Image by Rogers Fund from Wikimedia
In 2025, “-core” is the internet’s new favourite way of turning any aesthetic, no matter how niche or absurd, into a fully fledged trend. But what does it mean really?
The term “-core” has been tacked onto words to define an intense or devoted version of something, especially in internet and pop culture circles. Ultimately, it’s a suffix that transforms a vibe into an identity.
How it works
Cottagecore – romanticising rural life, think baking bread, floral dresses, cozy cabins.
Goblincore – embracing the messy, earthy, weird, mushrooms, frogs, shiny things, chaos.
Normcore – blending in on purpose, dad jeans, plain tees, beige-on-beige.
Barbiecore – living life in pink, hyper-feminine, glam, Y2K revival.
Mob Wife core – leather jackets, smudged eyeliner, and pretending you’re in the Goodfella’s universe.
Why it works
Adding -core to something turns it into a concept, it’s made for going viral as it gives random fashion choices cultural weight. It’s not just “wearing lace”, you’re part of Coquettecore, with all the Tumblr nostalgia and Lana Del Rey vibes that come with it.
But, here’s the catch
Most -cores aren’t real subcultures. They’re just aesthetic containers created by social media (especially TikTok) to group content and drive virality. They’re visual genres, not necessarily movements with deep values or communities behind them.
Still, that doesn’t mean they’re meaningless. In a world of fast-moving trends and algorithmic chaos, -core names help us make sense of fashion moods. They give us shortcuts to signal identity, mood, or irony, even if just for the length of one post.
So you can totally invent your own, want to wear only metallics and carry a martini at all times? Boom, you’ve invented Chrome Diva Core.
And no, you also don’t need to “commit” to one. The beauty of this trending core culture is that you can try one on, then switch it up next week.
Remember, you don’t have to name it to own it.
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