Definition for some basic terminologies used in this piece of content.
Aesthetic: aesthetic is defined as what people see something as beautiful and they want to embrace, popularize and appreciate.
Kidcore: Kidcore is an aesthetic that is driven by bright and highly saturated colors with the theme of appreciating childhood life.
Nostalgia: nostalgia is a unique mix of pleasure and sadness that happens when you remember things that happened in the past.
Motif: motif is a decorative substance that embodies a work of art.
It is familiar that in this revolutionized digital world—there is something which people like at a certain period of time—once it starts to get boring, it goes. The resurgence usually doesn't last—it's the concept of coming and going. The social media platforms like instagram and Tik Tok have been a global stage for showcasing plethora of trends. So let's confine our discussion to yet another sensational trend—Kidcore aesthetic.
What is the Kidcore aesthetic?
Kidcore aesthetic is a fashion and beauty trend that is said to have originated back in 1970, 1980, 1990 and 2000 but in 2010—it was a year when kidcore aesthetic reigned supreme, became popular and gained traction. Kidcore aesthetic is all about honoring the life of your childhood which was all about comfort, carefree, fun and colorful vibe. It's a nostalgic feeling of the past that reminds and tells us to embrace our inner child. The storytelling aesthetic is driven with bright, pastel, rainbow and charming colors—usually the highly saturated version of primary colors such as yellow, red and blue. Those colors are reflected in motifs such as toys and fashion.
Kidcore fashion
You shall want to think of child-like pieces but with the signature bright and highly saturated colors as I mentioned above—because these warm colors reflect the genuine lifestyle of our childhood . The kidcore followers—especially Gen Z—usually create an eye-catching effect with ethereal pieces that instantly turn heads and raise eyebrows. They also dress with confidence and personality in mind and when they do so—attention usually follows because colors are always inspiring, attractive and awesome.
The Kidcore wardrobe is filled with nostalgic, colorful and patterned pieces that evoke the feeling of childhood such as rainbow stripe socks, high-waisted pants or high-waisted shorts with abundance of color patches and rainbow tops. The aim is to create an alluring fashion statement with distinctive visual interest.
When it comes to the kidcore wardrobe accessories—the goal is to create a colorful and retrofun finish of an outfit—so earrings, stickers, bandages, sneakers with colorful laces or light up, hair clips and bracelets fall in the realm of kidcore aesthetic.
Kidcore brands
There are hot brands in the industry engaging with the production of kidcore products targeting kidcore lovers. Think of Depop shops, Etsy sellers, Lisa Frank, the children's place, Lakeshore learning materials, American kid's wear, gymboree, playskool, fisher-price and so on.
Conclusion: While Kidcore aesthetic brings us back to the beauty of our childhood—adults are likely to face confidence issues when it comes to expressing their individuality through bright colors and child-like appearance.