Term

Definition

Sustainable Fashion Definition

Origin if known

‘Clean Girl’ Aesthetic

A wellness-inspired aesthetic with slicked-back hair, gold hoops, neutral makeup, and minimalist basics.

Can support minimalist wardrobes and skincare-oriented beauty, but often linked to consumption of trendy products under the guise of ‘natural’.

Popularised on TikTok and Instagram around 2021; inspired by models like Hailey Bieber and everyday luxury branding.

Angelcore

A visual aesthetic emphasizing purity, innocence, soft pastel colours, and ethereal or celestial imagery (e.g., halos, wings, white lace).

Can encourage slow fashion through emphasis on thrifted vintage nightgowns, lace, and reuse of delicate or aged materials. Romanticises clothing longevity.

Popularised on Tumblr and TikTok; inspired by Renaissance art and Christian iconography.

Balletcore

Hailey Bieber has been at the forefront of the "balletcore" trend, which incorporates ballet-inspired elements like tights, leotards, and delicate accessories into everyday

Encourages romantic, delicate silhouettes like wrap tops, ballet flats, and leotards. May support secondhand dancewear and feminine minimalism, but can slide into trend-driven overconsumption.

Derived from ballet aesthetics; revived through TikTok and high fashion (e.g., Miu Miu) in early 2020s.

Brat Girl Summer Aesthetic

A Gen Z-driven trend featuring bold colours, hyper-femininity, mini skirts, cheeky slogans, and 'hot girl' confidence.

Can critique fast fashion overconsumption through irony, but often tied to trend-chasing micro-consumption unless DIY or secondhand.

Popularised on TikTok post-2021; inspired by Bratz dolls, Y2K icons, and a backlash against 'clean girl' aesthetics.

Cabincore

A rugged aesthetic focused on log-cabin life, flannel shirts, wool, boots, and outdoor survival gear. Masculine version of cottagecore.

Encourages heritage workwear, durability, and nature connection—aligns with sustainable practices like buying for longevity.

Grew alongside outdoor and lumberjack trends; links to 20th-century Americana and wilderness culture.

Capsule Siren

A curated minimalist wardrobe with a sensual edge.

Capsule Siren,"A hybrid of ‘capsule wardrobe’ logic with hyperfeminine elements—streamlined silhouettes with sexy accents. Merges minimalism with glamour.

New aesthetic blending slow fashion principles with femme aesthetics; coined via social media influencers in 2023.

Clowncore

A maximalist and whimsical aesthetic inspired by clowns—bright colours, oversized silhouettes, ruffles, polka dots, and theatrical makeup.

Supports creative reuse of children’s or circus-themed clothing, rejects fashion minimalism. Questions norms of beauty and overconsumption.

Emerged from Tumblr and TikTok; traces to drag, theatre, and vintage circus fashion.

Coastline Cowgirl

A fusion trend term combining beach wear with Western fashion elements.

Combines Western fashion (boots, denim) with breezy coastal vibes (linen, hats). Emphasises comfort, natural fibres, and seasonal reuse.

Gained traction on TikTok in 2023; evokes American West meets beach towns, often promoted via festival fashion and cottagecore updates.

Coquette 2.0

An evolved version of soft femininity, blending vintage lace with modern tailoring.

A Y2K-feminine revival aesthetic with lace, bows, and hyper-girly accessories. Can critique overproduction through ironic styling or thrifted items.

Evolved from Tumblr’s original coquette look; rebooted in the 2020s via TikTok as a mash-up of Lolita, Lana Del Rey, and post-ironic femininity.

Corporate Fetish

Refers to an aesthetic that glamorizes or exaggerates traditional corporate wear—like power suits, pencil skirts, ties, and structured blazers—by infusing it with hyper-stylized, provocative, or fetishistic elements. This can include exaggerated shoulder pads, ultra-tailored silhouettes, sheer fabrics, latex, leather, or harness-like accessories that play with themes of dominance, power, and authority. On platforms like TikTok and Instagram, corporate fetish is also linked to a playful, satirical take on capitalism, where people embrace an exaggerated version of “corporate chic” as both empowerment and critique.

Reclaims workwear (pencil skirts, blazers, ties) with edgy, often sensual stylings. Challenges wasteful officewear standards via subversive reuse.

Emerging from fashion criticism and queer aesthetics; explored by brands like Dion Lee and TikTok microtrends.

Cottagecore

Romanticises rural life through soft, prairie-inspired outfits (e.g. puffed sleeves, florals, linens), handmade items, and domestic crafts.

Promotes home-sewing, upcycling, and slow rural aesthetics. Idealises self-sufficiency and natural fibres (linen, cotton, wool).

Tumblr aesthetic; nostalgic view of European pastoral life and 19th-century countryside.

Cowboycore

Inspired by cowboy and Western American aesthetics—denim, boots, hats, fringe, and leather.

Reimagines long-lasting garments like denim and leather as anti-fast-fashion icons. Critiques land exploitation through style.

Rooted in US Westerns, rodeo culture, and ranch wear; revived by TikTok and runway trends.

Craftcore

Embraces handmade aesthetics—knitting, crochet, visible mending, and DIY fashion.

Explicitly sustainable: highlights slow fashion, handwork, repair, and resistance to mass production.

Part of the maker movement and pandemic-era crafting revival; overlaps with punk DIY.

Devilcore

A dark aesthetic that embraces themes of chaos, rebellion, the occult, and nonconformity, often through red, black, leather, and satanic motifs.

Reuses and upcycles rebellious or taboo fashion (e.g. goth, punk, fetishwear) as resistance to fast fashion conformity. Can critique capitalist virtue-signalling in fashion.

Tumblr-era subculture; rooted in 80s–90s alternative and satanic panic aesthetics.

Eclectic Grandpa

Emerged in late 2023, describing a style mixing traditional elderly menswear items like cardigans and loafers with contemporary pieces.

Mixes vintage menswear (cardigans, loafers, trousers) with playful colours and nostalgic styling. Supports thrifting, slow tailoring, and intergenerational reuse.

Inspired by ‘grandpacore’ and 1970s aesthetics; grew through Gen Z TikTok and sustainable influencers.

Fairycore

Enchanted woodland aesthetic with fairy wings, glitter, sheer fabrics, florals, and nature motifs.

Uses secondhand materials and DIY accessories; values fantasy over trend-driven purchases.

Derives from fantasy books and media; gained traction via TikTok and cosplay culture.

Fetishcore

Uses fashion elements from fetish subcultures—latex, harnesses, chokers, vinyl, fishnets—often merged with high fashion.

Can challenge overproduction by popularising durable, non-disposable garments. Questions modesty norms in eco-fashion discourse.

Rooted in BDSM and queer fashion histories; co-opted by designers like Mugler and McQueen.

Goblincore

Celebrates nature’s messiness—mud, fungi, bugs, moss, thrifted clothes, and earth tones. Rejects beauty standards.

Emphasises thrift, upcycling, and anti-consumerism. Aligns with ecological ethics and embracing imperfection.

Grew on Tumblr; folkloric roots and queer resistance to aesthetic norms.

Gorpcore

Urban meets outdoors: functional fashion using technical gear like Patagonia, The North Face, and Arc’teryx.

Values durability and multifunctionality; can critique performative sustainability in outdoor branding.

Emerged in 2010s via normcore and outdoor fashion convergence.

Gothcore

A darker, romantic style drawing on gothic fashion—black clothes, lace, corsets, platform boots.

Often sustainable via vintage or secondhand goth garments. Rejects mainstream fashion's lightness.

Dates to 1980s goth subculture; links to punk, Victorian mourning dress, and dark romanticism.

Grunge Aesthetic

A style rooted in 1990s alternative rock culture—flannel shirts, ripped jeans, band tees, and thrift-store layering.

Encourages upcycling, thrifting, and anti-fashion attitudes that resist seasonal trend cycles. A model for sustainable subcultural reuse.

Originated in Seattle’s 1990s grunge music scene, popularised by bands like Nirvana and later adopted by high fashion.

Lovecore

Focuses on love, hearts, pink/red colours, lace, and Valentine’s Day themes. Whimsical and soft.

Reclaims used romantic motifs and thrifted holidaywear. Questions the seasonal wastefulness of love-themed fashion.

TikTok aesthetic; influenced by kawaii, 2000s kitsch, and romantic visual culture.

Minimalist ’90s Aesthetic

A style defined by clean lines, neutral colours, slip dresses, structured tailoring, and simple accessories.

Favors timeless pieces, long-term wearability, and quality-over-quantity—values aligned with sustainable capsule wardrobes.

Originated in 1990s fashion houses like Calvin Klein and Helmut Lang; revived through Instagram and fashion retrospectives.

Mob Wife Aesthetic

Luxurious, over-the-top glam inspired by 90s/00s mob wives (fur coats, animal prints, gold jewelry).

Mob Wife Aesthetic,"Bold glamour: fur coats, animal print, gold jewellery, and statement sunglasses. While often excess-driven, can support vintage fur, thrifted glamour, and rejection of minimalist fast fashion.

Resurfaced in 2024 via TikTok; rooted in 1980s and early 2000s mafia films and TV (e.g., *The Sopranos*).

New Preppy Aesthetic

A modernised, more inclusive version of preppy style—mixing varsity with streetwear, colours with irony.

Offers sustainable potential via thrifted schoolwear and reinterpreted heritage styles, but risks fast-fashion appropriation.

Developed post-2015 on TikTok and by brands like Rowing Blazers; blends classic prep with Gen Z irreverence.

Office Siren

A sultry take on corporate wear (pencil skirts, sheer tights, structured blazers).

Hyperfeminine reinterpretation of 1990s workwear with bodycon fits, heels, and glossy accessories. Risks trend churn unless vintage or repurposed.

Revived in 2024 as part of TikTok's backlash to genderless fashion; draws on *Working Girl* and *Devil Wears Prada* archetypes.

Preppy Aesthetic

A style derived from Ivy League and boarding school uniforms: polos, sweaters, blazers, and loafers.

Can promote heritage clothing and quality craftsmanship, but may also glorify exclusivity and brand status over sustainability.

Originated in elite American universities in the mid-20th century; revived repeatedly through fashion cycles.

Quiet Luxury Aesthetic

An understated elegance defined by high-quality, logo-free garments in neutral tones—cashmere, wool, silk.

Can promote buying fewer, better garments with an emphasis on longevity, though often co-opted to justify elite overconsumption.

Rooted in old money aesthetics; gained popularity after 2022 through media like *Succession* and luxury fashion shifts.

Quiet Luxury" or "Stealth Wealth

While not entirely new terms, they gained massive popularity in 2023 through TikTok and the TV show Succession, referring to expensive but understated fashion without obvious branding.

Promotes buying fewer, higher-quality items with subtle branding and timeless silhouettes. Aligns with slow fashion values when not status-driven.

Rooted in 'old money' and luxury minimalism; gained popularity via *Succession* and post-pandemic critiques of conspicuous consumption.

Re-Commerce Core

Styling focused on resale and circular fashion.

Focuses on resale platforms, circular fashion, and marketplace culture. Normalises buying secondhand and selling clothing post-use.

Coined in the 2020s as platforms like Depop, Vestiaire, and Poshmark rose. Seen as a Gen Z response to overproduction.

Regenerative organic

Patagonia introduced the term "regenerative organic" which refers to farming practices that restore soil health, improve water retention, and increase biodiversity.

Goes beyond sustainability to include soil health, biodiversity, and social fairness in fibre production. Supports clothing grown from ecologically restorative farming.

Originated in food systems; formalised by the Regenerative Organic Certification introduced in 2018, now adopted in textiles (e.g., Patagonia, Christy Dawn).

Royalcore

Emulates European royalty—corsets, gowns, gold embroidery, pearls, regal posture.

Promotes longevity, artisanal craft, and critique of fast fashion’s erosion of class symbolism.

Tumblr and TikTok; reflects fascination with monarchy, history, and Netflix’s Bridgerton.

Sardinecore

A surreal and ironic coastal aesthetic blending kitsch ocean motifs, metallic fabrics, retro swimwear, and fish iconography (especially sardines).

Can encourage upcycling, DIY embellishment, and reuse of novelty or ‘ugly’ items, challenging aesthetic norms and fast fashion homogeneity.

Coined on social media in 2023 as a playful counter to ‘clean’ coastal looks like tomato girl or coastal grandma.

Slowed Fashion

A term used instead of "slow fashion" to emphasize personal, mindful styling rather than industry change.

Rejects the industrial pace of fast fashion in favour of deep use, mending, emotional durability, and mindful purchasing.

Term adapted from ‘slow fashion’; increasingly used in opposition to seasonal drops and trend churn.

Thrift-Fluencer

Someone who popularizes thrift shopping and secondhand styling.

An influencer who promotes secondhand fashion, mending, styling thrift finds, and sustainable shopping habits.

Term coined on TikTok/Instagram to describe Gen Z creators advocating sustainable consumption through storytelling and styling.

Tomato Girl

A Mediterranean summer aesthetic featuring linen dresses, headscarves, straw bags, red tones, and a love for tomatoes, sun, and slow living.

Promotes natural fibres (like linen), vintage sundresses, and an idealised slow-fashion lifestyle linked to regional identity and slow tourism.

Popularised in 2023 on TikTok and Instagram; inspired by Italian coastal imagery and nostalgic femininity.

Tomato Girl Summer

Popularized on TikTok in 2023, referring to a Mediterranean-inspired aesthetic featuring red hues, flowy dresses, and a relaxed European summer vibe.

See earlier entry – a romanticised Mediterranean aesthetic valuing sun-drenched natural living, vintage dresses, and relaxed, slow fashion staples.

Popularised in 2023 on social media; rooted in nostalgic travel imagery and Italian coastal aesthetics.

Underconsumption Core

“To me, ‘underconsumption core’ means making use of what you already own, not buying into every trend you see on social media and living with a sustainability mindset,” Natalia Trevino Amaro, designer and slow fashion advocate, tells Vogue.

https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/underconsumption-core (2025)

Upcycling the Oceans

Introduced by Ecoalf - a Spanish firm - a program that transforms marine waste into high-quality fabrics and products.

A fashion movement focused on creating garments from ocean plastic, discarded fishing nets, or other marine waste.

Part of the larger ocean conservation movement; supported by brands like Ecoalf, Adidas x Parley, and NGOs using fashion for marine clean-up advocacy.

Vanilla Girl

Became popular in early 2023, describing a minimalist aesthetic focusing on neutral colors, particularly beige and cream tones. A clean, soft, beige-and-white palette aesthetic featuring cozy knits, lip gloss, and understated beauty.

May align with capsule dressing and mindful shopping but often leans into hyper-consumption of trending basics.

Term surfaced on TikTok around 2022; shares overlap with ‘clean girl’ and minimal aesthetic personas."

Y2K Fashion Aesthetic

Revival of early 2000s fashion: low-rise jeans, crop tops, baby tees, sparkles, logos, and metallics.

While rooted in nostalgia, it can drive unsustainable fast-fashion cycles unless sourced secondhand or upcycled.

Stems from the fashion of the late 1990s and early 2000s; re-emerged in 2020s through Gen Z nostalgia and resale apps.