Fashionistas sick of looking distinctive choose to blend in with the crowd as normcore becomes new trend

THERE is a new trend in fashion and there’s a chance you are already following it: It’s called normcore and it’s all about dressing ‘normal’.

Does Normcore spell the end of Hipster fashion?

THERE is a new trend in fashion and there’s a chance you are already following it: It’s called normcore and it’s all about dressing ‘normal’.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs is an icon of Normcore dressing.

What it is?

Normcore is a collective, neutral blandness – eschewing obvious markers of luxury, fashion and distinctive style and instead opting for a more low key, cool look with a dash of athleticism and a whiny of the ‘90s.

Let’s just say its emergence has knocked the life out of more exuberant trends like digital prints and made a bit passé those head-to-toe colour-blocked looks worn by bloggers.

It’s anti-fashion and anti-trends, which is ironic considering it’s one of the biggest, well, ‘trends’ of fashion right now. Yes, a healthy sense of irony is needed.

How do you do normcore?

If you regularly wear T-shirts, sneakers and nondescript jeans, you’re probably in on normcore already, whether you realise it or not. “Normcore seeks the freedom that comes with non-exclusivity. It finds liberation in being nothing special, and realises that adaptability leads to belonging. Normcore is a path to a more peaceful life,” states K-Hole.

This is how it’s done: A model in Paris shows off her normcore style.

Where did it originate?

The term ‘normcore’ first appeared in mass media with a story in New York Magazine from February this year but full credit goes to trend forecasting agency K-Hole.

It snowballed into mentions at Vogue.co.uk, Forbes, The Huffington Post and Vanity Fair. The breadth of coverage further solidifies its place and confirms that its influence goes beyond fashion.

Let’s not give all the recognition to K-Hole though – science fiction writer William Gibson is thought to have first come up with the term.

Key normcore items:

â–  Birkenstocks

â–  Tracksuit pants

â–  Cotton jersey

â–  Grey marle

â–  Crocs

â–  Tevas

â–  Baseball caps

â–  White socks

â–  Turtlenecks

â–  Relaxed jeans

â–  Flannel shirts

â–  Bucket hats

Does Normcore spell the end of Hipster fashion?