Cowboycore and Tenniscore are so yesterday. Today, we’re the cool moms at the local soccer game. The moms who always look effortlessly endearing without dressing up like it’s the Meta Gala. The hottest new aesthetic is the Soccer Mom Aesthetic, and there’s a lot to love about it.
It’s comfortable, it’s casual, it’s sporty, and it’s accessible. And with the right attitude, it’s also sustainable. I’ll break down the elements and aura of this new trend so you can sport the style before all your friends. Grab your minivan keys and let’s go.
We’re Comfy and On-the-Go
This aesthetic is not about balancing in stilettos or snatching your waist with a corset. In fact, it’s the very opposite of that. The Soccer Mom Aesthetic is inherently comfy, which is my favorite thing about it. You don’t need to dress like it’s a royal ball. To be fair, an actual royal, the beautiful Princess Diana, mastered this aesthetic before it was even trendy.
Excluding Posh Spice, most soccer moms are busy and more focused on function than fashion when getting the little ones to practice. That means comfort is king. Select the comfiest items in your closet, excluding pajamas and tattered clothing, and build your Soccer Mom Aesthetic around these.
Oversized T-shirts, hoodies, crewnecks, and long-sleeve shirts are all spectacular options. Stretchy materials like spandex, lycra, and elastane are often comfy. For cold weather, cozy fabrics like wool, cashmere, and fleece are perfect. Breathable materials are great as well, such as cotton, rayon, linen, and silk.
Silk? Yes, silk. Believe it or not, we can make silk and spandex work in one outfit with this new aesthetic. And I’ll explain how below.
But first, I want to talk about pockets, too. Soccer moms need to be comfortable, but they also need functional clothing. For women, this often means wearing one of the rare clothing items in our closet that has any pockets at all. Your Soccer Mom Aesthetic items don’t need to have pockets, but you get a bonus point for each pocket.
Blending Sportiness and Style
This is the meat of the Soccer Mom Aesthetic. It’s a combination of athletic clothes and street fashion.
For example, you can pair athletic shorts with a soft red flannel. Or, wear a pair of leggings with an oversized cable knit sweater and modern sneakers. A basic mini skirt combined with a loose-fitting soccer jersey and sneakers is modish. A silk button-down with black biker shorts is a spectacular way to mesh elevated elegance with modern sportiness.
An outfit comprised of 50% athletic items and 50% casual items is perfect, but those percentages are flexible. We can definitely call this aesthetic a child of athleisure, but it brings in non-athletic items that make it distinct.
Layering Up
The Soccer Mom Aesthetic is meant to have a “thrown together at the last second” kind of feel, but in a chic way. It’s supposed to look effortlessly cool. So accessorizing and styling are not necessary. However, thoughtful styling can help you curate the vibe better.
A sporty accessory can help bring that athletic undertone to a casual outfit. Baseball caps, visors, crew socks, nylon fanny packs, and duffle bags all have the right aura. On the other hand, if your outfit feels too sporty, offset that with a designer crossbody bag, dainty jewelry, or luxury sunglasses.
Styling Sporty
In addition to accessories, layering is a wonderful styling technique for this aesthetic. Layer with sweaters, hoodies, crewnecks, puffer vests, half-zips and quarter-zips, denim jackets, windbreakers, turtlenecks, flannels, and more. Styling with layers is conducive to the messy-chic vibe we’re after, elevating the outfit without polishing it too much.
Stock Up on Sneakers
Sneakers are not the only shoes you can wear for this new aesthetic, but it is the most obvious one. The beauty of sneakers in modern fashion is they’re not just for exercise anymore. They’re worn with dresses, skirts, slacks, tights, jeans, and basically everything else.
Sneakers have become a category of fashion all on their own, and you have endless styles to choose from. The “Dad Shoe” trend is still around, although it might not be for long. Nevertheless, if you love a chunky white sneaker, it’s a fabulous shoe for the soccer mom vibe.
If you’re ready to hop off the Dad Shoe train, artistic and bold trainers are the next trend. These sneakers look very athletic, with intricate details, bright colors, and abstract designs. The Nike Pegasus or the wave-inspired Air Max Plus.
Another hot style, or maybe I should say timeless, is the retro casual sneaker. Converse, Old Skool Vans, and adidas Originals all fit this vibe well, offering a lovely middle ground between athletic and elegant.
Aside from sneakers, sporty slides, rain boots, slippers, or UGGs can work with this aesthetic (maybe flip-flops, too, but I’m on the fence about that one, so proceed with caution). However, it depends on the season and fit. When in doubt, go with sneakers.
Mom Doesn’t Mean Modest
Just because this is called the Soccer “Mom” Aesthetic, doesn’t mean you have to dress like a nun or something. Moms can be hot too. Moms are hot.
Don’t be afraid to wear something skin-tight or short. While a lot of cleavage doesn’t necessarily make sense for this vibe, if you make an outfit with a low neckline that works, go with it!
One of my favorite aspects about this aesthetic is it can be sexy and hot, but by no means does it have to be. Show a lot of skin or cover-up, it is up to you. As Beyoncé says, “Take it all off, or just a little if you like.”
Soccer Mom From Season to Season
If you know anyone who is obsessed with soccer, you know it’s practically a year-round sport in most parts of the world. The Soccer Mom Aesthetic is an all-season style.
With spandex shorts and an oversized T-shirt, you’re ready for a sunny game. With leggings and a peacoat, you can stay warm in winter. Taking this aesthetic through all four seasons is a breeze, making it one of the most accessible aesthetics.
The Rise of Athletic Aesthetics
From 2023 into 2024, Tenniscore has been a popular aesthetic. I’m guilty of falling in love with it too. Tenniscore is elegant, flirty, feminine, refined.
For years, athletic clothes have steadily become more and more stylish, and the Tenniscore aesthetic pushed sportswear even further into the mainstream of fashion.
The Soccer Mom Aesthetic is like the hectic, overwhelmed cousin of Tenniscore (in a good way). It’s not as focused on simplicity and softness. The Soccer Mom Aesthetic is not preppy like Tenniscore and Golfcore; it’s more relaxed and cozy.
However, if you fell into the Tenniscore and Golfcore aesthetics along with the rest of us, incorporating those pieces into the Soccer Mom Aesthetic is like a free kick (that’s a soccer thing).
Your cute little tennis skirts, golf dresses, polo shirts, sweaters, tennis shoes, rompers, and golf shorts can all work here. You just need to introduce something more humble into the look, such as a large pullover hoodie or jean jacket. Even something like slippers instead of sneakers can turn a Tenniscore look into a Soccer Mom Style.
Rock the Soccer Mom Aesthetic Today
Speaking of accessibility, when I say you can sport this aesthetic “today,” I mean that literally. You probably already have plenty of pieces in your closet that can help you curate a soccer-chic outfit.
With fast fashion and the rapid cycle of trends, a lot of money and consumer waste goes into following the latest aesthetics. But the Soccer Mom Aesthetic allows you to combine items you already have in new ways.
I encourage you to work with what you have! You can be on top of the latest trends without contributing further to the fast fashion industry or spending your hard-earned money.
Embody the soccer mom vibe by being clever with your clothes and not getting too hung up on using the “perfect” item to complete the look. When we combine athleisure and street fashion, we get to make our own rules.
