By Sydney Mulford
Aesthetics have long played a role in daily life and pop culture. From trends like Y2K to cottage core, grunge and fairy core—there is an aesthetic for everything. These trends offer inspiration, a way to organize a space, dress in a specific fashion or try something new. However, they can also be limiting.
Most online posts showcasing a particular aesthetic tend to feature the same out-of-reach beauty standards. While it’s fine for these images to appear in some posts, they often exclude many demographics—different cultures, body types and identities. Diversity is rarely showcased, reinforcing a narrow idea of what a certain aesthetic is “supposed” to look like.
Aesthetics can also pressure individuals to mold themselves into a specific persona. For example, those following the coquette aesthetic are often expected to be flirtatious, youthful and ultra-feminine. This may also lead them to feel like they have to act a certain way—happy, cheerful and carefree—as if emotions like sadness or anger don’t fit within the aesthetic. Additionally, once someone embraces a particular aesthetic, they may feel restricted in exploring other styles, whether in music, colors or clothing.
While aesthetics offer inspiration, they should be taken with a grain of salt. No one should feel pressured to fit into a single box—or aesthetic. It’s always okay to branch out, experiment with new styles and create a unique personal identity.
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