hi.
so as you can see by the title, this isn't gonna be formatted like my previous blog entries. the reason for that is because i couldn't find a way to make whole essays about each individual item of this list, so instead i'm compiling them into one article.
each of the things i will be discussing have been making the rounds on my pinterest/instagram algorithms for some time, which obviously affects my feelings about them. but i would not be talking about them if i was only being inspired by trends.
so without further ado, let us start this list.
old school 3D videogame characters
maybe you’ve already noticed, but in both informative posts i made for this blog, i included two different characters from “the urbz: sims in the city” a game released in 2004, that i played on my old nintendo ds (although i think the pictures i used are from promotional material for the ps2 version of the game). i love the designs of the characters, with such a distinct early 2000s aesthetic. i’ve also been seeing the 3D models for the original “style savvy” games for the nintendo ds making the rounds on pinterest, alongside many other characters from games directed at girls. i just think the low resolution makes them look even cuter, especially when a lot of popular videogames seem to focus so much on being as hyper realistic as possible.
in-game posters from the original "style savvy"
airbrushes
i know the title isn’t quite specific, but thats because i’ve been seeing them used in a variety of mediums, whether it be on canvas or on t-shirts.
to me, the airbrush seems like a more “refined” version of the spray cans used for graffiti, although there aren’t that many differences between the two techniques. something i did want to point out however, is that the airbrush paintings i’ve been seeing online have this meme/ironic air to them. perhaps this is precisely because of its closeness to graffiti (and therefore street art) or perhaps because it is not a traditional technique like watercolors or oils, so artists feel like they can play around more and make less serious art. but this is all speculation on my part, so who knows.
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| "this is whom i play for" made with airbrushes by @gaohangart |
late 2000s/early 2010s hipster fashion
another broad term (i can’t help myself). this is what has now been rebranded as “indie sleaze” by an account on instagram of the same name, which i follow religiously… well not really, but i do check out most of their posts.
this aesthetic, for lack of a better word, has been on my radar since at least last year, when ballet flats and colorful tights were everywhere. the way these items were being styled had nothing to do with early 2010s fashion, but the fact that they were being brought back indicated a shift, even then.
one thing i do find frustrating about this revival however, is that it all feels very purposeful, very posed for social media. but when you look at the pictures from back then, the fashion was much more playful, and honestly kind of ugly?
other people have already commented on this, but what the indie sleaze craze indicates is that the public wants authenticity. we miss having our own space on the internet, we miss going out without the fear of being recorded and ridiculed on social media. but sadly, that fear is reflected on the ways most people are interpreting early 2010s fashion.
still, there is hope. i look towards other influencers like quitegarish on instagram that really keep the spirit of the style going while adding their own ideas into the mix.
frutiger metro graphic design
something about frutiger metro feels visually overstimulating, but in a good way. due to it being the younger sibling of frutiger aero, they do share some similarities, like the use of bright colors and flowy lines. however, while aero has a shiny, optimistic point of view, metro is more gritty, with matte colors and a prominent use of black. the motifs are more urban, with skateboards, boomboxes and silhouettes of people dancing.
regardless, it’s very fun and i love it, especially the posters and designs from tokidoki during the peak of fruitiger metro, which in my opinion fit very nicely in the style. i hope to get my hands on something from them at some point.
julius the monkey by paul frank (and other funny mascots)
i can’t believe i used to think julius the monkey was lowkey ugly. he’s just a little guy!
i was reminded of the existence of this brand when i saw they launched a collab with dollskill (of all brands) and i remembered i have a men's hoodie by paul frank which my sister stole from one of her high school boyfriends and which was later passed on to me.
while you could argue paul frank was an early adopter of the logomania trend that would dominate the fashion of the mid to late 2010s, it’s charming mascot distinguished the brand. compared to the geometrical, minimalist logos adopted by most, paul frank stands out. i for one, think the obsession with sanrio from around 2018 to 2022 was preceded and in a way influenced by the rise of paul frank. and whether it be hello kitty or julius the monkey, the fashion industry loves a funny, cute mascot, just like the rest of us.
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