Gorpcore: Trend or Tradition?
Gorpcore is one of the many ‘core’ trends flying around the internet, but one that has lasted surprisingly longer than its fleeting siblings.
See; cottagecore, pixiecore, goblincore, balletcore, the list goes on. There’s even a trend in which you type ‘your name-core’ into Pinterest and see what your aesthetic is. These fleeting and very niche trends have recently morphed into the ‘girly’ trends, for example, the infamous tomato girl trend. But at their core (no pun intended), these micro-trends are the way our internet generation has decided to label our aesthetics and try to find our corner of the style world, in a landscape where everyone has access to everything at once on the internet and finding a subculture or trend community IRL can prove difficult.
It’s like the newer and much faster version of ‘chic’ (shabby-chic, heroin-chic, etc.), but each ‘core’ aesthetic also carries with it its own whole lifestyle, for example, cottage core is about dreamy feminine fashion but also baking, being in nature, frolicking in a big countryside cottage, and living in a traditional way.
The psychology of these mini-trends is complex. We’re finding our communities online more than anywhere else, bonding over shared aesthetics which become so niche and specific that they can actually make us feel like we’ve found something really personal and unique to share with a few close friends. We’re also being pummeled with new trends by fast fashion brands (some of which drop new lines literally every single day), so the increased pace at which we consume these trends is hardly our own fault. The fast-paced matrix of modern culture, in which trends fall in and out, celebrities appear and disappear, topics go viral and then go off the radar, and even music genres hit the charts then drop away is the perfect concoction to promote a cyclical and constantly changing flow of micro-trends. Falling into the spotlight (and into our wardrobes) one week, and straight back out the next. But not Gorpcore. Gorpcore has become a mainstay in the fashion world. Why?
To the core of the issue...
First things first, what’s gorpcore? You may not know it by name, but you’ve definitely seen it. It’s the trend of extreme outdoor wear, doubling up as street style. The evolution of a combination of the two trends of sportswear and utility wear to create an all-weather resistant, seemingly trend-resistant super niche. This is a world where practical features become style details, and choices that are downright sensible somehow also look cool. Think Crocs, North Face Puffers, thick woolly hats, Salomon running trainers, cargo trousers, and wrap-around sunglasses. Embracing all that ugly. A lot of these items are actually designer and made for extreme outdoor sports or exploration, so those committed to the gorpcore trend can expect to get the piss taken. But at the same time, there are small stylistic choices that do indicate the ready-for-anything clothing choices are choices, not necessities. Perhaps the raincoat is paired with canvas trainers, or the hike-ready shoes are paired with a cool graphic t-shirt, and this brings a small element of irony into the mix that honestly, anyone fed up with fleeting trends and style that takes itself too seriously would welcome. Is that why the gorpcore trend has outstayed its 7-second playtime? Or is it just because we are so done with difficult trends that actually, getting the green card to wear something really cosy and practical is too good to let go?
