Embrace your inner child with the kidult trend

First seen in street style and occasionally on the runways of avant-garde fashion shows, kidult quickly found its way to TikTok, captivating the attention of thousands of people. Thanks to the current it-girls, this trend is now available in our favorite stores and brands. Dua Lipa, Bella Hadid, and Olivia Rodrigo, among others, blend their bold, Y2K-inspired style with childlike elements, creating a unique and cool look.

Reconnecting with your inner child

Emerging a little bit after the pandemic, the kidult trend (or kidcore) has been studied by several experts. Some argue that reconnecting with our inner child can bring a sense of comfort and security, helping to alleviate the negative consequences that confinement may have had on the majority of the population. Revisiting childhood memories is also a way to recall feelings and experiences from the past that may have been forgotten.

Working on your inner child is an approach used by many therapists around the world. Counselor Geetu Vanjani emphasizes that kidult is a trend that encourages people to express themselves through a sense of curiosity, playfulness, and wonder, which are key elements in connecting with our inner child. Dressing in this spirit leads to feeling (and looking) as carefree as a child and provides a comforting sensation.

A nostalgic aesthetic

Lovers of this new trend, Gen Z has contributed to its popularization in the past two years, especially during the summer season. It is from the memories of this very generation that kidult draws its inspiration: emojis, vibrant colors, cartoon characters, video game characters, and stickers take center stage. Gender-neutral and conducive to self-expression, kidult can be adopted in various ways and can adapt to any style of clothing. T-shirts, hoodies, pants, and skirts are adorned with graphic and playful motifs such as teddy bears, hearts, kitschy prints, naive sketches, and light slogans. In short, the goal is to have fun with the colors of the rainbow, as well as bold details, to honor the second syllable of the word kid-ult.

In the Spring-Summer 2023 collections, the trend was spotted at Chopova Lowena, EGONlab, and even Louis Vuitton. Many play with the duality of child/adult by adding more mature elements and incorporating them into streetwear and punk-influenced looks. Quebec brands like Ronron.club and Stay Soft have also seized the opportunity and introduced kidult into their summer collection.

Putting it all on accessories

How to rock the kidult trend without too much hassle? By adding jewelry and accessories. Whether it's plastic rings you wore when you were 10 or a pendant necklace you recently purchased, anything that reminds you of your childhood will do. Recently, DIY fans have started making multicolored plastic bead bracelets and necklaces. Well, this summer is the perfect time to bring them out. This time, we're adding pendants of all sizes and shapes to create a truly unique piece of jewelry. We're also seeing a growing trend of layering necklaces, bracelets, and rings because why make a choice when you can wear them all! As for materials, metal, acetate, or any other type of plastic are stealing the spotlight.

A kidult-inspired outfit isn't complete without hair accessories. Highly popular during the 2000s, oversized scrunchies and hair clips are making a major comeback. Opt for vibrant colors like the ones from the brand EXÙ. Nail art also lends itself well to the kidult trend, with the addition of 3D stickers, emojis, and glitter.

A Kidult Decor

Kidult has become more than just a fashion trend and has expanded into interior decoration and entertainment. Since the purchase of vintage items has become a popular phenomenon in society, demand for video games, comics, and other childhood games from the 80s, 90s, and 2000s has been on the rise. Several brands have also reissued their games from over 20 years ago… they understand that nostalgia sells well.

When it comes to decor, the focus is on colorful cushions and objects shaped like hearts, clouds, or cute animals. It's also the perfect opportunity to bring out your old comic book, Hello Kitty, or Pokémon posters to bring some joy to your apartment. The most dedicated even add old arcade machines to their decor. The kidult effect is guaranteed!