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Fashion: Chinese Gen Z is dressing like desserts

Why it is the topic trending:

  • Unique and Visually Appealing Trend: The concept of drawing fashion inspiration directly from desserts is novel and creates visually striking aesthetics, making it interesting and shareable.

  • Cultural Insight into Chinese Gen Z: The trend offers a glimpse into the preferences and cultural influences shaping the fashion choices of young consumers in China.

  • Connection to Food Culture: The trend highlights the strong link between food and other forms of cultural expression, like fashion.

  • Social Media Driven: The article emphasizes the role of photo-sharing apps like Xiaohongshu in the rise and dissemination of this trend.

  • Emergence of a New Aesthetic: The introduction of "Lulicore" or "可露丽风" as a distinct style inspired by canelé desserts is a new development in fashion trends.

Overview:

The article discusses a burgeoning fashion trend among Chinese Gen Z where they are taking inspiration from visually appealing desserts to style their outfits. This trend is prominently featured on Chinese photo-sharing apps and is exemplified by the rise of "Lulicore," an aesthetic inspired by the French canelé dessert. Lulicore is characterized by a muted color palette of pink, blue, yellow, and green, often paired with brown, evoking a soft, feminine, and somewhat "old-money" feel. The trend marks an evolution from previous minimalist styles and is also influenced by the color palettes of other popular desserts like Dubai chocolate. Social media plays a crucial role in the trend's emergence and provides a platform for sharing these "delicious" fashion looks. The article also explores the potential underlying motivations for this trend, suggesting a connection to seeking comfort and nostalgia in a challenging economic climate.

Detailed Findings:

  • Dessert-Inspired Aesthetics: Chinese Gen Z is styling outfits based on the visual appeal of desserts.

  • Rise of Lulicore ("可露丽风"): A new style aesthetic drawing inspiration from the French canelé dessert.

  • Canelé Inspiration: Characterized by a muted color palette of pink, blue, yellow, green, and brown, aiming for a soft and feminine "old-money" look.

  • Evolution of Maillard Trend: Lulicore is seen as an evolution of the brown-focused minimalist Maillard trend from 2023.

  • Dubai Chocolate Influence: The pistachio green and brown color palettes of Lulicore also resemble those of the popular Dubai chocolate dessert.

  • Miu Miu's Role: The brand's Spring 2025 collection featuring browns paired with baby pinks and blues is highlighted as a driver of the Lulicore trend.

  • Pantone's Color of the Year: Mocha Mousse was named Pantone's color of the year, pointing to the growing demand for "sweet treat" dressing in 2025.

  • Social Media as Incubator: Photo-sharing apps like Xiaohongshu (RedNote) and visually-driven platforms like Instagram and TikTok are key for the trend's growth.

  • Emotional Response to Economic Landscape: The trend might be a response to a tough financial climate in China, with Gen Z gravitating towards comforting, nostalgic, or playful colors.

  • Visual Comfort Food: Soft, creamy hues are seen as evoking childhood memories and simpler times, while vibrant hues bring optimism.

  • Social Media Marketing Opportunity: The trend presents a significant opportunity for brands to engage with Gen Z through visually appealing and emotionally resonant content.

  • Brand-Led Food Experiences: Luxury brands are increasingly utilizing cafés, afternoon teas, and product collaborations to create branded, sensory experiences in China.

  • Deeper Consumer Psychology: The trend suggests that young people in China are seeking comfort in 2025, blending lifestyle choices with their wardrobes to transform outfits into "sweet indulgences."

Key Takeaway:

The key takeaway is that Chinese Gen Z is embracing a unique fashion trend called "Lulicore" that draws direct inspiration from the visual aesthetics of desserts like canelé and Dubai chocolate, utilizing a muted pastel and brown color palette to express soft femininity and potentially find comfort and nostalgia in a challenging economic environment, with social media platforms acting as the primary driver and showcase for this visually-driven style.

Main Trend:

The Blurring Lines Between Food and Fashion Aesthetics in Social Media Culture: This trend describes the increasing phenomenon where visual characteristics of food, particularly aesthetically pleasing desserts, are directly influencing fashion trends and personal style, driven by the highly visual nature of social media platforms and the desire for shareable and emotionally resonant content.

Description of the Trend:

The "Blurring Lines Between Food and Fashion Aesthetics in Social Media Culture" trend highlights a growing synergy between the culinary and fashion worlds, particularly within the realm of online visual culture. Social media platforms, with their emphasis on visually appealing content, have created an environment where the artistic presentation of food, especially desserts, resonates deeply with users. This resonance is now extending beyond appreciation for the food itself and is actively inspiring fashion choices, with individuals adopting color palettes, textures, and even the overall "feel" of photogenic desserts in their clothing and styling. This trend reflects a desire for visually harmonious and emotionally evocative self-expression, where the joy and comfort associated with certain foods are translated into wearable art.

What is Consumer Motivation (Detailed Description):

Chinese Gen Z is motivated by this trend due to:

  • Visual Appeal: The photogenic nature of desserts translates well into visually appealing fashion aesthetics.

  • Self-Expression: Color is used as a form of self-expression, with food-inspired shades offering a unique palette.

  • Nostalgia and Comfort: Soft, creamy hues evoke feelings of comfort, childhood memories, and simpler times, which is appealing in the current climate.

  • Playfulness and Optimism: Vibrant hues bring a sense of cheerfulness and optimism.

  • Social Media Engagement: The trend is highly photographable and shareable, fitting well with the online culture of platforms like Xiaohongshu and Instagram.

  • Signaling Taste and Values: Aligning their fashion with aesthetically pleasing and sometimes culturally significant desserts helps them signal their taste, mood, and values online and offline.

What is Driving Trend (Detailed Description):

Several factors are driving this trend:

  • Dominance of Visual Platforms: Social media platforms like Xiaohongshu, Instagram, and TikTok prioritize visual content, making aesthetically pleasing food and fashion highly visible.

  • Influence of Food Culture: Artistic and visually stunning desserts have been popular on Chinese social media for years, establishing a strong visual language.

  • Search for Comfort and Nostalgia: Economic uncertainty and the aftermath of the pandemic are driving a desire for comforting and nostalgic elements in various forms of expression.

  • Pantone and Fashion Industry Influence: Mentions like Pantone's color of the year and Miu Miu's collections highlight the broader fashion industry's recognition and adoption of these color palettes.

  • Algorithm Preferences: Social media algorithms favor visuals that are edible-looking, emotionally resonant, and highly shareable, further amplifying the trend.

What is Motivation Beyond the Trend (Detailed Description):

Beyond the immediate appeal of dessert-inspired fashion, there might be:

  • A Desire for Uniqueness: Standing out through unconventional fashion inspiration.

  • A Connection to Specific Cultural Elements: Canelé and Dubai chocolate have their own cultural contexts that might resonate with wearers.

  • A Sense of Playfulness and Lightheartedness: Injecting fun and whimsy into fashion choices.

Description of Consumers Article is Referring to:

The article specifically focuses on Chinese Gen Z who are active on photo-sharing apps like Xiaohongshu and are influenced by online aesthetics and trends. They are described as being attuned to social media, seeking self-expression through color, and potentially looking for comfort and nostalgia in their fashion choices.

  • Age: Specifically Generation Z in China (roughly individuals born from the mid-1990s to the early 2010s).

  • Gender: Not explicitly specified, but the description of "soft femininity" might suggest a stronger initial adoption among young women.

  • Income: Not directly mentioned, but their engagement with luxury brands like Miu Miu and the influence of designer collections suggest a range of income levels within the demographic.

  • Lifestyle: Digitally native, active on social media, interested in expressing individuality through fashion, and potentially influenced by current economic and cultural trends in China.

Conclusions:

The main conclusions from the article are:

  • Chinese Gen Z is drawing fashion inspiration from visually appealing desserts.

  • The "Lulicore" aesthetic, inspired by canelé, is a prime example of this trend.

  • Social media platforms are crucial in the trend's emergence and popularity.

  • The trend might be linked to a desire for comfort and nostalgia in a challenging economic climate.

  • Brands have a significant opportunity to engage with this trend through social media marketing and related experiences.

Implications for Brands:

  • Fashion Brands: Opportunity to develop collections and marketing campaigns around food-inspired color palettes, especially those linked to popular desserts. Collaboration with food brands could also be explored.

  • Food Brands (Especially Dessert): Potential to see their visual branding and product aesthetics influence fashion trends, offering unique marketing angles and collaborations with fashion influencers.

  • Social Media Platforms: Continued importance of visual content and trends in driving user engagement, with food and fashion being key areas of interest.

Implication for Society:

  • Cross-Cultural Influence: Demonstrates how trends can emerge from specific cultural contexts (Chinese social media) and potentially spread globally.

  • Shifting Sources of Inspiration: Highlights the increasingly diverse and unexpected sources of inspiration for fashion trends beyond traditional fashion media.

Implications for Consumers:

  • More Creative Self-Expression: Offers a novel and visually interesting way for individuals to express their personal style.

  • Potential for Unique and Playful Outfits: Encourages experimentation with color palettes and aesthetics.

Implication for Future:

  • Continued Fusion of Lifestyle Categories: Expect to see more crossovers between seemingly disparate areas like food, fashion, and beauty, driven by social media and visual culture.

  • Faster Trend Cycles: Social media's rapid dissemination of information could lead to even faster and more niche trend cycles.

Consumer Trend (Name: Food-Inspired Fashion):

  • Detailed Description: This trend involves individuals adopting fashion aesthetics, particularly color palettes and sometimes textures or motifs, directly inspired by the visual characteristics of food items.

Consumer Sub Trend (Name: The "Lulicore" Aesthetic):

  • Detailed Description: A specific fashion micro-trend within the broader food-inspired fashion trend, characterized by a muted pastel and brown color palette drawn from the visual appearance of canelé desserts, aiming for a soft, feminine, and "old-money" inspired look.

Big Social Trend (Name: The Visual Culture of Social Media):

  • Detailed Description: Social media platforms are increasingly dominated by visual content, with images and videos playing a central role in communication, trend formation, and cultural expression.

Worldwide Social Trend (Name: The Global Reach of Niche Aesthetics):

  • Detailed Description: Thanks to the internet and social media, even highly specific or niche aesthetic trends can gain traction and visibility across the globe, influencing fashion and lifestyle choices in diverse regions.

Social Drive (Name: Self-Expression and the Pursuit of Comfort):

  • Detailed Description: Individuals are driven to use fashion as a means of self-expression, communicating their personality, mood, and values. Additionally, in times of uncertainty, there is often a heightened desire for comfort and nostalgia, which can be reflected in fashion choices.

Learnings for Fashion Brands to Use in 2025 (Bullets, Detailed Description):

  • Monitor Social Media for Emerging Aesthetic Trends: Pay close attention to visual platforms popular with Gen Z in different regions to identify potential fashion inspiration.

  • Recognize the Influence of Non-Traditional Sources: Be open to drawing inspiration from areas outside of traditional fashion, such as food, art, and nature.

  • Understand the Emotional Drivers: Identify the underlying emotional needs (e.g., comfort, nostalgia, playfulness) that are fueling specific trends.

Strategy Recommendations for Fashion Brands to Follow in 2025 (Bullets, Detail Description):

  • Incorporate Food-Inspired Color Palettes: Consider developing collections or capsule lines that feature color combinations drawn from popular and visually appealing foods.

  • Collaborate with Food Influencers and Brands: Explore potential partnerships to create cross-promotional content or even co-designed products.

  • Utilize Visually Driven Marketing: Focus on creating highly shareable and aesthetically pleasing content for social media platforms that showcases these food-inspired styles.

Final Sentence (Key Concept) Describing Main Trend from Article:

The "Lulicore" trend among Chinese Gen Z beautifully illustrates the increasingly blurred lines between food and fashion aesthetics in social media culture, where the visual appeal of desserts directly inspires wearable styles.

What brands & companies should do in 2025 to benefit from trend and how to do it:

In 2025, fashion brands should actively monitor social media and visual platforms for emerging aesthetic trends, particularly those drawing inspiration from unexpected sources like food, and consider incorporating these trends into their collections and marketing strategies to resonate with younger, digitally-native consumers. Food brands, especially those with visually appealing products, can explore collaborations with fashion influencers and brands to capitalize on the crossover appeal and tap into new consumer segments.

Final Note:

  • Core Trend: Blurring Lines Between Food and Fashion Aesthetics in Social Media Culture. Social media platforms are fostering a direct link between how visually appealing food is presented and how fashion trends are emerging, with consumers drawing inspiration from the colors, textures, and overall aesthetic of desserts to inform their clothing choices and personal style.

  • Core Strategy: Monitor Visual Platforms, Draw Inspiration from Unexpected Sources (Like Food). Fashion brands need to actively and continuously monitor visually-centric social media platforms popular among target demographics like Gen Z to identify emerging aesthetic trends that extend beyond traditional fashion media. Being open to unconventional sources of inspiration, such as the visual characteristics of popular and photogenic foods, can lead to innovative and trend-setting designs.

  • Core Industry Trend: The Increasing Influence of Social Media on Fashion Trends. The fashion industry is experiencing a significant democratization of trendsetting, with social media platforms now playing a central role that often rivals or even surpasses traditional fashion publications and runway shows. Trends are now frequently originating and spreading rapidly through these digital channels, making it crucial for brands to be agile and responsive to online conversations and visual cues.

  • Core Consumer Motivation: Self-Expression and the Pursuit of Comfort. Gen Z consumers, in particular, are highly motivated to use fashion as a form of self-expression, seeking out unique and visually interesting ways to communicate their personality and values. Simultaneously, in the context of ongoing social and economic uncertainties, there is a strong desire for comfort, both physically and emotionally, which can be reflected in fashion choices through the adoption of comforting color palettes and nostalgic references found in food-inspired aesthetics.

  • Final Conclusion: The dessert-inspired "Lulicore" trend among Chinese Gen Z is a compelling example of the powerful interplay between social media, visual culture, and the desire for both self-expression and comfort. Fashion and food brands that recognize and creatively engage with these evolving dynamics are well-positioned to connect with this influential consumer segment in 2025 and beyond.

Core Trend Detailed (Name: The Blurring Lines Between Food and Fashion Aesthetics in Social Media Culture)

  • Description: This core trend highlights the increasing phenomenon where the visual characteristics of food, particularly aesthetically pleasing desserts, are directly influencing and merging with fashion trends and personal style. This fusion is predominantly driven by the highly visual and shareable nature of social media platforms. The trend signifies a shift where inspiration for fashion choices is drawn not just from traditional fashion sources but also from the artistic presentation of food. This blurring of boundaries indicates a growing appreciation for visual harmony across different lifestyle categories, reflecting a desire for creative self-expression and the creation of content that resonates within online visual culture.

  • Key Characteristics of the Trend (summary):

    • Food as Fashion Inspiration: Direct adoption of colors, textures, and overall aesthetic from food, especially desserts, into clothing and styling.

    • Social Media as the Catalyst: Visual platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Xiaohongshu are the primary drivers and showcases for this trend.

    • Emphasis on Visual Harmony: Desire to create outfits and looks that are as visually appealing and artful as photogenic food.

    • Shareability and Engagement: The trend thrives on social media due to its highly photographable and shareable nature.

    • Cross-Category Influence: Demonstrates the growing interconnectedness between different lifestyle sectors like food and fashion.

  • Market and Cultural Signals Supporting the Trend (summary):

    • "Lulicore" Aesthetic: The specific example of a fashion trend inspired by the canelé dessert, with its characteristic color palette.

    • Influence of Dubai Chocolate: The resemblance of Lulicore's colors to another visually popular dessert.

    • Pantone's Color of the Year (Mocha Mousse): Indicates a broader recognition of "sweet treat" inspired colors in design.

    • Luxury Brand Collections: Mentions of Miu Miu incorporating dessert-like color combinations in their collections.

    • Prevalence on Photo-Sharing Apps: The trend's strong presence and popularity on platforms like Xiaohongshu (RedNote).

  • How the Trend Is Changing Consumer Behavior (summary):

    • Diversified Inspiration Sources: Consumers are looking beyond traditional fashion magazines and runways for style inspiration.

    • Increased Focus on Color and Visuals: Greater attention is paid to color palettes and the overall visual presentation of outfits, mirroring the emphasis on food aesthetics.

    • Experimentation and Creativity: Encourages more creative and playful approaches to fashion and personal style.

    • Alignment of Lifestyle Choices: Consumers may seek to align their fashion choices with other visually appealing aspects of their lifestyle, such as their taste in food.

  • Implications Across the Ecosystem (summary):

    • For Brands and CPGs: Fashion brands can explore food-inspired colors and collaborations with food brands. Food brands can leverage their visual appeal in marketing and potential partnerships with fashion.

    • For Retailers: Retailers can curate collections and marketing campaigns around food-inspired aesthetics. Food retailers can enhance the visual presentation of their products to appeal to this trend.

    • For Consumers: Offers new and creative avenues for self-expression through fashion. Encourages a more holistic approach to visual aesthetics across different lifestyle categories.

  • Strategic Forecast: This trend is likely to continue gaining momentum, fueled by the ever-increasing importance of visual content in the digital age. Expect to see more niche aesthetics emerge, drawing inspiration from various types of food and other unexpected sources. Brands that can tap into this cross-category inspiration and create visually compelling content will likely resonate strongly with digitally-native consumers.

  • Final Thought: The merging of food and fashion aesthetics on social media represents a fascinating evolution in how we perceive and engage with visual culture. It highlights the power of online platforms to connect seemingly disparate areas of life and inspire new forms of creative expression, where the visual delight of a perfectly styled dessert can translate directly into a desirable and shareable fashion statement.

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