MOB WIVES, BABYGIRLS, INDIE SLEAZE: THESE ARE 2024’S BIGGEST STYLE TRIBES

MOB WIVES, BABYGIRLS, INDIE SLEAZE: THESE ARE 2024’S BIGGEST STYLE TRIBES

Style tribes collage featuring Dua Lipa, Jacob Elordi and Billie Eilish

MOB WIVES, BABYGIRLS, INDIE SLEAZE:

THESE ARE 2024’S BIGGEST STYLE TRIBES

Fashion, friendship and sisterhood: step into the world of fashion rental.

WORDS: MARNI ROSE MCFALL, GRAPHICS: HOLLIE MAE HOMAN, IMAGES: GETTY AND JEREMY FRENCH 02.02.24

2024 is in full swing and there’s a whole host of style tribes already garnering cult followings. Look to the street style set, social media and collections by the biggest names in fashion and you’ll see the beginnings of a phenomenon. Amidst all the outfits is a distinct sense of identity. The looks slot into different, unique styles. There’s a clear sense of belonging. Belonging to, a style tribe. The term was originally coined by anthropologist Ted Polhemus, and it refers to the rainbow of styles and subcultures that fashion is so fascinated with. Style tribes are propelled by youth culture, by music and art, by different scenes and areas of society.

Your key reference points? In the ’70s it was the punks, driven by the designs of Vivienne Westwood and bands like The Sex Pistols and The Slits. In the ‘80s, the goths reigned supreme with black hair, choker necklaces and lots of leather becoming an almost universal uniform for fans of Joy Division, The Cure and Siouxsie and the Banshees. And by the ‘90s? It was all about grunge. Driven by the rise of bands like Nirvana, The Pixies and Holes and the designs of Marc Jacobs. These style tribes are instantly recognisable, characterised by a series of hallmarks, from safety pins, all the way to eyeliner and flannel shirts.

Today, style tribes look different. They’re still influenced by music, fashion and art, and by subcultures. But they’re more niche, they explode on TikTok and they often come with ‘core’ on the end. And in 2024, there’s a whole new list of style tribes gathering speed. From blokecore and Britpop to lit girls and mob wives, it’s time to get acquainted with 2024’s biggest style tribes.

ALL HAIL THE LIT GIRL

Billie Eilish at the Golden Globes

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What do Emma Corin, Amelia Gray Hamlin and Billie Eilish all have in common? They’re all members of the lit girl style tribe. Miu Miu’s AW23 and SS24 shows sent a clear message to the fashion girlies: the library is open and it’s time to join. Miuccia Prada showed a series of librarian-style grey cardigans, chic slingbacks, button-down shirts and geeky black glasses and quickly, the lit girl was born. So, who is she? Think of the lit girl as a chic evolution of the dark academia trend that has taken TikTok by storm over the last few years. Her muses sit somewhere between Joan Didion and Gisele Bündchen in The Devil Wears Prada. She loves a skirt – particularly if it’s a long pleated one that feels like it’s come straight out of a Jane Austen novel – a buttoned-up cardigan or bulky blazer and, of course, a pair of glasses. She’s taking 2024 by storm, in a library-approved, whispering voice. And we can’t get enough of her.

SHOP THE LIT GIRL EDIT

I’LL BE YOUR MOB WIFE

Street style shot of Dua Lipa in a mob wife style outfit

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Big hair. Red lips. Loads of gold. Huge fur coats. And all the attitude. The mob wife aesthetic did not come to play. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll have heard about the emergence of the aesthetic which currently has the zeitgeist in a chokehold. Spurred on by the 25-year anniversary of The Sopranos, the mob wife is fashion’s newest fixation. The look is characterised by loud prints, big (faux) fur coats, dripping gold jewellery and ultra-tight snakeskin pants. Don’t believe us? Fashion data account Style Analytics reported that searches for fur coats are at a historical peak, having increased by 33% since last winter, while searches for cheetah print have increased by 120% in the last six months. The aesthetics’ patrons include the likes of Dua Lipa, Kendall Jenner and Rhianna. The only rule? If Carmela Soprano would wear it, then you should too.

SHOP THE MOB WIFE EDIT

SHE’S A BLOKECORE GIRL NOW

Street style shot of Bella Hadid in a blokecore outfit

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Somewhere in the midst of Bella Hadid, David Beckham and Keira Knightley in Bend It Like Beckham, you’ll find blokecore: the football-inspired, tracksuit-filled, sports-heavy trend. Arguably an evolution of the casuals’ subculture which dates back to the ‘80s, the blokecore style tribe is a perfect harmony between fashion, streetwear and sport. Popularised by TikTok heavyweights like Max Keefe and Brandon Huntley, who is largely credited with starting the trend, it’s exploded over the past year. And it’s hardly surprising: just look at the roaring success of the adidas Originals by Wales Bonner collections, which is the mecca for blokecore enthusiasts. Or the adidas Samba: a football favourite and the ‘Sneaker Of The Year’ last year according to Lyst, who reported that the Samba sneaker was searched for every 1.7 minutes on their app. Grab your football tops, lace up your kicks and put your trackies on: blokecore has more than earned its status as one of the year’s most important style tribes.

THE IT GIRL, AGAIN

Ah, the It girl. Gorgeous, chic, stylish, and entirely intangible, our collective fascination with the It girl never wanes. But right now, we’re obsessing over a specific kind of It girl. The high-octane glam, super chic, big drama, dressed-to-the-nines It girl. Largely spurred on by the release of Ryan Murphy’s Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, which charts the relationship between Truman Capote and his ‘swans’, or the O.G. housewives; Babe Paley, Slim Keith and C.Z. Guest, which stars the likes of Chloë Sevigny and Demi Moore. Really, there’s nothing like a period drama with a big budget for costumes to send the fashion world into a frenzy (read, Bridgerton and the subsequent Regencycore). So, what do you need to know about this style tribe? Its members this time around include Camille Charriere, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley  and Sofia Richie. Think of it as quiet luxury’s hard-partying, high-maintenance cousin. It’s elegant, it’s fun, it’s Saint Laurent runway collections, black ball gowns, heavy gold jewellery, nude lips and rich jewel tones.

THE BRITPOP REVIVAL

Street Style Image of the Britpop trend

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Get your parkas on, Britpop is back. Spearheaded by bands like Blur and Oasis in the ‘90s, Britpop is having a second coming. Why, you ask? Well, it’s down to two things: fashion’s fixation on ‘90s style and the unstoppable rise of a new generation of British fashion royalty – think Lennon Gallagher, Lila Moss and Iris Law. Their parents did it the first time around and now they’re doing it again. It’s all khaki colouring and Jarvis Cocker style knitwear from here on in. Equal parts gritty and glam, the Britpop era provides an endless archive of fashion inspiration, and there’s so many ways to do it. Make like Geri Halliwell-Horner and don a mini dress with a Union Jack splashed across it or call yourself a Gallagher and grab a bucket hat. As far as Britpop is concerned, there’s only one rule: don’t look back in anger.

HE’S SO BABYGIRL

Street style image of Jacob Elordi

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The fashion It boy has a new name. He’s a babygirl now. Jacob Elordi, Kit O’Connor, Paul Mescal; we can’t get enough of these well-dressed men who are oh-so polite and endearing. They’re not like the A-Listers of yore, they’re just a bit gentler (read: that clip of Elordi on Saturday Night Live saying: “Me, I’m a babygirl?” that we know you’ve watched a thousand times). How do you spot a babygirl? He knows the hottest pieces; the biggest trends and the about-to-be-cult buys before anyone else. He may have a book in hand (see, he’s just so sensitive) and it’s probably a Penguin Classic or a new Fitzcarraldo. Soft tones, creamy pastels and neutral colourways suit this gentile style icon. The babygirl loves Bottega Veneta, Prada and Jacquemus, always has an It bag and has a repertoire of timeless wardrobe staples that’s the envy of us all.

THE COQUETTE CLUB

Street style image of Julia Fox in a coquette outfit

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Coquettecore? Girl, you better keep it coming. Girls are having a great time right now. From trends like girl math and girl dinner to a renewed interest in Sofia Coppola films and the explosion of barbiecore, we can’t stop talking about girls. As we should. And nowhere is this more evident than in the coquettecore style tribe. See, the coquette is fun, the coquette is flirty, the coquette is girly. She’s wearing pastel tones, pearls, corsets and an impressive amount of ribbon. And if you thought this trend had had its moment in the sweet pink sun? You thought wrong. The coquette is a clear front-runner for being one of the most important style tribes in the world right now. To date, the #coquette has 1.2 million views on TikTok, fashion data account Data But Make It Fashion reported that interest in ballet flats – one of the hallmarks of the trend - increased by 20% last year, while Pinterest reported that searches for the term ‘bow outfit’ have increased by 190%. Some of the biggest celebrities in the world – think Julia Fox, Lana Del Rey and Sydney Sweeney – are proud members of the coquette club. The coquette is a girl’s girl, she doesn’t take things too seriously and she loves a long skirt she can flounce about in. If you like it, put a bow on it.


KEEP IT (INDIE) SLEAZY

Timothee Chalamet in a long leather jacket

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Sky Ferreira, Saltburn and The Strokes: it’s time to get sleazy. The so-called indie sleaze revival has been steadily gaining traction over the past few years, but right now it’s seemingly at fever pitch. From Gucci’s little leather hot pants at their SS24 show to the ultra-punk chiffon and fishnet detailing at Maison Margiela’s Spring 2024 couture show all the way to Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s ‘Murder On The Dancefloor’ topping the charts (again), indie sleaze has our attention in a big way. What do you need to know about this style tribe? It’s bolshy and it’s grubby. Think big black eyeliner, Hedi Slimane era Saint Laurent, black mini dresses and skinny jeans. So, grab your leather jacket, pull up your fishnets, mess up your makeup and put ‘Heads Will Roll’ on the stereo. The most chaotic style tribe out there is inviting you to meet it in its glorious mess.

MAKE FASHION 2016 AGAIN

We hate to break it to you, but 2016 was eight years ago. And as such, the trend cycle is well, cycling and 2016-era fashion is taking the internet by storm. Crazy, right? Kylie Jenner has reprised her “King Kylie” era pink hair, Lana Del Rey is headlining Coachella in April, TikTok is obsessed with Tumblr and lace-up tops are re-entering our wardrobes. As are tie-dye shirts, beanie hats and big chains. On your moodboards? 2016-era Jaden Smith, Kylie Jenner and Bella Hadid. The 2016 style tribe is here to stay. The good news? This time around it’s Mugler and Bottega Veneta that are making your jeans-and-a-nice-top looks. Now, do a cut-crease, put on some matte lipstick and play ‘Love Yourself’ by Justin Bieber.

SHOP THE 2016 EDIT

HE’S AN ECLECTIC GRANDPA

Street style shot of Tyler, the Creator in an eclectic grandpa outfit

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14 years ago, Macklemore uttered the immortal words: “I’ll wear your granddad’s clothes, I’ll look incredible,” and now the most famous figures in fashion are starting to take him very, very literally. Allow us to introduce you to the eclectic grandpa style tribe. Its members? Harry Styles, Tyler, The Creator, A$AP Rocky and Kendall Jenner to name a few. It’s defining features? Chunky knitwear, pearl necklaces and patterned ties. Coined by Pinterest which reported a 65% increase in searches for ‘grandpacore’ last year, the eclectic grandpa is a natural evolution from the ‘coastal grandma’ aesthetic. It’s a perfectly placed mix of wardrobe staples and eccentric, kitsch statement pieces. It’s a statement sweater vest and jeans, it’s a big pearl necklace and a blazer, it’s a little bit chaotic but it’s endlessly charming, just like your good old grandpa.

SHOP THE ECLECTIC GRANDPA EDIT

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