什麼是 Gorpcore？

Balletcore, barbicore, and gothcore aside! Gorpcore is the new popular fashion aesthetic of summer 2024 and it's rapidly gaining momentum. Celebrities like Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner, and Hailey Bieber have already joined the ranks of fans of this style.

If you've never heard of gorpcore before, you may assume that it's a brand-new trend in fashion, but that's not quite right. This fashion trend contrasts two worlds: style and practicality, hiking and leisurely strolls. This is the style when activewear is combined with casual or even classic clothes in everyday life. You should look as if you just came out of camping or hiking, but you need to remain stylish. It suits everyone - lovers of an active lifestyle in nature and those who prefer walking on city streets.

If this fashion trend is unfamiliar to you, you may be wondering what this strange name means. What is its essence? Or if you follow fashion and want to try this style, but don't know what kind of things to choose. Perhaps you are wondering what clothes and gears belong to this style? We tell you everything you need to know about gorpcore, which is still dominating the fashion industry.

The word itself is formed from the English abbreviation gorp ("good old raisins and peanuts"). It translates as "a mixture of dried fruits and nuts", which is convenient to take with you on a hike. The name fully reflects the essence of the trend and the focus on convenience and functionality.

Gorpcore is a modern style that includes in the everyday closet clothes designed for hiking or walking in the woods, characterized by wearing tourist outfits within the city. The main principle of the style is the priority of practicality and convenience over beauty. For the production of such clothes and accessories "smart" materials and accessories are used: water-repellent and temperature-regulating fabrics, reflective elements, heavy-duty fasteners. It is part of a fashion movement in which practicality is more important than beauty.

When glossy fashion editors write about the emergence of a new style, they usually just give a name to something that already exists and is actively developing. The Cut's editor Jason Chen was the first to talk about gorpcore and designate it as a separate style trend. The Cut's editor Jason Chen noticed how the outdoors aesthetic was gaining momentum in fashion and decided to capture it by coining a new term.

The name caught on - and so did the style itself, which turned out to be much more resilient than everyone initially thought. It was first talked about in 2017, but its roots appeared earlier, along with comfortable slip-ons and sporty sandals that gradually made their way into the closet.

Before influencers began to appreciate the high quality and versatility of outdoor gear, brands like The North Face and Patagonia were already producing clothing with a gorpcore aesthetic (these brands essentially created the trend). However, at the time, aside from its original purpose, these outdoor-inspired garments were barely used in everyday urban life.

Nevertheless, the popularity of is not only due to these specialized outdoor brands but mainly due to the interpretation of the aesthetic by luxury companies.

The demand for outdoor clothing has increased manifold in 2020 due to the widespread introduction of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. The restriction of freedom of movement has awakened the yearning for outdoor activities. Such leisure requires specialized equipment, the use of which can be found in everyday life. Four years later, the functional approach became the main trend not only in clothing but also in the beauty industry.

Gorpcore came to replace normcore - the "gray mouse" style. Both of these fashion trends refuse to emphasize chic and aesthetics in favor of comfort. But if normcore is the style of a city dweller looking for individuality in the everyday clothes of an office worker, then this fashion style is about something else. It creates an image of a person who today goes to work on a bus, and tomorrow he goes to conquer a mountain peak - or has just returned from a hike. The global message of these styles also differs. Normcore proclaims the rejection of uncontrolled consumption, while gorpcore calls for leaving the urban environment.

Gorpcore is also attributed to some features of grunge: freedom, independence, and rebellious spirit. The fundamental rejection of pretentious forms, austerity, or luxury in favor of layering, advanced technology, and modern materials is a characteristic feature of this outdoor-inspired style. Such a closet is strictly utilitarian. After all, semi-sporty things, which are designed to protect and provide comfort to the owner in the conditions of active recreation, will be convenient in the city. Also, due to the specific nature of outdoor clothes, gorpcore is full of either bright or muted natural colors.

Adherents of this style wear basic clothing that tourists are often seen wearing. These can be fleece hoodies, vests, lace-up boots, or backpacks made in bright colors that bring to mind blue water, green forests, pink and purple sunsets, and rainbow colors. Earthy hues also figure prominently in gorpcore. Practical colors such as beige, gray, dark brown, and olive are especially popular. Another feature of the style is voluminous silhouettes - wide pants and oversized jackets that allow you to wear several layers of clothing underneath at once.

Let's highlight the key items of gorpcore:

Vest
The vest is an invaluable element in the arsenal of a hiking enthusiast. It offers a lot of options for combining images. At the same time, an insulated down jacket will be a suitable thing in the off-season, which additionally warms and protects from bad weather. And capacious pockets will be useful to put there various small things.

Windbreaker
A windbreaker is not just a garment to wear when we expect bad weather. It is one of the most important elements of gorpcore. When buying one, pay special attention to the size if you plan to wear a windbreaker over a sweaters or cardigan, it is better to choose a size larger than usual.

Fleece clothing
Fleece clothing can serve as a bottom layer when we go outside in very cold weather. But it can also be worn separately. The material is extremely practical: not only is it thin and comfortable, but you can keep warm in it, even when you get wet in the rain.

Down jacket
Down jackets are a great choice when you need something warm and lightweight. It is also one of the most comfortable and body-pleasing things to wear. When the weather is warm, you can update your outfit by unbuttoning your down jacket to show off a trendy sweater or t-shirt underneath.

Cargo pants
Cargo pants combined with fleece clothing and hiking boots look great. But at the same time, they take care of your comfort and protection from moisture and weather.

Hiking boots
Don't be afraid to wear hiking boots, even if your outing doesn't include mud in your plans. In combination with other gorpcore style items, they will look great. At the same time, this style of shoes is very friendly to the feet and legs.

Gorpocor style is ideal for those who lead an active lifestyle and appreciate comfort. But to be sure to get a successful image, you need to follow simple rules.

Color palette
The color palette of gorpcore is all about natural colors. Let natural non-marking colors prevail, but this does not mean that they should be exclusively muted. Either very bright or, on the contrary, neutral and practical. For example, you can add accents with indigo, sunny yellow, or bright green. Then the juicy shades should be diluted with beige, caramel, grass, or mustard. These two color palettes often intersect in the same image.

For example, a down jacket can be bright, even neon, and pants - beige or khaki. You can also consider a look with graphite pants with a tangerine-colored bomber - so the image will be brighter, but you will manage to keep the outdoor aesthetic. However, adherents of gorpcore do not pursue the goal of a somehow special combination of colors. They wear clothes that are designed to spend time in nature - because they seem to echo the colors of this very nature.

The right fit
With the fit, things are simpler. Another key visual code of gorpcore is volume. It is not difficult to guess that comfortable clothes are characterized by loose silhouettes. Clothes, which should be comfortable, can hardly be tight - that's why adherents of this style prefer oversize. However, it is still not about hyper volume: clothes should remain so that a person in it is mobile. In this case, outerwear is usually tightened with the help of elastic bands, waders, and laces to customize the silhouette and make it even more comfortable for a particular person. In general, the emphasis is on balance.

Choose the fabrics
Material plays a huge role in gorpcore. Even if you pick the right style of pants, they may not match the style. First of all, bet on waterproof fabric - from it sew functional outerwear and pants. Plaschevka or nylon - these are your best friends. In this version, you can even find skirts, which will help create the desired image - for example, free quilted variants are suitable. Do not forget about fleece - soft and cozy material will save you from the chilly wind and low temperature. And where are we without wool? The question is rhetorical. True, when creating an outfit in gorpcore style only dense sweaters and sweaters will be appropriate.

You may not have known it, but you probably already have everything you need for a outdoor look in your closet. Take loose-fitting cargo (or their leather variation) and add the right top - like an anorak, a patterned sweater, or a fleece. Parkas, cropped coats with a neat short pile, and raincoats will be your best bet when you start choosing outerwear. Don't forget to add rough sneakers, massive boots, and roomy bags to this list, then you will immediately become a gorpcore adept.