clowncore

English

Etymology

From clown +‎ -core.

Noun

clowncore (uncountable)

1. An aesthetic focusing on imagery and fashion related to clowns.
   • [2016 October 27, Vanessa Friedman, “The Creepy Clown in Your Closet”, in The New York Times‎^[1], New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2016-10-29:

     Finally — at least for the moment — Riccardo Tisci piled on the stripes and dots and swirls (and ankle socks) earlier this month for his Givenchy spring 2017 collection. Little wonder, really, that in the middle of all that, Refinery29 ran an editorial called “Why It’s Cool to Look Like a Clown.” The references were so ubiquitous that Paper magazine christened the movement “clowncore.”]

   • 2020, Piper Dafforn, “At the Core”, in Season, volume 3, number 1 (Don’t Put Me on Hold!), pages 4 and 7:

     Another nonconformist aesthetic, Clowncore, emulates the style of clowns, mimes, and jesters. Although most of Clowncore is genial, some express it with a darker twist.

   • 2021 August 18, Laura Holliday, “It's official, the Cupid's Bow is dead”, in i-D‎^[2], archived from the original on 2021-08-22:

     The hashtag #BratzLips has over 9.5M views on TikTok, and here you’ll find thousands of makeup hacks and tutorials on how to achieve the look, with everyone from e-girls to more obscure subcultures like clowncore opting for a rounder lip.

   • 2022, Naomi Lilac Gordon, “Club Kids: New Age Freaks of the Bygone Era”, in Ink, volume 15, number 1, Richmond, Va.: VCU Student Media Center, page 25, column 1:

     Ernie Glam was a clowncore nightmare, makeup and costuming making his face terrifying and beautiful, his body at least half naked at all times.

   • 2022 August, “Miniskirts are big news right now…”, in Cosmopolitan:

     It’s not often that I’m totally turned off by a fashion trend (clowncore, I’m looking at you), but I have to admit I’m having a visceral reaction to miniskirts.

   • 2022 November 5, Susanna Schrobsdorff, “We’re wearing our collective angst (in robe coats and furry slippers)”, in Messenger-Inquirer, volume 148, number 308, Owensboro, Ky., page A7:

     Then there are the hundreds of “core aesthetics” blooming on TikTok in which followers dress according to a subculture identity, such as clowncore (rainbow prints, face paint), dragoncore (nature, mysticism), “dark academia” (brooding houndstooth), cottagecore (chunky sweaters), various grandma looks and “weirdgirl” mismatchedness.

   • 2023, Ezra Woodger, “Kasper”, in To Be A Trans Man: Our Stories of Transition, Acceptance and Joy, London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, →ISBN, page 28:

     So I’ve noticed an increase in the popularity of the ‘clowncore’ aesthetic, which is I think how a lot of people have come to be familiar with you and your art – it looks incredible by the way, I really love it.

   • 2023 February 8, Arwa Mahdawi, “People like Harry Styles don’t get awards? Pah!”, in G2 (The Guardian), London, page 3:

     He likes experimenting with flamboyant clothes! That’s it! It’s weird and regressive to think that means he is making a statement about his sexual orientation or gender identity. Let the man wear his “clowncore” jumpsuits in peace.

   • 2023 March 29, Brooke Kato, “‘Clowncore,’ trend rocked by Harry Styles and Lady Gaga, is no joke”, in New York Post‎^[3], New York, N.Y.: News Corp, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2023-03-29:

     Clowncore – near-ridiculous renditions of recognizable joker motifs – is sweeping the cirque du runway and ringmasters of the fashion circus are taking the theatrical trend to new heights.