If you’re a fan of mushrooms, and not only as food, then goblincore – the fashion trend of the moment – just may be for you.

From social networks to e-commerce platforms, clothes and accessories drawing on this movement seem to have been gaining followers for several months now. Goblincore focuses on the integration of elements from nature, more specifically from the forest – elements until recently neglected for their not very appetising appearance or symbolism.

Imagine yourself in the middle of a forest, preferably at night during autumntime, in a setting that fills you with both fear and awe. That’s what you should feel when you think of goblincore, which The Guardian associates with the words “chaos”, “dirt” and “mud”.

This translates into a multitude of patterns, prints and even embroidery, as well as decorative objects, featuring mushrooms, moss, frogs, toads, snails, elves, earthworms, bones and even animal skulls.

It’s a long way away from rhinestones and sequins, but it is precisely this celebration of imperfection, and this willingness to pay less attention to one’s appearance, that seems to be winning over consumers.

The colours are anything but flashy. There’s black and white, but also those inspired by nature and the earth – green, brown, beige, dark red – as well as natural materials. The trend is also for loose pieces and layering. In other words, dress to go on an adventure, and not to the last party of the season in Mykonos.

The trend has been continuing to grow since the pandemic. On TikTok alone, the hashtag #goblincore has more than 510 million views, while #goblincoreaesthetic counts 25 million. Platforms like Pinterest and Etsy are also reporting a rise in searches.

Goblincore is not only associated with fashion and interior design. There is also the hashtag #goblincoremakeup on TikTok – with nearly 8,500 views – which highlights coloured and dishevelled hair, smoky eyes, and elf ears… a trend that could become even bigger in the next few months.