Fashion dictionary

gorpcore

[gawrp-kawr]

What does gorpcore mean?

Gorpcore is a fashion style centered on utilitarian, outdoor clothing.

Gorpcore fashion focuses on sporty, utilitarian clothing that is designed to be outdoor apparel. Some examples of this kind of clothing include hiking boots, fleece jackets, cargo pants and vests, and beanie hats.

A person making an outfit that adheres to gorpcore fashion may use only utilitarian outdoors wear or may mix this type of clothing with their personal style. Gorpcore fashion takes practical outdoor clothing and turns it into stylish outfits that are worn indoors and in urban settings.

Gorpcore often uses expensive clothing from brands that specialize in outdoor apparel, such as The North Face, Snow Peak, and Arc’teryx.

Example: The photo shoot featured musicians known for gorpcore style.

Where does gorpcore come from?

woman in puff jacket; yellow filter

Gorpcore refers to a fashion style centered on sporty, outdoor clothing. The -core compounding form  is used in the sense of “an aesthetic or imagery that evokes nostalgia for vintage styles, traditional skills, past trends, etc.” The term cottagecore is another example of a word that uses -core in this sense.

Gorp, also known as trail mix, is a snack commonly eaten by hikers and climbers. It is said that gorp stands for “good old raisins and peanuts.” Gorpcore is a fashion aesthetic that incorporates utilitarian clothing often worn by hikers, climbers, and outdoorsy people.

The term gorpcore was coined by writer Jason Chen in a 2017 article for fashion website, The Cut. Chen used the term to make fun of an emerging fashion trend that focused on outdoor apparel, such as puffy jackets and hiking boots. This fashion style remained popular for years afterward, and the term gorpcore became the commonly used name to refer to the fashion aesthetic.

Examples of gorpcore

Can’t help but think the recent uptick in gorpcore is fashion trends evolving based on climate change and the unpredictability of weather conditions.
@vNsNk, January 5, 2023
From cottagecore to athleisure, it’s clear that giving up comfort isn’t a prerequisite for embracing the latest fashion trends. And while gorpcore isn’t completely new, its embrace of baggier silhouettes, color and practicality are all components we can always get behind.
Noelle Ike, CNN, December 5, 2022

Who uses gorpcore?

Gorpcore is a popular fashion aesthetic that is commonly discussed both in the media and on social media.

Just Added

Midwest nice, brat, Earth Day, yassification, ♈ Aries Emoji

Note

This is not meant to be a formal definition of gorpcore like most terms we define on Dictionary.com, but is rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of gorpcore that will help our users expand their word mastery.