Head-to-toe pink, glitter and naive details are some of the hallmarks of this aesthetic, which is now taking on a new meaning.
Following the bimbocore trend, it gives a feminist twist to the most controversial aesthetic code of the 2000s.
As Generation Z becomes increasingly conscious of fashion ethics, sustainability and the messages they convey through their stylistic choices, the revival of 2000s aesthetics is becoming more and more intriguing. Discover the exciting world of slots with a cute and sweet interface similar to the bimbocore style with Richard casino no deposit, where style meets casino excitement. Here, vibrant aesthetics blend harmoniously with the excitement of casino play to create a unique and exciting experience for those who appreciate the nostalgia of the 2000s as well as the excitement of the game. The return of this aesthetic is not just a nod to the past, but a dynamic mix of styles that makes a bold statement in the ever-changing landscape of fashion and entertainment.
What is the ‘Bimbocore’ trend (what does it mean)?
In contrast to the current climate of disenchantment and uncertainty, the early 2000s are now perceived as a utopia. It has been idealised to the extent that many of its symbols have been completely re-signified. A clear example of this is the bimbocore trend that focuses on the more-than-repeated aesthetics of romantic comedies or teen series of the early 21st century.
This exaltation of femininity now has the opposite effect on feminism as it did back then. Far from shying away from it, it is embraced and understood.
Now feminism embraces precisely all kinds of identities, with increasing awareness and sisterhood, making some fictional characters that seemed flat, empty or insignificant now seen in a different way.
Generation Z embraces the bimbo aesthetic, through which hyper-femininity is explored and becomes an act of resistance against a culture that has always associated the feminine with the weak. Within this paradox of re-signifying a code that, in its day, was based on hyper-sexualisation and stigmatisation, it is nonetheless an example of how changing the male gaze for the new vision of the female can completely transform the paradigm. On the other hand, it shows us that fashion is never without a message or vindication…
Bimbocore’ or how the most controversial aesthetic code of the 2000s has been given a feminist twist
The colour pink from head to toe, glitter and naïf details are some of the identifying traits of this aesthetic that now takes on a new meaning in the key of sorority thanks to the users of Tik Tok.
One of the best-known phrases about fashion is that it exists not only in dresses, but also in the sky, in the streets, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live and what is happening. Coco Chanel said it almost a century ago and it has never lost its meaning. Even less so now, with generation Z becoming increasingly aware of what they wear, not only in terms of ethics and sustainability, but of the message and connotations that lie behind every stylistic decision. This is why the return of the aesthetics of the 2000s is no mere coincidence. To understand this comeback many refer to the nostalgia industry, something that is more than tangible in the graphic t-shirts that bring back music groups from the 90s and 2000s or remakes of series. We are absolutely obsessed with nostalgia, just look at what is happening on the catwalks, which never cease to bring back everything from the very low shot to the big platforms.
So much so that Generation Z has revived the spirit of a decade that many of its members have not even lived through. In contrast to the current climate of disenchantment and uncertainty, the early 2000s are now perceived as a utopia. It has been idealised to the extent that many of its symbols have been completely redefined. A clear example of this is the bimbocore trend that focuses on the aesthetics more than repeated in the romantic comedies or teen series of the early 21st century and which have always been associated with a doll as internationalised as Barbie. The bimbocore is based on the blondes of the economic boom before the arrival of Californian blondes and the crisis (yes, Californian highlights also have a socio-economic explanation) and the colour pink from head to toe.
Paris Hilton and Britney Spears are two of the great inspirations of bimbocore.
This exaltation of femininity now has the opposite effect on feminism as it did back then. Far from shunning it, it is embraced and understood. Far from the discourse that Hollywood has endlessly sold of the story of the girl who is not like the others, who knows it and is proud of it, feminism now embraces precisely all kinds of identities, with increasing awareness and sisterhood, making some fictional characters that seemed flat, empty or insignificant now be seen through violet glasses. A clear example of this is the character of Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) in Legally Blonde.
This is why Generation Z has now shaped the whole Bimbo aesthetic, through which hyper-femininity is explored and becomes an act of resistance against a culture that has always associated femininity with weakness and in which there is nonsense such as ridiculing a code that has been imposed in the first place. Is it not as toxic to punish the codes of femininity as it is to demand them?
If in the early 2000s it was the protagonists who embraced the Bimbo aesthetic, in the 2010s it was the antagonists.
An example of how this movement is more than necessary can be found in the comments on Tik Tok, where many of the bimbo influencers are ridiculed precisely for these tastes. Currently, the hashtag #bimbocore on the social video network has more than 16 million views.
In short, and within this paradox of resignifying a code that, in its day, was based on hypersexualisation and stigmatisation, it is still the umpteenth example of how changing the male gaze for the new vision of the female can completely transform the paradigm and which, of course, shows us that fashion is never exempt from message or vindication.
The successor to Y2K and bimbocore: all about Gen-X Soft Club’s new trending aesthetic
We talk about the emerging trend of 2024 and why the melancholy Tumblr-girl aesthetic with Effie from The Milkmen at the helm has once again charmed all the jenners, replacing the upbeat barbicore and Y2K
Nowadays, watching different trend aesthetics replace each other seems to be a much more interesting endeavour than imitating them. Whereas subcultures used to be a more durable phenomenon, all the various barks that have come to replace them don’t stay in the visual world for long.
Thus, dozens of pink blouses bought under the influence of the dictatorship of the barbicore now have lonely hanging in their wardrobe. So if one major cause of overconsumption and mass-market development, which contributes hugely to the worsening environmental situation, is to be named, it would definitely be the proverbial tomato-girl summer, mermaidcore and other one-day trend aesthetics. But we can’t stop this machine.
Above the fashion horizon rises another core that is gradually taking over all social media – Gen-X Soft Club. Recently, the account of British creative agency The Digital Fairy, having gone through the fashion archives, published a post with a detailed description of one of the main styles of the 90s and 2000s. It gathered tens of thousands of reactions and comments, and after a while the aesthetics were talked about by all devoted to the fashion agenda and major fashion publications.
Successor of Y2K and bimbocore: all about the new trendy aesthetics of Gen-X Soft Club.
A still from The Rolling Stones’ ”Anybody seen my baby” music video.
Let’s find out what Gen-X Soft Club is all about and bet on whether this aesthetic will reach the same scale as, for example, bimbocore or Y2K.
Gen-X Soft Club or GXSC can be described as a more approachable offshoot of quiet luxury or Y2K. Soft Club took its penchant for minimalism from the former aesthetic, while the latter took its zeitgeist from the latter. But if Y2K can be compared to the most popular girl at school, then Gen-X Soft Club is its mysterious and inconspicuous sister.
Not everyone can and wants to be that clean girl with a graceful manner of dressing and perfectly ironed shirts. Hence the roots of this aesthetic – 90s minimalism with a touch of grunge and futurism.
According to the CARI Consumer Aesthetics Research Institute, the popularity of the Gen-X Soft Club dates back to 1996-2002, so it can’t be called a unique product by any means. Now it just got a new round of development, well, and the name, the first part of which refers to the representatives of generation X, born between 1965 and 1980. In the 90s of the last century and 2000s many of them were just 20 years old, and they took an active part in the fate of the aesthetics.
Key features
In addition to minimalism, it is based on futuristic fonts, references to concrete jungles, megacities and technological innovations of the turn of the XX-XXI century, as well as cool natural shades (mostly green and blue). To better understand the visuals of this trend, think back to Nokia’s camapaigns.
The successor to Y2K and bimbocore: all about the new Gen-X Soft Club trend aesthetic
ID Magazine cover, 1997
In fashion and beauty, GXSC usually manifests itself through deliberately understated yet casual looks – naturally blow-dried hair, yesterday’s make-up, and strict turtlenecks, for example.
So it’s really a reflection of the fashion of that era, but a more mainstream fashion. There were more advocates of this style, albeit unknowingly, than there were fans of brightly coloured crop tops like Britney Spears and Spice Girls low-slung jeans.
Related aesthetics
About quiet luxury and Y2K, you’ve already figured it out. In terms of style, Gen-X Soft Club is also largely intertwined with the business casual and office casual that were prominently featured in the autumn/winter 2023 collections of Saint Laurent, Versace, Alexander McQueen, Miu Miu and Proenza Schouler. Ideologically, however, the new trend aesthetic is not at all about strict uniforms and conformity to clear rules.
The successor to Y2K and bimbocore: all about the new trendy aesthetic of Gen-X Soft Club
A still from the TV series “Milk suckers”.
There is something here from Indie Sleaze – a symbiosis of hipster aesthetics and grunge style as interpreted by the popular social network Tumblr (remember Effie from “The Milk Suckers” or Taylor Momsen and her band “The Pretty Reckless”). For Gen-X Soft Club references, you can also look to Kate Moss’ impeccable style.
