Normcore is the buzzword that has infiltrated the fashion and online world in the past month or so, and everyone from Alexander Wang’s adorable niece Aila to top NYC bloggers have been sporting the Adidas slides + socks combo like it’s couture. Originally coined by New York trend forecaster K-Hole, normcore has transgressed from a trend to a phenomenon as fashion sources like The Cut, Lucky Magazine and Refinery29 have all attempted to decode its meaning and guide us towards achieving a look that’s been characterized as “a fashion statement that doesn’t make a statement.”
We decided to put the trend to the test in order to find out exactly how wearable it really is.
Helen: I view normcore as a way to express oneself through the most simplest and mundane pieces of clothing. It's been fun thinking about how to dress normcore without being too plain or too sloppy. Though I'm not sure if I nailed it on my first try. My husband said I look like "Sophie," my son's giraffe toy.
Libby: To me, normcore means getting rid of individuality or any form of self expression. It is dressing up to be part of the "norm.” Since I live in an area with a lot of old people and grocery stores, I was inspired by those old ladies going grocery shopping with their tote bags. Something about baggy outerwear over big skirts just felt so...normcore.
Normcore (noun): 1. A fashion movement, c. 2014, in which scruffy young urbanites swear off the tired street-style clichés of the last decade — skinny jeans, wallet chains, flannel shirts — in favor of a less-ironic (but still pretty ironic) embrace of bland, suburban anti-fashion attire. (See Jeans, mom. Sneakers, white.)
2. A sociocultural concept, c. 2013, having nothing to do with fashion, that concerns hipster types learning to get over themselves, sometimes even enough to enjoy mainstream pleasures like football along with the rest of the crowd.
3. An Internet meme that turned into a massive in-joke that the news media keeps falling for. (NY Times)
I’m so confused…
Ashley: I feel like the essence of normcore is dressing like you aren’t trying to make a fashion statement, but I found that a little difficult. The more I thought about what normcore was “supposed” to look like, the longer it took for me to come up with an appropriate outfit. In the end, I settled on my dad’s old sweater vest and my white slip-ons. While not my usual style, I would give it another go, especially if it means track pants, sneakers and a plain tee are in rotation.
What are your thoughts on normcore? Share in the comments below!
Additional photos courtesy of: blairbadge, RedReidinghood, CharlieCole and lanton.
