Reclaiming Play: How Kidcore Defies the Quiet Luxury Trend
to be subversive in 2024 is to look a bit ‘childish’.....
Not to be that guy, but I’m gonna be that guy….everything looks bland. We are in a ‘dark night of the soul’ for art of all kinds and fashion is not spared. The about-face of Gucci from a boheme, 70s inspired maximalist paradise to a pared-down, minimalist palette is a reflection of rippling sentiments across the industry and the sentiment is- it’s best not to stand out.
The globalization of culture (via widespread access to the internet) mixed with the crippling insecurity of the average person means that the never ending quest to be widely liked is alive and well….the only difference is in this day and age, people across cultures are ingesting the same rhetoric about what that looks like. Much like the Instagram coffee house aesthetic that swept across the globe in the late 2010s (think: white subway tiles and sparse Scandi decor with tons of birchwood furniture and greenery), the consensus today is that rich people look exactly one way….and that way is unfortunately devoid of any eccentricity whatsoever.
Of course, *we* know that’s far from the truth and the ‘quiet luxury’ aesthetic is pulling from a fictitious idea of what really rich people are actually like. It’s not lost on me that this craze found its footing at the same time that shows like Succession were all the rage. The timing is nothing short of predominant and that alone lets me know that people are pulling style cues from a source that is meant to entertain, not convey the truth. Are there really underwhelmingly dressed rich people? Sure, there’s loads of them. But there’s also loads of them that are eccentric and that’s the part we don’t see currently. But the reality is that social media literally dictates culture and business at this point and the first rule of business is to give the people what they want. And they have resoundingly responded with a want for ‘timeless’ (read: not innovative) clothing.
That said, I can’t help myself- I’m a contrarian, even when I’m not trying to be. I have this innate desire to go left when everyone else is going right. And not because I have an ax to grind or something to prove- I just am naturally interested in whatever is being overlooked at that moment. When everyone has long flowing hair, that’s when I cut mine off. When people write something or someone off as ‘weird’, that’s when I support them the most (sidebar: Drake’s dance album “Honestly, Nevermind” is super slept on and we will all understand what he was trying to do years from now). So naturally without even thinking about it, my desire to relearn the person I was before I was aware of other people’s perception of me (read: childhood) coincides with a time when everyone else wants to look like their most serious, upper-crust “War and Peace” reading selves. And thus, a kidult was born.
In all fairness, I didn’t leave behind these pursuits as I got older….I just kept them to myself. I was in the office wearing Blaze Milano blazers and Co. jeans, looking quite serious only to come home at night and fall asleep watching YouTube uploads of Dave the Barbarian (and still do). Somewhere along the way, I got swept up in the wave of ‘this is what an adult looks like’ and rode that wave for quite some time. But even then, there were always little glimpses of me in things I wore- brands like Anya Hindmarch filled a void and were my silent declaration to never fully growing up.
And if you’re anything like me and want to inject some fun back into your life and your wardrobe, these are some ways I think anyone can incorporate a ‘youthful’ essence into their wardrobe without having to deeply commit to the aesthetic:
An accent color: LOTS of people reach adulthood and subconsciously abandon color. The reality is there is a silent but pervasive ideology that color reads as childish. The way to do it (I think) is with a pop of color that breaks up the monotony of the outfit and makes you stand out.
From left to right: Veronica Beard blazer, Brandon Blackwood bag, Valentino belt, Veja sneakers, Polo sweater, JIA JIA bracelet, Ronny Kobo striped knit Fun socks: People SLEEP on socks; they are a super underrated accessory to jazz up an outfit. Socks are also a great but subtle way to showcase things that interest you without having to make as big of a statement as wearing an emblazoned shirt for example.
Graphic tees: The easiest way to convey personality. A tee with your favorite cartoon character or one of your favorite TV chefs is sure to get people talking. It’s an instant conversation starter. Plus, a suit with a graphic tee underneath your blazer as opposed to a button up is SO chic.
Cute outerwear: A fun, patterned jacket or a colorful coat can be a statement piece that complements more neutral attire. And you can take it off so if you don’t want to live in an item for the entire day, this is a great way to still get into the spirit.
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