Normcore Aesthetic: 24 Unboring Everyday Outfits

Do you like to dress stylish and trendy, but you don’t like to stand out? You’re not a fan of statement pieces, and you rather feel your best when wearing “average” clothes? Normcore might just be the perfect style aesthetic for you!

But what is normcore exactly? Isn’t it just another word for minimalism? While normcore and minimalism look very similar, they are not completely identical. Minimalism focuses on high-quality, timeless essentials, and classic silhouettes. In the meantime, normcore puts more emphasis on comfort and includes more on-trend pieces.

But of course, there’s some overlap between the two aesthetics and it’s very rare that someone dresses in one single, distinctive style all the time.

Check out these outfits below and decide for yourself if normcore is for you or not!

1. White Top + Beige Wide-Leg Pants

You can never go wrong with a white and beige combo. But don’t be afraid to add some interesting accessories either!

Photo: @sprin_g1day

2. Sweater + Sweatpants + Birkenstocks

Grab your favorite cozy day essentials, everything in black! Maximize comfort, minimize the time to get ready!

Photo: @chloe.kian

3. Oversized Sweater + White Shirt

Layer your white shirt under an oversized sweater for an effortlessly cool look! Dress it up or down with your accessories depending on your mood!

Photo: @__htm.i_

4. Sweater Vest

The sweater vest has been one of the biggest trends this year, and it quickly became a normcore staple. Stick to basic colors and simple patterns to fit the minimalist aesthetic.

Photo: @trulyleesh

5. Quirky Tote Bag

Tote bags are practical, lightweight, and you can use them to spread a positive message. Use them wisely!

Photo: @carolyn.lorraine

6. Sweater + Jeans

There’s probably nothing I like more for autumn than a sweater and jeans combo. Especially for people who have mastered the front tuck!

Photo: @littlerivermama

7. White Shirt + Shorts

White shirts are staples in a minimalist/normcore wardrobe. You can even wear them in warm weather with shorts, and they’ll look as cool as ever.

Photo: @jessica.harumi

8. Loose-Fit Outfit + Fine Accessories

I’m glad that in recent years we’ve learned to embrace comfort again. If you want to stay chic wearing comfy, loose-fit outfits, you can add some fine jewelry, and a chic handbag to elevate your look.

Photo: @vibiskuss

9. White T-Shirt + Jeans

When in doubt, put on a white tee, a pair of jeans, and some accessories that fit your current mood. This outfit formula never fails!

Photo: @karinemilyblog

10. Overshirt

Layer an overshirt over your casual outfit for some extra style points!

Photo: @senaaafi

11. Sweater Over Your Shoulder

Transitional weather can be difficult to dress for, it’s too warm to wear a sweater during the day, but the evenings are already quite chilly. Draping a sweater over your shoulder could easily fix this problem and make you look effortlessly cool at the same time!

Photo: @hersimplesole

12. Tank Top + Washed Jeans

Another foolproof outfit idea for those days when you “have nothing to wear”. Stick to high-end accessories for a more put-together look!

Photo: @lizzyhadfield

13. Trench Coat + White Shirt + Sneakers

White shirts are a reoccurring theme in this post. Here’s another stylish way to implement them into your everyday looks.

Photo: @kompletepackage

14. White Shirt + High-Waist Pants + Gold Jewelry

For a fancier, French-girl loo, match your white shirt with high-waisted pants and gold jewelry.

Photo: @pa0lamarie

15. Cozy Sweater + Cropped Pants + Edgy Boots

The minimalist style mixes well with almost any other aesthetic. You can easily add some personality with statement footwear. Just make sure to keep the colors coordinated!

Photo: @mademoisellejaime

16. Blazer + Sneakers

Upgrade your white tee + jeans combo with a well-tailored blazer and a comfy pair of jeans!

Photo: @jenknowsbestblog

17. Denim Jacket

A denim jacket is a fall staple for most of us. And it goes well with everything.

Photo: @alicecatherine

18. White Shirt + Jeans + Chunky Boots

We love this edgy, minimalist look anytime, anywhere!

Photo: @teodora.chiorean

19. White T-Shirt + Jeans + Converse

If you find quality essentials that fit well, you will look put-together even in the most common basics!

Photo: @tayund

20. Pantsuit

Try matching a pantsuit with a T-shirt and a pair of sneakers for a girlboss-off-duty vibe!

Photo: @lineifrederiksen

21. White Shirt + Sweater Vest

Another stylish normcore way to wear your white T-shirt this year is by layering it under a cozy sweater vest.

Photo: @theconsciousbrunette

22. Cropped Jeans + Pointed Toe Ballet Flats

Some variations of the essential ballerina flats are always in style. If you want to elongate your legs, opt for pointed-toes, and wear them with cropped jeans!

Photo: @caitlinmiyako

23. Hoodie + Jeans + Sneakers

Another classic normcore outfit for days when you just want something comfortable. A great fit is key here as always, and there’s still some room to play with different accessories.

Photo: @pkdoeslife

24. Quality Over Quantity

The main takeaway of minimalist style is that sometimes less is more. Find the high-quality items that look great on you and you feel comfortable in, and wear them for many years. Dressing up in the morning doesn’t have to be difficult if you love all your clothes!

Photo: @popacrii

Shop the look (or DON’T)

Now that you’ve looked at all these pretty inspo images and maybe decided that normcore is going to be your new norm, your first instinct probably tells that you NEED TO shop for some new clothes. But do you, really?

Let’s take a step back and explore some alternative ways to recreate these outfits without the impulse purchases you might end up regretting later!

Shop your wardrobe first: the most sustainable (and cheapest!) clothes are the ones you already own. Is there a long-forgotten item in there you could use to recreate these outfits instead of buying something new? Who knows, maybe you’ll fall back in love with that old item again. Fashion is cyclical after all!
Upcycle: could you give a new life to one of your old pieces of clothing? You can easily learn to modernize your new old clothes by watching a few YouTube tutorials!
Borrow or swap: does one of your friends or anyone in your family already own something you’d like to have but they never wear it? Why not just ask to borrow it, or offer to swap for something of yours?

Rent: not sure you want to commit to a specific item or a style for the long term? You can easily figure it out by renting it first! With clothing rental subscriptions at Nuuly or Rent the Runway, you can switch up your style each month without purchasing a single thing! But if you fall in love with something, you can always decide to buy it for keeps.
Shop second-hand: buying second-hand is more sustainable and cheaper than buying new. Try Vestiaire Collective, our current favorite online pre-loved fashion marketplace, or check out this post: The 30 Best Online Thrift Stores, Vintage Shops & Second-Hand Marketplaces

If you still want to buy something new, we’ve found a few sustainable, ethical, and vegan items we think would help you recreate the outfits from this post! For mindful, and long-lasting purchases, here are a few questions to ask yourself before shopping: