logo

'Normcore': The Rise Of Basic Fashion

author
Mar 16, 2021
07:00 A.M.
Share this pen
FacebookFacebookTwitterTwitterLinkedInLinkedInEmailEmail

We’re over twelve months into the pandemic, and there’s never been a better time for basic fashion. On some days, you can make a fashion statement, and on others, you’re glad that you’re dressed.

Advertisement

Being uncool is the new cool in fashion, with mom jeans and dad sneakers making trends. Items that were considered ugly like UGGs are also in style now, further proving that basic is back.

Nowadays, one wouldn’t tell whether someone is a tourist or an art student because of their fashion choices. Read more to explore this anti-fashion phenomenon called ‘normcore’ and how it rose.

What Is Normcore?

Advertisement

Normcore is a fashion term that became popular in the 2010s. More people started dressing less conventionally fashionable and opted for trainers and hoodies, influencing a rise in anti-fashion style.

“It’s a very flat look, conspicuously unpretentious, maybe even endearingly awkward. It’s a lot of cliché style taboos, but it’s not the irony I love, it’s rather practical and no-nonsense, which to me, right now, seems sexy.”

Says Freelance Stylist Jeremy Lewis

Advertisement

Like Garmento founder Jeremy Lewis, many prefer normcore because it is a practical styling option. Instead of being a fashion follower, normcore lovers style their clothes for practical, fuss-free reasons.

The Rise Of Normcore

Advertisement

It hasn’t been a long time since people dressed plainly on purpose. The term ‘normcore’ first reached the fashion scene in 2009 but peaked in popularity in 2013 after the trend forecasting group ‘K-Hole’ used it in a report.

Alice Goddard, the founder of ‘Hot and Cool,’ curated an editorial in 2013 that pivoted normcore style. The magazine used Google Maps street view screenshots that featured plainly dressed subjects from a small town.

Advertisement

“... the people we were finding on Google Maps obviously had no idea they were being photographed, and yet their outfits were, to me, more interesting.”

Says Alice Goddard

Alice formatted the editorial to parody street style photography to show how ‘regular’ fashion could look fantastic. This editorial sparked many more conversations about the normcore fashion trend, which rose from then.

Normcore For Connections

Advertisement

While some may argue that normcore is consists of lazy styling, others see an opportunity for connection. K-Hole’s Emily Segal explains that this fashion trend welcomes the possibility of being unrecognizable.

There are over 7 billion people globally, and looking similar to most of them gives you a blank slate. Not standing out gives one the ability to connect to anyone else instead of erasing your identity.

Advertisement

Although normcore reached its peak in the 2010s, last year’s loungewear phenomenon brought it back. UGGs and crocs were trending more than ever, and the Northface puffer jackets became a style staple.

Besides being apart, people felt connected more than ever due to the pandemic since we experienced it the same. What better way to keep those connections going than through fashion instead of a virus this year?

Advertisement
Advertisement
Related posts

10 Flared Leggings Types for Comfort - Styling Tips Included

October 12, 2023

Y2K Nails: Easy Designs for Everyone to Rock the Retro Vibe

August 14, 2023

Pink Chrome Nails in Line with the Barbiecore Trend

September 21, 2023

Trendy Preppy Hairstyle Ideas for Everyone

August 26, 2023

Jelly Nails - The Bright Sheer Manicure Trend Applicable in Different Colors

October 23, 2023

French Tip Toes: Elevate Your Look with This Chic and Subtle Pedicure

September 10, 2023

French Manicure 2023: Top 10 Ideas to Try On Your Nails

October 09, 2023

Duck Nails: Why They Are Popular & How to Create Yours with Ease

August 27, 2023

Fulani Braids & Different Ways to Style Them

October 05, 2023

How to Make Eyeliner Out of Eyeshadow: 8 Life Hacks for a Vibrant & Lasting Finish

September 18, 2023

Y2K Makeup Ideas: Reliving Nostalgic Glamour for the Modern Age

August 24, 2023

First Date Tips to Help Leave a Pleasant Impression

September 13, 2023

Pearl Nails: Transform Your Nails into Pearlescent Masterpieces

September 07, 2023

Douyin Makeup Tutorial: A Guide to the Viral Beauty Trend

August 10, 2023