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Simply add this Starfish Cuff Bracelet to your wrist for a straightforward technique to add the mermaidcore aesthetic to your look. Wear it along with your summer whites to let these starfishes shine.

J.Crew Starfish Cuff Bracelet $50 Buy Now At J.Crew

Whatever sandy beach you end up on this summer, Marysia’s vacation-ready dress will assist you maximize your out-of-office mindset. This halter neck, seashell-printed frock with ruffle trim is light and airy enough to wear on the most popular summer days for cool style.

Marysia Chalmers Dress $467 Buy Now At Marysia

Related: Best Summer Dresses

Mermaidcore Aesthetic 2023: Beauty Trend

Iridescent eyelids, pearly nails, wet-looking skin with hair to match — mermaidcore is wading its way into all facets of beauty. 2020 runways were a harbinger of today’s aquatic beauty trend: Soaking wet hair looks shined at Versace’s 2020 fall show, and Simone Rocha’s fall 2020 collection featured fish bone-inspired braids and flushed, fresh-from-a-bracing-swim makeup looks. More recently, Off-White’s spring 2023 collection showed oceanic spins on classic smokey eyes, done beautifully in blue. Models walked with silver shimmery eyelids at Jil Sander’s spring 2023 collection. And Blumarine’s spring 2023 show was dripping in long, shipwrecked strands, some even dyed cerulean. 

Celebrities and tastemakers are also casting their nets for creative mermaid-inspired beauty looks. Take makeup artist Isamaya Ffrench’s work on Rita Ora for the 2022 British Fashion Awards, which included fin-like prosthetics around Ora’s eyes. Hailey Bieber repeatedly serves below-sea-level beauty with glossy skin and iridescent eyelids. At this yr’s Met Gala, Michaela Coel’s glam included dewy skin and a coral-inspired gold hair piece. We’d be remiss to gloss over Kim Kardashian’s 2019 Met Gala beauty look, which included soft, loose curls with a wet sheen. Megan Fox modeled an analogous ‘do on the 2021 VMA Awards. That wet hair look was seen on Milan Fashion Week’s fall 2023 street style stars, showing the wearability of the trend. 

Mermaidcore beauty doesn’t require a full glam squad — you’ll be able to easily play up the trend for on a regular basis wear. Mermaid waves are a low-maintenance style for humid summer days, they usually’re easy to attain with the proper hair waver and a dry texture spray. Go together with glossy skin for daytime a mermaid look; all you would like is a hydrating makeup base and highlighter on the high planes of your cheekbones and the inner corners of your eyes. Mermaid’s night out? Be a fish out of water with scintillating eyeshadow, pearl facial gems, and wet, wavy hair. Shop the most effective mermaidcore beauty products below. – C.S.

Mermaidcore Editor’s Note: Under-the-Sea Inspiration in Designer Fashion

Fashion has a protracted, wealthy history with oceanic inspiration. Tracing the origins of coral jewelry will lead you back to ancient Egyptian and Roman times. The mermaid dress silhouette, as we realize it today, was designed by Marcel Rochas within the Nineteen Thirties, but it surely’s been noted that the style takes its inspiration from the Eighteen Eighties with the recognition of the cuirass bodice and longer dress trains. Together with Botticelli’s ‘Birth of Venus,’ the Renaissance period brought us enameled gold jewelry in the form of fish. But let’s scale our mermaid aesthetic deep dive back to the Nineties, shortly after Disney introduced the world to Princess Ariel.

Marine life-inspired jewelry adds a complimentary touch of caprice to summer fashions and resort wear. Linda Evangelista exemplifies this in a vintage Emilio Pucci ensemble accessorized with Christian Lacroix sea-inspired, rhinestone-adorned, clip-on earrings in American Vogue’s May 1990 issue, photographed by Irving Penn and styled by Carlyne Cerf de Dudzeele through the height of “Puccimania.”

“This photo hasn’t aged in any respect,” says Evangelista of the enduring look in a 2022 British Vogue video. “I might definitely wear this today. It’s providing you with south of France, Capri — I mean, it’s beyond chic.” 

In 1949, Emilio Pucci opened his first boutique on the island of Capri, Italy, which makes the inclusion of these reef-inspired Lacroix earrings a fitting tribute to the island’s wondrous coral grotto. 

One other fashion brand, Blumarine, beloved by Mermaidcore and Y2K aesthetic fanatics, was also launched in Capri by Anna Molinari and Gianpaolo Tarabini in 1977. The style label’s parent company Blufin S.p.A. says the brand’s name, “suggests an open blue horizon: that of the ocean, a logo of infinite journeys and possibilities,” on its Linkedin page. 

For a less ostentatious aquatic-inspired ensemble, Azzedine Alaïa’s spring 1990 collection featured belts, sandals, and knit skirt hems with cowrie shell embellishment. “Real shells have never had a classy image — until Azzedine Alaïa plucked them from the sand and set them into his knitwear,” described a full look from the gathering featured in American Vogue’s June 1990.

For the spring 1992 collections, maximalist maestro Gianni Versace showcased the ‘wow’ factor of underwater emblems in a daring and delightful way that might influence a lot of future collections, including Donatella Versace’s spring 2018 collection for the Italian fashion house, which coincided with the twentieth anniversary of her late brother’s passing. Seashell and starfish prints were applied to swimwear, denim, and silk blouses; thick, gold sea-inspired jewelry topped off eye-puzzling pieces featuring a wild number of print mixing, including leopard, jail stripes, and baroque prints; and bedazzling seashell designs were applied to mermaid bra tops and bodices.

To contrast the more audacious attire in the gathering, palate-cleansing pastel-colored suiting looks were thrown in the combination, paired perfectly with the identical seashell-inspired statement necklaces, belts, and bracelets. Donatella Versace would repeat this more restrained mermaidcore aesthetic equation with the brand’s spring 2005 and spring 2012 collections, further cementing oceanic influences in the home’s DNA. 

Pastel colours might only be a component of the mermaidcore aesthetic color spectrum, but back within the early Nineties, the gorgeous palette reigned supreme. Chanel’s collections highlighted the pastel rainbow in collections from spring 1992 to spring 1995, sometimes called the ‘Barbie’ collection, which might turn out to be probably the most memorable and impactful Chanel collections of Karl Lagerfeld’s reign on the French fashion house.

Vanity Fair’s August 1994 issue cover story featuring Cindy Crawford, photographed by Herb Ritts, would mix two of today’s hottest style aesthetics: mermaidcore and ‘Barbiecore‘. On the quilt, Crawford is a contemporary vision of Botticelli’s Venus, sitting in a body of azure blue water against a big clam shell, with an accompanying swimwear fashion story contained in the magazine. The supermodel dons itty-bitty bikinis and high-cut one-piece swimsuits, together with an iridescent pink button-down top tied in a knot under her bust. Essentially the most hauntingly beautiful image within the story shows Crawford underwater within the nude, her body intertwined with strings of pearls that veil the aqua water backdrop — she is Venus, and the world is her oyster.

On the subject of Botticelli’s masterpiece, we couldn’t forget Thierry Mugler’s fall 1995 high fashion clam-inspired dress modeled by Simonetta Gianfelici, the identical one worn by rapper Cardi B in 2019 to the Grammy awards. Most recently on display on the Brooklyn Museum for a retrospective of the late designer’s work called ‘Thierry Mugler: Couturissime,’ the show-stopping dress incorporates a pink satin lining to mimic the inside of a clam shell, together with a body-hugging, scale-like sequin bodice with pearl detailing. High fashion meets the high seas.

Pastel mermaidcore colours proceed to make their way into more fashion collections within the years that follow. Marc Jacob’s Spring 2008 collection was inspired by the work of celebrated artist Richard Prince, but Vogue’s Sarah Mower described the iridescent colours within the show as “garish Spongebob pastels,” and the connection is smart while you watch Jacobs’ finale walk, television bag in hand with graphic images from the favored cartoon show. A fast flip through the Guggenheim Museum’s 2007 “Richard Prince” book — that was released in tandem with the museum’s ‘Richard Prince: Spiritual America’ retrospective of the artist — shows similar hues Prince’s works that coloured Jacobs’ designs, just like the artist’s Hoods collection, which features very mermaidcore-appropriate colours like Hugger Orange, Grass Green, and Plum Crazy. Vogue France’s February 2008 issue, photographed by Mario Testino, featured Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss in matching mermaidcore-colored, glittery lurex dresses from the gathering.

Technological advances in fashion design would bring a sea change to under-the-sea-inspired fashion designs within the 2010s. Digitally-printed dresses made a splash at Alexander McQueen’s revered spring 2010 collection named ‘Plato’s Atlantis.’ In Style.com’s video recap of the gathering, Grazia’s Paula Reed says, “Attempting to work out how on earth those prints got here together — they’re all fabricated from one piece. But really, that may be a piece you’ll be able to almost placed on a mannequin, have it stand in your room and let people walk around and admire it.” This triumphant collection was the primary fashion runway show to be livestreamed on the web via Nick Knight’s SHOWstudio.com. Dutch designer Iris van Harpen also worked with 3D-printing to create futuristic fashion presently. The designer’s namesake label has been related to mermaidcore from the mermaid aesthetic’s beginnings, referencing each the ‘Sensory Seas’ spring 2020 collection and the ‘tentacles dress’ from the spring 2021 collection, which was produced from recycled plastics, courtesy of Parley for the Oceans. 

That very same season, Proenza Schouler’s fin-flipping-fabulous collection took inspiration from marine life and gave it a twist of downtown edge. In Vogue’s video recap of the gathering, Tim Blanks — who dubs the designs as “exotic aquatic” — interviews journalist Susie Lau (also referred to as Susie Bubble) who says, “that form of mermaid-esque surfer vibe, those prints — it’s actually exactly what I might wish to wear through the summer.” Iridescent tank dresses and tropical fish-printed pieces with feather trims were paired with shark fin-inspired gladiator sandals. The gathering was not only aspirational, but very wearable. 

The Spring 2010 oceanic fashion collections became a part of the inspiration for the 2010s ‘seapunk’ trend, a Tumblr-originated aquatic spin on cyberpunk subculture. Seapunk was a darker tackle the underwater aesthetic against this to the bubbly oceanic trend of the Nineties. 

Loads of other designs from the last decade incorporated inspiration from sea life, including pieces in Dior’s spring 2011 collection, together with looks in Fausto Puglisi and Emilio Pucci’s spring 2016 collections. But Chanel’s spring 2012 collection merits a special call out.

Emerging from a pearly white seashell, surrounded by a grand Zaha Hadid-designed set of coral- and seashell-inspired white sculptures, Florence Welch sang “What the Water Gave Me” as Chanel-clad models paraded through the Grand Palais with conch and coral purses in ethereal mother-of-pearl and pastel fashions. Coincidentally, as previously noted, this is similar season that Versace also returned to the waters of oceanic inspiration. 

Because the late oceanographer Jacques Cousteau once said, “The ocean, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder eternally.” Our fascination with the marine universe will not be the work of a sea witch. For an eye-sparkling stare upon the abundance of coral reef beauty, the thrilling mystery of unexplored ocean depths, and the wave of water’s serenity will at all times be a dreamer’s inspiration — to be a part of that world. – A.M.

How We Researched and Chosen Products from the Mermaidcore Trend

Since 1910, WWD — sometimes called “the style bible” — has been the leading industry voice of authority for senior executives in the worldwide women’s and men’s fashion, retail and sweetness communities, while also informing the buyer media that cover the market. Today, WWD’s breaking news and trend coverage continues to be a trustworthy resource for each fashion insiders and consumers alike. Our shopping editors proceed to uphold WWD’s editorial standards and values with quality, expert-backed product selections.

Mermaidcore might only last so long as the recognition of any Tiktok video, but the luxurious fashion and accessories highlighted transcend the micro impact of a social media aesthetic. To emphasise this, Adam Mansuroglu dug deep into WWD archival images and other runway references to attach past designer fashions to the Mermaid aesthetic. Mansuroglu also used his own personal knowledge of trends as a fashion editor through the height of the seapunk movement. Proenza Schouler’s spring 2010 oceanic-inspired collection stays one in all his favorites from the label to today.

Claire Sullivan and Nikki Chwatt, together with Mansuroglu, researched statistics related to the mermaidcore aesthetic, together with days of market research to finalize this list of the most effective mermaidcore fashion and sweetness products.

Meet the Authors

Adam Mansuroglu is the Director of Commerce for WWD and Footwear News, top editing and writing shopping content for each sites. The Brooklyn-native has written and edited countless fashion stories for publications akin to Cosmopolitan, Men’s Health, Out Magazine and more for over 12 years. Mansuroglu loves researching the history of fashion and sweetness trends, which helped him to stipulate the inspiration behind the mermaidcore aesthetic. In his spare time, Mansuroglu has watched several documentaries on oceanic wildlife and coral reefs, which was useful for writing this story.

Claire Sullivan is the Senior Beauty and Lifestyle Commerce Editor for Footwear News and WWD, where she writes and edits beauty, fashion and lifestyle stories. She has over six years of experience as a author and editor for national media outlets including Martha Stewart Living, Martha Stewart Weddings, InStyle, and Byrdie. She keeps her finger on the heart beat of all things related to beauty and wellness, in addition to the newest shopping trends and clothing brands. For this story, Sullivan researched beauty looks from recent runways and combed through the a whole lot of products to narrow down the list of the most effective mermaidcore beauty products to try.

Nikki Chwatt is the Style Commerce Editor for Footwear News and WWD, where she writes and edits stories on the newest clothing and shoe trends (just like the rising sheer clothing trend). She is on the forefront of all consumer trends with a keen eye for the newest, biggest, and classics of what people wear, buy, and love. Moreover, she at all times keeps up with celebrity and influencer styles, whether on the streets, the runways, or the red carpets, so she will be able to forecast trends and share them with readers.