Between Y2K style and Normcore: the dorky style takes over our closets!
And what if we told you that your “I love London” souvenir t-shirt is the must-have piece in your wardrobe to be trendy in 2022? Hard to believe, but indeed, the tacky is back in fashion, infiltrating our outfits in small touches, thanks to the normcore trend and the return of y2k style. Analysis of the new fashion trend of “non-trendy style”.
The normcore: or the art of being trendy without being trendy
With all the trends that come and go with each season, it’s easy to lose track! Between cuts, patterns, and colors, the concept of being trendy is perceived as having a wardrobe that matches the current collections. So if we tell you that in 2022, to be trendy, you have to do the opposite, you might think we’ve lost our minds… But no!
Indeed, today normcore reigns supreme in fashion trends. But what is this trend? It’s very simple, it’s about creating outfits with pieces found in our closets. That is, pieces that are no longer “in style” and sometimes even date back to another century.
We mix old trends and combine pieces that, quite frankly, would make our eyes bleed if we imagined them together. To give you an idea, imagine old paparazzi photos of Jennifer Aniston or J.Lo going to get their mail wearing a faded NASA logo t-shirt, a tied lumberjack shirt, an oversized denim skirt, and a pair of Crocs. Do you get the idea? Well, that’s normcore for you.
Normcore, which is a contraction of the words “normal” and “hardcore”, is the art of dressing without following any trends and thus embracing a form of non-style. It’s about mixing and matching pieces that, when worn together, create a certain mood. Often seen on stars strolling the streets of Central Park or photographed during a trip to Starbucks… It is now a real quest that fashionistas embark on to be trendy in the world of non-trends.
A trend more in line with the times?
If the normcore trend is so appreciated, it’s because it embraces different current values. With the fashion industry more than ever being questioned, particularly for its impact on the environment and workers, awareness is growing and consumption habits are changing. The normcore trend encourages us to use clothes that are outside of “current trends” and that we can find in our own closets. It encourages us to reuse our pieces and not give in to overconsumption by buying new items with every collection.
Upcycling and the desire to reuse, even by repairing if necessary, our clothes are thus highlighted thanks to this trend.
We are thus making a strong statement about the constantly evolving fashion industry. While for years the obsession was to follow trends like everyone else, to the point that playgrounds and even universities looked like a field of sheep, with everyone dressed the same… Now, the trend is to no longer succumb to the 139430 new collections, to stop looking like everyone else, and to use our pieces to create a look that reflects who we are, even if it may seem “outdated”.
This trend also highlights the increasingly present movement of non-gendered fashion. Indeed, normcore encourages the mixing of cuts, textures, patterns, colors, and even the “origin” of the pieces. Thus, men’s and women’s wardrobes are also merging, and we see women borrowing a t-shirt from their guy or buying one and wearing it oversized with an old pair of Levis jeans that still look as cool as they did on the first day.
The allure of y2k style
One of the reasons for the boom in normcore is partly due to another trend, the y2k style. But then again, you might be wondering, y2k what? The name may not mean anything to you. However, if I say: low-rise pants with flared bottoms, crop tops, cycling glasses, platform shoes, chokers, and even visible thongs… Yes, a feeling of going back to the time of the Star Academy or Popstars is coming to you, even a hint of the L5 is about to infiltrate your thoughts…
Because yes, we’re talking about the fashion style of the 2000s, aka y2k style! A style that we would have preferred, between you and me, to never see again!
But it’s a fact, humanity has a fondness for nostalgia that never leaves… And it creates great surprises like the one we are experiencing right now, with the enthusiasm surrounding y2k style and the dive that all fashion figures are taking into it.
This attraction to y2k style, which follows the first reconciliations with the 90s vibes, has brought back to the forefront certain pieces that have been lost in our wardrobes for a decade. And thus, it has contributed to the enthusiasm for the normcore trend. The two go together even better than all the happy endings in romantic comedies and have a real influence on fashion. On one hand, we have y2k style that brings back outdated and tacky pieces into fashion, and on the other hand, we have normcore that encourages mixing these outdated pieces together to create a stylish effect. It’s a winning combination.
We proudly showcase our latest vacation memories through embroidered or printed souvenir t-shirts. Whether it’s simply the city name or adorned with more or less tacky illustrations.
The souvenir t-shirt, the key piece of y2k style: better than a postcard, a fashion statement!
To succumb to the call of y2k style, you have two options: rummage through your closets or go thrifting and shopping.
One of the key pieces of y2k style is the souvenir t-shirt, which can also be found in the form of a cap. Yes, we’re talking about the one you brought back from a 3rd-grade trip to Italy or a weekend in London… These tops, often worn for a while before being relegated to the “has been” category of our wardrobe, are now on the list of trendy pieces.
We proudly display these recent vacation memories through embroidered or printed t-shirts. Whether it’s just the city name or embellished with more or less tacky illustrations. These souvenir t-shirts, which appear like oversized postcards, bring back this aesthetic and have even brought branded pieces from your favorite cities back into stores. We have found embroidered caps with the Hamptons, Los Angeles, and other destinations in recent collections. Brands are also creating ranges of tops that evoke a sense of elsewhere.
But nothing is more typical and authentic than a souvenir t-shirt purchased on the ramparts of Saint-Malo, under the sun of Saint Tropez, or in a boutique in Bali!! So this summer, think about buying yourself a souvenir t-shirt, in addition to a keychain, to shine even in the fall.
Achieving a 100% y2k style look is very simple! We grab our souvenir t-shirt, proudly displaying our moments spent in La Baule or the calanques of Cassis, as well as flared jeans that fall over dad shoes! And if the cold weather creeps into your evenings, you can even go for a cozy faux fur coat!
Does the combination seem strange to you? Yes, it does to us too, but what can you do, non-trend is trendy!
