clowncore

Finally — at least for the moment — Riccardo Tisci piled on the stripes and dots and swirls (and ankle socks) earlier this month for his Givenchy spring 2017 collection. Little wonder, really, that in the middle of all that, Refinery29 ran an editorial called “Why It’s Cool to Look Like a Clown.” The references were so ubiquitous that Paper magazine christened the movement “clowncore.”

[2016 October 27, Vanessa Friedman, “The Creepy Clown in Your Closet”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 29 Oct 2016

Another nonconformist aesthetic, Clowncore, emulates the style of clowns, mimes, and jesters. Although most of Clowncore is genial, some express it with a darker twist.

2020, Piper Dafforn, “At the Core”, in Season, volume 3, number 1 (Don’t Put Me on Hold!), pages 4 and 7

The hashtag #BratzLips has over 9.5M views on TikTok, and here you’ll find thousands of makeup hacks and tutorials on how to achieve the look, with everyone from e-girls to more obscure subcultures like clowncore opting for a rounder lip.

2021 August 18, Laura Holliday, “It's official, the Cupid's Bow is dead”, in i-D, archived from the original on 22 Aug 2021

It’s not often that I’m totally turned off by a fashion trend (clowncore, I’m looking at you), but I have to admit I’m having a visceral reaction to miniskirts.

2022 August, “Miniskirts are big news right now…”, in Cosmopolitan

Then there are the hundreds of “core aesthetics” blooming on TikTok in which followers dress according to a subculture identity, such as clowncore (rainbow prints, face paint), dragoncore (nature, mysticism), “dark academia” (brooding houndstooth), cottagecore (chunky sweaters), various grandma looks and “weirdgirl” mismatchedness.

2022 November 5, Susanna Schrobsdorff, “We’re wearing our collective angst (in robe coats and furry slippers)”, in Messenger-Inquirer, volume 148, number 308, Owensboro, Ky., page A7