Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, the circus is back in town once more. It's eye-catching, it's eccentric, it's contentious - make way for clowncore to take centre stage. Vibrant colours, striking patterns and extravagant accessories are all on show, inspired by circus performance costumes whose pretty distinct look has made quite the statement.

Playfully juggling the weird with the wonderful, clowncore is uninhibited maximalism - a world away from the clean-girl and balletcore aesthetics. The style celebrates a desire for individuality and fun, as followers seek lighthearted self-expression without conformity, revelling in bright colours, bold designs and the theatrical elements synonymous with the tag. So farewell to minimalist ensembles, soft palettes and elegant simplicity. Clowncore has stolen the show with its unapologetic audacity in showing off our authentic selves.

Image Credit: Ingo Ellerbusch from Unsplash

For some, however, circus inspired outfits are just a tad too bold and unconventional. Critics contend that the look is excessive, perhaps even tacky, with some believing that it undermines the seriousness of fashion as an art form. On top of that, clowns can often be perceived as frightening and unpredictable. Most of us are familiar with the psychotic character of Pennywise and the tragic yet chaotic story of the Joker, so it's unsurprising that this fashion choice could prove visually unappealing and also rather unsettling to some degree.

Clearly, opinions are once again split, so here's my take on what clowncore fashion actually has to offer:

Functionality

Functionality may be rated pretty low on the priority list when it comes to clowncore. Chunky shoes and oversized pantaloons lack the practicality to get you comfortably through a busy day. These pieces aren't exactly made with movement in mind so might not work for those with active lifestyles.

On the other hand, the circus aesthetic could also incorporate elements such as coloured stockings, clashing prints and frilled garments to subtly embrace the trend in a way that doesn't inhibit our day to day. It could be as simple as grabbing vibrant attire you already own and experimenting with unique and quirky combinations. For example, babydoll dresses, which seem perpetually in style, could be worn as a base on which to layer features central to the trend.

Image Credit: Greg Rosenke from Unsplash

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Versatility

At first glance, clowncore's vivacity exudes an all-or-nothing feel. In fact, the trend can actually be styled in a way that is far from the typically ostentatious looks. Styling and layering the basics in vivid colours and choosing features like stripes, polka dots, ruffles or stars are ideal in bringing a pop of circus fun to what we wear. Slight changes like these can be just as effective as entire ensembles in evoking the childish joy and nostalgia synonymous with clowncore.

Obviously the flamboyance of full on clowncore might not work for everyday wear, but with thoughtful consideration the theatricality of these outfits could easily have a place at an artsy event, themed get-together, or birthday party.

Affordability

Most of us may not already own clowncore-esque pieces, but second-hand or vintage would be good options without a big splurge. When perusing charity shops, I always see a pick and mix of unique and characterful clothes, that are both true to the aesthetic and kind to our pockets.

A nice feature of the trend is that it expands from just what we wear into makeup territory. While the aesthetic overemphasises features with pencil-thin eyebrows, striking eyeliner and heart-shaped red lips against a white facial base, again a less extreme version can be conjured up. Back in 2019, Dior's couture circus presented a classy take on this with rings of noir eyeliner fashioned into pointed teardrops matched with pale lip shades. Its simplicity means we only need a couple of products at our fingertips to recreate this look with its almost timeless feel.

Image Credit: Rosa Rafael from Unsplash

Sustainability

It seems the level of sustainability depends on the choices we make when styling clowncore. The ostentatious flair may be linked to fast fashion whose cuts and colours come and go rapidly. Combining with affordability, sustainability can be bolstered by DIY-ing it or rifling through what you have already to create an inventive juxtaposition. Go with what doesn't work and have fun with it!

The makeup, like with any look, could come from brands with poor practices. While cost and quality is often a balancing act, opting for brands which are cruelty-free, vegan or packaged with eco-friendly materials ups the sustainability factor here.

So, In or Out?

Unfortunately, I'm out on this one. The clowncore aesthetic has surfaced many times in the past so has clearly proven to be inspirational in the fashion world. For me, however, I'm not sure whether the aesthetic has grown enough to become hugely mainstream, which is personally how I see a trend emerging. I'm all for the fun and freedom of self-expression at its heart, but in my opinion, the style walks the tightrope of eccentricity a little too precariously.

So, are you in or out?