#gnomecore
The new micro trend in clothing inspired by the magical world of peace, blissful kindness, mushrooms, and forest berries. Or simply — gnomes.
There are never enough -core trends in the world of clothing. We've already had normcore and gorpcore for quite some time, so we might as well consider the new -сore that is gnomecore. There is this new IG account called @_gnomecore focusing on the style of, well, real-life gnomes. In three months, @_gnomecore has gained over 6,000 followers and coverage by GQ and Air Mail.
How do you define the style of gnomes? Headwear, especially watch caps, preferably sticking out on top, is of great importance. A lush beard will be a thick plus. Neckerchiefs, Tirolian and hiking boots, canvas or leather bags — any references to the folk culture before the advent of the 20th century should work quite well. Don't forget about mushrooms, wild berries, and other magical gifts of mother nature.
In the interview with GQ the authors of the page, who identify themselves by mushroom emoji 🍄, say:
«Ultimately I think people are sick of a world of trolls and gremlins and what’s the opposite of trolls and gremlins?»
However, it's seems like clothing is just an even more specialized niche of already existing niche trend that is #gnomecore. The r/gnomecore subreddit was created early in 2022 so that fellow gnomes could share, albeit not too actively, their photos of real mushrooms found among the fallen leaves in the woods or mushroom-like homes for gnomes they create to burn incense. In April 2022, Gawker dissected gnomecore as a lifestyle that won't go out of trend. Well, simply because gnomes have never been in trend to begin with, so they can't go out of it. Yet, gnomes are known for their enviable longevity.
Interestingly, both big designer brands and small independent ones have been going on esoteric, psychodelic, and mushroom-related trips for several years now. Think of Stella McCartney's «Fashion Fungi» ss22 collection or a brand called Eden Power Corp that has been releasing bucket hats and even speakers made of mushrooms. Not to mention the fashion industry's facsination with thematic prints, embroideries and overall intentions to be closer and more responsible to nature. Who knows, it might be that gnomecore is what they brought back from those trips. Better than trolls, anyway.
UPD Derek Guy of Die, Workwear! has been joking about gnomecore on StyleForum as early as 2014:
