by Audrey Poff, illustration by Brittney Osborn

In case you haven’t heard, canned fish is having a moment this summer.

I have loved the Mediterranean influence on fashion in recent years, especially the crisp blue and white palette reminiscent of Mediterranean tiles, often paired with bright yellow lemons. Appearing on everything from dresses to pajamas to shoes, it has a clean, fresh vibe that feels perfect for a casual dinner at your favorite seaside restaurant.

While the Mediterranean has provided an abundance of style inspiration over the years, I’m not sure how I feel about its latest influence on summer fashion – sardines in a can.

“What’s up with all the sardines?” I asked my oldest daughter, Emma, recently while shopping for a summer dress. We spotted tinned fish in every store, and I could tell she was intrigued with what has become known as sardine core.

While I think the sardine-centric trend is cute, I’m not certain how I would feel about sporting a can of sardines on a dress or blouse. It makes me wonder how many young fashionistas have ever actually tasted a sardine. My dad gave me my first taste of sardines when I was a kid, and it’s not something that I have ever felt the need to try again. They’re cold, salty, smelly and oily, and look like dead fishing bait crammed into a sometimes artsy rectangular tin.

Whether you shop online, at department stores or local boutiques, sardines are making a move this summer, appearing on fabrics, mugs, beach towels, hats and more. Luxury label Bottega Veneta has created a much-coveted “Sardine” bag collection. Named after the shape of its metal sardine handle, the bags range in size from the mini “Baby Sardine” bag at $3,800 to a heftier leather bag priced at $36,800 on the Bottega Veneta website.

So, how did the little fish with the pungent flavor and the intense smell manage such a transformation? You can thank TikTok.

The trend reportedly began as a new generation discovered tinned fish in general, designating them as “hot girl snacks.” Since then, apparel and products featuring the petite fish have surfaced across the internet. Search interest in finned fashions reportedly reached a record high in May 2025, according to Google Trends, with the search for  a “beaded sardine bag” increasing 300% since 2024 and the “sardine dress” doubling over the past month. Suddenly, the salty snack sold in bright, decorative tins is appearing on our beds, across our chests and dangling from our ears.

As for Sardine Girl Summer, some analysts suggest that the sardine fashion statement may say something about society right now. At a time when prices of fashion and home goods are skyrocketing for American consumers, they say embracing a tiny fish that packs a punch indicates a desire to live simply and pleasurably.

Personally, I think that may be overthinking this fish-inspired fashion trend.

Sardines are a fun fashion accent that can be added to a wardrobe for $20 or $20,000. Regardlesss, sardines are here for summer, and for $100, you can purchase an original Clare V. T-shirt that proclaims “Liberez Les Sardines” and rally behind a “Free the Fishes” movement.

Or, if you don’t want to incorporate the petite fish into your summer fashion, you could just purchase a tin of sardines for less than $2 and start freeing them yourself – one tin at a time.