Hello lovely,
There is a particular sort of autumn outfit that makes you want to abandon your responsibilities and go and look at an interesting tree. A brown corduroy skirt. A wonderfully woolly cardigan. Boots that can cope with a puddle. Perhaps a little brooch shaped like something usually found underneath a flowerpot. Apparently, this is goblincore. And if you love vintage fashion, some of the clothes might look rather familiar.
In my guide to Poetcore and vintage autumn dressing, we explored how a modern literary aesthetic borrows from decades of tweed jackets, roll necks and beautifully worn leather accessories. Goblincore deserves the same treatment, preferably with a flask of tea and considerably more sensible footwear.
While the name belongs to the internet age, the clothes have some rather lovely vintage connections. Think late 1960s folk fashion, the handmade knitwear of the 1970s, earthy corduroy and those wonderfully eccentric little details that made dressing during the hippie era so interesting. Of course, nobody in 1973 was telling their friends they were dressing goblincore. The connection is one of style and attitude, particularly an appreciation for natural textures, individual expression and clothing that doesn’t have to look perfectly polished. And I rather like that.
What Is Goblincore Fashion?
Goblincore is a modern fashion and lifestyle aesthetic inspired by the less conventionally pretty parts of nature. Mushrooms, moss, frogs, beetles, snails and the sort of curious little objects you might discover on a woodland walk are all welcome. Where some nature inspired fashions favour sunshine, wildflower meadows and picturesque cottages, goblincore is quite happy in the undergrowth.
In 2021, The Guardian explored the growing popularity of goblincore, tracing its development through online communities during the 2010s and its growing visibility around 2020. Its followers were embracing an aesthetic that celebrated the muddy, mossy and occasionally peculiar side of the natural world. The fashion reflects that appreciation for imperfection.
Rather than perfectly coordinated outfits, you’ll find comfortable knitwear, loose layers, earthy colours, secondhand clothes and accessories with botanical or woodland motifs. A typical goblincore outfit might combine brown corduroy trousers, an oversized green cardigan, a patterned shirt and sturdy leather boots. For something more feminine, you could wear a floral midi dress with woollen tights, a chunky cardigan and a little mushroom pendant.
There’s room for a bit of eccentricity. Your cardigan might have mismatched buttons, your skirt could be beautifully faded, and your handbag may have seen better days. That said, you don’t need to dress as a literal goblin to enjoy the aesthetic. Although having pockets full of interesting buttons and refusing uncomfortable shoes sounds like an entirely reasonable way to live.
Which Vintage Era Best Matches Goblincore?
The closest historical fashion comparison is the late 1960s and early to mid 1970s, particularly the folk inspired clothing associated with the counterculture movement. If you look beyond the decade’s glamorous evening dresses, platform shoes and disco fashions, you’ll discover another side of seventies dressing. One that favoured natural materials, handcrafts, secondhand clothing and an interesting mixture of old and new.
The Late 1960s: When Fashion Became More Individual
By the late 1960s, some young people were turning away from conventional fashion and looking towards clothing that expressed their own values and individuality. The counterculture movement encouraged experimentation with vintage clothing, embroidery, patchwork, handmade accessories and textiles borrowed from a wide range of cultural traditions.
The Museum at FIT’s Trend-ology exhibition documents how hippie fashion incorporated reused materials, natural fabrics and folk influences. Clothing could be repaired, altered and personalised rather than simply replaced. Old jeans acquired embroidered flowers. Waistcoats became decorative statements. Handmade garments appeared alongside secondhand finds.
There’s a particularly interesting connection here with goblincore’s appreciation for things that are a little worn or unusual. A beautifully repaired cardigan, for example, feels far more appropriate to the aesthetic than a pristine garment purchased purely because somebody has described it as woodland inspired. Of course, the counterculture had much broader political and social meanings than a contemporary internet fashion trend. Its clothing also drew on traditions from different cultures, sometimes through appropriation. Those histories deserve recognition rather than treating every folk influenced garment as interchangeable. For a closer look at the original movement, have a read of my article on hippie fashion of the 1960s and 1970s.
The 1970s: Handmade Fashion, Natural Fabrics and Folk Dressing
The 1970s provide even more inspiration for a goblincore wardrobe. As environmental awareness grew, some designers and consumers began reconsidering how clothing was made, purchased and worn. The New Zealand Fashion Museum’s exploration of the 1970s fashion revolution documents the growing interest in natural materials, recycled clothing, knitting, weaving, textile printing and appliqué.
Handmade pieces appeared in markets and independent boutiques, while home dressmaking and knitting offered opportunities to create something individual. And the decade certainly wasn’t short of interesting textures. Chunky wool, crochet, suede, corduroy, brushed cotton and embroidered fabrics could all appear in an outfit. These materials offer a wonderful starting point for recreating goblincore today.
The Fashion History Timeline from FIT also documents how early 1970s designers embraced patchwork, crochet, embroidery and knitting, bringing techniques associated with handmade clothing into mainstream fashion. One of my favourite examples of the period’s inventiveness is a late 1970s knitted waistcoat designed by Bill Gibb and Kaffe Fassett, preserved in Aberdeen’s museum collection. The waistcoat was bought from Bill Gibb’s London boutique in 1979 and is a lovely reminder of how important knitwear could be within fashionable dressing. You could borrow the idea today with a patterned knitted vest worn over a plain cotton blouse and brown trousers.
For more examples of the decade’s wonderfully creative knitwear, explore my guide to vintage knitwear through the decades.
What About Victorian and Edwardian Influences?
There is another historical element worth exploring. Goblincore sometimes includes romantic blouses, high necklines, lace, long skirts and small floral prints. These details can give the clothes a slightly old fashioned, storybook quality. Some resemble styles from the Victorian and Edwardian periods, but you don’t need to dress like a nineteenth century botanical illustrator to achieve the effect. The 1970s had already developed a fascination with historical fashion.
The Avenir Museum’s Nostalgia Mode exhibition explains how the decade’s prairie dresses borrowed from nineteenth century styles, particularly through the romantic designs associated with Gunned Sax. These dresses often featured flowing skirts, decorative trims and romantic historical references. For goblincore, I would choose a darker floral dress, perhaps in brown, olive or burgundy, and combine it with substantial knitwear and practical boots.
For cottagecore, the same dress might be styled with a delicate cardigan and pretty shoes. Which brings us rather neatly to the different interpretations of vintage inspired countryside dressing. But first, let’s get the wardrobe sorted.
The Goblincore Colour Palette: Think Woodland Rather Than Wildflowers
The most recognisable goblincore colours are taken from the woodland floor rather than a perfectly arranged flower garden. Brown and green naturally dominate, but there is plenty of room for warmer autumn shades and softer neutrals.
Look for:
- Moss, olive and forest green
- Chocolate, walnut and bark brown
- Rust, burnt orange and muted terracotta
- Mustard, ochre and golden yellow
- Mushroom grey, oatmeal and cream
- Deep burgundy and plum
I particularly like chocolate brown with moss green. Add a little cream around the neckline and suddenly an ordinary pair of trousers and an old cardigan look wonderfully considered. Rust works beautifully too, especially against olive or dark brown. And you don’t have to limit yourself to muted colours. The 1970s certainly didn’t. A patterned waistcoat in mustard, orange and green can look perfectly at home within a goblincore outfit, particularly when paired with otherwise simple clothing.
Texture Matters More Than Colour
One of the easiest ways to make goblincore outfits interesting is to combine fabrics with different surfaces. Take a plain brown skirt. On its own, it is simply a brown skirt. Very nice, but hardly revolutionary. Now add a cream blouse, a cable knit cardigan, ribbed woollen tights and worn leather boots. The different textures give the outfit depth, even though the colours remain quite understated. This is also where vintage clothing has an advantage.
Older garments often feature unusual knitted stitches, decorative buttons, embroidery or fabric combinations that can be difficult to find in contemporary clothing. The V&A’s history of patchwork fashion is particularly interesting here. It explores how patchwork moved from a practical method of using leftover fabric into a fashionable decorative technique during the late 1960s and 1970s. An embroidered patch, carefully repaired elbow or interesting fabric insert can add character to an otherwise ordinary garment. Of course, not every vintage outfit needs seventeen different textures competing for attention. Three complementary fabrics are usually quite enough.
The Vintage Clothes That Make Goblincore Work
1. A Wonderfully Woolly Cardigan
If I were building a goblincore wardrobe from scratch, I would begin with the cardigan. Something soft, comfortable and perhaps a little oversized. Cable knits work beautifully, as do traditional patterned cardigans, flecked wool and interesting textured stitches. A green or brown cardigan is particularly versatile because it can be worn over dresses, shirts, waistcoats and plain tops.
For a seventies inspired look, try a chunky oatmeal cardigan over a floral blouse with straight leg corduroy trousers. If you prefer something slightly more feminine, choose a shorter cardigan with a fitted waist and wear it over a midi skirt. I would also keep an eye out for attractive buttons. Wooden buttons, decorative metal fastenings or something a little unusual can give even the simplest cardigan personality. And don’t dismiss a cardigan because it has been repaired. A good repair can be part of its charm, provided the garment remains structurally sound.
2. Corduroy Trousers, Pinafores and Skirts
Corduroy is one of my favourite fabrics for this aesthetic. Its distinctive ridged texture looks lovely in earthy colours, and it works particularly well with knitted garments. Brown straight leg trousers are perhaps the easiest starting point. They’re comfortable, versatile and can be styled with almost anything. A rust coloured A line skirt also has plenty of potential, especially with a cream jumper and dark tights.
And then there are pinafores. A chocolate brown corduroy pinafore over a fine cream roll neck makes a lovely everyday outfit with a little 1960s influence. Add a chunky cardigan and boots, and you’re moving towards the more relaxed woodland look associated with goblincore. You can find more ideas for mixing corduroy pinafores and knitwear in my guide to layering vintage clothes for autumn. One thing I would avoid is choosing very dramatic flares purely because they’re associated with the 1970s. They can look fabulous, but straight legs or gently flared trousers are often easier to combine with chunky knitwear and practical footwear.
3. A Knitted, Crochet or Embroidered Waistcoat
The knitted waistcoat deserves more attention. It adds texture without the bulk of another jumper, makes an ordinary blouse considerably more interesting and can be surprisingly flattering when you find the right proportions. The 1970s offer plenty of inspiration.
You might choose a geometric knitted vest, an embroidered waistcoat or a crocheted design incorporating several earthy colours. The Knitting & Crochet Guild’s collection includes a wonderful 1970s knitted waistcoat and skirt ensemble in yellow and brown. It’s a lovely example of how decorative hand knitting could become a complete fashionable outfit.
For everyday goblincore, I’d simplify the idea. Wear a brown knitted vest over an ivory blouse, with olive trousers and ankle boots. Or try a little embroidered waistcoat over a dark floral dress. A patterned waistcoat also gives you an excuse to introduce colours you might otherwise struggle to incorporate into your wardrobe.
4. A Floral Blouse or Folk Inspired Dress
Goblincore doesn’t have to mean trousers and oversized jumpers. There is plenty of room for dresses, blouses and softer silhouettes. I would look towards the folk inspired fashions of the late 1960s and 1970s, particularly cotton blouses with gathered sleeves, small floral prints, decorative collars and embroidery. A blouse with tiny rust coloured flowers can look lovely tucked into chocolate brown trousers.
For dresses, I prefer darker florals or subdued botanical patterns. They have a slightly different mood from the pale, romantic prairie dresses associated with cottagecore. A burgundy floral dress with a chunky green cardigan and flat boots, for example, feels suitably woodland inspired without being theatrical. The trick is to let the dress supply the romantic element while the heavier accessories keep everything grounded.
5. Practical Boots and Proper Socks
Footwear can completely change the mood of a goblincore outfit. A floral midi dress with delicate ballet flats might feel romantic and cottagecore. Put the same dress with substantial lace up boots, woollen socks and an oversized cardigan, and suddenly the whole outfit feels more woodland inspired.
I would choose comfortable leather ankle boots, practical lace up styles or sturdy outdoor footwear, depending on where you’re actually going. Brown and dark burgundy leather are particularly lovely with the earthy colour palette. Thick ribbed socks can also become part of the outfit, especially when worn with cropped trousers or a midi skirt.
If you’re buying genuine vintage boots, inspect the soles and stitching carefully before wearing them outdoors. Old adhesives and deteriorating rubber can cause trouble, even when the uppers look perfectly sound. There is nothing remotely charming about discovering your boot has given up halfway through a muddy walk.
6. A Small, Slightly Peculiar Accessory
This is where you can have a little fun. I adore the idea of a beautifully made brooch shaped like a leaf, beetle, flower or woodland animal. A ceramic pendant, embroidered bag or vintage scarf with an unusual print can work just as well.
Personally, I’d choose one interesting accessory rather than covering every available surface with mushrooms. A little gold leaf brooch fastened to a dark green cardigan can look wonderfully understated. And if you’ve already got an assortment of forgotten jewellery tucked away somewhere, have a look through it before buying anything new. My guide to wearing vintage brooches in modern outfits has plenty of ideas for giving those little treasures another outing.
Five Vintage Goblincore Outfits You Can Actually Wear
One of the nicest things about goblincore is that it can be adapted to different occasions. You don’t need to spend your days wandering through a forest to enjoy the clothes. Although, naturally, that’s an option.
The Everyday 1970s Woodland Outfit
Start with brown corduroy trousers and a cream cotton blouse. Add an olive knitted waistcoat and comfortable lace up boots. Finish with a small leather shoulder bag. This is probably the easiest goblincore outfit to recreate because every piece can be worn separately. The combination of brown, cream and green provides the woodland colour palette, while the waistcoat adds the handmade influence. For colder weather, simply add a wool coat or cardigan.
The Romantic Woodland Outfit
For something a little softer, choose a dark floral midi dress with a fitted waist or gentle gathering beneath the bust. Wear it with a chunky chocolate cardigan, burgundy tights and brown ankle boots. A small floral brooch or embroidered handbag would finish the outfit nicely. There is a touch of the 1970s prairie revival here, but the darker colours and practical boots move it away from the more delicate cottagecore interpretation.
The Slightly Bookish Goblincore Outfit
This is where goblincore begins borrowing a few ideas from poetcore. Try a brown tweed skirt, a fine olive roll neck and a long textured cardigan. Add leather loafers or ankle boots and a battered satchel. The outfit has the same earthy colours and interesting fabrics as traditional goblincore, but the slightly smarter pieces give it a more literary character. I rather like the idea of wearing this to a museum, bookshop or café. Somewhere you can admire interesting things without actually having to climb over a fallen tree.
The Practical Woodland Walk
This one is for actually going outside. Choose straight leg jeans or comfortable corduroy trousers with a warm jumper and practical jacket. A knitted scarf, sturdy waterproof boots and a canvas bag finish the look. You can still introduce a little vintage character through a patterned jumper or old wool scarf. Just remember that delicate original vintage clothing isn’t always suited to wet weather, muddy paths or brambles. Save your favourite 1970s blouse for the pub afterwards.
The Vintage Autumn Weekend Outfit
A rust coloured corduroy skirt makes a lovely starting point. Add a cream blouse, a patterned brown and green cardigan, opaque tights and ankle boots. A little botanical brooch finishes everything nicely. This combination is particularly good if you enjoy vintage fashion but want something easy to wear for ordinary weekend activities. Charity shop browsing, coffee with friends, a country pub lunch. All perfectly respectable goblincore pursuits.
Goblincore, Cottagecore, Poetcore and Allotmentcore: What’s the Difference?
This is where things become rather interesting, because so many of the modern “core” aesthetics borrow similar clothes. Corduroy, knitwear, floral dresses, vintage blouses, practical footwear and secondhand accessories appear across several different styles. And you can quite easily move from one aesthetic to another simply by changing your accessories or the way you layer your clothes. The differences often have more to do with the imagined setting, the attitude towards nature and the overall mood than with individual garments.
Goblincore vs Cottagecore: Woodland Rambles or Country Cottage?
Goblincore and cottagecore are probably the closest relatives. Both are inspired by nature, appreciate handmade clothing and often favour comfortable, romantic or vintage influenced garments. But they approach the countryside rather differently.
Cottagecore imagines an idealised rural life filled with wildflowers, homemade bread, gingham tablecloths and pretty gardens. Its clothing tends towards softer colours, delicate floral patterns, flowing dresses, puff sleeves and romantic blouses. The historical connection is particularly strong with the prairie dresses and historical revival fashions of the 1970s, as well as older rural dress traditions. Imagine a cream Gunne Saxe inspired dress with a little floral print, a fine cardigan and dainty shoes. That is very much the romantic cottagecore interpretation.
Goblincore heads towards the woods instead. Its palette is darker, its textures heavier and its accessories rather more unusual. The same floral dress might be worn with a chunky cardigan, brown boots, a moss coloured scarf and a slightly battered leather bag. Cottagecore might inspire you to arrange flowers in a vase. Goblincore is more likely to have you investigating the peculiar little creature living underneath the vase. Both appreciate nature. They simply find beauty in different things.
Goblincore vs Poetcore: Woodland Wanderer or Literary Romantic?
Poetcore shares goblincore’s love of autumn colours, vintage clothing and interesting textures. Brown wool, old leather bags, roll neck jumpers and beautifully worn shoes can work within either aesthetic. The difference comes from the styling. Poetcore is inspired by a romantic image of writers, artists and intellectuals. Its clothes tend to incorporate more tailoring, including tweed blazers, wool trousers, crisp shirts and loafers.
Goblincore is less structured. Where poetcore might combine a brown wool blazer with a black roll neck and leather satchel, goblincore would be more likely to replace the blazer with a chunky knitted cardigan. Both could wear exactly the same corduroy trousers. And both might be found sitting under a tree with a book. The poetcore enthusiast is perhaps more likely to be writing about the tree, while the goblincore enthusiast is inspecting the moss growing on it. If you love the slightly smarter side of vintage autumn dressing, my Poetcore style guide explores those literary influences in more detail.
Goblincore vs Allotmentcore: Woodland Collecting or Practical Gardening?
Allotmentcore is another nature inspired aesthetic, but its focus is rather more practical. The growing popularity of gardening inspired fashion has encouraged renewed interest in dungarees, chore jackets, sturdy cotton trousers, garden clogs, knitted waistcoats and generously sized pockets.
In October 2026, The Guardian explored the rise of allotmentcore, drawing connections with the practical clothing associated with gardening and the appeal of Barbara Good in the 1970s television series The Good Life. And there’s a lovely vintage connection here. While goblincore borrows heavily from the folk fashions and handcraft traditions of the 1970s, allotmentcore can draw on practical rural clothing, gardening garments and everyday workwear. Both styles favour earthy colours, sturdy fabrics and comfortable shoes. But allotmentcore generally feels a little more purposeful. Think cotton dungarees, a striped blouse, an old chore jacket and garden clogs.
Goblincore would take the same trousers, add a textured cardigan and perhaps a mushroom brooch. The distinction is partly about why you are dressed for the outdoors. Allotmentcore suggests you’ve come prepared to plant something. Goblincore suggests you’ve come prepared to discover something. And if you fancy both, there’s absolutely no reason your gardening cardigan can’t double as your woodland wandering cardigan.
Goblincore vs Coastal Grandmother: Earthy Textures or Relaxed Seaside Dressing?
At first glance, coastal grandmother style seems rather different from goblincore. But there is more overlap than you might think. Both styles appreciate comfort, natural looking fabrics, relaxed silhouettes and clothes that can be worn repeatedly. The difference is in the palette and overall finish. Coastal grandmother style became widely recognised in 2022, drawing inspiration from the relaxed wardrobes of characters in Nancy Meyers films. As Vogue’s coastal grandmother fashion guide illustrates, the look favours oversized shirts, comfortable knitwear, sun hats and soft neutral colours. Think cream linen trousers, a pale blue cotton shirt, a beautifully cut cardigan and comfortable loafers. Its vintage references are less tied to one particular decade and more closely associated with enduring casual tailoring, traditional knitwear and relaxed seaside dressing.
Goblincore prefers darker, earthier colours and a slightly less polished appearance. Where coastal grandmother style might pair an oatmeal cardigan with white linen trousers, goblincore would wear that cardigan with brown corduroy. Swap the polished tote for an embroidered canvas bag, introduce a botanical accessory and the mood changes again. One aesthetic suggests a lovely afternoon beside the sea. The other suggests a lovely afternoon beside a suspiciously damp log. Both sound quite appealing, actually.
How to Combine Different Core Aesthetics Without Buying More Clothes
The overlapping styles are particularly useful if you enjoy vintage fashion. You don’t have to commit to an entirely separate wardrobe for every trend that appears online. Imagine you already own a brown corduroy midi skirt, an ivory blouse and a green cardigan.
For goblincore, wear them with sturdy lace up boots and a botanical brooch. For cottagecore, exchange the boots for delicate shoes and introduce a floral scarf. For poetcore, replace the cardigan with a fitted tweed jacket and carry a leather satchel. For allotmentcore, keep the skirt but choose a practical cotton work jacket, substantial shoes and a useful canvas bag. And for a coastal grandmother interpretation, swap the brown skirt for pale linen trousers, wear the blouse with the cardigan loosely draped over your shoulders and finish with simple loafers.
The clothes don’t have to change dramatically. Different proportions, accessories and colour combinations can give familiar garments a completely different character. I think this is one of the best ways to approach modern aesthetics when you already love vintage clothing. A well chosen wardrobe should allow you to experiment, rather than requiring an entirely new collection every time somebody invents another name for wearing a cardigan.
How to Shop for Vintage Goblincore Clothes
If you’re looking for genuine vintage pieces, I would recommend searching by garment rather than relying entirely on the word goblincore. A seller describing something as goblincore doesn’t necessarily mean it is vintage, or that it has any particular historical connection. And once an aesthetic becomes fashionable, ordinary garments can suddenly acquire rather ambitious prices.
Instead, try searching for brown corduroy trousers, 1970s knitted waistcoats, vintage wool cardigans, embroidered cotton blouses, floral midi skirts and traditional knitted vests. If you enjoy dressmaking or knitting, original patterns can also offer a wonderful way to recreate older silhouettes.
Look Beyond the 1970s
Although the 1970s provide the strongest historical inspiration, there’s no reason to limit yourself to that decade. A neat 1940s cardigan could look wonderful with a 1970s floral skirt. A 1960s corduroy pinafore might become the foundation for several different outfits. And a roomy 1980s Aran style jumper could be ideal for colder weather. Even 1990s grunge clothing has a place here, particularly oversized cardigans, floral dresses and chunky boots. The important thing is finding pieces that work together.
Check the Fabric and Condition
Natural fibres often appeal to goblincore enthusiasts because of their texture, but don’t assume that every 1970s garment was made from wool or cotton. Synthetic fibres were enormously popular during the decade, including in knitted clothing. Some genuine vintage cardigans contain acrylic or polyester, and that doesn’t make them any less authentic.
Consider the garment’s condition, how comfortable it feels and whether you’ll actually wear it. Check knitwear for moth damage, thinning fabric and stretched cuffs. With corduroy, inspect the seat, knees and areas where the pile may have worn away. And always check measurements rather than relying on the size printed on an old label.
Don’t Overlook the Charity Shop
I have a particular fondness for the slightly neglected corner of a charity shop where all the odd knitwear seems to end up. You never know what might be lurking there. An interesting cardigan, an embroidered blouse or an unusual brooch can become the foundation for several outfits. There’s also no requirement for every garment to be original vintage. Mixing older pieces with modern basics is often the easiest way to make these styles feel natural.
Can You Wear Goblincore Without Buying Anything New?
Absolutely. In fact, I would encourage you to begin with your existing wardrobe. Find something brown or green, add a textured layer and choose comfortable shoes. Perhaps you’ve already got a knitted cardigan that feels a little too old fashioned for your usual outfits. Try wearing it over a floral dress.
Or maybe there’s a pair of brown trousers you’ve never quite known how to style. Add a cream blouse, boots and an interesting scarf. You might discover that the pieces you were overlooking work beautifully together.
If you’re feeling particularly creative, you could even make a small addition yourself. Replace a missing button with something decorative, embroider a little botanical motif onto a plain pocket or knit a waistcoat using a vintage pattern. Those small details can be more satisfying than buying an entirely new outfit. And they’re rather appropriate for a style that appreciates clothing with personality.
What is goblincore fashion?
Goblincore is a modern fashion aesthetic inspired by woodland nature, particularly mushrooms, moss, insects and other overlooked natural details. Its clothing often features earthy colours, comfortable layers, textured knitwear, practical boots and unusual botanical accessories.
Is goblincore based on 1970s fashion?
Goblincore is a contemporary aesthetic rather than a historical fashion movement. However, late 1960s and 1970s folk dressing offers strong vintage inspiration through handmade knitwear, embroidery, natural fabrics, secondhand clothing and relaxed silhouettes.
What is the difference between cottagecore and goblincore?
Cottagecore generally favours romantic countryside imagery, softer colours, floral dresses and delicate details. Goblincore celebrates the wilder side of nature, with darker earthy colours, heavier textures, practical shoes and unusual woodland motifs. Both can incorporate vintage clothing and handmade pieces.
Can goblincore be feminine?
Of course. A floral midi dress, fitted cardigan, lace blouse or softly gathered skirt can all work beautifully. The woodland influence comes through the colours, textures and accessories rather than requiring a particular silhouette.
What shoes should you wear for goblincore?
Lace up ankle boots, comfortable leather boots and sturdy outdoor shoes are all useful choices. For indoor occasions, loafers or simple flat shoes can work too. Choose footwear that suits the outfit and where you’re actually going.
What vintage clothes are best for goblincore?
1970s knitted waistcoats, corduroy trousers, wool cardigans, folk inspired blouses, floral dresses and decorative brooches are particularly useful. Clothing from other decades can work equally well when styled with earthy colours and textured layers.
Final Thoughts: A Little Woodland Charm Goes a Long Way
I rather like goblincore’s appreciation for the things that don’t always get much attention. The slightly strange brooch. The cardigan with an interesting repair. The muddy colours, unusual textures and old clothes that have developed a bit of personality. And looking back at the late 1960s and 1970s, there’s plenty of historical inspiration for putting together a wardrobe with that same relaxed, individual character.
You can borrow the handmade knitwear, the comfortable separates, the folk inspired blouses and the wonderful variety of materials without attempting to recreate an entire decade. Or committing yourself to life in a mushroom shaped cottage.
The same goes for cottagecore, poetcore, allotmentcore and coastal grandmother style. Each has its own personality, but the clothes themselves can move quite happily between them. A brown cardigan doesn’t know whether you’re heading to a library, an allotment or a woodland walk. It simply wants to be worn.
So have a rummage through your wardrobe, give that slightly eccentric vintage piece another outing and enjoy creating something that feels like you. And if you happen to spot an excellent snail while you’re out, do stop and admire it.
Until next time, stay delightful darling.
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