Why “blokette” was more than a Microtrend to Me

In the era of “mob wife” and “clean girl” aesthetics, many fashion trends seem to disappear before they’re even really here. Many advocates for sustainable fashion have labeled these as ‘microtrends’, or trends that appear quickly and gain a lot of online popularity before disappearing. Microtrends have been highly criticized for being a product of the overconsumption of today’s fashion industry. One movement that I often see get lumped in with these microtrends is ‘blokette’. Named by combining the words ‘bloke’ and ‘coquette’ this trend certainly burned fast and bright, but to me it stands out as more than just a microtrend.

Blokette first appeared in spring of 2023 and got attention for its unique combination of traditionally masculine pieces, such as soccer jerseys and athletic shorts, with ultra feminine, coquette pieces, like miniskirts, bows, and lace. When it first appeared, I saw a lot of praise for the way it blurred traditional gender lines. Blokette allowed hyperfemininity to be associated with jerseys, and bows to be associated with athletics, effectively combining two styles that were previously seen as polar opposites. This comes as a contrast to other ‘genderless’ fashion trends that typically use shapeless blobs to express androgyny. Blokette represented an opening in today’s society to be welcome to the blending of traditionally hyper feminine and hyper masculine styles.

Blokette also made gender bending fashion to be accessible to new populations. Although the process of eliminating the gender binary in fashion has been in the works for several decades now (see: Freddy Mercury and other 70’s rock icons), its introduction into mainstream (and straight) culture has been previously unfounded. In the past, these styles have been left to high fashion or queer communities. However, blokette saw a diverse group of innovators. From influencers who spread the style, to everyday people pairing bow-decked accessories with football jerseys, it gave people of all identities a chance to experiment with how they express gender in their clothes.

Although I don’t see many posts directly referencing blokette anymore, I think that its impacts have stuck around. This past year saw ballet flats, something portrayed as dainty and delicate, paired with baggy jeans and chunky bags. I think this style really displays how blokette opened the fashion world to create new combinations of delicate and bulky pieces. Another trend that relates to blokette style, and one of my personal favorites, is skirts over pants. Although it certainly had its moment in early 2000’s Disney channel red carpet looks, this pair has had a true resurgence in the past few years, even in blockbuster movies like ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ and ‘Wicked’. Wearing skirts with pants now has a connotation of maturity and modernity, as well as something that can be worn in a feminine or masculine presenting way.

Another trend that I see as a direct result of the popularity of blokette, and a reflection of its accessibility, was the explosion of bows that started in summer of 2023. Now, with a couple inches of ribbon and some knot tying skills, anyone is able to transform their outfits into something that defies prescribed gender-norms. I absolutely love seeing all the creative ways people have transformed bows into accessories, from tying them to carabiner key rings, to using them as interior decorations. To me, it shows that despite the dominance of mass created fashion, people long to express themselves in simple, cheap, ways.

Despite my disapproval of microtrends as a way to promote overconsumption, I definitely think some of them have their place in defining today’s style. Blokette is a great example of how a short-lived trend can not only reflect our more progressive society but also make impacts in fashion that remain for a long time. Blokette was a shift in the way that seemingly contradictory pieces are worn together, and I hope its effects last a long time to come.