I'm delighted that this aesthetic is making a comeback in style. Stevie Nicks arguably brought the look of layered skirts, dramatic sleeves and overall witchy style into prominence in the 70's, and Florence Welch did it for the more contemporary generation.
‼️ okay I was a child of the mid-90s and my mom was really bought into satanic panic. And now as an adult I have always assumed it was a bunch of b******* . BUT then it came out that Jeff rey Ep st ein really did have an island with a temple on it where he would x ually abuse children specifically little girls. And ever since then I am suddenly questioning everything. That's true! That happened! You can see pictures of that temple. That is real and if that was real could there have been some truth to the satanic panic? There really is an island that a bunch of powerful people and world leaders have visited with a temple on it to SA kids. Like that blew my mind so much I'm now reconsidering everything I thought I knew.
I thought this never went out of style. I know a lot of women in their early 40s and late 30s who have this personal aesthetic all year. I think it was a 90s-early 00s thing and it stuck.
@@AB-sm1qf yeah it never went out, was called 90s goth, not operatic like 80s or a bit scene kid like 00s zoomers are unoriginal so feel the need to rename stuff millennials love
They're taking about like mainstream so I could go to Walmart or target and get stevie styles clothes. Nothing really goes out of style but the availability can get tricky.
The whimsigoth aesthetic is indeed one of the most whimsical aesthetics you can ever come across. It's nothing too bright or too colorful. Rather it's more on the neutral side, which is fascinating the more you think about it.
yesss i love it!!! The use of interesting fabrics (such as velvet & lace), extravagant shapes (flowy skirts/sleeves) and the added celestial and floral details is really what captures the attention in this aesthetic. Even with the colors, they are subdued and not super bright and in you face like you mentioned, but they're rich! They're not minimalistic, like muted greys, browns & tans, there's a lot of deep jewel tones with a mix of earthy tones and the use of black makes them pop.
I feel like the "lighter" version of this is mori kei = forest girl. It emphasizes natural colours, layered loose clothing, and whimsical fairytale-like vibes. Cottagecore is a more recent aesthetic but does overlap. Another old japanese substyle that feels like an in-between of mori-kei and whimsigoth is dolly kei. It takes inspiration from antique dolls and vintage European clothing and tends to use a darker palette while also emphasizing layers.
My friends and I have been joking about there being a "goth-to-boho pipeline" for a while, due to so many aesthetically dark folks in our group mellowing out their style in a hippy-ish direction over the quarantine/ as we get older. I'm about halfway along the pipeline now and it's awesome to find a bunch of names for where I find myself now (woodland goth, witchcore and whimsigoth all fit my current vibe)
For me it was just the other way around. My dad was a hippie in the 60s/70s and I grew up with his music. Over the years I turned into a darker version.
As a goth with a love of witchy and romantic vibes, this look is a ton of fun. A number of regular goths have been enjoying the vibes (several appearing in the tiktok clips) and I've been using the opportunity to share a lot of Ethereal Goth bands for people who want to get into softer goth music.
I was trying to explain whimsigothic to my mom the other day and I literally ended up saying: "okay imagine a dramatic vampire from the medieval period living in the '90s who loves velvet and dark rich colours and vintage stuff, but who has also gone through a bohemian phase and loves celestial imagery - the way that vampire would dress and decorate their space... that's whimsigothic" lmao
Great to finally know the word for the aesthetic I just called “Phoebe Buffaey/Stevie Nicks/The Craft/goth/witch/Halloween/autumn/hippie/Buffy the Vampire Salyer” aesthetic xD
I’m glad this is making a comeback…I was trying to find words for this style myself as I like the goth aesthetic but don’t like wearing it myself. So I was calling it dark bohemia instead of whimsigoth, inspired by dark academia. The bohemian style of layered long skirts, jewelry, patterns and textures softens it without taking it into an anime cartoon like pastel goth. You could wear it everyday if you wanted to.
Moth rather than butterfly 🖤 Back in “the day” the Satanic panic made it actually challenging to dress this way. Looking witchy was very rebellious, especially for one lived in middle America just wearing black nail polish, as a young teen, alone could scare grown professionals into thinking you’re about to Satan them to death 🤣… seriously, you had to be brave to be Gothic or witchy back then! Now it’s mainstream. Sometimes that surprises me, but mostly I feel overjoyed that we overcame! We ended up changing world fashion, and every generation since ours (gen X) no longer fears the dark side of fashion. You’re welcome. As an old 90s Goth, I can tell you that what is seen as a whimsy goth was seen more as renaissance, witchy and romantic at the time. Like late 70s, Kate Bush or Stevie Nicks. We loved it of course! Gothic looks themselves were more Victorian and Edwardian and/or more industrial (the industrial was particularly strong in Germany). Personally, I always felt a more renaissance, gypsy whitchy look, suited the countryside more and a more pure Gothic look suited the city. But, there are no rules. I think what truly makes somebody a goth , whether it’s dressing like a vampire, steampunk, a gypsy, fortuneteller, a Victorian widow, whimsically, romantically, grim reaper-y or just has a deep fascination with Goth-father Peter Murphy. A Goth is someone who would rather be a beautiful moth, than a butterfly, mostly because they are drawn to the mystery
I knew this was gaining in popularity when my whimsigoth playlist on Spotify jumped from 10 to 400 likes in under a few weeks! This is my favorite aesthetic and what inspires me most. Love this video ♥️
This aesthetic is also very timeless because many of these outfits (or similar) shown in the tiktok´s reels were part of my wardrobe when I was a teenager... which is almost twenty years ago 😆
Loved this breakdown of the aesthetic. As someone who's been practicing witchcraft for over 20 years, I've thought a lot about your last point regarding appropriation. When I started, it was not cool to be a witch where I grew up and it was a struggle to stay true to myself in such a hostile cultural climate. I will admit than when witchcraft and witchy "aesthetics" became popular again I had a hard time being tolerant because it seemed like people jumped on a trend for a hot minute rather than actually practicing the craft itself and understanding what it means. There are still people who do this. However, the witch-hunting of the past had little to do with true witchcraft and more to do with misogyny. Therefore, regardless of your status as a practitioner of witchcraft, it really belongs to all women. As Aunt Jet says in Practical Magic: "There's a little witch in all of us."
You’re telling me the aesthetic I’ve strived for but never been able to articulate has a name? Why am I just now learning this?!?!? Thank you so much!!!
I’m definitely on board with renaissance -inspired fashion being brought back around for another gen twist. Give me all the velvet and detachable sleeves edit: i will add, however, that we have to be respectful of indigenous open and closed practices (wicca draws a lot of inspo from various native communities in the americas, and hoodoo/voodoo being considered popular commodities from non-practicing folks). especially closed practice settings where those within the practice explicitly state not to use certain items/sayings/spiritual beings or gods/iconography as it’s disrespectful and can bring you harm if used improperly :)
If you lived in the southern US, the satanic panic never died. My parents never allowed me to watch anything with witchy allusions, which honestly made me more interested in it.
Omg I love this style. I used to call what my aesthetic in highschool was "hippie goth" and it was halfway between like emo, Bohemian crafter, goth, and punk. Whimsy goth is a good name for it.
I love whimsigoth so much, it’s like living in Autumn 24/7! Also, I found it awesome that you mentioned Phoebe Buffay in the video! I always loved how pretty her outfits were :)
Good video, I would like to add some other details based on my own study of fashion and counter culture. You can see iterations of this style within goth culture starting in the 80's. Bands like The Mission made a lot of hippie goth rock and Cocteau Twins were known for their ethereal goth sound. The funny thing about goth culture is it often wasn't goths themselves that came up with names for the various styles they dressed in because dressing goth has never been a requirement to BE goth. Goths always just wore what they wanted and trends formed organically within the community. So it was often people who weren't completely familiar with it who pigeon holed these styles or it was nostalgic goths wanting to put a name to an aesthetic they wore in a previous decade. You can see mentions of ethereal goth, hippie goth, fairy goth etc. since the 2000's, but it was the 2010's that really got the aesthetics down to a science. Nu goth really kicked off this trend, but it was the Japanese street styles of the early 2010's that really inspired styles like whimsy goth, fairy grunge, goblin core etc. On tumblr there were a lot of alt kids and goths discovering Dolly kei, Mori kei and natural kei but they wanted a darker witchier spin on it. This gave birth to what we called Strega fashion on tumblr. It was really cool to witness this because it was the first time in a long while that people were interested in Kate Bush and Stevie Nicks again and a lot of people who were genuinely into witchcraft got into it. I bring up strega and the styles that inspired it because thats where a lot of inspiration for whimsy goth and similar modern styles come from. I can't tell you the amount of times I've seen old strega or mori kei boards get shared on pinterest with modern tags like "witch core" or "goblin core" its interesting to see how these styles have basically been rebranded by the tiktok generation.
Love this thorough video you did. I've been drawn to whimsigoth since I was a child in the 90s. I ADORED Stevie Nicks and Kate Bush in my teens and I love how they've been making comebacks in the last 10 years.
I tried to emulate that whimsigoth style (especially with laced tops and bell sleeves) so often in high school, it's really cool to finally put a name on it ! I always love to put a witchy vibe to my outfits, at work or when I am going out. I'm very happy it's making a comeback !
HUGELY recommend the TV show Penny Dreadful. Please, I beg of you. This show is so slept on. If you like Gothic vibes- watch it! Acting, writing, costumes, music, pure brilliance!
As its name suggests, the Penny Dreadful show is also a big time homage to Penny dreadfuls, the British and Australian equivalent of the (primarily Anglophone) North American dime novels.
I’ve been yearning for this aesthetic my entire life! I adore making and thrifting clothes that fit the whimsigoth vibe. So glad more people are falling in love with this style✨
I had no idea this style had a name! I usually dress very pastel and sweet but Ive always had a few pieces like this in my closet to use for Mori/folk style purposes. Ive always been drawn to Medieval cuts with dresses as well so this is definitely a style I see myself growing into/wearing a lot when I'm older.
Ive been seeing whimsigoth float around the internet for a few years now, this year I’ve decided to incorporate more inspiration from this aesthetic and I love it!!! I love the muted colors, jewelry, and associations with nature.
Thank you for this video, I am absolutely shooketh by the realisation that this has been one of my favourite styles for YEARS on some subconscious level and yet I never fully realised it and never tried it out?? Literally every piece of media, literature and music you named had a huge influence on me. I guess it just amazes me how it all aligns - Florence/Stevie/Kate, Shakespeare, Shelley, the history of witches and feminism, witchy tv of the 90s and 00s… Like yes? Why didn’t I see how it’s all connected? To compile material from different types of media and time periods and review them using a certain paradigm so effectively it seems to the audience almost effortless, easy and obvious in hindsight - is one of the greatest skills. I know you approach all your style/aesthetic research like that but this video in particular stands out to me. All kudos! ✨❤️🔥
I really like the name Whimsigoth better than how I usually decsribe my aesthetic/style. I usually just say I'm VintageBohoWitch lol. Btw, both Stevie & Kate were style inspo to me in the 70s/80s. My tastes never really changed. Since I now live in a place that is warm to hot 10 months out of the year, I had to lighten up my color palette & fabrics saving all the black, burgundy & velvet for the Winter time.
I wore it, when I was 14 in 1990 and I'm still wearing it in my late 40s. Also, black hides your imperfection when getting older ;) and I've got a flabby tummy after child births and a full hysterectomy, so I'm wearing more dresses as skirts enhance that bit and I layer a lot
I love gothic novels and the aesthetic, but I also love bands like Mephisto Walz, Cocteau Twins, The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Nosferatu, and Corpus Delecti. I find that this aesthetic matches my whimsical nature but also my love of goth music and all things spooky.
Before it had a name I just called it hippie goth. It’s always been my version of super casual go to. I always loved Stevie and found muted color pops mixed with black to make very calming combinations. My dress up go to is more medieval and vampiric with deep purples and burgundies as my color pop. Edit: my absolute favorite version of “running up that hill” is definitely Placebo.
I noticed this look was coming back I was obbesesd with the astectic as little kid in the late 90s but it wasn't till my late 20s that I even started dressing that way .
This makes me think of both 90s and 70s style this was what i wanted as a kid when i thought about being a teenager, sabrina the teenage witch always comes to mind
You missed a great movie full of this style: PENELOPE! That’s my favorite film for this, they do a great job at it. I’m also loving Claudia’s style in Interview with the Vampire 2022.
Having grown up most teen years in the 90’s was so much fun with horror movies and shows. The whimsical goth clothing of course came out in the fall and I loved seeing the fashion inspiration in the magazines. Velvet highly underrated 😛
Growing up, my mother devoured gothic romance novels. Before i could read, she'd set me loose in antique/thrift store with the instruction of finding softcover books with yellow pages that features a woman running away from a castle at night with one illumination window.
I absolutely love this style, through it's not really for me, through there are definitely elements of it in my style. I do want to point out, on the culture appreciation part, I'd say it's important to note that this style is heavily influenced from the clothing style of Roma through the 19th and 20th century (which is definitely where the witch community got a lot of style influence from as well). I think it's even more important to note this than the witch community, since this is an actual culture(s), and it feels weird to not address this.
I really like this style, except the 70s boho elements. I love these fantastical inspirations in fashion, mermaids, witches, besides, autumn is my favourite season and Halloween my favourite holiday. Very nice and well researched video, bravo! 😁
sooo i was really into dark academia in the early 2010s when the term wasn't coined yet and now i've been obsessed with whimsigoth for the last 3 - 5 years, frustrated not to be able to make a google search of something i felt was a trend but had no name to call it, maybe next time i'll manage to synch up a bit better
Whatever u call it, i love the 90s practical magic aesthetic and this has been my idea style for so long, but i cant find pieces in my size that look authentic.
as someone who doesnt have tiktok and isnt that aware of online trends, i find these videos very educational hahaha i love looking at the outfits these people put together
Loved that you covered this style so perfectly! It’s always been my favorite. I just love the jewel colors and rich delicate fabrics like crushed velvets, silks and tulle 🧚🏻♀️
This was such an eye opening video because I think unintentionally my personal style is heading towards a whimsigoth trajectory! I never had a word for it but now I do and this is certainly interesting lol.
This is my favorite style EVER! But, I live in such a hot climate all year round that is almost impossible to wear this look on a daily basis. I wear it on occasions, where I know I'm not going to be melting. I'm from the 80s era, and I used to dress like that. My prom dress was a velvet piece in dark bottle green, in renaissance style with gold rims. It was beautiful! And a friend did my makeup with very pale matte skin, black eyeliner and deep dark wine red. Still remember...
Oh I love this so much. Thank you for making this! Very educational. I decided to call my personal style "whimsical goth", and this is the first time I've seen it described well.
It's all just so good I'm at a loss for words. Gothic/medieval/renaissance, Practical Magic, Wuthering Heights, gothic romance book covers, Sleepy Hollow, Hocus Pocus, Princess bride, and other medieval/renaissance adventure films. Ahhhhhh, it makes me giddy.
I love the use of color but in a dark or muted jewel tone way. It comes across so rich and Victorian. 💕 I’m an old goth, stuck in my all black ways, but it so reminds me of being a kid going to new age/witchy shops in the 90s!
I love this aesthetic so much, one of my favorite books “Our share of night” is literally all of this combined (with a very intense relationship between a father and a son)
Wow, I am a bit old I know (nearly 40) 😂 but I really liked it when this similar style was quite popular whe I was a teen in the 90’s. Turns out I am already following several IG accounts that show this style 😝 Now I have a name for it, thank you! ☺️
I love this so much - the essay (thank you for linking the history together and naming this!) And the aesthetic; it's been an influence and something Ive loved since childhood, but I never had a name/term for.. so thanks 😊💗
As a Wiccan for nearly 20 years, I personally don't see anything wrong going on here. I dress mostly in flowery dresses, Wicca is a religion, not an aesthetic. I am annoyed at people wearing Wiccan and pagan symbols just cause though. That is disrespectful. I don't see non-christians wearing crosses around
5:06 literally writing my essay on two points of gothic literature and i mention that we associate gothic with victorian/turn of the century rather than the 1800s,, love that ive randomly come across it here! :)
I am waiting for that video for centuries. Nicole's little green velvet dress, green velvet top with black pants at school visit, her HAIR, Sandra's denim shorts, her HAIR and full on witch black dressess at the end of a movie-too many great things to talk about. Also showing some love for my country man Goran Visnic who is playing the beautiful demon. ❤️
Oh wow, that little clip of Kate Bush at the end of the intro, never thought I'd live to see a day where she is popular again, love her so much. My dad was listening to the Cure in 1978, when I was two! This "whimsygoth" is my realm, so I'm here to see what you have to say.
This was a great video and I just want to vouch for one of the brands that's featured! I've loved Cosmic Drifters for years, they're a slow fashion brand in the UK (everything is made bespoke by hand by their small team) run by two fabulous and kind witches. Can't recommend them enough and it made me super happy to see them here!
Had no idea this style had a name. I just really like dark clothing and naturey themes and also just love Stevie Nick's style and music. Lmao, now I know what to search online to find what I like! Edit: I think it's hilarious that we all seemed to call it hippie-goth and dark bohemian lmao. Guess we were all on the same track
"A woman with a disheveled appearance running away from a castle in terrible weather" is honestly a perfect description for my style
This has to be my favorite comment that I have ever seen. You win.
Give the woman a raincoat! 😁
Mine too!!😃
Yes! Those also have been some of my favorite books! 😂🖤
@@sarahwatts7152 That would totally ruin the look!!😂
I'm delighted that this aesthetic is making a comeback in style. Stevie Nicks arguably brought the look of layered skirts, dramatic sleeves and overall witchy style into prominence in the 70's, and Florence Welch did it for the more contemporary generation.
‼️ okay I was a child of the mid-90s and my mom was really bought into satanic panic. And now as an adult I have always assumed it was a bunch of b******* . BUT then it came out that Jeff rey Ep st ein really did have an island with a temple on it where he would x ually abuse children specifically little girls. And ever since then I am suddenly questioning everything. That's true! That happened! You can see pictures of that temple. That is real and if that was real could there have been some truth to the satanic panic? There really is an island that a bunch of powerful people and world leaders have visited with a temple on it to SA kids. Like that blew my mind so much I'm now reconsidering everything I thought I knew.
I thought this never went out of style. I know a lot of women in their early 40s and late 30s who have this personal aesthetic all year. I think it was a 90s-early 00s thing and it stuck.
@@AB-sm1qf yeah it never went out, was called 90s goth, not operatic like 80s or a bit scene kid like 00s
zoomers are unoriginal so feel the need to rename stuff millennials love
Yesss girl 💕💕
They're taking about like mainstream so I could go to Walmart or target and get stevie styles clothes. Nothing really goes out of style but the availability can get tricky.
The whimsigoth aesthetic is indeed one of the most whimsical aesthetics you can ever come across. It's nothing too bright or too colorful. Rather it's more on the neutral side, which is fascinating the more you think about it.
Facts
Yes! I love that it's pretty extravagant without necessarily being super in your face
yesss i love it!!! The use of interesting fabrics (such as velvet & lace), extravagant shapes (flowy skirts/sleeves) and the added celestial and floral details is really what captures the attention in this aesthetic. Even with the colors, they are subdued and not super bright and in you face like you mentioned, but they're rich! They're not minimalistic, like muted greys, browns & tans, there's a lot of deep jewel tones with a mix of earthy tones and the use of black makes them pop.
Yeah it's realistic
I think it's very colorful ... jewel tones and fall colors plus black.
I feel like the "lighter" version of this is mori kei = forest girl. It emphasizes natural colours, layered loose clothing, and whimsical fairytale-like vibes. Cottagecore is a more recent aesthetic but does overlap. Another old japanese substyle that feels like an in-between of mori-kei and whimsigoth is dolly kei. It takes inspiration from antique dolls and vintage European clothing and tends to use a darker palette while also emphasizing layers.
This is in fact some type of dark mori. I personally use the term "Neverland goth" and I dress whatever it has natural/dark/earthy/celestial vibes.
Tienes razón!
This is THE style that I remember being everywhere in the mid-late 90’s/early 2000’s
and true blood in late 2000s
Yes, the wiccan aesthetic.
I’m so ready to once again be educated by the only and iconic ModernGurl
Yes, I really adore Tessa's thorough, well researched analyses!
@@trinaqwhy do i see you everywhere?
My friends and I have been joking about there being a "goth-to-boho pipeline" for a while, due to so many aesthetically dark folks in our group mellowing out their style in a hippy-ish direction over the quarantine/ as we get older. I'm about halfway along the pipeline now and it's awesome to find a bunch of names for where I find myself now (woodland goth, witchcore and whimsigoth all fit my current vibe)
was called bohemian about 20 years ago
Why is this me
when i was in 7th grade i called myself a "gippy" aka a goth hippy which was basically my 13-yr-old self's interpretation of this lol
For me it was just the other way around. My dad was a hippie in the 60s/70s and I grew up with his music. Over the years I turned into a darker version.
Omg this is very me, I've been clocked!
As a goth with a love of witchy and romantic vibes, this look is a ton of fun. A number of regular goths have been enjoying the vibes (several appearing in the tiktok clips) and I've been using the opportunity to share a lot of Ethereal Goth bands for people who want to get into softer goth music.
what bands would u recomend to listen to? :D
@@magierio3568 Mazzy Star def
@@magierio3568 the shroud
@@magierio3568 Cocteau twins
Yes, ethereal goth is the perfect companion for the style! And some Siouxsie.
I was trying to explain whimsigothic to my mom the other day and I literally ended up saying: "okay imagine a dramatic vampire from the medieval period living in the '90s who loves velvet and dark rich colours and vintage stuff, but who has also gone through a bohemian phase and loves celestial imagery - the way that vampire would dress and decorate their space... that's whimsigothic" lmao
in the 2000s when I wore it I just said 90s goth because 00s was more random and a bit scene kid and 80s was too operatic and formal
@@seabreeze4559 Same, I could call it 90s goth and make it a day (?) Kids nowadays think goth is just about looking like a Sanrio character
@@ZurditaDinamita zoomers just rename millennial stuff
Great to finally know the word for the aesthetic I just called “Phoebe Buffaey/Stevie Nicks/The Craft/goth/witch/Halloween/autumn/hippie/Buffy the Vampire Salyer” aesthetic xD
I was LITERALLY doing insomnia-fueled research on this aesthetic last night. I'm so happy you posted this!!
I’m glad this is making a comeback…I was trying to find words for this style myself as I like the goth aesthetic but don’t like wearing it myself. So I was calling it dark bohemia instead of whimsigoth, inspired by dark academia. The bohemian style of layered long skirts, jewelry, patterns and textures softens it without taking it into an anime cartoon like pastel goth. You could wear it everyday if you wanted to.
the dark academia and “little house on the prairie but goth” are some complimentary styles that i like too :D
As I have more or less, for 30 yrs☺ (is great fun, v expressive and helps if feel bit of a natural witch ;-)
I was referring to my style as dark cottagecore for a while.
@@knightbrucie ooh yes. I like that description. And I like a sort of off-duty dancer look too, again with a dark twist ;-/
Moth rather than butterfly 🖤
Back in “the day” the Satanic panic made it actually challenging to dress this way. Looking witchy was very rebellious, especially for one lived in middle America just wearing black nail polish, as a young teen, alone could scare grown professionals into thinking you’re about to Satan them to death 🤣… seriously, you had to be brave to be Gothic or witchy back then!
Now it’s mainstream. Sometimes that surprises me, but mostly I feel overjoyed that we overcame! We ended up changing world fashion, and every generation since ours (gen X) no longer fears the dark side of fashion.
You’re welcome.
As an old 90s Goth, I can tell you that what is seen as a whimsy goth was seen more as renaissance, witchy and romantic at the time. Like late 70s, Kate Bush or Stevie Nicks. We loved it of course! Gothic looks themselves were more Victorian and Edwardian and/or more industrial (the industrial was particularly strong in Germany).
Personally, I always felt a more renaissance, gypsy whitchy look, suited the countryside more and a more pure Gothic look suited the city.
But, there are no rules.
I think what truly makes somebody a goth , whether it’s dressing like a vampire, steampunk, a gypsy, fortuneteller, a Victorian widow, whimsically, romantically, grim reaper-y or just has a deep fascination with Goth-father Peter Murphy. A Goth is someone who would rather be a beautiful moth, than a butterfly, mostly because they are drawn to the mystery
I knew this was gaining in popularity when my whimsigoth playlist on Spotify jumped from 10 to 400 likes in under a few weeks! This is my favorite aesthetic and what inspires me most. Love this video ♥️
This aesthetic is also very timeless because many of these outfits (or similar) shown in the tiktok´s reels were part of my wardrobe when I was a teenager... which is almost twenty years ago 😆
Same 😍
Loved this breakdown of the aesthetic. As someone who's been practicing witchcraft for over 20 years, I've thought a lot about your last point regarding appropriation. When I started, it was not cool to be a witch where I grew up and it was a struggle to stay true to myself in such a hostile cultural climate. I will admit than when witchcraft and witchy "aesthetics" became popular again I had a hard time being tolerant because it seemed like people jumped on a trend for a hot minute rather than actually practicing the craft itself and understanding what it means. There are still people who do this. However, the witch-hunting of the past had little to do with true witchcraft and more to do with misogyny. Therefore, regardless of your status as a practitioner of witchcraft, it really belongs to all women. As Aunt Jet says in Practical Magic: "There's a little witch in all of us."
You’re telling me the aesthetic I’ve strived for but never been able to articulate has a name? Why am I just now learning this?!?!? Thank you so much!!!
The name is new, the style isn't
Whimsigothic, romantic goth and fairy grunge are some of favorite fall and winter aesthetics
I remember living through the 90s,2000s, and 2010s whimsigoth eras and i loved every one of them. I never knew my aesthetic had a name until now 🥰
This aesthetic bein a culmination of almost all the fashion genres I like partaking in honestly makes me so happy
I’m definitely on board with renaissance -inspired fashion being brought back around for another gen twist. Give me all the velvet and detachable sleeves
edit: i will add, however, that we have to be respectful of indigenous open and closed practices (wicca draws a lot of inspo from various native communities in the americas, and hoodoo/voodoo being considered popular commodities from non-practicing folks). especially closed practice settings where those within the practice explicitly state not to use certain items/sayings/spiritual beings or gods/iconography as it’s disrespectful and can bring you harm if used improperly :)
If you lived in the southern US, the satanic panic never died. My parents never allowed me to watch anything with witchy allusions, which honestly made me more interested in it.
Omg I love this style. I used to call what my aesthetic in highschool was "hippie goth" and it was halfway between like emo, Bohemian crafter, goth, and punk. Whimsy goth is a good name for it.
I grew up on a lot of witch related media as a kid so it makes me happy to se this kind of stuff
Whimsigoth was so much what I wanted to wear when I was a kid
I get the feel of Phoebe from Friends a lot when I see this kind of aesthetic
That's because this is just 90s boho rebranded and Phoebe was the poster child of this look.
@@beeben5260 did you not watch the video? The style existed before the 90s. Tons of characters in the 90s where dressing like this.
I love whimsigoth so much, it’s like living in Autumn 24/7! Also, I found it awesome that you mentioned Phoebe Buffay in the video! I always loved how pretty her outfits were :)
Good video, I would like to add some other details based on my own study of fashion and counter culture. You can see iterations of this style within goth culture starting in the 80's. Bands like The Mission made a lot of hippie goth rock and Cocteau Twins were known for their ethereal goth sound.
The funny thing about goth culture is it often wasn't goths themselves that came up with names for the various styles they dressed in because dressing goth has never been a requirement to BE goth. Goths always just wore what they wanted and trends formed organically within the community. So it was often people who weren't completely familiar with it who pigeon holed these styles or it was nostalgic goths wanting to put a name to an aesthetic they wore in a previous decade.
You can see mentions of ethereal goth, hippie goth, fairy goth etc. since the 2000's, but it was the 2010's that really got the aesthetics down to a science.
Nu goth really kicked off this trend, but it was the Japanese street styles of the early 2010's that really inspired styles like whimsy goth, fairy grunge, goblin core etc. On tumblr there were a lot of alt kids and goths discovering Dolly kei, Mori kei and natural kei but they wanted a darker witchier spin on it. This gave birth to what we called Strega fashion on tumblr. It was really cool to witness this because it was the first time in a long while that people were interested in Kate Bush and Stevie Nicks again and a lot of people who were genuinely into witchcraft got into it.
I bring up strega and the styles that inspired it because thats where a lot of inspiration for whimsy goth and similar modern styles come from.
I can't tell you the amount of times I've seen old strega or mori kei boards get shared on pinterest with modern tags like "witch core" or "goblin core" its interesting to see how these styles have basically been rebranded by the tiktok generation.
I'm so happy that this is regaining popularity because it reminds me how awesome my childhood was. Thank you ModernGurlz for covering this topic🔥✨💖
Love this thorough video you did. I've been drawn to whimsigoth since I was a child in the 90s. I ADORED Stevie Nicks and Kate Bush in my teens and I love how they've been making comebacks in the last 10 years.
I tried to emulate that whimsigoth style (especially with laced tops and bell sleeves) so often in high school, it's really cool to finally put a name on it ! I always love to put a witchy vibe to my outfits, at work or when I am going out. I'm very happy it's making a comeback !
HUGELY recommend the TV show Penny Dreadful. Please, I beg of you. This show is so slept on. If you like Gothic vibes- watch it! Acting, writing, costumes, music, pure brilliance!
I mean... Eva Green alone should've made people watch it... I don't know why that show was so underrated :(
As its name suggests, the Penny Dreadful show is also a big time homage to Penny dreadfuls, the British and Australian equivalent of the (primarily Anglophone) North American dime novels.
I’ve been yearning for this aesthetic my entire life! I adore making and thrifting clothes that fit the whimsigoth vibe. So glad more people are falling in love with this style✨
I've been a Gothic hippie my whole life, but gonna have to add whimsygoth into that rotation 😍😍
I had no idea this style had a name! I usually dress very pastel and sweet but Ive always had a few pieces like this in my closet to use for Mori/folk style purposes. Ive always been drawn to Medieval cuts with dresses as well so this is definitely a style I see myself growing into/wearing a lot when I'm older.
God how I love these types of videos. This style is how I wanna look tbh, it’s so cute
Ive been seeing whimsigoth float around the internet for a few years now, this year I’ve decided to incorporate more inspiration from this aesthetic and I love it!!! I love the muted colors, jewelry, and associations with nature.
Thank you for this video, I am absolutely shooketh by the realisation that this has been one of my favourite styles for YEARS on some subconscious level and yet I never fully realised it and never tried it out?? Literally every piece of media, literature and music you named had a huge influence on me. I guess it just amazes me how it all aligns - Florence/Stevie/Kate, Shakespeare, Shelley, the history of witches and feminism, witchy tv of the 90s and 00s… Like yes? Why didn’t I see how it’s all connected?
To compile material from different types of media and time periods and review them using a certain paradigm so effectively it seems to the audience almost effortless, easy and obvious in hindsight - is one of the greatest skills. I know you approach all your style/aesthetic research like that but this video in particular stands out to me. All kudos! ✨❤️🔥
I really like the name Whimsigoth better than how I usually decsribe my aesthetic/style. I usually just say I'm VintageBohoWitch lol. Btw, both Stevie & Kate were style inspo to me in the 70s/80s. My tastes never really changed. Since I now live in a place that is warm to hot 10 months out of the year, I had to lighten up my color palette & fabrics saving all the black, burgundy & velvet for the Winter time.
Penny dredfull style mixed with glitret and lurex. Stars patterns, velvet, and layers. Lovely.
I wore it, when I was 14 in 1990 and I'm still wearing it in my late 40s. Also, black hides your imperfection when getting older ;) and I've got a flabby tummy after child births and a full hysterectomy, so I'm wearing more dresses as skirts enhance that bit and I layer a lot
OKAY IM DROPPING EVERYTHING I NEED TO DO RN CAUSE MODERNGURLZ JUST POSTED 💅💅
What I love most about this aesthetic is the heavy influence from eastern Europe/Romani styles.
As a male witch, I see an insurgance of guys also incorporating industrial style in to their wardrobes.
Hope Sandoval was my icon! I also recommend the movie Silence Becomes You with Sienna Guilfory and Alicia Silverstone.
I love gothic novels and the aesthetic, but I also love bands like Mephisto Walz, Cocteau Twins, The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Nosferatu, and Corpus Delecti. I find that this aesthetic matches my whimsical nature but also my love of goth music and all things spooky.
Before it had a name I just called it hippie goth. It’s always been my version of super casual go to. I always loved Stevie and found muted color pops mixed with black to make very calming combinations. My dress up go to is more medieval and vampiric with deep purples and burgundies as my color pop.
Edit: my absolute favorite version of “running up that hill” is definitely Placebo.
WAKE UP BABE MODERNGURLZ POSTED
There’s something called ‘Fairy Grunge’. That’s so cute ❤
It's better .
@@beeben5260 than what?
I noticed this look was coming back I was obbesesd with the astectic as little kid in the late 90s but it wasn't till my late 20s that I even started dressing that way .
“It’s time to put away your swimsuits”… girl, it’s fullblown winter here 😂
I’m definitely dressing like ahs coven more often 🖤
This makes me think of both 90s and 70s style this was what i wanted as a kid when i thought about being a teenager, sabrina the teenage witch always comes to mind
You missed a great movie full of this style: PENELOPE! That’s my favorite film for this, they do a great job at it. I’m also loving Claudia’s style in Interview with the Vampire 2022.
Abso! Why don't people recall PENELOPE more!?!?!
Penelope like with Christina Ricci and the pig nose???
Thankfully my time has finally come, I thought it was the grunge era but I was wrong it’s whimsigoth
Having grown up most teen years in the 90’s was so much fun with horror movies and shows. The whimsical goth clothing of course came out in the fall and I loved seeing the fashion inspiration in the magazines. Velvet highly underrated 😛
Growing up, my mother devoured gothic romance novels. Before i could read, she'd set me loose in antique/thrift store with the instruction of finding softcover books with yellow pages that features a woman running away from a castle at night with one illumination window.
I created a witchy 90’s board on pinterest bc i love this style so much
This is my absolute favorite time of the year 🍂🍁🥧
I absolutely love this style, through it's not really for me, through there are definitely elements of it in my style.
I do want to point out, on the culture appreciation part, I'd say it's important to note that this style is heavily influenced from the clothing style of Roma through the 19th and 20th century (which is definitely where the witch community got a lot of style influence from as well).
I think it's even more important to note this than the witch community, since this is an actual culture(s), and it feels weird to not address this.
Sure Karen 🙄
This world is crazy and I have seasonal depression. Your videos are my only comfort 💖
This style reminds me of my childhood and I'm so happy it's gaining popularity 💜
My style is popular again and now I can load up my wardrobe with cool stuff before it goes out of style again. 😂
I really like this style, except the 70s boho elements. I love these fantastical inspirations in fashion, mermaids, witches, besides, autumn is my favourite season and Halloween my favourite holiday. Very nice and well researched video, bravo! 😁
sooo i was really into dark academia in the early 2010s when the term wasn't coined yet and now i've been obsessed with whimsigoth for the last 3 - 5 years, frustrated not to be able to make a google search of something i felt was a trend but had no name to call it, maybe next time i'll manage to synch up a bit better
Whatever u call it, i love the 90s practical magic aesthetic and this has been my idea style for so long, but i cant find pieces in my size that look authentic.
as someone who doesnt have tiktok and isnt that aware of online trends, i find these videos very educational hahaha i love looking at the outfits these people put together
the mazzy star aesthetic
Loved that you covered this style so perfectly! It’s always been my favorite. I just love the jewel colors and rich delicate fabrics like crushed velvets, silks and tulle 🧚🏻♀️
I love this style for any season ❤
This was such an eye opening video because I think unintentionally my personal style is heading towards a whimsigoth trajectory! I never had a word for it but now I do and this is certainly interesting lol.
This is my favorite style EVER! But, I live in such a hot climate all year round that is almost impossible to wear this look on a daily basis. I wear it on occasions, where I know I'm not going to be melting. I'm from the 80s era, and I used to dress like that. My prom dress was a velvet piece in dark bottle green, in renaissance style with gold rims. It was beautiful! And a friend did my makeup with very pale matte skin, black eyeliner and deep dark wine red. Still remember...
Oh I love this so much. Thank you for making this! Very educational.
I decided to call my personal style "whimsical goth", and this is the first time I've seen it described well.
It's all just so good I'm at a loss for words.
Gothic/medieval/renaissance, Practical Magic, Wuthering Heights, gothic romance book covers, Sleepy Hollow, Hocus Pocus, Princess bride, and other medieval/renaissance adventure films.
Ahhhhhh, it makes me giddy.
i love whimsigoth so much :)
I love the use of color but in a dark or muted jewel tone way. It comes across so rich and Victorian. 💕
I’m an old goth, stuck in my all black ways, but it so reminds me of being a kid going to new age/witchy shops in the 90s!
Potion potion be it so. Send this granny witch and I back to 1997! Poof & sparkle.
I love this aesthetic so much, one of my favorite books “Our share of night” is literally all of this combined (with a very intense relationship between a father and a son)
Good video! Just surprised that you didn't mention the possible influence dolly kei and gothic lolita fashion might have had on this trend.
yes! I see so much of Dark Mori Kei/Strega in this fashion too!
I absolutely adore this aesthetic😩🥰
Aestheticly, this feels like a lighter version of dolly kei. The reality is that probably dolly kei was the Japanese version of whismigoth.
I'm a Gen X goth chick and we called it Hippie Goth, bands aesthetic of The Mission UK, All About Eve, The Cult
Awesome inspo girls!❤
Indeed
Im not that much into it for clothes but the room decor has to be the prettiest shit I have EVER seen
As always, I'm impressed with the amount of work and research put into these videos. It was so interesting!!
Wow, I am a bit old I know (nearly 40) 😂 but I really liked it when this similar style was quite popular whe I was a teen in the 90’s. Turns out I am already following several IG accounts that show this style 😝 Now I have a name for it, thank you! ☺️
loved this spotlight, i love learning history of a certain style..it’s so interesting. 💖
I love this so much - the essay (thank you for linking the history together and naming this!) And the aesthetic; it's been an influence and something Ive loved since childhood, but I never had a name/term for.. so thanks 😊💗
As a Wiccan for nearly 20 years, I personally don't see anything wrong going on here. I dress mostly in flowery dresses, Wicca is a religion, not an aesthetic. I am annoyed at people wearing Wiccan and pagan symbols just cause though. That is disrespectful. I don't see non-christians wearing crosses around
5:06 literally writing my essay on two points of gothic literature and i mention that we associate gothic with victorian/turn of the century rather than the 1800s,, love that ive randomly come across it here! :)
I call it 90s high school and I'll love it forever! ✨️🌛🌞🌜✨️
It will be great an style analysis of practical magic✨
I am waiting for that video for centuries. Nicole's little green velvet dress, green velvet top with black pants at school visit, her HAIR, Sandra's denim shorts, her HAIR and full on witch black dressess at the end of a movie-too many great things to talk about. Also showing some love for my country man Goran Visnic who is playing the beautiful demon. ❤️
@@marya5925 i know!! I always loved the romantic yet witchy vibes with a touch of 90s nostalgia
@@jjmspp549 "Yep, I'm back. Hang up to your husbands girls" 😂
@@marya5925 Jimmy is styled off Johnny Depp, note the silver jewellery and floppy hair, love of waistcoats.
@@seabreeze4559 Oh wow, it's so obvious yet I've never tought off it. You are right!
Oh, to be a witch in the mid 90s 😫
I love that you referred to sunsuits
Oh wow, that little clip of Kate Bush at the end of the intro, never thought I'd live to see a day where she is popular again, love her so much. My dad was listening to the Cure in 1978, when I was two! This "whimsygoth" is my realm, so I'm here to see what you have to say.
This has been my style my whole life
This was a great video and I just want to vouch for one of the brands that's featured! I've loved Cosmic Drifters for years, they're a slow fashion brand in the UK (everything is made bespoke by hand by their small team) run by two fabulous and kind witches. Can't recommend them enough and it made me super happy to see them here!
ikr so many of my fave smaller creators were featured in this!
Yes finally one with my fav aesthetics that I would want to emulate
love the clothes and the clothes in your bohemian style video.. great looks
Had no idea this style had a name. I just really like dark clothing and naturey themes and also just love Stevie Nick's style and music. Lmao, now I know what to search online to find what I like!
Edit: I think it's hilarious that we all seemed to call it hippie-goth and dark bohemian lmao. Guess we were all on the same track
THE BEST AESTHETIC EVER