All products featured on Teen Vogue are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
This summer, we’re not just going to the beach. We’re going under the sea thanks to the mermaidcore trend.
Once just a niche subculture of style, mermaidcore is all about emulating the mythical sea creatures with clothing, makeup, and hair. To get the aesthetic, think of crochets, pleats, bikini tops, shiny embellishments, prints, and shimmering fabrics in shades of blue, green, and purple. Coordinate with an aqua-inspired shade of eyeshadow topped with an iridescent glitter that doubles as highlighter. Complete the look with effortless waves or loose curls, and get bonus points for the addition of shell or pearl accessories.
Nazlia Yunus, the founder of Chvker Jewelry and a makeup influencer, has embraced the mermaidcore aesthetic in some of her viral videos. She tells Teen Vogue she was inspired by the aesthetic itself, “I’ve always been drawn to the allure of the beach and summertime — it’s where I find myself in a state of ease and serenity. I actually came across this mesmerizing shade of sea foam green eyeshadow and I was instantly reminded of the beauty of a mermaid.”
TikTok content
This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.
Yunus also highlights one of the biggest key points of the trend. Its free-flowing nature allows you to use items you already have on hand and create your own version of the trend instead of having to buy all new things to fit a certain standard. She says, “I couldn’t resist the urge to play around with a mermaid look, especially since I already had a treasure trove of pastels, sparkles, glitters, and pearls tucked away in my vanity. I imagine mermaids as a symbol of effortless beauty, cascading in soft-toned colors and shimmers from head to toe, and drenched in pearls — and who wouldn’t want to emulate that look, even if for just a night?"
Now especially, mermaidcore is on the rise thanks to pop culture. The live-action remake of The Little Mermaid starring Halle Bailey is here. Dua Lipa is also set to portray Mermaid Barbie in the upcoming Barbie movie, complete with wavy blue hair. And of course, we can’t forget the classics Aquamarine and H2O: Just Add Water that still resonate with “TikTok teens.”
Mermaidcore is indeed a current trend on TikTok, with longtime enthusiasts and newly inspired fans sharing their looks. Influencer Chazlyn Yvonne is one of many participating in the trend and has gone viral for her mermaidcore photos and videos. “Over the past four years, I have been anticipating seeing Halle Bailey play Ariel in Disney's live-action movie for The Little Mermaid,” she tells Teen Vogue. “Growing up I never pictured myself as a mermaid, but seeing her take on the role, as a Black woman who I am often compared to, has encouraged me to embrace the mermaid core & siren core aesthetic this summer.” Yvonne also credits it as a factor in the recent trend, “I definitely think the movie has a lot to do with the current rise of the mermaidcore on social media.”
TikTok content
This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.
While this trend is taking off in pop culture and on social media, fashion has been fully submerged in mermaidcore for decades. Most notably, one of Versace’s signature symbols from the ‘90s is their seashell and starfish print that’s been utilized and modernized throughout the years. In fact, Dua Lipa was seen sporting it in 2020, as if foreshadowing her acting debut as Mermaid Barbie and her most recent collaboration with Versace, La Vacanza, which includes beach-inspired pieces.
Fittingly, Blumarine’s Y2K (and Y2K-inspired) pieces are also peak mermaidcore. Particularly, the spring 2003 ready-to-wear collection featured pieces that looked like they were straight out of a mermaid movie.
More recently, Bach Mai showed a siren-inspired collection at New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2023, complete with mermaid silhouettes, shimmering fabrics, and iridescent makeup. Megan Thee Stallion made her triumphant return to the red carpet in a mermaid gown made by the designer.
Ariel herself, Halle Bailey has also sported plenty of high-fashion mermaid-inspired looks on her recent press run. For The Little Mermaid’s Los Angeles premiere, the star donned a metallic blue dress by Valdrin Sahiti, with a strapless neckline structured like seashells. In London, she opted for a white number with silver embellishments and a matching headpiece from Miss Sohee. Last but not least, she wore an off-white gown decorated with silver for the Australia premiere.
Now that summer is on the horizon, the mermaidcore trend is set to make waves and we can’t wait to see everyone’s interpretations of it. Scroll on to shop some mermaid-inspired pieces of your own.
Want more like this from Teen Vogue? Check these stories out:
- TikTok's Viral "Doe Eyes Vs. Siren Eyes" Trend As Seen on 5 Celebs
- Ariana Grande's Newest Look Is Peak Fairycore
- Sydney Sweeney Joined TikTok’s Coastal Cowgirl Trend — See Photos
