What is #Pamcore? Pam Anderson outfits are taking over TikTok and giving us major '90s nostalgia

TikTokers are paying homage to '90s Pam Anderson outfits and giving the underrated fashion icon the props she deserves!

Pam Anderson outfits: Pamela Anderson pictured wearing a black safety pin dress/ alongside a picture of her wearing a white corset and pink bucket hat and a white t-shirt and blue, denim shorts/ in a pink and purple template
(Image credit: Getty Images/ (L)Patrick Riviere/ (M) Mitchell Gerber/Corbis/VCG /(R) S. Granitz/WireImage)

If you ever need proof that '90s fashion trends are well and truly back, the Pam Anderson outfits that are taking over Gen Z TikTok should do the trick.

The actress, model and Playboy cover girl is having a veritable comeback, not only for her new Pam Anderson Netflix documentary (which features cameos from Pam's sons!) but also on our social media feeds, where fashion fans are finally giving the '90s icon her flowers for sparking some of the greatest style trends of the decade. (And we're not just talking about that iconic Baywatch red swimsuit.) 

Appreciation for her figure-hugging corsets, fluffy bucket hats and iconic '90s hairstyles (the signature Pam updo is everything!) initially resurged after she became the subject of the Hulu series Pam & Tommy, which gifted us Lily James' Pam Anderson transformation. But the fashion renaissance has stuck around, cementing Anderson's status as a true style icon. 

From her sparkly sets to her pink leather mini dresses, here are some of Pam's most memorable fashions, including how to recreate them yourself. Enter #Pamcore...

Pam Anderson outfits are taking over TikTok:

Whenever there is a new series or documentary to binge, you can count on TikTok to create a social trend out of it and for Pam and Tommy, it was #Pamcore. The #Pamcore corner of the video-sharing platform saw fans recreating Pamela Anderson's best fashion looks, many of which are still very much in style. 

The 2022 series—which starred Lily James and Sebastian Stan as Anderson and her ex-husband Tommy Lee, during the couple's infamous sex-tape robbery and the dramatic fallout that followed—not only opened conversations around misogyny and consent but also shone a light on the cultural icon that is Pamela Anderson. And that is exactly what #Pamcore is.

From her figure-skimming '90s slip dresses to her rocker-chick leather bustiers (hello Barb Wire!) and the bold fits she's known to wear while strutting down award-show red carpets, Anderson's bombshell lewks have captivated the Gen Z set, with the hashtag #pamelaanderson clocking a whopping 130 million views.

@angelskissco

♬ The Sweet Escape - Gwen Stefani ft. Akon
@madeleinebyrnee

♬ Candy (Album Version) - Mandy Moore

Shop these Pam Anderson-inspired looks:

Want to get some of Pamela Anderson's '90s Cali-girl glam in your own closet? We can't blame you! Here are pieces that epically echo some of our favorite Pam style moments:

1999 MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE,NYC.PAMELA ANDERSON

(Image credit: Andrea Renault/Globe Photos/ZUMAPRESS.com)
Monki, Faux Fur Bucket Hat 
was $23 now $16.10 at ASOS (USA)

Monki, Faux Fur Bucket Hat 

RRP: $44/£25

The outfit Anderson wore to the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards is so iconic that Kim Kardashian herself copied it for Halloween, with Jonathan Cheban subbing in for Tommy Lee. That supersized Ivy Supersonic hat was a showstopper but if you want something similar but slightly less dramatic, this fluffy faux-fur bucket hat will do. 


Pretty Little Thing, White Satin Corset 

Pretty Little Thing, White Satin Corset 

RRP: $38/£22

Of course, we couldn't not find a swap from Pam's white satin corset top, which is so in right now! This top from PLT is available in nine colors, though to really channel Pam, we'd recommend going for the white one! It's available in sizes 4 to 16 and features a back zip, so it's not a major pain to take off!


Barb Wire Year: 1996 USA Pamela Anderson Director: David Hogan

(Image credit: Photo 12 / Alamy Stock Photo)
Pretty Little Thing, Black Washed Faux Leather Lace Plunge Halterneck Top
$35 at PrettyLittleThing UK

Pretty Little Thing, Black Washed Faux Leather Lace Plunge Halterneck Top

RRP: $48/£25

Pam Anderson looked every bit the rocker chick (she did famously have relationships with rock stars Tommy Lee, Kid Rock and Bret Michaels, after all) in the leather ensembles she wore while filming Barb Wire. This lace-up "leather" top gives similar hardcore vibes. 


Actress Pamela Anderson introduces the performance of Kid Rock during the 29th Annual American Music Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles 09 January 2002

(Image credit: HECTOR MATA / Getty)
Image

REVOLVE, OW Collections Sequin Top 

RRP: $120 (Sequin Skirt $130) /£124

Give 'em the old razzle-dazzle with a slinky, sparkly silver matching set à la the glittery number that Anderson wore to present at the 29th Annual American Music Awards in 2002.


Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas Grand Opening Party Hosted by Peter Morton

(Image credit: Steve.Granitz / Getty)
Showpo, Ennis Dress in Red Satin 
was $69.95 now $28 at showpo.com

Showpo, Ennis Dress in Red Satin 

RRP: $69.95 (US only)

We love a color block moment. We love it even more when it's a skin-tight red-and-pink number that's perfect for a steamy date night, like the one Anderson wore while attending the Hard Rock Hotel Casino Las Vegas Grand Opening Party with then-husband Tommy Lee in 1995.


Actress Pamela Anderson attends the 35th Annual 'Hollywood Allstars Night' Celebrity Baseball Game on August 22, 1992 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California

(Image credit: Barry King / Alamy Stock Photo)
Steve Madden, Hayward Black Leather Boots 
$159.95 at Steve Madden

Steve Madden, Hayward Black Leather Boots 

RRP: $159.95

In the Pam Anderson style rulebook, all you need is a classic white tee, some denim Daisy Dukes, a waist-cinching belt and a sturdy pair of black cowboy boots to create a statement look. 

Want even more Pam? Catch up on Pam Anderson now and back then, including a deep-dive into those "why did Pam and Tommy get divorced?" questions. 

Liv Facey

Liv is a freelance journalist currently studying English at university. She loves covering everything from entertainment and politics to lifestyle and travel. As well as writing for My Imperfect Life, Liv has bylines in The Times, HuffPost, Den of Geek, Bustle The Metro and The Bookseller.

With contributions from