Adam Sandler to Virat Kohli: How dad core went global

Forget mom jeans. Dad core is the latest fashion trend. The trend, which is pretty self-explanatory, is basically wearing clothes like your dad did. Yes, the very aesthetic you once mocked your father for, oversized jackets and sneakers, has quietly walked to the world of fashion.

How was dad core born?

Dadcore was born as a quirky offshoot of normcore, that deliberately plain, unpretentious look that found its way into urban fashion in the mid-2010s. But while normcore championed blending in, dadcore celebrates comfort fits.

Born out of normcore’s love for simplicity, dadcore celebrates relaxed, unfussy comfort. It’s all about raiding your father’s wardrobe staples. It can be jean shorts, oversized polos, chunky sneakers, and roomy jackets or anything with the ‘dad vibe’.

The vibe is deliberately plain yet effortlessly cool, turning “basic dad gear” into a stylish statement. Something dads wear for a Sunday run to the market.

This style has now been celebrity approved

Hollywood has long had an unlikely dadcore ambassador: Adam Sandler. His off-duty uniform of XXL basketball shorts or oversized tees, have become ironic.

In India, the vibe is being embraced by musicians like Prateek Kuhad and Anuv Jain, who lean into soft boy-meets-dadcore energy. Even cricketer Virat Kohli loves the dad core fashion.

Singer Even Diljit Dosanjh, known for his bold fashion experiments, has worked the dadcore angle into his stage fits. He is usually seen pairing chunky sneakers with roomy denim and statement jackets.

What was once a comfort-driven compromise has now become cultural shorthand for confidence without pretence.

What are the staples of dad core?

Dadcore leans into practicality and retro familiarity. According to a report by The Independent, the signature pieces include classic chunky white sneakers like New Balance 530s, relaxed denim or stonewashed jeans, oversized polo shirts, windbreakers, ankle socks and baseball caps.

The same report reveals that dad core is a move away from the more feminine fashion trends that have recently pervaded fashion – such as the ballet slipper-sneaker hybrid dubbed the ‘sneakerina’.

In an era that feels increasingly fast, online and unpredictable, this style harks back to something slower. It pushes back against the curated perfection of recent trends like “quiet luxury,” embracing comfort and authenticity instead.

Would you wear your dad-like clothes as a fashion statement, or will you pass?