On TikTok many videos are accompanied by the hashtag #ClownCore because they claim to have a clownish aesthetic. It includes: baggy trousers, large bow ties, graphic patterns such as polka dots, stripes, diamonds and checkerboards, and above all many colours. At the 65th Grammy Awards, a music awards ceremony held Feb. 5, 2023 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Harry Styles also made a splash with his jumpsuit while clownish diamonds. Signed by the EGONLAB brand in collaboration with Swarovksi, it is inspired by the emblematic Harlequin suits of Pablo Picasso and Freddie Mercury and was made up of 250,000 crystals in 9 different colors, entirely hand-embroidered in almost 150 hours in Paris. We can’t anymore clowncore.
Why is #Clowncore invading TikTok?
This maximalist style particularly lends itself to this platform where the most viral videos often match those that may be most visually striking.
The clown is also one of those particularly controversial figures with whom one can compare oneself since childhood, being able to arouse the greatest fascination (like the one one can feel for the Harley Quinn character) or repulsion (up to reaching the coulrophobia that That exploit so much).
Deeply rooted in the collective imagination and popular culture, the clown can trigger nostalgia in some peopleand attention-grabbing, plus bright colors, hypnotic patterns, and comical gesture potential.
From the circus to the catwalk, clowns conquer fashion
But far from being confined to TikTok, clowncore has also been found in creative and luxury fashion for ages.
It’s part of a creator’s aesthetic like Jeremy Scott, with his own brand as well as at Moschino where he has officiated since 2013. He signs colorful silhouettes, full of nods to childhood figures such as Barbie dolls, stuffed animals or, of course, the clown from Ronald the McDonald’s.
The young creator Christopher John Rogers is also regularly inspired by clownish figures, especially those of art commedy as recognizable as are Pierrot (often dressed in black and white, his face floured, sometimes looking sad) and Harlequin (dressed in multicolored diamonds).
The deconstruction of the rainbow motif is also one of his trademarks which could be related to circus clowns.
The world of clowns also serves as inspiration young designers Sintra Martins (of the Saint Sintra brand) e Hester Sun (from Hester’s Sunshine brand).
But why such a sudden interest in this figure? The media Refinery29 I just posed the question to Kayla Marci, market analyst at retail analytics platform EDITED, reading a possible response to the pandemic:
“Although the Clowncore aesthetic can include darker elements, its presence in fashion and beauty has traditionally been conveyed as an extreme interpretation of dopamine medication [pour booster son propre moral].
Humor and optimism are instilled through vibrant color palettes and childlike graphics that continue to resonate in retailer collections. »
The clownish aesthetic seduces a young man in search of dopamine
EDITED notes that rainbow graphics are up 11% in 2021 compared to 2020, while smiley face patterns are up 37%. And clowncore is still expected to gain traction in 2023.
Perhaps coinciding with this clowncore movement, this too is discovered check and diamond prints are particularly trendy at the moment. And it’s probably the easiest and most socially responsible way to indulge him without actually being taken for a clown at school, the office or in your love life!
Unless it’s intentional, getting a massage…
A photo credit: TikTok screenshot.
Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
