Blokette Core Is the Micro Trend Giving Athleisure a Run for Its Money

“What is blokette core?”

That’s the questions that tripped up both my 81-year-old mom and my 18-year-old son, as they asked me to explain my outfits of oversize boy shorts, puff-sleeve tops and track pants. Get with it, Boomers and Gen Zs—blokette is the micro trend that mixes feminine ruffles with sports and workout wear. Like the fisherman aesthetic, Grey Gardens core and even the accessories-focused anik-anik trend, this style has some great principles that can freshen up your style while being comfy. You probably have many of the elements in your closet already. I got some pointers on the trend from editorial stylist Cindy Suzuki, who rocks the look personally and for top brands. Let’s explore blokette core, shall we?

First off, the word blokette is a portmanteau of two other trends, bloke core and coquette. Bloke core comes from the trend coined for British women (hence, “bloke” rather than “dude”) who don the football jerseys, classic sneakers and striped warmup pants of sporty guys. “While blokette might not roll off the tongue easily, it's a great descriptor of two dominant trends from last year that merge together for a fresh, new perspective,” says Suzuki. “These Pinterest-worthy looks owe credit from our favorite city influencers, (i.e. @linda.sza and my all-time favorite, Michelle Li) and sweetly nod to Copenhagen street styles as of late.” The earliest references to “blokette” as its own hybrid mashup style, as best I can tell, is circa 2022 when model Bella Hadid started appearing around town wearing plaid mini-skirts with athletic knee socks and Mary Janes, and sports jerseys. Hard fangirling ensued online, and an international blokette army was born.

Here’s what’s great about blokette—it’s basically so anti-fashion (by which I mean it breaks more fashion conventions than even the wrong-shoe theory) that as long as you like the look, it works on you. The style is about pleasing yourself with sporty comfort, functionality and wit rather than sucking in your midsection to fit in a corset (unless you want to wear a corset over your polo shirt, which is great too). One of my favorite viral TikToks shows a woman explaining how she pairs a sports jersey, tiered skirt, white socks, loafer and bows together. The top comment is “This is like some next level of sarcasm right?” to which the BA (blokette army) responds with defenses of the aesthetic like, “the girls that get it get it” and “No u just dont get it and its fine, don’t b a hater just cuz u don’t understand.” This is my kind of fashion—one that’s not performing trad values of “I’m sexy” or “I’m rich,” but is instead expressing a third thing: “I’m a creative who doesn’t need to go HAM on the designers or body con to feel comfortable.”

Why Bother When This is Just Another Flash-in-the-Pan Microtrend?

First off, I predict this as a new classic look that’s not going anywhere—after all, online commenters remark that they’ve always worn sneakers with their sundresses. Additionally, the style is still going strong now into its third or fourth year, with blokette-friendly mass retailers like Free People and niche Euro designers including Baum und Pferdgarten selling tons of pieces that fit the aesthetic. There are even intellectual meditations on how blokette is a positive feminist statement. And finally, as commenters have remarked, this is in some ways a name for what frugal fashionistas have always done—taken favorite pieces from their closet then mixed and matched them in new ways to create a whole new look. I am leaning into the blokette trend since I like the way it looks and means I can keep wearing my favorite stripes sweatpants and sweatshirts in a new way. Here’s some great examples of blokette in the wild, and elements you can collect to get the look.

An oversize rugby shirt and sheer skirt are exactly the opposites-attract combo that defines blokette. “Sheer is the perfect sexy finish/contrast to our favorite sporty styles. Personally, I love how a sheer skirt adds a slinky finish to a more casual tee or cozy cardigan. What I love too is that the sheer pieces don't have to be worn as is: When layered, they offer a visually more interesting finished look,” says Suzuki. And everyone loves a comfy leather loafer worn with socks.

“Some of the best footwear for this aesthetic also lies in duality: think dad sneakers, ballet flats and kitten heels. The 'wrong shoe theory' applies here, as a ballet flat or heel offers a contrasted edge to track pants,” Suzuki says.

Suzuki says proportion is key in making a blokette outfit look intentional. “I think this is a fun aesthetic where playing with oversized silhouettes can make looks interesting–but balancing the look out with one properly fitting item is key,” she explains. For example, she suggests pairing an shrunken tee with bloomers, or a pair of rolled-up track pants with a fitted cami.

“To style into the sporty-femme aesthetic, a lacy white top is one of the best starting pieces to have. When paired back to striped joggers or even the cult-favorite Adidas track shorts, they offer a sweet touch to these casual bottoms,” the stylist says. Here, Atlanta-based content creator Reese Blutstein wards off a chill by paring her track shorts with a bomber-style jacket.