What is a Niche Fashion Aesthetic?

Rohan Mathew

What is a Niche Fashion Aesthetic

Social media has transformed the fashion world, and many people enjoy sharing their unique fashion aesthetics with their followers. So, what is a niche fashion aesthetic? We’re breaking it down, plus outlining some of the more popular aesthetics.

Defining Niche Fashion Aesthetic

A niche fashion aesthetic is a subculture of fashion that incorporates elements of a particular lifestyle, personality trait, or interest. When you dress in a niche aesthetic, you can showcase your interests and traits, as well as align yourself with people who might share those interests. Some fashion elements overlap between several aesthetics, allowing people to dress in different ways that reflect their personality.

If you’re not sure which niche fashion aesthetic you fit into, check out some of the current aesthetics to determine what appeals to you most. You might find you’re already dressing in one of the aesthetics without realizing it!

Cottagecore

Cottagecore incorporates simple elements from life in the countryside. It often includes cute prints like floral, eyelet fabric, and basic pieces that flow rather than hug the body. If you want to get into the mindset of this aesthetic, imagine you’re living in a cozy cottage in the country, tending to your garden and caring for your animals. A key element of cottagecore is comfort. Long, flowing dresses, billowy pants, and lace-up boots fit nicely into this aesthetic. 

Dark Academia

The dark academia aesthetic is for people who love to learn and enjoy the darker things in life. It’s inspired by school uniforms and includes preppy elements, allowing the wearer to show off their interest in academia with a twist. When styling this aesthetic, stick to plaid and argyle as your main prints. Other tones to incorporate include dark shades, such as black, brown, and forest green. Those who love this aesthetic often wear skirts, button-up tops, cardigans and sweater vests, turtlenecks, and boots. A long wool coat is the perfect outerwear piece. 

Normcore

If you’d rather fit in than stand out, you might already dress in the normcore aesthetic. This fashion niche includes simple and effortlessly stylish basics that fit well. Jeans, neutral tops, and cardigans fit into this category, especially if they’re simple in style without lots of embellishments. Those who dress in normcore rarely wear loud or eye-catching pieces, but stick to plain elements that don’t draw a lot of attention.

Cabincore

Want to look like you’re headed to the cabin for a cozy winter getaway? Cabincore could be your chosen fashion aesthetic. This aesthetic romanticizes the idea of living in a remote cabin to get away from the hustle and bustle of life in the city. Up top, fans often wear cozy sweaters, vests, and flannel shirts, paired with jeans and corduroy pants. You can also incorporate warm outerwear pieces, hiking boots, and beanies to complete the look.

As you consider the elements of each of these niche fashion aesthetics, which stands out to you? You might feel like you fit into multiple categories, which makes it fun to change up your look and show off your personal take on fashion.