As spring arrives, people are refreshing their wardrobes for the new season. Often synonymous with bright and vibrant colors, this time of year usually sends grey, black, and brown pieces back into the attic. But hold off on packing away those chestnut, tan, and mocha tones — a new fashion trend has emerged in China, and it’s giving neutral colors a second wind.
Dominating social media and KOLs across the country, this latest palette craze is inspired by the French pastry canelé. The classic dessert has gained major popularity in cities across China, thanks to its bite-sized, fluffy texture that’s both light and satisfyingly sweet. In Chinese, canelé is phonetically translated as 可露丽 (Kělùlì), and the fashion trend inspired by its rich hues has adopted the name “Lulicore.” Riding on the coattails of Maillard style and Dunecore, Lulicore is part of a growing wave of fast-moving fashion aesthetics that blur the lines between food, mood, and style.
The trend started gaining serious traction on Xiaohongshu, where curated color palettes were shared by the platform’s official fashion branch.
Examples include:
“Mocha mousse brown + Morandi pink = Rose Lulicore”
“Mocha mousse brown + Morandi blue = Seesalt Lulicore”
“Mocha mousse brown + Morandi yellow = Butter Lulicore”
“Mocha mousse brown + Morandi green = Elf Lulicore”
As you can see, Lulicore fashion centers around a brown base — echoing the burnt shell of a canelé — with soft, pastel accents that reflect its flavored variations.
At the recent RED GALA, a fashion event co-hosted by Xiaohongshu and Vogue, Liu Chong, the director of Vogue China, described Lulicore as a spring-forward concept that uses color to inject playful, youthful energy into outfits. Influenced by Pantone’s 2025 color of the year, which includes mocha mousse, luxury brands like Miu Miu, Prada, and Louis Vuitton have already started embracing the look.
Here are 10 popular Lulicore outfit ideas to inspire your spring street style.
Cover image via Xiaohongshu/Burn.
