Blokecore: Fashion's Sportiest New Trend
Time to take your football fandom from the stadium to the streets.
Coined by Brandon Huntly on TikTok in December 2021, the Blokecore trend is used to describe a particular aesthetic mood where the look is composed of a vintage football (see: European definition of the word) shirt, jeans, and sneakers. The term "bloke" is a British slang word for men, heavily used in English football subcultures. Considering that football shirts are increasingly designed by stylists in collaboration with the most prestigious fashion houses, from Giorgio Armani for the Italian national team to Balenciaga with Rennes, they are, for all intents and purposes, a fashion item.
But what makes Blokecore a trend rather than the simple act of wearing a jersey for your team?
While the concept may seem basic, sportswear has become increasingly of interest within the luxury fashion space. Major athletic apparel brand Adidas has produced a number of collaborations with top design houses like Prada, Gucci, and Balenciaga. Adidas was also the first brand to work with English designer Grace Wales Bonner, founder of the homonymous brand Wales Bonner, in 2019.
Blokecore is even identifiable on the runway in recent seasons: Etro presented a reinterpretation of football shirts in the men's Spring/Summer 2024 show, while the Ukrainian brand Kseniaschnaider created a suit starting from different football shirts.
Getting the stamp of approval from the luxury world has allowed football apparel to take on a new life, from tacky to trendy. On TikTok and Instagram, #blokecore offers an array of outfit inspiration for those interested in trying their hand at the sporty trend, but here are the basics.
First, you'll need a football jersey, whether it be from your favorite team, a vintage find, or a collaboration between a team and an athletic brand like Nike, Adidas, etc. Typical examples of the trend pair the chosen jersey with trainers, jeans, or trousers. But why not experiment and opt for a tennis skirt and sneakers or even a chic pair of heels? There may be rules on the field, but on the streets, anything is fair game.
