Mermaidcore is the new aesthetic making waves—here’s how to nail it

We’ve seen Cottagecore. We’ve seen the Y2K revival. Last summer, Barbiecore gained traction following the buzz surrounding Greta Gerwig’s upcoming film. Now, enter Mermaidcore. This year, with the live-action The Little Mermaid premiering in May, Mermaidcore is set to be this summer’s go-to trend. Ariel (Halle Bailey) herself has donned a myriad of Mermaid-inspired ensembles in the lead-up to the film’s release and K-pop girl group NewJeans member Danielle—the voice actress for the film’s Korean dub—struck a pose on Instagram in an unmistakably Mermaid-esque chiffon outfit.

The emergence of Mermaidcore (occasionally called Sirencore) is unsurprising as elements of the aesthetic are straight off the runway. The flowing silhouettes bring to mind Iris van Herpen’s otherworldly designs, while the bright colours are evocative of summer collections. In Jean Paul Gaultier’s floral spring/summer 2023 collection, Florence Tétier sought to epitomise the “modern mermaid” in her looks. In the recent Louis Vuitton cruise 2024 show, Nicolas Ghesquière presented captivating looks inspired by its enchanting locale—the stunning Isola Bella. At Australia’s cruise 2024, ruffled and layered floor-length pieces were aplenty. As for the primary colour palette, white and cream shades were a popular choice, with blues and greens in the mix.

The aesthetic also integrates some of the Internet’s favourite trends. The most prominent is the ‘wet look’ trend, appearing on the runway in Fendi’s spring 2021 show and popularised by designers Di Petsa and Mirror Palais. Beaded jewellery—propelled by the Y2K resurgence—makes an appearance as well. And of course, all your summer staples are featured in this trend, from maxi skirts and beach dresses to ruffled tops and glistening co-ords.

Feeling inspired to emulate the style? Below, see Vogue Singapore’s edit of all the essentials you need to live your mermaid fantasy.