Mermaidcore: Do You Wish You Could Be Part of This World?

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Carolyn Howell

Last Updated: Jun 28, 2024

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Mermaidcore is making a big splash with an aesthetic that’s perfect for the summer! Reveal your inner mermaid and be part of the mythical undersea world. 

Let’s take a deep dive into the under-the-sea-inspired fashion trend!

What Is Mermaidcore?

What is mermaidcore? The trend is all about taking the mermaid vibe out of the sea. Unlike The Little Mermaid’s Ariel, girls embracing the trend would love to switch their feet for a shimmering tailfin.

Beach-inspired looks have always been a fashion staple, year in and year out, regardless of the season. But mermaidcore takes the aesthetic to another level, taking on a fantastical and lustrous vibe. It also incorporates tropical elements, channeling a chill and chic style. 

The trend offers many ways to achieve an under-the-sea maiden look. You can go bold with shimmering, aqua-inspired makeup and stick-on pearls, or go subtle with beach waves, a loose-knit dress or top, and shell accessories. 

The style is perfect for the summer, but you can get away with the mermaid look year-round. Copy Halle Bailey’s the live-action Ariel’s mermaid looks. Get ready to jump, dance, and stroll down the (what’s that word again?) street in your best mermaid outfit!

How To Achieve the Mermaidcore Aesthetic

Mermaidcore is no longer just a fashion subculture. Thanks to social media, you’ll find tons of content showing you countless variations of the mermaidcore aesthetic. 

There are many ways to achieve the aesthetic. You can choose warm sunset tones. Build a wardrobe with ocean-inspired hues. Or go all-in with shimmering fabrics, shiny embellishments, iridescent makeup, and a wet-hair look.

The mermaid aesthetic can take many forms. It’s free-flowing, allowing you to interpret the look any way you want. Your aesthetic can be about effortless beauty, or it can be about glitz and glamor. Go for serene, summertime beach vibes. Let the rich colors of underwater life inspire you. Choose a style that best suits your personality and build your wardrobe accordingly! 

A woman in a mermaid costume lies in shallow waters at the beach.

Mermaidcore Fashion Essentials

If you’re an aspiring fashion influencer, adding mermaid looks to your repertoire will definitely help you stand out! Once you select the mermaidcore fashion you like, you can start putting together your fashion essentials! Here are some themes you can try:

  • Capture the essence of the sea. Collect your own treasure trove of whozits and whatzits galore — representing the riches of the sea. Stock up on pearl and seashell accessories. Wear sequined tops or skirts to mimic iridescent scales or loosely crocheted outfits. Choose opalescent makeup to capture the water’s natural shimmer. 
  • Wear the colors of the ocean. Wrap yourself in oceanic hues, like deep blues, turquoise, aqua, and seafoam green. Pick fabrics, clothes, and makeup palettes in any of these colors. Opt for serene, muted tones, or mesmerize like a sea maiden with pearlescent or sparkly makeup in blues or greens.
  • Flow with the waves. Achieve the wavy aesthetic with loose curls and pearls in your hair. Wear cascading layers of sheer fabrics that mimic the movement of the water or flowy, lightweight maxi dresses. 

A hand covered in silver glitter holds a shell with a pearl in it.

Mermaidcore Outfits for Everyday Wear

If you enjoy following fashion trends on social media, you’ll appreciate the unique aesthetic of mermaidcore. If you need more styling help, Here are ten mermaidcore outfits and style inspos:

  1. Loose, crochet top in sea foam green and a seashell clutch or handbag. Complete the look with denim cut-offs and flip-flops for a beachy vibe. If you can find seashell-adorned sandals, you’re golden!
  2. A long loose-knit top paired with your swimsuit. You can DIY pearl embellishments or sequins on your knitted topper to add sparkle to your look. 
  3. Bikini top or tube top with scalloped edges. Pair this with a sheer, flowy skirt, and wear your hair in soft waves. Finish the look with pearl earrings. 
  4. Iridescent halter top with skin-tight jeans or a pair of daisy dukes. Get the wet-hair look and let your inner water nymph shimmer with matching opalescent makeup. 
  5. Aqua or deep blue drapey dress. Find a body-hugging dress with uneven layers. Wear white sandals and seashell jewelry or gold hoop earrings.
  6. Strings of pearls of different lengths over a tube bikini top. Wear a sarong or wrap-around skirt. Easily switch looks by taking off the pearls. 
  7. Chunky starfish bracelet. Or find any under-the-sea-inspired chunky jewelry, preferably in gold. These accessories go well with simple outfits, like a body-hugging white or pale pink knit dress.
  8. Sequined camisole paired with white skinny jeans. Wear your hair in messy waves or a sleek ponytail.
  9. Long, shimmery dress in silvery blue or aquamarine to help you achieve the quintessential mermaid silhouette. Wear chunky earrings and your hair in a tight bun. Match your makeup palette with your dress’ hue.
  10. Reflective crop top paired with black or white pants. Alternatively, you can opt for a long, metallic trumpet skirt paired with a plain tube top. 

A woman in a long, white skirt and loose, white blouse stands on some rocks by the water.

Mermaid Visuals To Incorporate Into Your Aesthetic

We immediately associate certain visuals with mermaids and the sea. Incorporate the following visuals into your look, whether as fabric prints, palette inspo, or actual items, to suit your merfolk mood:

  • Smooth, shiny, and iridescent blue, green, purple, or pearl color.
  • Waves
  • Bubbles
  • Ripples
  • Seafoam
  • Fish scales
  • Fishtails
  • Shells
  • Pearls
  • Coral

You also don’t have to limit yourself to the Disney- or mermaid Barbie-inspired look. Disney’s Ariel and the mermaids in the movies Splash and Aquamarine represent a hyper-feminine character. You can opt for the dark, fierce, or hostile aesthetic of the mythological sirens. 

In Greek mythology, sirens were half-bird, half-women creatures that lured sailors to destruction with their enchanting siren song. Later, they took the half-fish, half-woman form in the artworks of the Middle Ages. But they retained the original sirens’ wicked intent. 

The siren aesthetic favors gloomy hues, such as dark blues, teals, black, and off-whites. As merfolk, they often look scary and sinister. The sirens in The Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and The Lady in the Water are good examples. Use the following visuals for a siren aesthetic inspo:

  • Gray or dark blue fish scales
  • Translucent and more web-like fins
  • Elliptical amphibians’ eyes
  • Shark teeth
  • Bird-like claws

Top Mermaidcore TikTok Creators and Content To Check Out

Do you follow tons of beauty influencers? If you want to dive deeper into mermaidcore, these top TikTok creators and content are worth checking out!

  • @mermaidaqualina is the founder of @mauimermaidschool in Maui, Hawaii. She’s a professional mermaid, spending most of her days in water splashing around in different, beautifully designed mermaid tails. She does tons of stunning underwater photoshoots and videography. 
  • @meremeliana is a “Mermaid soul from another dimension,” as her bio states. She shares lots of mermaid-inspired fashion, usually in serene beach settings. 
  • @thisartperson’s #mermaidhair video will teach you a number of exquisite hairstyles to help complete your siren look.
  • @mermaidsirenity is a mermaid content creator with over three million followers on TikTok. She shows off her impressive swimming and free-diving skills and, of course, her collection of gorgeous mermaid tails. 
  • @floralfay’s seashell accessory hack is a must-know for all mermaids on land out there!
  • This mermaid hair tutorial from @matchalattefrio is another must-watch if you want to create an authentic mermaid look. 
  • @endi.nails’ mermaid nails tutorial may be tricky, but watching the video will inspire you enough to give it a try!
  • Check out @isabellrrose’s mermaidcore makeup tutorial to achieve that sultry siren look.
  • Here’s another video featuring the wavy mermaid hairstyle, featuring @Sam Talu using Sephora’s hair waver. 
  • Check out @mejuri’s collection of mermaidcore jewelry to complete your aesthetic! 

A woman in a mermaid costume swims underwater.

Ready To Ride the Mermaid Trend?

The mermaid trend used to come and go as the summer season fades in and out. But the growing mermaidcore community on social media has made sure that it’s here to stay. If you’ve always merely waded in the shallows of this subculture and aesthetic, now’s the perfect time to make a big splash with your own mermaidcore content!

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Find your merfolk kin faster. Start growing your TikTok today!

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