilities, altered settings—depending on who is narrating and who is listening. The more the story circulates in digital form, the richer and more complex its mythology becomes. After a few years, the legend stepped out of the virtual realm and manifested in stark, unsettling real‑world events.

7 The Slender Man Stabbing

On the morning of May 31, 2014, the Slender Man legend leapt from the screen into a chilling real‑life drama. Two twelve‑year‑old girls, Anissa Weier and Morgan Geyser, lured their classmate Payton Leutner deep into a Wisconsin forest and stabbed her multiple times. Payton, left for dead, managed to crawl out of the woods and was rescued by a passing cyclist.

The girls were apprehended shortly thereafter. In police interviews, Weier claimed the brutal act was intended to appease Slender Man, insisting they believed the entity resided in an abandoned house within the Nicolet National Forest—a location they were allegedly heading toward when caught.

From the perspective of the victims and perpetrators alike, the Slender Man—or at least the ramifications of the myth—became a terrifyingly tangible force. Anissa Weier was released from a mental health facility in the summer of 2021, while Morgan Geyser remains incarcerated. Payton Leutner survived the nineteen stab wounds and has since recovered.

6 The Copy Cat Cases

Following the shocking Payton Leutner incident, a string of copycat crimes surfaced, each bearing a tenuous link to the Slender Man mythos. In June 2014, just weeks after the stabbing, a thirteen‑year‑old girl in Hamilton County, Ohio, attacked her mother with a kitchen knife. Investigators uncovered an obsessive fascination with Slender Man as a possible motive.

Months later, in September 2014, a fourteen‑year‑old girl in Port Richey, Florida, set her family home ablaze, claiming that the Slender Man legend inspired her arson. All occupants escaped unharmed, and the teenager was taken into custody the following morning.

Even more unsettling, the summer of 2014 saw the murders of two police officers and a civilian in Las Vegas. Neighbors reported that the alleged killer frequently dressed as Slender Man, parading around his property. After the killings, the perpetrator and his wife both died by suicide, further entwining the tragedy with the legend.

5 Suicides Connected to the Slender Man

In the summer of 2015, The New York Times reported a spate of suicides among youths aged twelve to twenty‑four on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Officials cited at least one case where the Slender Man legend appeared to influence the tragic decision.

The reservation already harbored its own haunting folklore: a spirit known as the Tall Man or Walking Sam, said to coax individuals toward self‑destruction. While the overlap between this native legend and the internet‑born Slender Man may be coincidental, the convergence of these narratives likely amplified the distress within the community.

4 Aborted Mass Suicide and Connections to Native American Legends

A particularly harrowing account details a narrowly averted mass suicide on the same Pine Ridge Reservation. Several teenagers converged in a secluded woodland area, preparing ropes and seemingly intent on hanging themselves together.

Pastor John Two Bulls, serving the local congregation, learned of the plan and rushed to the site. His timely intervention halted the grim ceremony, rescuing the youths from a collective trance that appeared to be driving them toward death.

Local rumors linked the incident to the Walking Sam spirit, yet media outlets drew parallels to the Slender Man phenomenon, suggesting that the heightened visibility of the internet legend may have colored interpretations of the native tale.

3 A Truly Bizarre Account

Paranormal researcher Nick Redfern recounted a chilling anecdote involving a woman he dubbed “Lacy.” She claimed to have experienced several unsettling encounters with the Slender Man, though none involved physical contact.

Lacy reported that after months of researching the legend, her laptop—left in sleep mode—suddenly powered on on its own. A fleeting image of a faceless creature flashed across the screen before vanishing. Two nights later, the laptop rebooted similarly, this time displaying a clearer visage of the entity.

Weeks passed with no further incidents, and Lacy thought the episodes were over. However, a third occurrence saw her laptop awaken again, accompanied by a disembodied voice proclaiming, “we are friends.” Startled, Lacy shut the computer down and abandoned her investigations into the Slender Man lore.

While skeptics might attribute Lacy’s experiences to hallucinations born of obsessive research, her story underscores the fragile boundary between belief and perceived reality, especially when a legend permeates one’s subconscious.

2 Intense Internet Debate

In the wake of the Payton Leutner stabbing and the subsequent copycat crimes, a heated public discourse erupted. Initially centered on Slender Man, the conversation soon broadened to scrutinize the internet’s influence on youth behavior. For instance, the Waukesha School District—where the attack occurred—blocked access to the Creepypasta Wiki. The site’s administrators defended themselves, insisting the stabbing was an isolated incident and that their platform served purely literary purposes, not incitement.

Critics argued that comparable media—films, television shows, and video games—have long depicted violence without prompting real‑world attacks. Ultimately, many concluded that the perpetrators themselves bore responsibility, and that the legend functioned as a catalyst rather than a cause. As the debate waned, its initial momentum faded, leaving lingering questions about digital folklore’s power.

1 A Contemporary Equivalent of the Boogeyman

There is little dispute that Slender Man occupies the role of the modern Boogeyman. Survey any teenager in the Western world, and you’ll likely find they can name the faceless stalker, even if they’re unsure of his origins or the exact medium through which they first learned of him. While most recognize him as a fictional urban legend, his image has become entrenched in the collective subconscious.

The parallels between Slender Man and traditional Boogeymen are striking: both prey on children, both haunt remote, foreboding locales—often deep woods or abandoned structures—and both serve as cautionary figures used to instill fear. The Slender Man legend, however, is uniquely digital, spreading at lightning speed across forums, videos, and social media.

What lies ahead for this internet‑born specter remains uncertain. Perhaps future generations will still whisper his name around campfires, recounting his eerie tales long after the original posts have faded. Only time will tell whether Slender Man endures as a timeless cautionary figure or fades into obscurity.

Welcome to the ultimate guide that answers the question: what are the 10 things every man should master when it comes to clothing? Whether you’re gearing up for a job interview, a first date, or just want to look polished on a casual Friday, these rules will keep you looking sharp and feeling confident.

10 Always Wear A Belt

If your trousers feature belt loops, a belt isn’t optional—it’s mandatory. Skipping the belt makes the outfit look either impoverished, as if you can’t afford a thin strip of leather, or it suggests you’re trying to hide a burgeoning belly by giving your pants extra room. The belt should always coordinate with your shoes: black belt with black shoes, brown belt with brown shoes. The photo above also demonstrates what happens when you ignore rule #8: the jacket and tie sport patterns that clash in shape and scale, creating visual chaos. A solid or striped tie would instantly rescue the look.

9 Don’t Wear A Belt And Braces

Wearing a belt and braces simultaneously screams insecurity. The rule is simple: if there are belt loops, wear a belt; if there are none, opt for braces. Traditional braces attach with buttons sewn onto the inside or outside of the trousers, but modern clip‑ons work fine because braces are essentially underwear. Keep your braces hidden—no one needs to see them except your partner at the end of a long day. The image illustrates just how disastrous the combo looks when both are used together.

8 Keep Patterns To A Minimum

The golden rule of pattern matching is: don’t overdo it. If your suit jacket sports stripes, pair it with a solid shirt and a solid tie—this combo never fails. When the jacket is plain, you can introduce a patterned tie with a solid shirt, or a patterned shirt with a solid tie. The gentleman in the photo showcases the perfect balance: a solid jacket, solid shirt, patterned tie, and a pocket square that deliberately does not match the tie (see item 6). Keep your color palette to three hues at most; the example uses blue, gray, and tan. More than that looks cluttered.

For the adventurous, once you’ve mastered the basics you can experiment by mixing patterns—just ensure they differ dramatically in scale (e.g., a wide striped tie with a pin‑striped suit). Avoid ties with cartoons, words, or novelty images.

7 Formal Shoes

Formal footwear must have leather soles (though some winter‑ready shoes feature a rubber Dainite sole). Genuine formal shoes are never mass‑produced in low‑cost factories. They should avoid exaggerated toe shapes; a natural rounded toe is the standard. There are two primary styles: Oxfords, where the eyelet lacing plates are sewn under the vamp for a sleek look, and Derbys (or bluchers), which have separate, visible flaps. Oxfords pair best with a matching suit, while Derbys work well with more relaxed jacket‑and‑trouser combinations.

6 Pocket Square

Pocket squares are a subtle yet powerful accessory. The rule is simple: it should not be the same fabric as your tie, nor should it match the tie’s color too closely, lest the ensemble look like a pre‑matched set. The safest bet is a crisp white linen square. If you want to add flair, choose the second‑most dominant color from your tie and make that the primary hue of your pocket square. Matching the tie (except in a formal tailcoat) can make you look like you’re attending a cheesy 1980s wedding.

5 Undershirts

Your undershirt should remain hidden, much like your underwear. Either go without an undershirt or opt for a slim‑fit vest if you prefer an unbuttoned shirt look. A common error, especially among American men, is letting a tee peek out above the top button of a dress shirt—this looks lazy and careless, almost as bad as trousers sliding down to expose underwear. The photo demonstrates how unsightly a visible undershirt can be.

4 Do Up Your Tie

Never wear a loose, movie‑style tie. A properly knotted tie should stay snug, and you must button the top shirt button—skipping it makes the outfit look ill‑fitted. The tip of the tie should reach at least halfway down the belt buckle (or where the belt would sit if you’re wearing braces). The gentleman pictured follows all these guidelines, showcasing a neat, professional appearance.

3 Socks

Traditional etiquette dictates that socks match the colour of your trousers. Alternatively, you can coordinate them with a hue from your tie or another garment. For a playful twist, bold coloured socks are acceptable—just remember they’re rarely on full display. Avoid socks with cartoons or overt graphics; stick to solids or subtle patterns. The ideal length reaches just below the knee, preventing any skin from showing when you sit or bend.

2 Designer Labels

Most designer labels are overpriced and trend‑driven, meaning they’ll look dated in a few years. Brands like Hugo Boss or Armani often push skinny lapels that quickly fall out of favour. Instead, invest in a well‑crafted, moderately priced suit with medium‑width lapels and two or three buttons—this timeless silhouette can last decades. If you must splurge, limit yourself to elite Italian houses such as Kiton, Isaia, or Brioni. These names can soar to $70,000 per suit, but the quality and longevity justify the price. The image showcases a Kiton piece, epitomising classic elegance.

1 Your Only Suit

If you own just one suit, make it a dark gray masterpiece. This colour works for weddings, interviews, funerals, theatre outings, and everything in between. As your budget grows, you can add navy and brown options, and perhaps a black suit—but reserve black strictly for funerals. Remember to button your jacket while standing, and optionally unbutton when seated. For three‑button jackets, leave the bottom button undone; they’re designed that way. The photograph features Pierce Brosnan in a Brioni charcoal suit that remains stylish even after two decades.

+ Competition

It’s been ages since we hosted a competition, and this list is the perfect excuse. To enter, simply leave a comment about menswear below. At the end of the day, the five commenters with the most up‑votes will each win a pocket square from Drake’s of London, valued up to $100 USD. Browse the full selection here. This contest is open worldwide and to all genders, so get commenting and good luck!

Florida often gets a bad rap, especially when the phrase “Florida Man” becomes a worldwide punchline. You type “Florida Man” and your birthday, and you’re instantly served a bizarre tale—like the dude who threw pizza at his daughter, the guy who mistook a bank drive‑thru for a Taco Bell window, or the fellow who plunged a Ferrari into a lake because Jesus apparently told him to. Yet, beneath the meme‑fuelled chaos, there are genuine moments when a Florida Man steps up and saves the day. Below are 10 times Florida men proved they’re more hero than headline.

10 Times Florida: Heroic Highlights

1 Florida Man Mowed for Charity

Weekend lawn‑mowing can feel like a never‑ending treadmill of back‑and‑forth, sweat, and wasted hours. The average American spends somewhere between seven and forty‑seven days of their life pushing a mower. Imagine stretching that chore into a single, marathon‑like session.

That’s exactly what Chip Hawthorne did. He piloted his riding mower from Titusville all the way to Spring Hill—about 130 miles and roughly 15 hours of nonstop mowing—to raise money for West Orange Habitat for Humanity. Though he didn’t hit the half‑million‑dollar target, his “Mowathon” still carved a notable dent in the charitable landscape.

2 Florida Man Saves Bear

Ever wonder if a bear ever craps in the woods? Sometimes it does, other times it wanders into suburbia, where it might be shot or cause chaos. When an adult male black bear drifted into Alligator Point, animal control sprayed it with a tranquilizer.

Panicked, the bear plunged head‑first into the Gulf and began to drown. Wildlife advocate Adam Warwick dove in after it, battling the currents to keep the bear afloat and guide it back to shore, ultimately preventing a tragic drowning.

3 Florida Man Gives Up Riches

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Twenty‑thousand dollars can change lives, whether you’re living under a bridge or running a car‑wash. James Stratford, who manages a bustling car‑wash, stumbled upon a massive mishap that could have ruined a local business.

Customer Russell Mir accidentally tossed three bags of cash into a dumpster while his truck was being cleaned. After realizing the blunder, Mir called Stratford, and together they combed the trash. They first retrieved one bag, then Stratford kept searching and uncovered the remaining two. As thanks, he earned a year of unlimited Slurpees and whatever else he desired from Mir’s stations—though many think he should have kept the cash.

4 Florida Man Saves Manatee

When Don Swartz spotted a floating silhouette that resembled a tipsy party‑goer, he realized it was a manatee likely poisoned by red tide. The gentle giant had flipped onto its back, a position that can quickly become fatal.

Swartz dove in, cradling the creature and keeping its nostrils above water for a tense forty minutes until professionals arrived. The manatee had ingested toxic red‑tide seagrass, but Swartz’s quick action gave it a second chance.

5 Florida Man Saves Kids from Fire

If you’ve ever watched Zoolander, you know the drama of a gas‑station blaze. At a Palm Harbor station, flames erupted, endangering a mother and her two children.

Homeless local Jared Pierson sprinted into the inferno without hesitation, pulling the children to safety despite the roaring fire. He later said that, had he known the mother was also in peril, he would have done even more.

6 Florida Man Helps the Turtle Cross the Road

The classic tale of the rabbit and the tortoise reminds us that steady wins the race. In Naples, a turtle named Leonardo faced a busy road with no means to cross safely.

An anonymous Florida Man leapt from his truck, scooped up the turtle, and carried it across the street, halting traffic to ensure the reptile’s safe passage. Heroes don’t always need names—just a willingness to act.

7 Florida Man Saves Person Having Seizure

Heroes don’t always wear capes; sometimes they wear steel‑toed work boots. While mowing his lawn, Tony Neil noticed a neighbor experiencing a seizure inside a moving car.

He lunged, trying to stop the vehicle, and narrowly avoided crushing his foot. The car finally slammed into a tree, and with no way to reach the driver, Tony called 911, which arrived promptly and saved the man’s life.

8 Florida Man Saves Drowning Child

On Mother’s Day in Delray Beach, a young girl was swept out to sea by a rip current. Resort employee Logan Gaynor heard the cries and rushed into the water.

He swam out, rescued the child, and brought her safely back to shore. The fire department later honored him with a lifesaving award, reminding everyone how a single act can prevent a family’s worst nightmare.

9 Florida Man Rescues People from Afghanistan

When the United States wrapped up its Afghanistan mission in August 2021, thousands of Americans and allies needed extraction. Private equity investor Zach Van Meter from Naples was recruited by a former commando’s Commercial Task Force.

His team helped evacuate at least 15,000 people, contributing to the overall 120,000‑person rescue effort. A Florida Man playing a crucial role from afar, proving heroism knows no borders.

10 Florida Man Saves Puppy

Film and documentaries teach us that letting a pet die is the ultimate sin. When alligator jaws clamped around a puppy named Gunner, Richard Willbanks, a Florida retiree, sprang into action.

He chased the alligator, wrestled it underwater, and lifted both predator and pup from the lake, emerging with only minor scratches—and his cigar still smoldering. A true testament to Florida grit and gumption.

William Howard Hughes Jr. had a successful career in the Air Force in the 1980s. Already a captain by his early 30s, he was on the fast track to a stellar service career after he’d been with the outfit for much of his adult life. Known for hard work and dependability, he was being promoted steadily.

By 1983, he was assigned to Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico. While there, he had access to top-secret missile launch codes and warning systems information as part of a NATO program. He owned his own home in Albuquerque and lived alone. In July of that year, he was sent on a project in the Netherlands and ordered to return to base on August 1. He never reported back.

Hughes vanished into thin air, taking all his knowledge of classified and sensitive information with him. More than three decades later, he resurfaced. Here’s the crazy true story behind his disappearance.

Related: 10 Missing Persons Cases With Incredibly Odd Endings

10 Cold War Concerns

From the very beginning, Hughes’s disappearance was big news. The United States was in the midst of the Cold War with Russia at the time. Considering his classified knowledge of weapons systems, Hughes’s unknown whereabouts posed a national security risk. The threat of nuclear war with Russia and other hostile powers loomed large in that era.

So when Hughes seemingly vanished into thin air, the American government took action. They began looking into whether Hughes had defected to the Soviet power. When asked about the possibility of the captain defecting to Russia with state secrets, one Air Force official bluntly told a newspaper reporter, “that has to be an option.” ^[1]

9 Major Money Movement

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons 

After the Netherlands trip, Hughes failed to return to Kirtland at the beginning of August. Immediately, the Air Force began an investigation. Ten days later, they officially classified him as absent without leave. During their search, officials found Hughes had been seen withdrawing money from ATM locations in Albuquerque. In total, Hughes took out more than $28,000 in cash from 19 different ATMs around the city. His car was also found at the city’s airport. Officials began to suspect the obvious: he was fleeing from something. But when they searched his home, investigators found to-do lists written out and notes about books he intended to read upon his return.^[2]

8 Declared a Deserter

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Winter came with no sign of Hughes. Finally, on December 9, 1983, the Air Force declared him to be a deserter. The crime is serious: During war, it is punishable with execution. In peacetime, Hughes faced the threat of five years in prison. By January 1984, his absence caught the attention of national media. Hughes’s photo was published in newspapers around the country.

In addition, Air Force officials sent his information to police departments nationwide. The Pentagon confirmed publicly that a captain “with top secret access is missing under mysterious circumstances.” Even so, the government tried to downplay concerns Hughes was a spy or that he had defected. The FBI told media outlets, “there is no indication of espionage at this point.” Behind the scenes, officials scrambled to find him.^[3]

7 Hughes’s Sister Speaks Out

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Months after Hughes’s disappearance, his family began speaking out. His sister Christine was mortified by his absence, claiming it was “totally out of character for the Bill we knew.” Cryptically, she also told reporters that he was always careful about staying in close contact in his adult life, and “we do not feel he disappeared voluntarily.”

Police departments across the country began acting on tips. The Air Force conducted lengthy interviews with Hughes’s family, friends, and coworkers. Still, nothing came of the investigation. As Christmas came around more than a year after the captain had vanished, Christine again mourned the loss. “The holidays are the worst time,” she told a Seattle newspaper. “We make sure we’re together to try and help each other through.”^[4]

6 Secret Sabotage?

While the Air Force continued its search, Hughes’s story slipped off the front page. But it roared back several years later, in 1986. That year, Pentagon officials worried the missing captain was somehow sabotaging missile launches. The Los Angeles Times reported on a “bizarre pattern” of failed explorations and missile tests in the United States and France.

The list included the Challenger disaster, which killed all seven crew members upon launch. In the bombshell report, Hughes was named by officials as a sabotage suspect. One Pentagon source asserted there was “a clear link between Hughes and possible sabotage of the American and French launches.” Another insider claimed he was “worth his weight in gold to the Russians.” But the government still couldn’t find him.^[5]

5 The Cold War Cools Off

Whatever happened to Hughes, the end of the Cold War proved to cool concern over his disappearance. As the 1980s ended, the Russian threat began to wane. In 1991, the Soviet Union fell, and the unofficial Cold War essentially ended. Government officials leveled down their concern over certain missile secrets and stopped worrying openly about Russian spies and double agents. The focus on Hughes dropped in kind.

According to SFGate, William Howard Hughes’s name was not mentioned at all in press reports from 1987 to 2017. Still, that doesn’t mean Air Force officials weren’t still looking for him. And in 2018, in the most unexpected way, they finally came face to face with the man who had disappeared suddenly so many years before.^[6]

4 Finally Found—35 Years Later

In June 2018, agents with the U.S. Department of State traveled to Daly City, California, for an investigation. They questioned a man living there about inconsistencies with his passport. The man claimed to be Barry Timothy O’Beirne, but the agents couldn’t verify his identity. As they questioned him, the man cracked. Under investigation, he admitted that he was really William Howard Hughes.

Finally unmasked after decades in silence, Hughes confirmed he deserted the Air Force in 1983. He told the agents he had been “depressed” about his career. So he moved to California and created a new life. For 35 years, he went undetected. He even married a woman in the area, and they lived happily together. But the passport issue brought his secret life to a sudden end. The agents arrested the former captain and took him into custody “without incident.”^[7]

3 An Anonymous Life Upended

Hughes and his wife had spent their years in a two-bedroom townhouse in Daly City. The couple was liked by neighbors, who told media outlets they knew Hughes as “Tim.” One neighbor called him “very pleasant.” Another reported regularly seeing him at the local gym. Several neighbors reported “Tim” was a big baseball fan and always wore a San Francisco Giants hat on outings around town. Neighbors assumed he was retired.

As it turned out, Hughes worked as a consultant and actuary under his assumed identity for his post-Air Force life. One work colleague remembered him as “very smart” and “always joking.” Never did he cause trouble or draw attention to himself. Neighbors didn’t have any inkling about Hughes’s backstory until the media descended. “I guess you never know a person until you dig deep,” one local told a news outlet.^[8]

2 Consequences Finally Come

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Upon his arrest, Hughes was taken to Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California. There, investigators questioned him about his life and career. He insisted he was never a spy. Instead, he repeated claims about being “depressed” while working in the Air Force. Classified projects on missile capabilities and Soviet threats evidently took their toll on the former captain. Nevertheless, the military outfit prosecuted him for desertion.

In September 2018, he was found guilty of the charge and sentenced to spend 45 days in a military prison. A month later, he lost an appeal of the sentence and was ordered to serve his time. After facing the consequences of his 35-year-old actions, Hughes was dishonorably discharged from the service branch.^[9]

1 And Just Like That, He Vanished Again

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

After serving his time, Hughes disappeared once more. No longer wanted by the Air Force, he was free to go as he pleased, and he did so. His siblings, so concerned about Hughes’s fate after his disappearance back in 1983, never came forward publicly in the years after he was found. It is unknown if they have ever seen him since his reappearance.

In a sad twist, the woman he had been married to filed to annul their partnership two months after his arrest. It would seem he never told her of his real identity, and she couldn’t bear to live with his fake name following the discovery. As for Hughes, he has vanished again. SFGate reports that as of August 2022, his “current whereabouts are unknown.” The man who went missing from the Air Force in 1983 is lost in the wind once more—and this time, probably for good.^[10]

When it comes to headlines, Florida men are a breed all their own. And we’re not just talking about the fact that they have more guns than any other state in America—though it’s true that they do. We’re talking about their weird, wild headlines. So we thought: What better way to celebrate the year 2022 than with a list of 10 crazy headlines that prove Florida men are a different breed. Are you ready to be shocked?

Ever since the dawn of time, there have been men who are just different. Whether it’s the way they dress, how they talk, or even their hairstyles, these Florida men know how to stand out in a crowd. You’ve heard it before, and you know it’s true. Florida men are a breed apart—they’re the kind of men who will do anything to get what they want, even if it means running through a drive-thru with their clothes off or putting a live alligator in their pants.

Here are just some of the occurrences that prove how these Florida men are just different:

10 Florida Man Busted After Tantrum About Bacon

Have you ever seen someone get arrested because he threw a tantrum over bacon? Yup, that’s probably not an uncommon scenario when you go to Florida. When the Cape Coral police received calls claiming that there was some “disturbance,” they quickly responded. Upon arriving at the Waffle House (where else would it be?), they saw a shirtless man yelling at the employees for the way his bacon was cooked.

Currently, the man is in jail and is charged with intoxication as well as resisting arrest. Though it’s a bit bizarre to be arrested because of bacon, it surely is also a lesson learned: do not let bacon get on your nerves!^[1]

9 The Crossbow Fiasco

It’s not all the time you hear about stolen crossbows—they’re hard to hide, and they might even potentially hurt you as you run away from authorities. However, that’s not entirely the case with Darren Durrant from Florida. Though he was able to walk out of the store undetected, they were able to trace back that he was the one who stole the crossbow.

The crazy part? He actually stored it inside his pants. Yup, you didn’t read that part wrong. A crossbow inside his pants—talk about a fiasco indeed. Even if he was in danger of injury with how he hid such an item, Durrant and his antics have definitely proven to us that you can actually hide a crossbow inside your pants! He left undetected (the crutch was a nice touch) but was spotted in a restaurant’s parking lot, where he even tried to run away from the police. The attempt was unsuccessful, though, as he was arrested and jailed. ^[2]

8 The Naked Man with a Barbell

Imagine waking up to your 62-year-old neighbor as he’s banging a barbell on the door… while naked. That is actually not unlikely if you find yourself living in Florida, so be prepared. Larry Gardner was confronted by a neighbor as he was hitting a sliding glass door to another person’s home. The neighbor confronted Gardner, who threatened to kill him.

Gardner eventually dropped the barbell but picked up a metal pipe near the home and continued threatening his neighbor. After finally being tackled by two good Samaritans, the police arrived, and Gardner was arrested for assault and armed burglary. Definitely not something you’d expect on a Monday evening.^[3]

7 Florida Man Watched Spider-Man 292 Times

If you claim to be Spiderman’s number one fan, you definitely have to think again after reading about Ramila Alanis and the world record that he broke. In honor of his late grandmother, who he also saw as his number-one supporter, he wanted to be the record holder after losing the title in 2021. With that, this man spent over $3,400 watching Spider-Man: No Way Home 292 times. Yup, 292 times.

Not only that, but because the requirements for the record state you have to watch this movie without doing anything else like using your phone, going to the restroom, or even sleeping, it is safe to say that Alanis may have already memorized the dialogue and the screenplay. That’s a lot, just to have that title.

Though it took him approximately 720 hours (that’s 30 days) to watch the movie 292 times while juggling his personal life and work commitments, he was actually very successful in achieving this groundbreaking and amazing world record! Would you do something like this, too?^[4]

6 Unfamiliar with the Stick Shift, Driver Crashes Supercar

Wouldn’t it be heartbreaking to purchase a supercar only for it to be crashed just a week later? That was actually what happened with Robert Guarini. What seemed to be a normal day for him definitely turned into something else when he crashed his 2006 Heritage Edition Ford GT. While not a new car, he had just gotten it at an auction, paying a whopping $704,000 for it.

When asked by the authorities why this happened, apparently, he was unfamiliar with how the stick shift worked. However, authorities found out later on that Guarini actually had a suspended license and didn’t even have the registration or insurance for the car that he bought. Not only was his car damaged and crashed, but he also got cited for driving with a suspended license and not having the car registered or insurance!^[5]

5 Florida Man Uploads Bomb-Making Videos

Florida isn’t just home to weird cases of theft and robbery, but it is also popular because of how interesting its people can be. When living in Florida, it surely should not come as a surprise to you when someone just decides to upload a bomb-making video out of the blue. Yes, it actually happened. Romeo Xavier Langhorne, a 32-year-old, was caught doing just that.

According to the prosecutors, he even pledged his allegiance to ISIS. That prompted him to upload a video on how to make bombs, hoping it would be helpful to the group with whatever they wanted to do. An FBI agent—undercover as an ISIS representative—was actually the one who caught him. Because of this, Langhorne was sentenced to 20 years in prison.^[6]

4 Naked Man in Florida Attempts to Rob a Man with a Machete

When in Florida, naked men that want to rob you are a common thing. So if you find yourself visiting the state or even have plans of living there, definitely take this bizarre occurrence into consideration because you might just find yourself in such a situation! What seemed a normal day for this surveyor turned into something else when a naked man ran after him with a machete as he demanded clothes and other stuff like his wallet and even his phone.

This naked man actually came out of nowhere, taking everyone by surprise with what he did. After throwing a machete at the worker who handed over what he was asking for, the naked man then jumped into a vehicle and drove to a nearby gas station. Though the surveyor was struck with a machete, he, fortunately, didn’t receive any serious injuries.

After yelling at people driving by and a comical push-up display, the Florida authorities were able to take the nude assailant into custody. With that, he was charged with attempted robbery with a deadly weapon. However, it was later discovered that this man also had mental health issues. Definitely an interesting case!^[7]

3 Florida Man Wakeboards Behind a Truck After Hurricane Ian

Yup, you read that correctly. Time and time again, it’s been proven that the men in Florida never disappoint with their many adventures. They seem to live keeping everyone entertained—like this guy right here!

Right after the disastrous Hurricane Ian hit the central west coast of Florida this past summer, many witnesses saw a man wakeboarding on the streets behind a truck. His surfing escapade garnered much attention on social media, with spectators cheering the man on. The comments were almost as comical, with one user citing, “Nothing is more American than this.” Another user topped the comments, though, with his observation about the sprinklers being on at the golf course in the background.

Would you ever do such a crazy thing? If we’re being honest, wakeboarding in the streets doesn’t sound like a very bad thing either, as long as you’re careful!^[8]

2 Naked Man Wearing a Cowboy Hat Attacks Woman Using a Machete

At this point, every time you hear about a machete and a naked man, you might instantly think about Florida and how incidents like this seem like a common thing to happen to the residents living there. Imagine riding a bicycle when suddenly a naked man pops out of nowhere and attacks you with a machete? It sounds unlikely, right? However, nothing here in Florida seems to be impossible because this actually happened!

Roberto Hercules, 45, attacked a woman while she was riding a bicycle around town. After being rejected and turned down after asking her for a crack pipe that she didn’t even have, Hercules hit and chased her with a machete. Even as the woman tried to run away from Hercules and jump off her bicycle, she was still struck with the weapon multiple times. Fortunately, she survived. Later, the police found the assailant sleeping, still naked, with a cowboy hat. He was arrested and charged with attempted murder, attempted armed robbery, and aggravated battery with a weapon.^[9]

1 Man in Florida Pays Rent to a Fake House Owner

Nothing beats the frustration of having to pay your rent monthly, especially if you’re the cost comes at a big price, right? However, what if you find out that you’ve been paying your rent to someone that’s not even your landlord? This is what happened to Isaac Aviles, a 19-year-old who got conned by what seemed to be a fake owner of the house!

It was only three months later when he found out that the man he had been paying $1200 a month to was a rental scammer! He never met the supposed landlord and only spoke to him on the phone. The 3-bedroom home in Orlando seemed like a good deal–too good, it seemed—as the true rent for the home is double what Aviles was paying. Because real estate scams are a common occurrence in Florida and elsewhere, you definitely have to watch out because you might be the next victim.^[10]