The first half of 2023 was all about bright and playful trends like barbiecore and the coconut girl aesthetic. Now that the year is officially coming to an end, however, it seems like the fashion scene has taken a shift towards somber and mysterious styles.
Weeks after the Gloomy Girl aesthetic and the Gen X Soft Club aesthetic made rounds on social media, the Corpcore aesthetic is now gradually picking up steam as well. Also referred to as Businesscore, the internet's latest style addiction reimagines corporate attire for Gen Z.
Ahead, we take a deep dive into the emerging trend to help you pull off the aesthetic yourself!
History of the Corpcore Aesthetic
Like many fashion sub-genres today, Corpcore is rooted in the early aughts. As early as the late '90s, influential fashion houses like Maison Margiela and Prada were already reinventing conventional workwear staples like pencil skirts and blazers.
Fast forward to recent years, and Gen Z finds themselves fascinated with early '90s and late 2000s trends, including this subversion of business wear and the futuristic Gen X Soft Club aesthetic. While both result in different looks, they share the same elements of dark and neutral tones, clean silhouettes, and sleek accessories. Add in a dash of streetwear and academia and you'll get a quintessential Corpcore look.
The aesthetic has already been a common theme among the newest collections of international fashion houses. During Milan Fashion Week, Prada's Autumn-Winter 2023 collection and Bally's Spring-Summer 2024 collection were dominated by oversized blazers and knitwear in hues of gray and navy.
Even more playful brands like Miu Miu and Loewe have incorporated some Corpcore aspects into their trendy ensembles.
In fact, BOSS' Fall/Winter 2023 was completely themed after the aesthetic itself! Set in a sci-fi-esque workspace, the show was filled with pinstriped clothes, trench coats, loose slacks, and more modern corporate staples that redifine office wear.
How to Pull Off the Corpcore Aesthetic
You can achieve the Corpcore look by pairing traditional workwear items like pencil skirts, fitted blazers, and slingback pumps with trendier items like rectangular eyewear, mini skirts, and oversized trousers. In line with the aesthetic's clerical vibe, it’s best to go for a muted color scheme with neutral hues like black, navy, and beige with hints of dark red and ivory.
In essence, the Corpcore look is modernizing everyday workwear for stylish young professionals who aren't afraid to experiment with retro-inspired trends.
Need some style pegs? International style stars like Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid have already jumped on the Corpcore bandwagon!
Meanwhile, local fashion influencers such as Ashley Ortega and Angelique Manto have also recently sported outfits inspired by the Corpcore trend. So chic!
SHOP: Corpcore Aesthetic Essentials
Want to try out the Corpcore trend too? Here's the good news: You won't have to revamp your whole closet and splurge on a ton of new clothes. For the most part, the aesthetic highlights basic wardrobe staples that you probably already have in your wardrobe! If you still want a quick closet refresh, though, we've rounded up some essentials you'll need to rock the new aesthetic.
1. Blazer
Checked Single-Breasted Wool Blazer, €2,009 (approximately P119,776), SAINT LAURENT, mytheresa.com
2. Button-Down Shirt
Relaxed-Fit Cotton Shirt, $168 (approximately P9,292), POLO RALPH LAUREN, ralphlauren.com
3. Slingbacks
Sling Point Leather Pumps, €945 (approximately P56,334), THE ROW, mytheresa.com
4. Necktie
Re-Nylon Gabardine Tie, €260 (approximately P15,505), PRADA, prada.com
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