Immediately upon hearing of Pinterest's prediction that the poetcore aesthetic would rule 2026, I thought of "Bevery Hills 90210" and Brenda Walsh, portrayed by the late Shannen Doherty. I first watched the '90s teen drama when I was in middle school and can recall the visceral pain I felt when Dylan McKay left Brenda for her bestie Kelly Taylor like it was just yesterday—what can I say, I'm an empath. The fashion inspiration from the show is endless, but Brenda Walsh's transformation from small town Minnesota girl to very much integrated into the Beverly Hills scene resonated the most.
So, what is the poetcore aesthetic exactly? Well, some might consider it dated, and others might consider it akin to granny chic. I, on the other hand, choose to see these attributes as positives, and focus on the staples: timeless silhouettes, and layers (both expected and unexpected) that characterize the look. The poetcore aesthetic is inspired by literary greats and bookworms alike. It's also arguably inspired by silhouettes and styles typically associated with menswear: oversized and non-restrictive. It's exactly what you would picture a New England college student majoring in English to wear throughout the fall and winter for the sake of remaining cozy—extra points if you're visualizing this taking place in the late 1980's or 1990's. For ease, we can position it softer and gentler iteration of the dark academia aesthetic.
With all of that said, this trend is wholeheartedly vintage inspired. Ahead, I'm breaking down key elements of the poetcore trend alongside examples of how iconic '90s TV character Brenda Walsh pioneered it.
Stock Up On Oversized Blazers In Every Color, Pattern, & Material
Throughout the entire run of the series, Brenda Walsh displayed her rotation of oversized blazers of varying colors, patterns, and materials: from wool to cotton to color blocked to plaid. She would layer them over t-shirts and blouses, while occasionally layering over nothing at all.
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The poetcore aesthetic is literary, studious, and little inspired by the preppy aesthetic—that is if this particular prep was notably unkempt and concerned with feeling breezy and comfortable.
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Put On A Billowy Blouse & Throw On A Tie For Good Measure
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When Brenda Walsh wasn't wearing one of her many oversized blazers, you could spot her in an oversized silk or satin blouse, sometimes in neutrals, but also in bold colors and pastels alike.
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Oftentimes these billowy blouses were worn solo with minimal accessorizing, while other times, a distinct patterned necktie was added. The necktie, in my opinion, is you achieve the poetcore aesthetic at its peak.
Consider A Vest (Or Any Type Of Layering)
Another key element of the poetcore aesthetic is layering that seems like it was put together with little thought. That's not to say that it doesn't look chic, but the end result is an effortlessly put together look with intriguing dimensions.
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Brenda Walsh was unafraid to experiment with layering—she would throw blazers over vests over blouses with little to no hesitation in the same way that she was comfortable in looks typically associated with menswear. She often wore sweater vests and waistcoats underneath cotton and knit turtlenecks, as well as striped button down tops.
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Throw On A Messenger Bag
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To complete the poetcore aesthetic with perhaps the most vintage-inspired element, throw on a messenger bag or satchel. The silhouette is both practical (maximum space for books, journals, and anything else that your poet-core heart desires) and style forward (some of our favorite designers have this style on the market). Most importantly of all, our poetcore queen Brenda Walsh used a messenger bag as a student at West Beverly High. That in and of itself means that we all need one.
