What the heck is gorp core?

Good ol’ raisins and peanuts…

BEAUTYcrew Beauty Editor / June 08 2022

As far as trends go, we always seem to find ourselves reigning in outlandish motifs that make perfect sense on runways, the red carpet or TikTok, but lack the realism necessary for the everyday.

We’re still trying to figure out how to pull off the fairycore trend, TBH.

But in some strange twist of fate, we’re calling in a new energy that’s far more functional than it is dramatic. 

Gorp core is the most talked about trend of 2022 as far as fashion is concerned and its minimalist, utilitarian and uber functional take on dressing has spilled over into our beauty routines. 

The name ‘gorp’ is an acronym for ‘good ol’ raisins and peanuts’ AKA trail mix (or scroggin if you’re so inclined), and it serves as a subtle nod to the hiking street style aesthetic that gorp core is characterised by. Think: shell jackets, cargo pants, puffer jackets, and hiking trainers.

Brands like The North Face, Patagonia, and Salomon must be loving life right now…

But what about gorp core beauty?

The gorp core beauty aesthetic is all about functionality and minimal, natural makeup. 

Fresh-faced beauty is the name of the game, but we’re also working smarter, not harder. Just like the exxy yet functional fashion pieces synonymous with the style, gorp core beauty is all about investing your time and money in the right places. 

That means skin care that promotes a unified complexion (see ya later foundation), lash lifts, tints and natural-looking extensions in lieu of mascara and falsies, and full, fluffy brows that are laminated or manicured to perfection by a pro, so only a lick of clear brow gel is required when it comes to styling.

How about hair?

Well, that all depends on the day really. 

Loose, natural texture is king, but if a bad hair day hits, hats such as beanies and buckets are acceptable. 

Updos are also everywhere in gorp core (but is that surprising for a trend that prioritises functionality above all else?). From scraped back high ponytails to bubble braids, and flicky buns (made popular at the MTV movie awards) secured with claw clips, there’s a lot of wiggle room for interpretation of gorp core tresses.

@louisameng_

@ngc1961

@jorjasmith_

As for accessories?

Besides the aforementioned abundance of hats, big sunglasses with a sporty edge will keep you looking on-trend on the days you can’t bare to share your face with the world. And over-ear headphones are basically the unofficial gorp core version of a headband. Trust us.

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@leahabbott_

@lirisaw

Need a step-by-step on this lowkey style? This is Hailey Bieber’s makeup tutorial for that ‘clean girl’ look. 

Main image credit: @bellahadid

Briar Clark got her start in the media industry in 2017, as an intern for Marie Claire and InStyle. Since then, her keen interest in fashion and beauty has landed her gigs as a Digital Content Producer and Beauty Editor with titles like Girlfriend, Refinery29, BEAUTYcrew and beautyheaven. She loves the way seemingly innocuous topics like skin care and style have the ability to put a smile on people’s faces or make them think about themselves a little differently. A big believer in self love and experimentation, Briar has made a point of becoming the Australian beauty industry’s unofficial guinea pig for unusual treatments and daring hair trends. When she’s not testing out the latest beauty launches, Briar is big on broadening her horizons, mostly in the form of food but she’s also partial to travelling to new destinations both near and far (and of course, allocating an extra bag to bring their best beauty offerings home with her).