We’ll update this list periodically to be your master trending aesthetic list. Make sure to subscribe to our blog for updates:
Here is a master list of popular aesthetics with examples and a little information about each!
Think of the style you would see in a classy 1960s library, with lots of plaid, trench coats, thick knit sweaters, brass and gold-tone accessories, chunky loafers, and more.
See Dark Academia below.
Athleisure is a top-selling category on all reselling marketplaces. If you could wear something to grab coffee with a friend, but also to yoga class, it’s probably athleisure. Leggings, biker shorts, sneakers, cute strappy tanks, and matching sets all give this aesthetic.
You might also be interested in: Top Activewear Brands To Resell on Poshmark, Depop & Other Resale Platforms
Think of anything a ballerina would wear to practice or on stage at a performance: soft colors, shades of pink, satin, lace, ruffles, tulle, and delicate, pretty fashion.
It’s like athleisure but prettier; performance wear but softer and pinker, with more lace!
Barbiecore is commonly used on anything that is hot pink and likely seen on Elle Woods in Legally Blonde. Barbiecore is very pink but also includes bright colors, fun patterns, youthful pieces, and tween and teen styles.
Barbiecore is more youthful and innocent when compared to the Bratz Aesthetic which is more edgy and sexy, like a Bratz Doll toy. For Barbiecore, think of Lizzie McGuire or Hannah Montana. For Bratz, think of Mean Girls or Paris Hilton circa the early 2000s.
Bikercore is all about attitude and edge. You’ll see leather jackets and vests, riding gloves, bandanas, ripped and distressed jeans, and a lot of studs, black, and tattoos! Biker fashion is about masculine toughness and feminine sex appeal, think Hells Angels and Sons of Anarchy.
If you didn’t know, now you do: Harley Davidson, and really any motorcycle fashion or items sell very well!
The blokecore aesthetic focuses on the British football (soccer) culture, with inspiration from the 1980s and 1990s. Often called “ladcore,” the aesthetic is derived from the word “bloke,” the British equivalent of “bro,” “dude,” and other slang masculine pleasantries. Blokecore was coined on TikTok in 2023.
Blokecore encompasses an athletic vibe with retro flare, primary colors, and bold block lettering. In this aesthetic, you’ll see a lot of retro and vintage football merch and jerseys, adidas sneakers, and classic straight jeans and pants.
The girly version of blokecore is more feminine sporty, with bows and lace!
You might use the hashtags: #blokecore #ladcore #retro #football #soccer #1980s #1990s #athletic #sportswear
Most people confuse bohemian with modern boho chic; to the extent that you should use both because they have become practically interchangeable.
This is traditional Bohemian:
The Bohemian aesthetic includes tapestries, plants, macramé, rattan, Aztec and tribal geometric patterns, vibrant colors and patterns, gold tones, and chunky jewelry.
Modern celebrities who are known for Bohemian fashion include Zoe Kravitz, Stevie Nicks, The Olsen Twins, and the Cast of Rent (the musical and the Movie).
Note: You do not want to use the hashtag #gypsy, as it is culturally offensive and your listing will be removed from most marketplaces. (See more below).
If you take the vibrant colors out of Bohemian… you have contemporary boho chic….
Cabincore is about comfort and cabin charm. Think lumberjack, but chic. Like gorpcore but cozier. You’ll often see cozy sweaters, buffalo plaid, flannels, denim, moccasins, hiking boots, and beanies. Think about the L.L. Bean catalog!
It is similar to campcore which focuses on the utility of camping (hiking, fishing, hunting) whereas cabin core is about the relaxation of camping.
Classiccore is often a catchall for basic items and classic brands. You’ll see plain t-shirts, jeans, basic jackets, college sweatshirts, and knit sweaters; basic wardrobe pieces.
The Coastal cowgirl aesthetic is best described beachy, western style.
The “coastal” refers to the beachy nautical influence, and cowgirl is an ode to country western style. It’s a country-inspired look that is often seen on modern country pop singers.
People Magazine describes it as “a trend that draws inspiration from both Disney's The Little Mermaid and Toy Story, blending the best style of the sea-shell sporting Ariel and cowgirl-boot wearing Jessie.” We love it!
Coastal cowgirl style involves airy fabrics and light-knit materials like crochets and linens. You will see a lot of warm-toned neutrals. Denim is also a coastal cowgirl staple! For accessories, you will see cowgirl boots, sea shell jewelry, western belts, and woven hats and bags.
Coastal cowgirl styles are popular in the brands Free People, Johnny Was, and anything on Buckle.
You might use these hashtags: #coastalcowgirl #cowgirl #bohowestern #beachy
Think of bright colors, halter tops, tropical Hawaiian flower prints, shell jewelry, crochet, and bucket hats. This style is best seen in Sarah Paxton in Aquamarine. If it’s cute with a hibiscus, it’s probably coconut girl.
Coconut girl is youthful vibes, think of a teen Luau birthday party in the early 2000s. It isn’t something you would use to describe a beautiful nautical piece or a mature vintage Hawaiian button-down shirt; for those, just use #Hawaiian.
Corpcore stands for “corporate core” and stylish, elevated workwear. The corpcore aesthetic is modern, chic, polished professional wear.
Kate Middleton epitomizes corpcore in her daily wardrobe.
Corpcore features bold, plain, fabrics and colors for an elegant, polished aesthetic. Corpcore styles are fitted, sleek, and tailored.
You will see fitted blazers, gold accents, solid trousers and bottoms, puffed shoulders, shoulder pads, and button-down shirts.
The masculine version of this aesthetic is very similar: fitted, polished, modern corporate wear.
💡 Tip: For anything professional, make sure to use these keywords in your description: business casual, business professional, wear to work, career chic, office wear
You might use these hashtags: #corpcore #corporate #girlboss #businesswear #workwear #kateupton
Cottagecore is like the delicate beauty of colonial times with florals, soft colors, long skirts and dresses, woven detail, gingham patterns, and puffed sleeves.
Historically, the aesthetic originated in the characterization of nymphet, a young girl who pursues older gentlemen. The aesthetic has evolved and shifted recently, thanks to TikTok, and it is now more about the Victorian influence of sexy-but-delicate femininity. I can best describe the aesthetic as a young, sexy porcelain doll.
Coquette fashion is hyper-feminine and seductively innocent. You will see a lot of lace, soft colors, ruffles, corsets, ribbons, bows, stockings, camis, and a youthful and delicate Victorian influence. It is still very much about sexualizing feminine innocence. Lana Del Rey has popularized the modern coquette aesthetic.
If you didn’t know, now you do: #coquette is one of the newest style tags on Depop! Definitely add it to your relevant listings!
Cosplay includes pieces that are legitimate parts of costumes but also pieces that look like what is worn by common characters. Cosplay pieces are often handmade. They include anime, superheroes, and well-known characters from shows, books, movies, and video games. You’ll see the hashtag used for literally anything you could wear to a costume party.
If you didn’t know, now you do: If your item has a character on it (cartoon, celebrity, band, character, etc.) use the character itself as a hashtag. There will always be fans looking for it!
Cutegoth, often called #pastelgoth, is best described as goth x soft girl x kawaii; heavy gothic influence, with y2k undertones of softgirl, with the pastel and Japanese influence of kawaii. The cutegoth aesthetic has traditional gothic pieces is lighter colors, cute skulls and crossbones, studs, and sassy texts.
If you’ve ever walked into Hot Topic, you’ve seen the pink section; this is cutegoth. It’s goth- but cute. 💕
Cozycore is all about being comfy and cozy! Cozycore has blown up since the pandemic, as wardrobes shifted to be more normal, comfortable, and casual. Cozycore emphasizes comfort, and everyday staples and basics.
Cozycore is what you would wear around the house; you’ll see soft, stretchy fabrics, relaxed fits, and solids without patterns and embellishments. Knits, sherpa, faux fur, and anything plush, soft, and comfortable are cozycore staples.
There is a crossover between #athleisure, athletic loungewear (see above), and cozycore, but cozycore emphasizes loungewear that is not necessarily athletic.
You might use these hashtags: #cozycore #cozy #basic #everyday #loungewear
Think of the style you would see in a classy 1960s library, with lots of plaid, trench coats, thick knit sweaters, brass and gold tone accessories, chunky loafers, and more. Dark academia is like darker, moodier academia as opposed to “light academia” which is lighter tones. See Academia above.
Think of a garden fairy, whimsical and earthy. There is a heavy cottagecore influence and also a hint of Renaissance. You will see neutral tones, earthy looks, and looser and relaxed silhouettes.
Fairycore fashion includes wire-rimmed glasses, bows and ribbons, lace and sheer fabrics, asymmetrical skirts, corset tops, butterflies, and flowers.
This aesthetic embraces different types of music festivals:
There is the hippie, Woodstock-like festival vibe which is about peace, love, art, and music. The hippie-festival style is often bright colors, bold patterns, colorful vibrance, and artistic vibes with a hint of Bohemian and 1970s retro influence.
Then, there’s the EDM (electric dance music) style which is rave-like, trippy, and neon. The EDM style is more futuristic, with lights, neon colors, lots of chrome, fishnets, and an industrial, cyber look.
Gorpcore is like a well-dressed hiker vibe, think of a well-dressed hiker on their aesthetically-pleasing Instagram page posting pictures from the top of a mountain. While the aesthetic prioritizes utility and functionality, it is fashionable outdoorsiness.
You will see neutral, earthy colors and basics like plaid flannels, fleece pullovers and jackets, cargo and utility pants, backpacks, caps, and everything a hiker would wear both on the mountain and out for a drink with friends.
Modern goth, as popularized by stores like Hot Topic is a lot edgier and a lot less romantic, but you will still see corsets, lace, crosses, and other Victorian influence. You’ll also see studs, skulls, chains, and other edgy punk fashion details.
Classic goth items include chunky platform boots, leather, buckles, oversized pants, pants with chains, corsets, mini skirts, and lots of black!
There are so many goth aesthetics and sub-categories of gothic style including
This aesthetic is trending right now, it is one of the newest additions to Depop style tags.
If you didn’t know, now you do: #Wednesdayaddams and #wednesdaycore are trending based on the classic character as well as Netflix’s new series!
Think of anything your grandmother would wear- well, my grandmother- who was born in 1929… not necessarily your grandma who could be much younger. Grandmacore focuses on the 1970s-1990s retro styles for older women during that time.
Grandmacore is like cottagecore (above) but older and more retro. You’ll see elaborate chunky knit sweaters, floral patterns, knits, chunky and gaudy accessories, etc.
Also see grandpacore, below! For items that are retro but unisex, you might use the hashtag #grandparentcore
This style was popularized with help from Maclamore in this song Thrift Store!
Like its female counterpart, Grandmacore (see above), Grandpa style is about vintage old man styles popularized in the 1970s-1990s.
Grandpa core style features chunky knit sweaters, cardigans, vests, argyle and plaid patterns, suspenders, bowties, high-waisted trousers, formal hats (newsboy hats and driver caps), leather shoes, and caps, and retro old man style!
If you didn’t know, now you do: use the trending hashtag #grandpasweater for qualifying retro sweaters!
Heritage style is found in many other aesthetics: classiccore, grandpa-core, normcore, gorpcore, workwear. Heritage encompasses classic fashion, a touch of vintage, and a major emphasis on utility.
If you have seen Peaky Blinders, you have seen heritage fashion! You’ll see wool overcoats, satchels, heavy work pants, corduroy material, leather shoes, and flat caps!
Kawaii means “cute” in Japanese, and the kawaii style is literally the cutest. Kawaii is very broad with many sub-aesthetics, but American social media over-generalizes kawaii to mean “chibi,” pastel, Japanese youthfulness; almost like cutegoth, but with more anime and cultural influence. Kawaii is popularized by K-pop boybands!
Kidcore is about kids’ fashion with an influence from cartoons and pop culture. You will see primary colors, rainbow colors, and sometimes pastels. Basically, think of the color schemes in classic kid toys!
Classic kid core pieces include sneakers, overalls, striped socks, baseball tees, tons of stickers, glitter, bows, sequins, retro hair clips, snap bracelets, and butterfly accessories. While trending Y2k focuses on teens in the 90s and early 2000s, kid core focuses on the little kids that were watching Rugrats at that time.
Jojo Siwa’s look is very kidcore, but a lot more pink whereas kidcore generally has more primary colors.
Note that while many “youthful” aesthetics are sexy, kidcore is non-sexualized. It is about the innocence and fun of being a little kid.
Most of the aesthetic is about the mermaid tail. The mermaid fashion is mostly about aquatic colors like blues, greens, and pearly opalescent tones. Mermaid textures are shiny, holographic, and iridescent.
Classic mermaid styles include many scales, shells, pearls, sequins, sparkles, and aquatic or nautical influences. You’ll see slip dresses, halter dresses, lace-up tops, ruffles, and sequins! Sarah Paxton wears this style well in the movie Aquamarine.
Minimalism as an aesthetic in the fashion context basically means plain and basic. Resellers use this hashtag as sort of a catchall for simple pieces. You won’t use this to describe anything flashy, vibrant, colorful, funky, embellished, or loud. Instead, minimalistic items are quaint, simple, plain, understated, and small. Think of a simple, dainty necklace with a small pendant (like above), rather than a shiny, bedazzled, chunky, layered chain necklace.
Many pieces that you classify as “normcore” or “classiccore” will also be minimalist (as long as they’re plain and simple, without complex patterns). This includes solid, neutral shirts, khakis, simple wash jeans, belts, and anything that is boring but classically simple.
If you didn’t know, now you do: The opposite of normcore is weirdcore, an aesthetic to describe the unique, funky, and odd!
Smelllllllllllllly cat, smelly cat, what are they feeding you? If you know the words to this song, then you know this aesthetic.
The best way to know this aesthetic is to know her character and personality on the show. Phoebe has an eclectic unique style with bohemian and hippie influences. Her wardrobe would have been all thrifted! She never dressed like Rachel, wearing what was trending, she marched to the beat of her own drum, a funky, fashionable drum.
Phoebe’s style staples include long skirts, vibrant colors, fun patterns, mix-matched and layered pieces, chunky knit sweaters with patterns, denim, and fun hats and accessories; all with a hint of hippie and bohemian influence.
To be clear, the aesthetic is not just for items that identically match what Phoebe wore on the show, but anything that Phoebe would wear based on her persona, and lifestyle. It’s about the Phoebe vibes!
The most stereotypical portrayal of the prep aesthetic is inspired by prep school uniforms; plaid and argyle patterns, cardigans, half-zip sweaters, ties, Oxford button-downs, polo shirts, loafers, and pleated skirts.
Preppiness influences so many of the cores and aesthetics on this list!
You’ll also see chinos, florals, sundresses, knits, peacoats, vests, boat shoes, diamond jewelry, neckties, bowties, scarves, and other upscale classics. This style is epitomized by the movies Clueless and Breakfast at Tiffany’s and the dramatized portrayal in the characters “Connecticut Girl” and “Boston Girl” by Shannon Fielder on TikTok.
Like rock and roll but a little more hardcore, punk fashion is rebellious, grunge, and tough. Common punk fashion includes studs and spikes, leather, dark colors, distressing, and tartan plaid.
Resellers typically use the hashtag punk to describe pieces that are a little edgy and grunge; a combination of goth x rocker.
This hashtag is not just for anything colorful, the focus is the actual rainbow; so the colors are in order of the “ROYGVB” spectrum like the gay pride flag. The aesthetic includes anything and everything with rainbow colors, words or graphics that celebrate these communities, and vibrant fashions that you would see at a Pride event.
Scroll to the bottom of the blog to see our note about using hashtags and keywords appropriately and respectfully.
It is retro, but it’s glam; it’s giving rich family heir vibes. This style is epitomized by the late Queen Elizabeth and the entire royal family. Kate Middleton is a modern example of this classy and powerfully preppy style, where you’ll see a lot of tweeds, skirt sets, houndstooth and plaid patterns, bows, collars, lapels, pumps, handbags, elaborate hats, and pearls.
There are so many rock aesthetics and sub-categories of rocker style including
Generally, these sub categorizations matter more to music lovers to properly define the genre of music than they do to shoppers looking for a specific type of fashion. That said, if you use these hashtags appropriately, you’ll attract the perfect buyers, who are also music lovers, looking for their specific vibe.
If you didn’t know, now you do: Anything related to music will sell very well because, for music lovers, music is life. Never leave a well-known band tee or concert tee at the thrift! Almost every band and genre itself is a trending hashtag.
Skater style is popular even for people who don’t skateboard. A lot of people love this style, where you’ll see a lot of baggy shirts, flat-bottom sneakers, logo tees, baggy pants, skinny jeans, tall socks, and caps.
If you didn’t know, now you know: the hashtag #skatergirl is trending for women’s skater style.
Unlike fast fashion, slow fashion focuses on producing high-quality garments that will last for years, with an emphasis on environmental benefits, fair labor practices, and slow design processes.
Sustainability and consciousness are the cornerstones of the #Slowfashionmovement.
Fast fashion is detrimental to humanity and the environment, and consumers are taking an ethical stand against companies like Shein and Zara, to emphasize responsible and conscious brands.
Slow fashion brands focus on quality over quantity, using high-quality materials rather than synthetic fabrics so that the garments last longer. They also practice ethical and responsible manufacturing in respect to human labor and environmental impact. 🌎
Some sustainable slow fashion brands include Able, Kotn, Reformation, Eileen Fisher, Girlfriend Collective, Patagonia, For Days, Stella McCartney
You might use these hashtags: #slowfashion #sustianable #sustainability #ethical #quality
#bohowestern is a trending hashtag that is the perfect mix of traditional Western and Bohemian styles. You’ll see the classic western cowboy styles, leather, tassels, turquoise, and warm tones, and turquoise, but with vibrant colors and Aztec patterns from the Bohemian style. It’s more glam Western but not as glam as the eclectic Bohemian style.
Also see traditional Western below.
Sportswear
Sportswear is about athleticism; activewear including sneakers, biker shorts, tank tops, running pants, windbreakers, and anything you would wear to work out.
Sportswear is also about professional sports and team wear; you’ll see jerseys, caps, and merch from all types of sports.
There is a crossover between athletic style, team wear, and streetwear, as many brands make fashions that represent all three! Nike, for example, makes performance wear, everyday wear, and streetwear collections, and collaborates with teams and athletes, too!
If you didn’t know, now you know: Keep an eye out for pieces that are part of brand collabs! When brands collaborate with other designers, athletes, and companies, some of these pieces are incredibly valuable!
Plus, don’t forget the Athleisure brands and styles (see above).
Streetwear is broad, encompassing everything from everyday wear from athletic companies to the edgier styles influenced by the urban lifestyle. Many musicians and celebrities epitomize this style such as Drake, Hailey Bieber, and Travis Scott.
Classic streetwear styles include sweatpants and joggers, sneakers, track pants, graphic t-shirts and hoodies, caps and beanies, crewneck pullovers, varsity jackets, distressed jeans, and anything relaxed, casual, athletic, and cool!
This style is influenced by outdoor gear, tactical clothing, and futuristic fashion. Think waterproof jackets, cargo pants, utility vests, and technical fabrics like Gore-Tex, Kevlar, and reflective materials. The Techwear aesthetic also incorporates elements of cyberpunk fashion, with a focus on sleek and minimalist designs. You’ll see a lot of black and geometric silhouettes and accessories.
The key to creating a Techwear look is to focus on function and versatility, with an emphasis on layering and accessories like backpacks, tech gadgets, and utility belts.
Tomatogirl is a TikTok trend popularized in Summer 2023, which was unofficially deemed “tomato girl summer.” 🍅
The tomato girl aesthetic is inspired by the romantic, European, and picturesque fashion and lifestyle of the Meditteranean coast, or anywhere that tomato dishes are popular, like Barcelona, Santorini, and the Amalfi Gardens.
Tomatogirl is light and breezy with fabrics like lace, linen, and crochet. It is centralized on a red palette, complimented by neutrals, and warm gold tone minimalist accessories. You will see smocked, puff sleeve tops and dresses, layered ruffle skirts, headscarves, and woven accessories.
You might use these hashtags: #tomatogirl #tomatogirlsummer #european #mediterranean
Twee is a historical term (that was actually a derogatory slur at one time) but has been re-defined and popularized modernly by TikTok.
Twee is like hipster, but cuter, quirkier, and more fashionable. You’ll see quirky fashion like bright colors, classic patterns like polka dots, peter pan collars, cat-eye glasses, plaid dresses, puff sleeves, statement tights, hats, and fun hair accessories! Think of Lily Collins in Emily in Paris or Zooey Deschanel in New Girl.
Country style and Western style are often used interchangeably, but country style romanticizes the life of farming in the countryside, whereas Western focuses more heavily on the desert and prairie, wilderness, and ruggedness of Western life. For reseller purposes, you’ll likely use these aesthetics together frequently, for anything a cowboy or cowgirl would wear.
Western fashion generally features warm tones, organic materials, and a lot of leather and tassels! Classic items include cowboy boots, chunky buckled belts, cowboy hats, chaps, bolo ties, button-down shirts with embellishments, and turquoise accents and jewelry.
When trying to distinguish between Western style and country style, think of a real historical cowboy rather than a modern “cowboy” look for tailgating at a country music concert.
Also, see southwestern above!
In the words of Paris Hilton, “That’s Hot.” The millennium brought some major fashion trends that are poppin’ like Lip Smackers. Popular Y2k styles include baguette bags, baby tees (shrunken, cropped t-shirts), halter tops, pleated mini-skirts, velour tracksuits, and lace camisoles. When sourcing for Y2k fashion, look for bling (rhinestones), yin-yang symbols, smiley faces, low rises, flares, and hair clips!
If you didn’t know, now you do: An item is “vintage” if it is at least 20 years old. Some Y2k is vintage. Also, note that Y2k is also a trending style for modern pieces (see below).
For resellers, Y2k is both a categorization (actual vintage from the early 2000s) and a style: modern Y2k trending fashion. All of these items will get the hashtag #Y2k.
If you didn’t know, now you do: Y2k is the top-selling category on Depop! It is also amongst the top-performing style tags on Poshmark.
Trending Y2k style pieces include baguette bags, baby tees (shrunken, cropped t-shirts), halter tops, pleated mini-skirts, velour tracksuits, and lace camisoles. When sourcing for Y2k fashion, look for bling (rhinestones), low rises, flares, and hair clips! With the modern Y2k trend, you’ll see lots of pastel colors, micro skirts, crochet tops, and anything a Bratz Doll would wear!
If you’re a 1990s kid, it's weird to see Shein reproducing your elementary school wardrobe, right? I can’t believe low-rise flared jeans with embellished back pockets are back!
Noticeably missing from this list are the more risqué sexual hashtags. I personally avoid some of these despite their search volume simply as a preference. That said, sex sells. Use words you’re comfortable with within the bounds of what is permitted where you sell.
Some milder hashtags I use for qualifying items are #sexy #lingerie #fetish and #boudoir.
Also, before you use hashtags associated with culture or religion, make sure you are familiar with the culture and that you are not misappropriating the item. You do not want to unintentionally offend or disrespect (nor do you want your listings removed or your account compromised).
I have had listings removed for using tags such as “gypsy” as it is commonly used and I didn’t recognize that it is offensive. Now that I know better, I do better. I make sure to conduct research and consult with others when using any words associated with culture or heritage.
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Images and styling in this blog are from ErynnTheReseller and GetDizzyStore.