By PAGE Editor

The latest fashion trend sweeping the internet has been dubbed “dystopian core”. Taking inspiration from the style depicted in The Matrix films, the aesthetic is growing in popularity and is attracting a lot of attention online. 

Nick Drewe, Trends Expert at Wethrift explains why this utilitarian look is creating such a buzz on social media, and how you can achieve the look.

Google searches for “dystopian fashion” are up by 479% over the last week. The hashtag #dystopianaesthetic has received a staggering 1.6 million views on TikTok, and the fashion trend has also spilled onto the photo-sharing app, Pinterest, with a 44.92% increase in searches for “dystopian aesthetic” over the past 3 months. 

The style encompasses black, baggy clothing, reflective of the stylings within apocalyptic-themed movies. Think long, black coats, leather, and baggy cargo pants to give a chic and futuristic look, with an element of grunge and dystopia. Distressed-looking materials go hand-in-hand, making thrifting a great method to achieve the look on a budget. 

Perfect for winter, the trend encompasses layering thick clothing, for a utilitarian appearance and brutalist approach to fashion. The trend over recent weeks has been catapulted by the appearance of dystopian-core aesthetics within the world of high fashion. From Loewe’s 2022 Paris Fashion Week show, with styles focusing on future dystopia, to Miu Miu’s Spring 2023 show, we are seeing the trend adorning the runways of the fashion world.  

Trend

% Increase in Search Volume* 

Grunge fashion

733%

Leather trench coat

431%

Black cargo pants

326%

Oversized clothing

143%Google Trends data looks at the percentage change in searches over the previous 7 days.

So, how can you achieve the dystopian look? The essential items make up the core elements: 

• Keep your clothing black - keeping colors to a minimum and adorning an all-black outfit is the key element to achieving this chic and gothic look.

• Put on your black trench coat - a fundamental element of the dystopian-core aesthetic is a black, Matrix-esque trench coat. Think statement coats that are oversized, and flowing.

• Leathers - to achieve this look, leather materials are a fundamental part. If you can get your hands on distressed-looking clothing, then even better. Your local thrift shops are the best places to find dystopian-core items, without the need to splash lots of money on high-street clothing.

• Cargo pants rather than jeans - as we’ve said, go for baggy and over-fitted. That's why cargo pants with oversized utility pockets are ideal for achieving this utilitarian look.

• Layer up - winter is the perfect time to don a dystopian look as it’s all about layering up with plenty of baggy clothing. This style is certainly less focused on having shape.

• Lace-up your boots - the dystopian aesthetic really is about committing from head to toe, which is why you’ll need some heavy-duty boots to complete the look, black of course. If you can get your hands on some platform boots, even better. 

Think almost a military-style look - you are meant to be dressing for the apocalypse after all!

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