Highsnobiety
Double Tap to Zoom

-Core is a descriptor, first and foremost. It’s a vibe. The suffix originated in the 1950s, when the US Supreme Court tried to delineate the boundary between “hardcore porn” and sexually suggestive art. The distinction was appropriated in the 1970s by an emerging subgenre of punk that wanted to position itself at the hard “core” center. The vanguard. In recent years, -cores have proliferated wildly. Think Metalcore. Normcore. The contentious cottagecore.

The creation of -cores has stakes. They not only help identify unspoken collective experiences, but announce one’s position in relation to them. Hardcore only began to have stakes when it was able to recognize itself: “This is hardcore. That is not hardcore.” With the speed of 21st century communication, identifying -cores has become a new way to direct culture. What follows is a seven-part manual for understanding them.

Experience the full story and others in HIGHStyle, a print magazine by Highsnobiety available on newsstands and the Highsnobiety shop now.

We Recommend
  • Paul Mescal Likes His Knits Like He Likes His Shorts: Teeny-Tiny
    • Style
  • This Fall, The Hottest Store Is Your Grandpa’s Wardrobe
    • Style
  • I Like Big Totes and I Cannot Lie
    • Style
  • Luxury Fashion Looks Like Luxury Fashion Again. Is That a Good Thing?
    • Style
  • After John Cena Jorts Come Michael Jordan Jeans
    • Style
What To Read Next
  • These "Denim" Nike Air Force 1 Shoes Are Actually a Deliciously Faded Leather
    • Sneakers
    • sponsored
  • This Ain't Your Halbae's Marithé + François Girbaud
    • Style
  • Under Armour Is a Japanese Streetwear Brand Now
    • Style
  • Vans' Most Classic Skate Sneaker as Its Most Luxurious
    • Sneakers
  • Moncler Ēquipements: Daily Drivers Perfected By Salehe Bembury (EXCLUSIVE)
    • Sneakers
  • This Isn’t a Suede Stone Island Jacket, It’s a Technical Marvel
    • Style