At its core, the trending whimsigothic aesthetic is an amalgamation of Y2K bohemia and dark academia, spurred on by the resurgence in Tumblr-core visuals. Not sure what the heck that sentence said at all? Not to worry, we’ll break it down for you.
Cultural Inspiratiration
Trends don’t just blossom out of thin air. Whimsygothic style was first represented in the media by popular cult classic shows such as Charmed, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Sabrina the Teenage Witch. These shows of the 1980s and ‘90s experienced a second wave of popularity due to modern remakes. Aspirational images highlighting the style also circulated on Tumblr.com, allowing the visual aesthetic to reach a younger generation. Because these shows are celebrated year after year particularly around Halloween, fashion tends towards this aesthetic in the early fall.
Color Palate
Though grays and blacks provide a base for whimsigothic outfits, there’s much fun to be had with luminous purples, rich maroons, emerald greens, and mystical blues. The trick here is to keep the palate dark overall while still indulging in a bit of personal flair. Fabrics, too, can help bring the point across: velvet and sheer pieces can be layered over camisoles and turtlenecks for a charming effect.
Current Adaptations
This microtrend is riding the coattails of the larger returning interest in Y2K style – that is, fashions popular in the early 2000s). Modern whimsigothic outfits pay homage to the turn of the century with plenty of glittering jewelry and iconic pieces like tinted sunglasses and hair clips. True to its roots, whimsigothic still takes cues from the media: the popular show Wednesday inspired whimsigothic-hopefuls to accessorize with braids and ribbons.
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