There’s a new trend in town and we’re falling for it hook, line, and sinker: Fisherman Core. First, it gained headway in the fashion world, where sartorial icons like Gwyneth Paltrow and Katie Holmes were brandishing slouchy button-downs, bucket hats, and striped everything. Then, the Pinterest Predicts 2025 Trend Report found that on their platform, the term “fisherman sandals” rose in searches by 30 percent year over year, and “sardine tattoo” spiked by 80 percent. “In 2025, Gen Z and Gen X will “embrace a laid back maritime attitude and bring a sea la vie take to everything,” the report predicted.
The trend quickly crept into the design world, launching nostalgic nautical decor into online omnipresence; Homes everywhere are seeing a delightfully offbeat influx of fish-themed decor items, from sardine wallpaper to rainbow trout wall art. If you’re even somewhat interested in embracing fisherman core in your own home, below we’ve mapped out what this coastal trend involves and how to incorporate it into your space with class.
Fisherman core is a fashion and lifestyle aesthetic that draws inspiration from the rugged charm of coastal life and traditional maritime workwear, translating it into spaces that feel both grounded and serene. Fisherman core interiors feel timeless and tactile, offering a quiet kind of luxury rooted in resilience and connection to nature. Think weathered wood, raw linen, sturdy canvas, and nautical accents that nod to a life spent by the sea.
The palette leans into foggy blues, driftwood grays, seafoam greens, and sun-bleached neutrals, evoking the elements—salt air, stormy skies, and worn docks. It’s a style that values craftsmanship and simplicity, favoring utilitarian pieces with soul, vintage finds, and textures that tell a story. Interiors that lean into this look are replete with hardy-yet-warm objects, like distressed oak furnishings, wrought-iron fixtures, and knit throws.
The key to nailing this look lies in steering away from kitschy-looking themed decor. Stay away from hanging fish welcome signs and tin quote signs. Instead, look for maritime relics—such as industrial-style sconces , retro fishing art prints, and old boat paintings—that create an bespoke atmosphere that feels authentic to the seafaring lifestyle. If you’ve created a space that harbors the comfort and functionality of an old fishing cottage, you’ve succeeded.
Fisherman core is more than just an aesthetic—it’s a lifestyle grounded in simplicity, resilience, and a deep reverence for nature. It embraces slow living and the beauty of the everyday, favoring quality over excess and utility over trends. Whether reflected in the clothes we wear or the spaces we inhabit, it speaks to a desire to disconnect from the noise and reconnect with the rhythms of the natural world—early mornings, salty air, hands-on work, and quiet moments of solitude. It’s about embracing the imperfect and the weathered, finding comfort in authenticity, and living with intention, much like the coastal communities that inspired it.
Rachel Silva is the associate digital editor at ELLE DECOR, where she covers all things design, architecture, and lifestyle. She also oversees the publication’s feature article coverage, and is, at any moment, knee-deep in an investigation on everything from the best spa gifts to the best faux florals on the internet right now. She has more than 16 years of experience in editorial, working as a photo assignment editor at Time and acting as the president of Women in Media in NYC. She went to Columbia Journalism School, and her work has been nominated for awards from ASME, the Society of Publication Designers, and World Press Photo.
