The Unstoppable Rise of Momcore Fashion

In the realm of fashion, trends often oscillate between extremes. Between avant-garde couture and the understated allure of minimalism, a quietly powerful movement has been gaining momentum: momcore fashion.

Far from a fad, this style phenomenon is redefining the very essence of contemporary chic.

At its core, momcore is a celebration of comfort without compromising on style. It’s a sartorial symphony that champions practicality, versatility, and timelessness. While the term might suggest exclusivity for mothers, momcore transcends age, gender, and parental status. It encapsulates an aesthetic that resonates with anyone seeking the perfect balance between fashion and function.

In an interview with HuffPost earlier this year, Liv Schreiber, who runs the branding agency Caffeine, described momcore fashion as having undergone a style overhaul over the past two decades, transforming from “slumpy to effortless.”

It went past the over-the-hill mom jokes to being what it is today, which is the style brainchild of shows such as The Real Housewives and The Kardashians, combined with a wave of new influencers.

Youth icons such as Addison Rae, who started her career as a TikTok sensation, took to the trend in its traditional sense: the image of someone who has no time to worry too much about how she looks, preferring comfort over style. In today’s world, any outfit, when styled the right way and carried confidently, is considered a success.

Indian actor Alia Bhatt, who created a children’s clothing line named Ed-A-Mamma, embraces the mom-core look. Flowy dresses and hoops seem to be her go-to, with minimal makeup and flip-flops.

Other content creators and influencers see this trend as a way to marry their style with easy-to-move fabrics. “Being a mom nowadays doesn’t mean having to give up your style; it means not forgoing your identity because of your kids, but rather embracing the two identities together,” Schreiber said.

Leandra Medine, who ran the acclaimed fashion blog Man Repeller before giving birth to her twin daughters Laura and Madeline, is a great example of momcore fashion, keeping it updated and modern. However, motherhood did take its toll.

“With motherhood, I just don’t have as much time to think about what I’m wearing or to try on outfits to see how they look,” Medine confessed to journalist Jess Benjamin in 2019. “My style is rooted in basics, I just like to wear them in an unexpected way.”

Indian actor Kareena Kapoor Khan is another person who does the trend justice. She’s often seen pairing an oversized T-shirt with jeans or cycling shorts, and a large pair of sunglasses. Sometimes she swaps the T-shirt for a linen shirt, which gives her laid-back style a slightly more tailored edge.

Rolling Stone India has curated a list of items to have in your wardrobe to lean into momcore energy:

Black high-rise jeans from Kraus

Shirt dress from B Label

Poplin top from Moonray

PJ top from Gundi Studios 

Lilac cargo from Kraus

Hoop earrings from Shoplune

Dungarees from Kraus

Unisex shirt from Cosmic Roach Studio