MENOCORE IS THE NEW NORMCORE... AND I'M IN!
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A post originally from February 2020 but rewritten for 2023 because I will always be here for the concept!
Meno-what-now? Had I not been familiar with the term Normcore and adopted it as the solid foundation of my wardrobe some years ago, I think I would have been somewhat puzzled by this weird new word-hybrid. But having been enlightened in the most glorious way, not only do I recognise and endorse it – I am it! Why so glorious? The interpretation of the word in this Man Repeller piece: “Menocore - the desire to dress like Diane Keaton in Something’s Gotta Give.” I am it – it is me - 100% to my very core. I know… I’m here every night.
You already know that both Diane (we’re on first name terms now) herself and the character of Erica Barry she personifies in my all-time favourite Nancy Meyers movie, are my ultimate midlife women crushes. So, when I read this post by another excellent midlife woman - Alyson from That's Not My Age - about comfort dressing and subsequently discovered the concept of Menocore, I felt dutybound to bring it to your attention. After inhaling Alyson’s post, I went on to read the Man Repeller piece and wondered if I should take umbrage that a bunch of twenty and thirty somethings were advocating a style favoured by menopausal women…and indeed, labelling it as such. I realised this knee jerk reaction was merely a byproduct of the learned response of defensiveness whenever the word menopause entered the conversation. Decades of negative connotations and jokes made by men about this challenging stage in a woman’s life are hard to leave behind but just as Taylor advocates, we must continue to shake it off.
menocore tailoring
And now here is the word menopause being not just being verbalised but actively embraced by a younger generation in a well thought out analogy that places my woman crush in the starring role. No umbrage here. According to the Man Repeller post, Menocore is wanting to live in a lighthouse and dress in “...looks inspired by the aesthetic of a middle-aged woman on a low-key beach vacation… lots of linen, tiny spectacle sunglasses, maybe a bucket hat, cosy knits…”. And the cool older woman correlations don’t stop there. “Unselfconscious cool… a 50-something-year-old woman who doesn’t care what other people think and just wants to be supremely comfortable.” Nailed it, nailed it, nailed it. If you’re reading this as the 2023 updated post, you’ll be aware that this whole mood was recently co-opted by the Coastal Grandmother phenomenon – another midlife mood that came straight from the mouth of twenty-something influencer, Lex Nicoletta. These millennials just can’t keep their hands off our midlife assets can they? Obviously being a real-life Coastal Grandmother myself since about circa 2018, I added my thoughts on this one too.
But back to Menocore - it sums up everything I’d been leaning toward for years but had been unable to condense into one incisive witticism. It’s comfort, fluidity and ease. It’s uncomplicated with a subtle hint at sophistication and a healthy helping of understatement. It allows to me focus on what I’m feeling rather than feeling the clothing on me. Soft folds of comfort are a necessity, not a luxury and shouldn’t be compromised. Bloody hell… Minimal, Relaxed and Effortless is what it is!
Menocore casual
My interpretation of Menocore pertains to a lot more than just style too. It says I know who I am, and I don’t need to explain myself. I don’t have to justify any of my contradictions or juxtapositions - they are what they are and have no need for a stamp of approval. Yes, I know a few things but I’m curious to know a lot more. It’s a vocabulary where “No” has become more important than “Yes” since I’ve realised that time is passing inordinately fast. The ability to sit and do nothing without guilt is an essential skill for the Menocorian woman and the art of ruminating in silence should never be underestimated. Small acts of rebellion are encouraged and life should be lived according to energy and vibe, not a number or the expectations of others. Rules are made to be broken or, at the very least, flouted often. By its very nature, Menocore demands that you find your version and live it exactly how you want to.
So… Menocore… who’s in?
ps – as a result of all my banging on about Menocore these last few years, I made it into a tiny (read: minuscule) portion of this article in The Guardian about what it is to be a devotee of Menocore. Actually, I think they referenced the trousers I was wearing (COS of course & they’re back this season!) more than me but my picture was there nonetheless. Scroll on down to the bottom to see me and my Menocore Trousers on the lefthand side…
WEARING: Wool Hopsack Blazer - ARKET | T-shirt - COS | Bag - [old] ARKET - similar style here | Trousers - ARKET | Boots - Vagabond PHOTOGRAPHY: My Menocore Midlife Wife - Ashley - Lazy Daisy Jones
