Oh So Aesthetic
Bowl of rings Photo: Moi :)What makes something aesthetic? How does one identify their own aesthetic? Can an aesthetic change? Well, I am no expert, and although I may have a different answer then others about what makes something aesthetic, I do know how to identify one and whether or not they change. In order to make this message more clear, I will happily explain the transformation of my own aesthetic over the years, and how you might be able to relate.
I will start this journey at my freshman year of high school, because, to be completely honest my aesthetic before then (if you could even call it that) was A MESS…. and my best friend Morgan can confirm that. So, freshman year… my aesthetic was what one could call a “Basic Bitch with a dash of SPICE”. I wore cringe worthy American Eagle skinny jeans with so many holes you would think I got attacked my a raccoon, and really tacky and ill fitting shirts. I wore only silver jewelry, which does not look great with my complexion, and wore my hair long, blunt and pin straight. But my room, the music I listened to, or even my overall vibe did not reflect the true me.. Now, in no way do I regret going through this stage, because it definitely influenced my current aesthetic in a way, but I would not wish this phase on anyone, especially on myself again.
My sophomore year I began to move into loser fitting jeans that better flattered my figure, and tighter tops. I started to style my long hair in more appealing to my face shape. But other than that, I was still pretty basic. Still pretty cookie cutter. And if I am being honest, it is 100% because of the friends I was surrounding myself with. They didn’t make me feel good. They didn’t encourage me to grow. It was this same year that I realized that a career in the fashion industry was what I wanted, and the only way to get there, was not to change myself completely, but to enhance different aspects of myself, and to start giving zero fucks. So, I chopped eight inches off of my hair. It felt like the right thing to do, and let me tell you THE GLOW UP that I had was truly one for the books.
The summer before my junior year, I got a job at a boutique in my town. I will give full credit to this job for the start of my aesthetic transformation. This same summer, Morgan and I left that toxic group of friends, and immediately became more like the versions of ourselves that we were around each other, in public. I began to experiment more with color and print, I started to listen to music that I was truly passionate about. I started wearing gold, and lots of rings on my fingers. I started reading more, and making lists in films that I had watched or wanted to. I began to change up my bedroom, and hung so many things on the walls. I was starting to figure out my current aesthetic. Unfortunately you will need to read to the end to learn what is.
My whole junior year was pretty consistent. I had a blunt, long-bob, and my clothes didn’t change much. But then the summer before my senior year I painted the ceiling in my bedroom pink and made the pink drip down around the edges. I did a giant photo collage on the same wall as my closet (floor to ceiling) in all pink, black, and white. I did a frame wall, and updated where my floating book shelves hang. That same summer I made some drastic changes to my appearance. I pierced my nose, and a week before school started (over zoom because of COVID) I made the decision to go full on Molly Ringwald “Pretty in Pink” with my hair, and chopped in all off to a long pixie cut. This was the best decision I have ever made for myself. It made me want to be more unexpected with my fashion, and aesthetic. It made me want to take more risks, and me more electric (hint, hint). It made me want to be MORE.
If you know me well, you know that I have always been a lot, quite the character even. But this was different. I wasn’t being a lot in the term so too much or crazy (even though from time to time I am those things), I was being a lot regarding what everyone else was doing. No one was dressing like me, well people my same age and from my town anyway. I was so cool dude, I miss it. ANYWAY, that year, my senior year was my coming out in a way. It was like I jumped out of a giant cake, hands above my head yelling “Here I am! This is me!!” I started being more edgy with my hair, experimenting with textures, and bangs. I started to think more seriously about tattoos (I now have four with more to come) and more colorful and chunky jewelry. I also started to make Pinterest boards for interior design, and fashion trends/aesthetics that I liked, and then it hit me. I am an electric maximalist. I want to be a walking rainbow, and come home to covered walls and a colorful layout. I want patterns and metallic art. This does not mean I want clutter, and random knick-knacks all over the place, but I want the pace to feel full. to feel lived in.
Now, I will go back to the questions I posed at the beginning of this. What makes something aesthetic or not is up to you. This is because everyone has their own aesthetic and taste. But when it comes to identifying it, or whether or not it can change, it all depends on your own personal growth, and things that you enjoy. This can be affected by age, mental health, or even environment. So if you want to know, just go on Pinterest, and make a board and just find things that are appealing to you. And if this aesthetic doesn’t have a name, then give it one. I mean, it is yours after all.
-Miss O
