FETCH
COLLECTIVE

As spring approaches, yet another viral microtrend is taking the internet by storm. Last year, the mob wife aesthetic, indie sleaze revival, and Brat green came and went through the trend cycle quickly, and it seems this spring’s hyper specific trend is drawing inspiration from the docks.

 

Essentially, “fisherman core” is the toned down, more practical cousin of the quiet luxury, Nancy Meyers-inspired coastal grandmother aesthetic. It has a mostly neutral palette with pops of saturated primary colors, along with nautical inspired graphics and accessories. Slouchy cable knit sweaters and stripes are key, add a worn-in pair of Hunter boots to finish the look. The trend was part of the 2025 Pinterest Predicts forecast, which noted fisherman sandals and sardine tattoos as recently trending searches on the platform. 

 

Brands are already finding ways to cash in on the aesthetic. Boho retailer Free People released a capsule collection featuring their take on fisherman core, including bright bermuda shorts, socks embroidered with tiny fish, and stripes galore. Contemporary brand Staud released multiple new iterations of its viral Tommy beaded bag in nautica- inspired prints, such as a sardine tin design, or “Staudines.” The trend extends past just the fashion industry — tinned fish company Fishwife made eating fish out of a tin cool because of their eclectic packaging. 

 

Like most viral microtrends, social media has played a role in making fisherman core a hot topic. TikTok creator Tayler Gates told InStyle, “Influencers have played with this sort of rugged, coastal trend, but it’s also been fueled by the resurgence of workwear and functional fashion.” 

 

Comfort and practicality are a large part of what made the trend so viral this season, especially when spring weather can be unpredictable. Sydney Stanback, the global trends and insights lead at Pinterest, told Instyle, “We believe that this trend stems from a desire to be both fashionable and practical.” 

 

However, the marketing of the fisherman aesthetic might not be resonating with Gen-Z in the same way Brat and mob wife did. Dressing for comfort is certainly popular among college students — you’re almost more likely to find students wearing pajamas to class than a pair of jeans. But is fisherman core really a trend beyond social media, and are college students actually participating in the trend? Becca Wiedemanis, a sophomore at Syracuse University, feels that the trend will fade pretty quickly. “I don’t see myself buying into it,” she says, “I think it will be oversaturated with how kitschy some of the pieces are, like I wouldn’t wear something with a fish on it everyday.” She added that anyone who does enjoy fisherman core should probably thrift the staple pieces if they don’t have them already, because it seems like another microtrend promoting hyperconsumption. 

 

Fisherman core will most likely follow the path of other microtrends, falling into obscurity after just a few weeks. While some core elements of the trend are definitely staple pieces that can transcend the trend cycle, like the classic cable knit sweater, buying into the kitschy,  aggressively nautical printed pieces and accessories can be a waste of money if it doesn’t seamlessly blend into your personal style. Instead of falling into the overconsumption that accompanies microtrends, a better, more sustainable option can be to embrace the worn-in, practical aspects of the fisherman trend and shop secondhand.