“The art of kidcore is contagious,” says Adam. It ties into being confident in who you are, no matter whether it causes strangers to turn heads - in fact, this reaction is encouraged. The love for this trend runs much deeper than just a fad for these creatives, it’s a lifestyle and a sign of hope. Some of their favorite pieces invoke this charismatic and playful essence, like a bolero jacket with dangling colored plastic silverware as fringe, puffy paint blobs, and a cowgirl hat accented with feather boas, beading, felt lettering, and decapitated kewpie heads. “Through mediums such as flowers, pony beads, playful poems, acrylic paint, and vibrant color clashing, we create a Zig Zag universe that lets adults be kids and color outside the lines.” “Kidcore is the best term to describe our brand,” the duo tells NYLON. Piper Cashman and Amanda Adam of Zig Zag Goods specialize in clothes that channel “youthful motifs with a childhood essence” - think clowns, pattern clashing, the vibrancy of the '80s, frosting on a birthday cake, and smiley faces. The rainbow-fueled color palette and toy-inspired style are bringing out the kids in all of us through fashion, and Depop shops, Etsy sellers, and indie brands alike are taking notice. While cottagecore has made everyone on TikTok and Instagram wish they were living deep in the woods, a new internet aesthetic is tapping into childhood nostalgia: kidcore. Our series 'Core Club breaks down the looks that you're starting to see a lot on social media and highlights the people and brands channeling it best. The same goes for multi-retailer platform Lisa Says Gah, which curates a range of playful and mood-boosting items from emerging indie fashion brands.Whether it's a fashion trend on TikTok or a certain style taking over Instagram, internet aesthetics are always changing online. As for clothing, fashion designer Christopher John Rogers, with his mastery of colours and prints, is a purveyor of the style.

Similarly, Roxanne Assoulin's charm bracelets exude the same spirit. How to wear the kidcore aestheticįinishing with kitschy accessories is key - contemporary accessory labels Jumz Accessories and Susan Alexandra make Y2K-oriented beaded bags that are perfectly on-theme. The goal is to interpret the fashion for kids in the '90s and early 2000s by bringing on whimsical patterns, cheeky colour combinations, and cartoon-inspired separates for an effortlessly cool outfit. These include neon green and hot pink (associated with the Barbiecore aesthetic), two of summer's biggest colour trends. What does the kidcore aesthetic mean?Īs the name suggests, kidcore promotes eye-catching prints and a rainbow of colours inspired by children's toys. A rainbow knit cardigan would be considered a staple, as would the combination of wide-leg jeans and a cartoon T-shirt.Īhead, learn more about the meaning of kidcore and then shop items to pull it off. To dress for the aesthetic, you must first embrace primary colours: bright shades of red, blue, yellow, and green, ideally. In a year when many of us stayed home in order to help curb the coronavirus spread, it makes sense that an aesthetic rooted in colour, nostalgia, and joy would gain momentum. Kidcore eventually increased in popularity, enjoying a boost from social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram in early 2020. 'I wish they still made stuff like this.' ' so much better than the clothes I'm wearing now,' he said. While cleaning out his childhood home, she showed him his old Gymboree clothes that she was planning to toss out, and it sparked some reflection.

The artist told Refinery29 about the early days of launching his brand, explaining how his mother planted the seed. The term (which is often used interchangeably with babycore), is credited to media artist Matt Star, who launched an apparel line inspired by baby clothes. The fashion incorporates cartoon-inspired colours and riffs on costumes from iconic children's shows such as 'The Magic School Bus,' 'Looney Tunes,' and 'Sesame Street.' Taking inspiration from kids' pop culture, the '90s, and Y2K fashion, the trend favours an exuberant, fun-loving, and comfortable attitude. Revolving around all things playful and whimsical, the kidcore aesthetic is possibly the most joyful fashion and lifestyle trend yet. If you buy a product we have recommended, we may receive affiliate commission, which in turn supports our work.

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Kidcore color palette