There’s something almost embarrassingly wonderful about aesthetics, isn’t there? It’s like admitting that you judge books by their covers, but in the very best, most human way. Aesthetics are the story before the story, the unspoken poetry of who we are or who we’d like to be if only we were just a bit cooler, more composed, or had a knack for finding the perfect vintage scarf.
At their heart, aesthetics are about longing. They’re about the tiny ache you feel when you see a photo of a mossy, ivy-covered courtyard or a perfectly worn leather armchair bathed in golden light. They pull at some ancient, primal part of us that remembers how to yearn for beauty and order, for things that feel deliberate. And, oh, the delicious drama of it all! The windswept moors of Dark Academia, the candy-coated sweetness of the Soft Girl aesthetic, the unapologetic spectacle of Cyberpunk—all whispering, “This could be you, if only you’d lean in.”
But here’s the real kicker: aesthetics are also entirely impractical, which is why they’re so enchanting. Nobody needs to drape themselves in velvet and sip tea in a library, just as no one needs a kitchen lit entirely by neon lights. But we love them because they remind us that life isn’t just about survival—it’s about flair. It’s about imagining yourself as the protagonist of a story, whether you’re a woodland fairy, a city-dwelling intellectual, or a romantic heroine lost in a world of candlelight and tragic novels.
What I think we really love about aesthetics is how they give us permission to be a little ridiculous, to fall in love with the idea of something and not worry too much about the practicalities. Because deep down, we all want to live in a world that feels a little more magical, a little more cinematic. A world where your outfit matches your mood, your furniture tells a story, and your daydreams get to run wild. And honestly, isn’t that enough?
Aesthetics Up Close
Coquette
Gothcore
Vintage
