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Like it or not, TikTok is becoming more and more popular, especially with Gen Z. While Instagram and Pinterest were mostly sources of fashion inspiration for millennials, that’s all about to change thanks to the micro-niches on the new platform. Since COVID-19, TikTok has become the main source of trends, dance choreographies, and outfits of the day for us.
In 2021, the global pandemic popularized fashion subcultures like never before. Maybe it was because of social distancing, but for many of us, experimenting with a bit more extreme styles became a kind of escapism. More and more people started having the courage to express themselves by dressing up on TikTok and other social media. There were punks, Dark Academia kids, Goths, cottagecore kids, and fans of other subcultures showing up both IRL and online.
Alternative Fashion
Fashion has always been a way for marginalized communities to fight oppression, and no other clothing style more clearly rages against the mainstream than alt-fashion. Today, many people may know alternative fashion because it became viral on TikTok, but this style has a much deeper history. Alternative fashion has defined various periods and emerged from subcultures, including punk, goth, grunge, and emo, to name a few. Although alternative fashion may have started small, the impact can now be felt everywhere.
Take, for example, the popularity of musicians like Rina Sawayama and Olivia Rodrigo, who have developed a kind of new pop-punk music style. Or check out how power couples like Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly have popularized alternative styles on the red carpet events.
For starters, it’s important to note that TikTok gave us some highly specific aesthetics — also called microtrends. These are styles like Clean Girl, Cowboycore, or Vanilla Girl, which all belong to the trending looks, but can feel a bit like a uniform. However, you really don’t have to spend much money on new stuff to transform your style. You can take inspiration from the platform and pick items from different trends that make you personally happy.
TikTok's algorithm, which recommends videos based on a person’s engagement and viewing history, ensures that the platform’s users are exposed to a wide range of fashion-related content, including hauls, tutorials, and outfit inspiration. To this day, fashion as a kind of self-expression is at an all-time high, so we have many subcultures - new and old, becoming popular on TikTok. We are presenting you all TikTok styles that are influencing the alternative fashion world in the following text.
Y2K Fashion
The Y2K trend is a throwback to the 2000s, with styles that include crop tops, low-rise jeans, and colorful accessories. TikTok has played an important role in popularizing the trend, with content creators sharing Y2K-inspired makeup and fashion in their videos.
Maximalism
Although Maximalists existed way before TikTok, the new platform is largely responsible for the development of modern maximalism. Influencers like Tinyjewishgirl and SaraCampz are representing the movement, styling various prints, interesting accessories, and a vintage vibe all at once.
Some might think this is only an aesthetic, but it’s become more of a lifestyle as people really embrace maximalism to the greatest extent—shooting everyday outfits that include more and more unexpected combinations and layers than we could ever imagine.
Clowncore
Clowncore is a more extreme version of the maximalist look. In this subculture, big scrunchies can be worn as collars, balloon-like pants instead of skinny jeans, and rainbow stripes with polka dots become a normal combination. Clowncore is also similar to the idea of maximalism as an aesthetic approach since many of these styles can be considered dopamine dressing, designed to make people smile.
Clowncore fans have fascinated (and frightened) TikTok users with their oversized silhouettes, maximalist makeup looks, and dyed hair.
Believe it or not, the runways have also embraced clowncore both in the past and today: Givenchy, Undercover, Rick Owens, Dior, and Nanushka showed some clown elements for their fall 2021 and spring 2022 collections.
Dollcore
Dollcore is a kind of girly, coquette aesthetic we see on TikTok. It embraces the idea of femininity and girlhood, celebrating all things whimsical, maternal, pretty, and of course pink. Dollcore girls wear anything from micro minis to Juicy Couture terry cloth tracksuits.
Normcore
Normcore, which was also popular in the mid-2010s, is making its way back into TikTok and the mainstream. Maybe it’s an act of contrast from all the maximalism we’re seeing, or maybe it’s just becoming a practical trend again as more workers return to the office.
On TikTok, creators are dressing up in outfits that are, perhaps overly, dressed down. On the runways, we can see the comfortable sneakers; oversized silhouettes, and baggy jeans, just as much as the maximalist design. Looks like baseball hats and dad sneakers are here to stay—and are quickly becoming their own subculture. "Normcore" rejects subculture, niche, maximalist, and extravagant fashion trends and instead goes for the basics.
Twee
Twee includes all things secondhand and vintage, and ’60s and ’70s style outfits. This trend is inspired by Wes Anderson movies, Zooey Deschanel, and the girls who wore fake glasses before it was cool.
Indie Sleaze
Indie sleaze also revolves around the style of the mid-2010s. Remember The Cobra Snake or Effy Stonem from the Skins series? All of those people and examples of indie sleaze, which also includes the return to dated technology, like wired headphones and film cameras.
Dark Academia
Think Harry Potter meets high fashion. The Dark Academia subculture revolves around beautiful libraries, literary classics, starched collars, and tweed jackets. The look includes the 1930s and the 1950s fashion worn by students at prestigious universities. The color scheme includes earthy tones such as brown, black, and beige—and lots of Plaid, leather, and wool.
On TikTok, you can find Dark Academia accounts posting romantic videos of handwritten notes by candlelight and leather-bound books. Still, the fashion seems to be just as important. Blazers, turtlenecks, plaid pants, loafers, discreet jewelry, and classic black or brown handbags are essentials. Thrifting is also part of the culture. Thrift stores are actually the best places to buy this kind of clothes at a low price.
Cottagecore
Cottagecore is like Dark Academia’s sister trend. It takes inspiration from quaint, dreamy, and pastoral aesthetics. Looks include puff sleeves, prairie dresses, romantic white nightgowns, and anything else you might imagine to see on fashionable people who live in a rural area.
On TikTok, this aesthetic romanticizes nature; you can often see posts of prairie dresses, greenery, flower arrangements, and picnics. Also, the staples of the trend are dresses from Selkie, Laura Ashley, and Liberty London— minimally styled, with natural makeup and maybe a big ribbon worn in a loose hairstyle.
Scene Kid
Scene kids are back. One scroll through Instagram and TikTok will show all that goes with the aesthetic: voluminous neon hair, layered plastic bracelets, band tees, Vans sneakers, and beanies. Not to be confused with emo, goth, punk, or even the e-girl subculture, the scene kids love experimenting with graphic looks and bright colors.
Many modern scene kids are even recreating old photos from the Myspace era. A scene kid can also be described as a cross between a raver and a punk.
Goth
The Gothic fashion has been trending for a few seasons now. The Goth style is making a comeback online too, with chains, platforms, spiked collars, plaid, and lace. The good news is, that you can incorporate a little bit of goth into your everyday life with accessories, too. Fishnet layers, harnesses, and even the right choker can give your outfit a Goth vibe.
Punk
The modern punk look includes long-line leather jackets, purple mullets, structured boots, white collared shirts, and even mohawk hair (with TikTok tutorials, of course). The aesthetic was made famous by punk original, designer Vivienne Westwood.
E-girls and E-boys
Still wearing mesh tights, plaid skirts, and heavy eyeliner, the emo and goth kids of the past have been given a new name as the E-Girls and boys. An E-Girl looks like a Bratz Doll in a goth phase, including the hair clips and faux freckles.
E-girl and E-boy fashion take inspiration from the modern versions of, the Goth, scene, and punk culture. Think miniskirts, band tees, fishnets, harnesses, and colorful hair. So what’s the difference between E-girls and E-boys? This movement stems from the gaming world, so, there’s a definite cyber aesthetic. Think anime-inspired clothing, headphones, and makeup such as hearts and stars drawn underneath the eyes. Makeup is a very big part of E-girl culture, so you can find many DIY tutorials on TikTok.
The e-Girl look includes a pink blush across the cheeks and the nose, inspired by Lolita girls and Japanese anime characters, and also heavy eyeliner and highlighter.
Witchtok
Witchtok is an alternative subculture that focuses on wellness and self-care. Although the most important component of WitchTok is the community, there’s definitely a certain fashion sense that goes along with it. Witchcore fans can be seen wearing crystal amulets, astrology pendants, lots of black color, and huge amounts of silver jewelry.
Goblincore
"Goblincore" first appeared on TikTok in 2021. Inspired by fantasy and fairytales, goblins and fairies serve as fashion inspiration for "goblin core" fans.
Similar to cottagecore, Goblincore focuses on nature but to an even more extreme extent. Think colorful hair, fairy-like dresses, little charms, and an earthy color palette of red, greens, browns, and plaids. Many of the Goblincore fans can be found taking long hikes and looking for mushrooms. Insects, shells, Mushrooms, and any other ephemera that can be found in nature are also seen in the fashion choices of this aesthetic. But mushrooms generally seem to be one of the most popular motifs of fashion right now—with labels such as Lirika Matoshi and her mushroom knit sweaters.
Grandmacore
All you need to rock this trend is your coziest and biggest sweater, oversized collars, and anything crochet. Similar to dad style, Grandmacore embraces comfort and dressing down. And also like its relative cottagecore, you can often find its fans wearing flowy dresses or the above-mentioned sweater.
Grunge
Bring out the dark eye shadows and flannel shirts—the grunge is coming back again. Ripped jeans, patchwork sweaters, and grown-out roots, (while playing Nirvana) are all over TikTok. The modern grunge adds unexpected elements such as sequins or pearls, or a more Gothic approach to makeup, such as black lipstick and heavy cat eyes.
Coquette
The trend could be linked to the aesthetics of Sofia Coppola’s film Marie Antoinette or Lana Del Rey’s album Born to Die. Coquette is characterized by frills, lace, soft pastel, and rose-print dresses, and fans of the look are all about designer fashion, luxury perfumes, and Mary Janes with white socks.
Balletcore
The ballet flats are now officially back in style, mostly thanks to the "balletcore" trend that's become a TikTok favorite. From bodysuits and tulle skirts to hairbows and leg warmers, the style is all about incorporating ballet essentials into everything from athleisure to red-carpet looks.
Conclusion
TikTok has quickly emerged as a significant force in the fashion industry, with the platform's emphasis on inclusivity, authenticity, and creativity, making it a perfect space for influencers, fashion brands, and consumers. The rise of TikTok styles has challenged fashion gatekeepers worldwide, and in a way democratized fashion, giving more recognition and visibility to underrepresented fashion enthusiasts and designers.
TikTok’s impact on fashion and style cannot be understated. The algorithm promotes inclusivity and diversity by showcasing a wide range of styles, making clothing and style more accessible to everyone. However, its fast pace has raised concerns about the environment and the influence on younger audiences, as TikTok’s influence on fashion can lead to an unhealthy obsession with trends. Despite all of this, TikTok now represents a unique space for fashion expression and creativity that is worth exploring further.
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