Ever scrolled down your page and noticed that the world went suddenly cherry mad? Cherry-patterned jewelry, frocks with cherry motifs, cherry-red lips, cherry-themed cases for your smartphone—it’s like the world just awakened to the fact that the tiny fruit was the new sliced bread of coolness.
Welcome to “cherry coded,” the fashion trend that began with fruit but now includes the entirety of lifestyle. So just what exactly is it, and why are people completely obsessed with it?
What Is Cherry Coded?
It isn’t about sprinkling the cherries over everything (though that happens plenty). It’s more of a vibe that marries the sweet with the cheeky. Pin-up girl with modern e-girl with the occasional splash of rockabilly for good measure.
In essence, the cherry-coded look blends together:
- Cherry markings (naturally)
- Bold reds
- Vintage-inspired styles
- A playful, slightly flirty energy
Unlike most fleeting trends, cherry coded withstands the test of time since it speaks of something timeless. Cherries are symbols that are years old now within art, fashion, and culture—from the 1950s’ cherry pie Americana to the cherry metaphors of modern-day pop lyrics.
How Did This Trend Become So Large?
I noticed cherry coded trending for the first time last summer. What started with several of the most prominent TikTokers sporting cherry earrings expanded into something of a phenomenon.
“I buy one cherry-patterned shirt, and the next thing that happens is that my algorithm turns cherry, cherry, cherry,” 19-year-old fashion student Maya says. “Next thing I know, I’ve got cherry everything and friends are asking me where they could find ‘the cherry stuff.'”
It gained popularity for several vital reasons:
- It’s highly visual. Bright red cherries are foregrounded amongst the busy stream of society.
- It’s accessible. As opposed to certain high-fashion trends, anyone can incorporate a little cherry into their style.
- It’s old but new again. Cherries are old but feel new.
- It’s loaded with meaning. The cherry has always been somewhat of a symbol with cheeky overtones, adding the trend a bit of attitude.
Cherry Coded Culture: Beyond the Surface of Fashion
The fashion trend of cherry-coded fashion surpasses clothing and accessories. It now borders more on cultural phenomenon.
Lists with the word “cherry” are dominating Spotify with tracks such as “Cherry” by Harry Styles and “Cherry” by Lana Del Rey. Cherry makeup tutorials are flooding the videos of TikTok with the perfect red lip and flushed cheek look instructions.
Not only products but even food and beverage companies are joining the bandwagon. Did you see the retro-designed Cherry Coke bottles with retro-designed covers? The cherry-red pool floats that were nowhere to be seen by June mid-year?
The Psychological Foundation of Cherry Coded
Why are we so obsessed with that particular fruit? I asked cultural psychologist Dr. Samantha Lee about our collective cherry fixation.
“Cherries are such a contradictory thing,” she continued. “Sweet and innocent but for years they’ve been the symbol of temptation and mischief. We’re attracted to symbols that are reassuring but at the same time offer us something of an escape at times of doubt.”
It makes sense when you think about it. With the rough times that we’ve weathered globally, something about the look that at the same time appears sweet and somewhat adventurous has appeal.
Is Cherry Coded Here to Stay?
Do recall the day pineapples were placed upon everything several years ago? That fad came and went. Is cherry coded similarly doomed?
“I think that cherry coded has more longevity,” fashion trends analyst Marcus Wu offers. “It’s versatile enough that it can evolve. We’re already seeing it go from something cutesy that teenage girls are wearing to something a bit more mature in some cliques.”
He mentions designers at the fashion industry’s higher end employing unobtrusive cherry motifs within recent fashion ranges—not as dominant motifs but more for coloring and form inspiration.
How To Go Cherry Coded (Not Over the Top)
Want to try this trend without looking like you fell into a cherry pie? Here are some ways to dip your toe in:
- Start with something cherry-themed—one earring or a cover for your phone are excellent choices
- Try a cherry-red lip shade (added benefit: red lips are eternal and never fall completely out of fashion)
- Add a soft cherry print scarf to the outfit’s simplicity
- Paint just one cherry for accent art on your nails
Last month, Jamie went cherry overboard with the day’s fashion: cherry dress, cherry earrings, cherry bag—and messaged me halfway through the day: “I look like a walking fruit basket. Help!” Less is more sometimes.
The Darker Aspect of the Cherry
Not everybody is enamored with the fad. Some detractors point to the huge volume of rubbish produced by fast fashion brands pumping out cherry-themed items that likely will find their way into the dump when the fad runs its course.
“We’re seeing $5 cherry-colored tops that were manufactured under questionable conditions,” notes Tara Chen, expert in sustainable fashion. “The cherry-coded fashion look could be achieved with second-hand and old pieces, something that would be more environmentally friendly and of better quality overall.”
She does have a point. The most eco-friendly solution for attempting any trend is by doing it with items from your closet first or by going to thrift shops.
Cherry Coded: Beyond Fashion
Interestingly, “cherry-coded” now carries meaning that goes beyond the visual. The phrase now symbolizes something that appears to be sweet and harmless but with depth or bite that lies under the surface.
“Such a song is totally cherry-coded,” someone might state about a pop song with darker lyrics than the upbeat track suggests.
It shows how far the fashion has spread culturally—from visual to verbal, from the aesthetic to the conceptual.
What Comes After Cherry?
And with all trends, something always comes along to displace cherry coded within our collective infatuation. The early signals are that it could be strawberries’ turn (they are that red but with another form). Some are placing bets that it will be plums or non-fruit symbols such as hearts coming back into fashion.
Whatever comes next, the cherry-coded look has taught us something about why we’re attracted to certain styles—the perfect balance of sweet and edgy, retro but new, accessible but different.
In the meanwhile, I’ll be wearing my cherry earrings and taking note of the degree to which this yummy fad gets sweeter by the day. Are you cherry coded? Are you waiting for the new big thing? Either way, it’s worth noting the degree to which something so mundane became one of the largest trends of recent years.
Now that you’re done, excuse me while I go bake a cherry pie—for the sake of the appearance, of course.
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