You know the internet went deep when even fashion trends have subcultures with suffixes. Welcome to the world of “cores”—a seemingly endless buffet of aesthetics, each with its vibe, visual language, and TikTok soundtrack. From cottagecore to clowncore, we’ve entered the age of ultra-specific style identities. But what exactly is a “core”? And how did fashion get this… fragmented?
Let’s unpack the madness—core by core.
What Does “Core” Even Mean?
The suffix-core originally came from hardcore music culture but, over time, became shorthand for a distinct aesthetic or subculture. On the internet, “core” has become a tool for labeling hyper-specific fashion trends and lifestyle aesthetics. It allows people to group vibes, values, and visual cues into neat little packages—ideal for TikTok algorithms and Pinterest boards.
In a digital world where everyone’s looking to stand out and belong, cores offer a way to do both.
The Big Names: Cores You’ve Seen
Let’s start with the obvious players:
- Cottagecore
- The soft, romantic dream of rural life—think flowy dresses, fresh-baked bread, and reading under a tree. Popularised during lockdowns, it idealised slowness and softness in a chaotic world.
- Clean Girl Aesthetic (Clean Girlcore?)
- Minimal makeup, sleek buns, dewy skin, and gold hoops. It’s a “put together” look that quietly screams money, wellness, and self-discipline.
- Dark Academia
- Inspired by classic literature, tweed blazers, and gloomy libraries. It’s basically “What if Hogwarts was real and you only read tragic poetry?”
- Y2Kcore
- A nostalgic revival of early 2000s fashion: baby tees, low-rise jeans, butterfly clips. It’s chaotic, shiny, and shamelessly fun.
These fashion trends may differ wildly in visuals, but they all thrive online because they’re instantly recognizable—and replicable.
The Hyper-Niche Stuff: You Blink and It’s a New Core
Then there are the weird, wonderful, and slightly unhinged cores that feel like inside jokes with the internet:
- Blokecore: Football jerseys, pint glasses, and dad trainers. It’s British lad fashion but make it ironic.
- Clowncore: Maximalism turned up to eleven. Rainbow wigs, polka dots, and exaggerated makeup—equal parts whimsical and terrifying.
- Goblincore: Cottagecore’s dirtier cousin. Think mushrooms, moss, thrifted chaos, and a love for all things messy and natural.
- Fairycore, Balletcore, Mermaidcore, Coquettecore…
- If it’s been romanticized in Tumblr lore or TikTok soundtracks, there’s probably a core for it.
Why Are There So Many Cores?
Because the internet craves identity—but also reinvention. Cores let people jump in and out of personalities without commitment. They’re dress-up boxes for digital selves.
TikTok and Instagram Reels feed these trends rapidly. A 15-second video with a vibey track and a consistent color palette is all it takes to sell a mood. The cycle is fast, fleeting, and incredibly aesthetic.
Plus, fashion has become less about mainstream runways and more about niche, community-driven expression. If high fashion is the magazine cover, “cores” are the scrapbook—and everyone gets a page.
Trend or Trap?
It’s fun to experiment with a new aesthetic every few months. But there’s a risk: when fashion trends turn prescriptive, they stop being playful. People feel pressure to dress a certain way to “fit” an aesthetic, even if it doesn’t align with who they are.
Cores are great when they’re used as inspiration—not instruction manuals. Mix them, remix them, reject them. You don’t have to live in the woods to wear a ruffled blouse.
So… Which Core Are You?
You don’t have to choose. You can be a little dark academia on Monday, a clean girl by Wednesday, and deep in clowncore by the weekend. The beauty of these fashion trends is in their flexibility. They permit you to be fluid, experimental, and just a little unhinged.
So go ahead—embrace the chaos. Because in the world of internet fashion, there’s a core for everyone. And if there isn’t yet, just invent it.