The Girly Boom from the Reiwa Era: Explaining "Balletcore," the New Trend Inspired by Ballerinas

Thin ribbons and lace... while being girly motifs, the fashion style "Balletcore" also offers comfort. Gaining popularity slowly from 2022, Balletcore fashion has taken off in earnest this year. Once you step into this world, the fluttering feeling it brings is different from traditional girly fashion.

Where did Balletcore come from? How does it differ from past girly fashion? This time, I would like to explore the Balletcore boom while comparing it to the girly boom of the Heisei era.

The Pioneers are K-POP Idols

Since the beginning of the Reiwa era, trends have been making a comeback, with Y2K fashion becoming prominent. Recently, trends have been flowing from Korea to Japan, and "Balletcore" is one of them.

Balletcore refers to "ballerina-like fashion." It is a portmanteau of "BALLET" and "CORE," and it spread globally around the latter half of 2023.

The boom accelerated when Jennie from K-POP girl group BLACKPINK showcased Balletcore looks on social media at the end of 2022, spreading its charm. Now, it has become a global trend.