Listen to the resounding whistles of ‘goal!’ as yet another enduring TikTok aesthetic, known as Blokecore, joins the long list of the trendy ‘core’ fashion.
Aside from sports, soccer has taken on a new role in fashion — the keyword “blokecore” has been around for a year or two, but why do fashion trends always have a resurgence, and how telling are the sartorial hints of Gen Zs when they adorn them?
The emergence of the term “blokecore” is unsurprising, given its association with the UK’s Casuals in Terrace culture. Football fans called the Casuals would travel across Europe from Liverpool back in the 1970s to 1980s to support their favourite teams. These fans were lined up on the football terraces wearing designers like Stone Island, C.P Company, and Sergio Tacchini — these brands were also sold back home, creating a fashion legacy birthed from football from this era on.
Like calling “bro” in American slang to address a close friend, in London they call them “bloke” which is where the term Blokecore came about. At the height of the 2022 World Cup, the UK’s favourite sport made it all the way to the States, where the emergence of Blokecore is largely attributed to American Tiktoker, Brandon Huntley.
@londontonightfreestyle ultimate summer attire #bloke ♬ UGLYANDZFOREIGNER – uglyandz
These “core” trends transport us to a narrative world, sometimes as an ode to real life, and other times imaginative. In the case of Blokecore, the blokes in London are likely to be an average man at the local pub, eagerly anticipating the next exhilarating football goal, with a pint in his hand.
There is also an increasing indifference towards conforming to mainstream fashion norms, disrupting our conventional understanding of what is considered fashionable. Blokecore is a rejection of judgement because wearing ‘ugly’ clothes posseses a touch of irony and individuals are well aware of that. It finds a similar thread in the Dadcore trend — where wearing jorts (jean shorts) and mundane tops are for the pursuit of comfort, not style. Nonchalant clothing choices make a statement and provide a newfound sense of freedom. No status-quo, no fitting in, just presenting oneself to the world however one pleases to. Perhaps this is revealing of the antithesis of fashion?
More than just soccer-meets-fashion, the trend is also a low barrier of entry into fashion because of its inclusive appeal. Anyone may sport this style, whether they are motivated by a passion for football or are searching for another trend to incorporate into their wardrobe.
Fast forward to today, embodying the essence of Blokecore is made up of these garments: a vintage football jersey, a pair of baggy blue jeans, and the hottest sneaker in the fashion game now—the iconic Adidas Sambas.
Hector Bellerin
Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin is a classic example of how Blokecore can be worn. The stylish footballer does so by combining his uniform with everyday essentials like good ol’ baggy jeans and white sneakers – the simplest approach to get into Blokecore.
Blokecore has its own female counterpart known as Blokette, where women have ingeniously incorporated their own feminine twist. The almagamation of vintage football jerseys with mini skirts, bows and kitten heels adds a touch of hyperfeminity, evident in Blokette outfits. Inspired by the coquette aesthetic, pairing jerseys with a long skirt and Adidas Sambas is the quintessential Blokette look. In Blokette, the phrase ‘clothes have no gender’ could not ring more true as the trend blends the ‘bloke’ with ‘coquette’.
Bella Hadid
Blokette’s frontrunner, Bella Hadid, is known for her striking ensembles. Her street style is notable for merging sportswear with hyperfeminine clothing.
NewJeans
In the music video for NewJeans’ song “Attention,” elements of Blokecore are seen in the jersey tops that Minji and Danielle. The rookie K-pop group which consists of individuals betweens the ages 15 and 18 have gained worldwide attention since their debut in July 2022. Beyond their immense popularity and millions of fans, their choice of attire plays a crucial role in shaping the gaze of these young girls.
Big oversized jersey tops do not compromise on modesty — it is a fashionable alternative that deters sexualisation. Form-fitting clothes are not needed to make a statement, as the big oversized jerseys that are core to Blokecore do just that. It takes a gender-neutral approach while not compromising on modesty. Especially with young girls being part of the global phenomenon that is K-pop, there is significance in the trend being put on a worldwide spectacle and allowing the girls less vulnerability to the public with stylish yet non-revealing clothing.
In menswear and womenswear, a fusion of sporty aesthetics and casual streetwear is born with a distinctive sartorial flair. The street style has bubbled up to the runways, extending far beyond the playing field. Football’s influence on fashion is indisputable.
Balenciaga Fall 2020 Ready-To-Wear
In the fictional Balenciaga Football Club, find a soccer jersey and re-definition of the dress codes of a soccer uniform. As an ode to the sport that Demna grew up with in his hometown, Georgia, the football kits may not be functional for the field, but it certainly will have all eyes on you in the stadium.
Aime Leon Dore Spring Summer 2023
There is no denying the sports influence in Aime Leon Dore’s second instalment of Spring Summer 2023. With a wide range of football jerseys and shorts, linen basketball shorts and their rendition of the New Era caps, join the Aime Leon Dore’s sports team while looking sharp.
In football, teamwork is of the utmost importance and that does not exist without collaboration between players. In fashion, these brands scored a goal through their collaborations and how popularised they became.
Gucci and adidas
When Alessandro Michele was creative director of Gucci, his trademark retro-glamour style was formidable. In the Gucci and adidas collaboration, Michele’s style was wedded into each adidas garment — giving a classic sports style a dazzle of Gucci.
Wales Bonner and adidas Originals
Wales Bonner’s newly dropped Spring/Summer 2023 collection is credited with making the football jersey fashion’s main attraction. In their ongoing collaboration with adidas Originals, the British designer uses her Jamaican heritages as reference points. he vibrant yellow and green of the country’s official colours thread throughout the clothes for one to wear their national pride in support of football, or to look like a footballer with an elevated look.
Blokecore serves as a compelling testament to the evolving direction of fashion that Gen Z is embracing, revealing a deeper shift in their mindset. Mixing football clothes with items from our wardrobes itself is an unexpected mish-mash that results in a peculiar outfit, and more notably, a novel look. If anything, the emphasis on looking polished is slowly drifting away as more people recognise that true style comes from within, instead of external factors like keeping up with the latest fads — and Blokecore embodies this changing mindset.
Trends, ironically, will never go out of style, but that does not mean we should disregard their influence and conform to them without question. After all, personal style is derived from both striking a balance between the elements of a trend we like and broader fashion influences. This is why ‘Core’ aesthetics are likely to be ever-evolving and so might Blokecore too.
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