Deep Dive Into Aesthetics And The Rise Of Hyper-Aesthetics
We just can't keep them all straight anymore... I mean what does it all really mean? Brat Summer? Tomato Girl? Well, we are here to help you understand all the rave.
Over the past few years aesthetics and hyper-aesthetics have truly risen out of control. This summer, we have the Coastal Girl, Tomato Girl, Old Money, and Brat Summer, just to name a few. These aesthetics can feel overwhelming and out of reach to some, while others may naturally fit right into one aesthetic (lucky them). On top of these hyper-aesthetics, the more common aesthetics lure us to their corner. For example, no matter how often I look at a beautifully done minimalist wardrobe or apartment, I will never stick to that aesthetic for more than a day. I know that when it comes down to either being a minimalist or a maximalist, I am, without a shadow of a doubt, a maximalist. But, where do we go from here?
With the rise of Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest, we are inundated with aesthetics, pop culture hyper fixations, and ads for the next hot item at every turn. We can’t forget the fact that aesthetics are also constantly ‘coming back’. Thanks to celebrities like Olivia Rodrigo and Willow Smith, we have pop punk and grunge back in full force, and if you are a 90s kid it is hard to not remember the days of Avril Lavigne and Skater Boys.
So what even are aesthetics anyway? According to our best friend, Google, aesthetics are “styles that can be inspired by different themes and eras”. Some of these aesthetics include Cottagecore, Dark Academia, Coquette, Vintage, Grunge, and Normcore. There are so many more we could dive into but let’s get a feel for our surroundings first.
Cottagecore
A personal favorite of mine, this whimsical aesthetic pairs the romantic parts of rural living with all the magic of living like a princess from a storybook, down to living in a cottage with singing animals and dwarves as roommates. Many fast fashion sites even have a section dedicated to this aesthetic as it has become extremely popular over the past few years.
Dark Academia
I typically think of Dark Academia as a home aesthetic more than a fashion choice, but it is still a very well-known aesthetic. I tend to think of Harry Potter when I think of Dark Academia as it pulls from literature and classical architecture. This aesthetic also pulls from gothic areas of fashion. Think layers, structured blazers, and outerwear, along with a dark neutral color palette, vintage watches, and leather bags.
Coquette
This aesthetic focuses on all things feminine and romantic - oh, and did I mention feminine? Coquette pulls inspiration from Victorian-era fashion and spins it into today’s modern romance novel packaged in a pretty pink bow. This aesthetic is responsible for bringing back big hair bows, ballet flats, and corsets, which I am really not mad at.
Vintage
This one is pretty self-explanatory, but when I think of this as an aesthetic I tend to think of lots of lace, shoulder pads, fabulous hats, and kitten heels. In my opinion, this aesthetic is one that takes a lot of commitment to build a wardrobe around. Kudos to you, vintage lovers.
Grunge
The grunge aesthetic is heavily inspired by heavy metal and rock musicians. When I think of grunge, my mind immediately goes to Lindsay Lohan in Freaky Friday. This aesthetic is one that aims to look thrown together and more on the effortless side (#itsnotaphase). I picture a grunge wardrobe containing a lot of oversized graphic tees, cargo pants, leather jackets, Doc Martens, and some classic Converse.
Normcore
Akin to a Madewell or Old Navy ad, this aesthetic LOVES a good basic tee and jean combo. A normcore girly would throw on her striped cardigan over her white tee and slip into her slingback Mary Janes for her daily commute. This aesthetic is all about breaking away from fashion trends and sticking with the classics.
Stay tuned for a deeper dive into what La and I think of our own personal style and if we fit into any of the aesthetics or hyper-aesthetics. We may even have a quiz for you ;)
Have some thoughts on aesthetics? Chat with us over on our Instagram.
Until next time,