Recession Core
Missing jewelry from red carpets, neutral colors, and no makeup makeup looks—welcome to recession core. The year 2023 has brought a great contrast from the Y2K maximalism of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this time of economic turmoil, consumers are creating new ways to save money, prioritizing styles that are timeless and functional.
There is a very real chance that the United States will enter a recessionary period. According to Teneo, “The U.S. economy is currently experiencing levels of inflation that have not been seen in 40 years” (Lefevre et al., 2023). Consumers are spending more on necessities such as rent and groceries and therefore have less disposable income. This does not mean that fashion is coming to a standstill; the current state of the economy welcomes new ways to take risks.
The term “recession core” first originated on TikTok as fashion commentators began noticing a lack of jewelry on the red carpet and theorizing that it could be a sign of the possible recession. The aesthetic consists of neutral colors, shopping second-hand, less logos, androgynous looks, and even wired headphones. The recent trend of going “bronde”, or a darker, more natural, shade of blonde, and natural makeup looks also fall into recession core.
Lady Gaga at the 95th Academy Awards (Photo / Arturo Holmes for Getty Images)
A very prevalent example can be seen on red carpets and recent runway collections. Fall 2023 showed us that skirts on men are no longer new and innovative, they are the norm. Androgynous looks are not only more inclusive, but they also offer added accessibility. During an economic crisis, consumers are buying less, and androgynous clothing can be a worthwhile investment since they are so universal. This spring, black and grunge looks have been the center of attention. Instead of bright patterns and colors, metallics, especially silver, add excitement to otherwise neutral looks. During the recent red carpet at the Oscars, several celebrities such as Lady Gaga, Jennifer Connelly, and Elizabeth Olsen were styled in black and metallic looks.
Jennifer Connelly at the 95th Academy Awards (Photo / Gilbert Flores for Variety)
Elizabeth Olsen at the 95th Academy Awards (Photo / Gilbert Flores for Variety)
Fashion is definitely reflecting our current social situation, and we should expect these neutral trends to continue in 2023.
Dupes have become increasingly prevalent on social media, another effect of inflation and less disposable income. This is particularly interesting because, in the past, owning knockoffs was looked down upon, and there was a sense of embarrassment that came with purchasing knockoffs. Now, finding Amazon dupes of Lululemon leggings or makeup dupes for expensive trending products is praised on the internet. Why spend more on a product when you could potentially buy the exact same product at a cheaper price? If an individual was never going to purchase the luxury version of the product, why would it matter to a company that they are purchasing a copy of the product at a cheaper price? Unfortunately, there is a fine line between knockoffs and plagiarism, and the fashion industry has very limited legal protection when it comes to designs. For larger brands and fashion houses, dupes may not seem like a big deal, but the smaller the company, the more each sale matters and choosing a dupe over the original can be detrimental to the designer.
A solution to this issue is shopping second hand. There are many platforms online, such as Poshmark, Ebay, and Depop, that make it easy to search and find the investment piece you are looking for at a fraction of the cost, and in a sustainable way. Finding vintage pieces that are timeless is a great way to get the most out of your money while creating unique outfits.
In this time of economic upheaval, fashion does not have to take a backseat. The recession core aesthetic definitely makes this possible. From neutral colors, to vintage shopping, to even wired headphones, consumers are thinking of creative ways to keep fashion alive.
Sources
Lefevre, G., Egan, J., & Hobbs, A. (2023). U.S. economic outlook 2023: A 'soft landing' or 'deep recession'. Teneo. Retrieved April 4, 2023, from
https://www.teneo.com/us-economic-outlook-2023-a-soft-landing-or-deep-recession/#:~:t ext=High%20inflation%20and%20rising%20interest,seeing%20their%20household%20b udgets%20squeezed.
Nast, C. (2023). See every look from the 2023 Oscars red carpet last night. Vogue. Retrieved April 4, 2023, from
https://www.vogue.com/slideshow/2023-oscars-red-carpet-live-see-every-look
[@ufodelaney]. (2023, January 11). #greenscreen Thoughts? #recessioncore #celebstyle #fashionhistory #trendpredictions #quietluxury [Video]. Tiktok. https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRcaTFP3/.
Written by Julia Harbison
Copyedited by Ally Thompson
Graphic by Sophie Baker