The Fashion Alphabet: Aesthetics Edition
What category do you fall into?
If you’re anything like me, you dress differently on a week-to-week and sometimes day-to-day basis. You get up, and while getting dressed, you go wherever the mood takes you, you know? One day you could be wearing head-to-toe black in an effort to remain unseen and inconspicuous, the next day your outfit might resemble what you’d find at the end of a rainbow - if that rainbow vomited out a concoction of clashing prints and contrasting colours. My style and aesthetic is like a revolving door that rotates on an endless loop, it differs from one minute to the next.
As personal style evolves and changes so do the aesthetics that come with. There's a never-ending abundance of micro-cores and subcultures that are emerging as of late from bigger trend themes, and the aesthetic wheel of fortune shows no signs of slowing down just yet. With culture moving towards being more niche, an abundance of new aesthetics are emerging that make sense for developing personal styles and sense of tastes. Here I attempt to redo the fashion alphabet with a twist - this is the fashion alphabet: aesthetics edition.
Angelcore - dreamy landscapes, celestial imagery and hazy pink and yellow tones sum up the Angelcore aesthetic perfectly. Some of my favourite designers whose clothing fits this mould are Simone Rocha and Molly Goddard with their translucent gauzy creations.
Baddie - where would we be in 2022 without our Baddies? Think Lizzo, Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion and all of the influencers you see flooding your IG grid. This aesthetic usually leaves little to the imagination; tight-fitting dresses, a full face of makeup, and designer accessories or head-to-toe outfits where everything matches - the colour of your clothes, to the colour of your hair, to the colour of your nail varnish and lipstick. Yes really. It’s a mix of streetwear vibes with nostalgic influences, and evolves as the term baddie changes.
Cottagecore - rustic and romantic traditionally feminine attire that wouldn’t look out of place on Little House on the Prairie, or something reminiscent of Dorothy’s dress code in The Wizard of Oz.
Dark academia - think sweater vests, tweed blazers, knee high socks and anything that reminds you of the cast of Gossip Girl. Here dark doesn’t necessarily mean dangerous, it simply relates to your outfit tones, textures and colour patterns that lean towards darker hues. High class with elements of vintage, this aesthetic is almost an amalgamation of different historical periods that have come together.
Equestrian - fashion consisting very much of traditional riding attire that you’d find people wearing in the English countryside, or for modern day inspiration look no further than the Hadid sisters and their love of horseback riding.
Fairy grunge - we have Gen Z to thank for popularising this nature-inspired fashion aesthetic. Combining elements of darker gothic style clothing, as seen in the Twilight movies and Vampire Diaries, with floaty fairy-like ideals, fairy grunge is edgy and feminine all at once.
Gorpcore - have you noticed an influx of outdoorsy-style hiking looks hitting the runways recently? When you go into town do people look like they’re going on a climbing excursion rather than about their day-to-day business? Well, that's Gorpcore for you. Think waterproof clothing like puffer jackets and windbreakers, cargo pants that make noise every time you move, and hiking boots that look like they belong on a 10 day camping trek in the great outdoors. Salomon is one of my favourite brands in this space, they manage to make Gorpcore gear look fashionable and functional, even if you want to go about your sedentary lifestyle.
Hipster - this is one for all of you that are familiar with ‘Hoxtonites’, and people that reside over on the east side of London. Hipsters are typically into alternative music genres and can be found wearing beanie hats, rounded glasses, check shirts and canvas bags - they reject the idea of mainstream sartorial ideals and instead embrace quirky pieces that define an outfit. Picture them riding through Old Street on a bicycle with a basket, or picking up a bunch of peonies at Columbia Road Flower Market.
Indie Kid - skater style meets bright fashion from the early 2000s, Indie Kids favour cargo pants and anything oversized - an aesthetic bright back into favour by none other than TikTok. Indie Kid is all about individuality and a light-hearted approach to getting dressed, it's easy to understand and even easier to replicate.
Junk Punk - a mash-up between steampunk and goth, Junk punk attire consists of survival gear for the hardiest of individuals and outfits to survive the apocalypse. Think Love and Monsters or Shadow and Bone on Netflix. Belts, zippers and chains feature heavily in this aesthetic that focuses on outdated and old objects.
Kawaii - (かわいい) is a Japanese aesthetic often used to refer to cute and pretty things that resemble objects you may have fawned over in your childhood. It’s grown so much in popularity that many different subcultures have spawned from the original aesthetic, with these subcultures particularly prevalent in east Asia.
Luxe-on-luxe - this is one I may have coined myself, but when I think of luxe-on-luxe as an aesthetic I think of people who love to wear designer labels and monogram prints head-to-toe. im talking Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Balenciaga and anything else that's distinctly recognisable as being a luxury designer item.
Maximalist - more is more is more! No-one embodies a Maximalist aesthetic better than one of my style icons, Iris Apfel. This is an aesthetic of excess, where prints can clash, different textures and tones are welcomed, and generally more of everything is better. Probably not for the fainthearted.
Normcore - simple, classic, sometimes seen as ‘a little basic’ - but I’m not judging - Normcore is an aesthetic for those who want clean and contemporary looks that they can rotate again and again. In response to an over saturation of fashion, Normcore wearers prefer plain hoodies and tees, simple jeans and generally a more laid-back vibe.
Old Hollywood - Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn encapsulate Old Hollywood glamour and allure better than no other, with their dark lips, thin eyebrows and belted gowns. This aesthetic stems from movies, fashion and popular music from the 1930s to the 1960s.
Pearlcore - beaded jewellery and embellishment has extended the appeal of pearls, and celebrities such as Harry Styles and Barbie Ferreira have given pearls new life by taking them out of the depths of our grandparents' wardrobes and giving them their time to shine in the spotlight.
Queencore - think royal, think regal, think crowns and jewels and Western European monarchies. Bridgerton definitely had a helping hand in bringing Queencore to the forefront, by embracing opulent style in a fanciful way.
Raver - old school 90s raves spring to mind when conjuring images of the Raver aesthetic. Think neon outfits, wrist bracelets and denim shorts with knee-high socks worn at night-clubs, outdoor festivals and invite-only parties in the middle of nowhere. Electronic and dance music playing in the background, drink in hand while fist bumping the air… magical.
Softcore - relates to anything and everything soft from clothing to bedding and interiors, Softcore reached new popular heights during the course of the pandemic as we all craved comfort and tenderness. And soft things to the touch, lots of soft things.
Twee - the term ‘twee’ is understood as being “excessively or affectedly quaint, pretty, or sentimental” in the English language. This aesthetic is all about whimsy and embracing your quirks, and being authentic through your imperfections.
Urbancore - brought to life by urban cities, Urbancore reflects modern-day society and drawers from skater culture, hip-hop and even has a little sense of nostalgia mixed in. Ankle socks worn with Vans, baggy cargo pants and chains over sweaters if you want an urbanesque fit.
Vintage - this one is a bit of an umbrella term that can refer to anything from the past, worn in current times. It's an aesthetic that centres on individuality and uniqueness as it doesn’t conform to any one trend, and mixes pieces from different periods of time. What I enjoy about vintage is that no two looks are the same.
Western - the wild wild west - and movies that fall under the Western category - popularised wide-brimmed cowboy hats, cowboy boots and spurs, and leather jackets with tassels (well not always). Modern rodeo fashion that falls under this aesthetic often features embroidery, warm tones and decorative rhinestones - totally here for it all.
Y2K - inspired by the mid 90s and early 2000s - Destiny Child, Mariah Carey and Missy Elliott music videos spring to mind - Y2K was the aesthetic that became popular during the dot com boom. This style is a mix of pop culture from the time, mixed with a sense of optimism for the future. Futuristic with a bit of an edge, oakley sunglasses paired with a polo top paired with a pleated mini skirt and some chunky trainers should do the trick.
Zentai - this one’s new to me, but when researching this newsletter I stumbled across Zentai which is a skin-tight garment that covers the body and comes in all different styles, colours and designs. Hailing from Japan, you can get custom made Zentai suits to look like an anime character, a superhero or anything else your heart desires. You know those masks Ye has a fondness for wearing? Picture that head-to-toe.
Other notable aesthetics:
Afrofuturism - explores the merging of African diaspora culture with technology.
Art Hoe - based on a love of art, a connection to nature, and being your authentic creative self.
Cyberpunk - think Blade Runner and The Matrix, tech vibes mixed with gothic fashion.
Gamercore - a gamer/virtual world aesthetic, set to grow in popularity with the rise of the metaverse.
Slutcore - skimpy clothes, scantily-clad bodies, sexuality worn loud and proud.
Witchcore - centred around all things magical, think Stevie Nicks (accidental Witchcore icon, love to see it).
How would you describe your fashion aesthetic? What subculture resonates with you, that you feel a part of? Let me know in the comments!
Share this post, feel free to comment, and let’s keep the aesthetic conversation going.
WHOA! This is amazing! Thanks for introducing me to so many fashion subcultures! You could make this into an awesome zine!