THOUGH TikTok may have been popular for its dance trends in the past, another community has started to grow on the platform as well.
As seen in the alt-indie kid-core and the coquette core, the fashion community has steadily grown on the app over the years, and has now become so diverse that it has been separated into hundreds of little subgroups referred to as “[type of fashion]-core.”
One such subgenre of the fashion community, particularly in the local scene, is called “kitchie nadal-core,” aptly named after the beloved Filipino singer, Kitchie Nadal. You may know her from songs like “Huwag na Huwag Mong Sasabihin,” “Same Ground,” or “Bulong.”
She was particularly popular in the early 2000s in the alternative rock scene, but now people have started to take an interest in her once more. First, for her music, and second, for her impeccable taste in fashion.
About the trend
In the early 2000s, Nadal was often seen wearing long skirts and loud patterned tops, as it was typical during that time.
Given that she was in the alternative rock scene, the whole alt-indie fashion scene you see now is very reminiscent of the things she’d worn in the past. Many even referred to her as the “Avril Lavigne of the Philippines.”
In short: your girl was definitely ahead of her time.
Now, people have started posting their outfits on TikTok, saying that they were inspired by Nadal to dress the way they do.
One girl, for example, posted a video of herself wearing a dark outfit with a long skirt, captioning it: “It’s me and my Kitchie Nadal fit against the world.”
Others have tried to bring out a more comedic side to this trend. A video from one user, for example, shows them using their friend’s hair to mimic Nadal’s side bangs, with the caption: “Nakihiram ng buhok para makasabay sa #kitchienadalcore.”
Many others have simply used the singer’s popular anthem, “Huwag na Huwag Mong Sasabihin,” for their fit check videos.
Kitchie’s reaction
While it’s unclear whether or not Nadal has seen these trending videos, the fact that her songs have started to blow up again has not gone unnoticed by her.
On February 5, the singer posted a funny meme to her Instagram page of an emo boy that read: “It wasn’t a phase mom, I still listen to Kitchie Nadal.”
Regardless of how these Filipinos have shown their appreciation for Nadal, the great thing about this trend is that instead of looking for fashion inspiration in foreign models or celebrities, Gen Zs have focused on a local icon instead.
Hopefully more fashion trends and cores such as this can blow up on TikTok, as well. Me, particularly, I’m waiting for the day early 2000s vice ganda-core starts making its way up there. That was definitely ahead of its time.
