Is there a word or term to describe my aesthetic?
February 6, 2011 12:45 PM Subscribe
During a recent conversation with a co-worker we tried to figure out a term to describe her personal style, and when I came up with “artsy bohemian”, she agreed to it promptly. Now I’m wondering how to describe my aesthetic.
I put a lot of thought and care into clothing and home décor and style in general, as aesthetics are important to me. But I don’t care about what’s “in” or “out”, I pay very little attention to brand names, and fashion magazines generally seem kind of boring and irrelevant to my mind. I’m very practical and budget-conscious, buy a lot of stuff secondhand, drag things home from a neighbour’s curb, and make a lot of stuff (I am skilled at many types of needlework, and can do stained glass, restore furniture, paint, draw, etc.). I buy very few items new and ready made, in no small part because I’m so picky I find it hard to find anything ready made that I like – though I will often take a quick pass through Zellers or the dollar store to see if I come across something perfect for very little. I hardly ever use a sewing or knitting pattern without adapting it at least a little.
That might make me sound like some kind of hipster, bohemian or craftsy kitschy type, but I’m not any of those things. When I’m putting something together I aim for (though not necessarily achieve, sigh) a polished, elegant look. I don’t buy stuff I think is ugly ironically or otherwise (unless I plan to make it over). I don’t think most things look good worn and I try to purchase stuff that’s good quality and that will stand up to use and keep its looks for years. I think handmade stuff should be at least as good in quality and appearance as store bought stuff. My tastes lean towards the classic and are a little retro – retro in this/my context meaning “first half of the twentieth century” – and I like things to have some detail and visual interest and to always be a little bit unexpected and different. Sometimes I like to reference a particular style or idea. For example, my house was built in 1912, so I’m trying to give it an Art Nouveau feel, and I’m collecting Christmas decorations on a “Twelve Days of Christmas” theme.
Here's a link to my Flickr photo sets for the home renos I've done and things I've made, in case seeing some examples of my taste helps identify it.
So I’m not boho, I’m not hipster, I’m not craftsy, I’m not a fashionista… but I also don’t think I’m just suburban mainstream as I’d never just go out to a store and buy some little black dress for a special event or a complete matched set of furniture for the living room. Is there a word or term to describe how I approach shopping and decorating and dressing? Am I part of some distinct subculture without being aware of it? Or am I after all really mainstream, only pickier and with some skills?
I put a lot of thought and care into clothing and home décor and style in general, as aesthetics are important to me. But I don’t care about what’s “in” or “out”, I pay very little attention to brand names, and fashion magazines generally seem kind of boring and irrelevant to my mind. I’m very practical and budget-conscious, buy a lot of stuff secondhand, drag things home from a neighbour’s curb, and make a lot of stuff (I am skilled at many types of needlework, and can do stained glass, restore furniture, paint, draw, etc.). I buy very few items new and ready made, in no small part because I’m so picky I find it hard to find anything ready made that I like – though I will often take a quick pass through Zellers or the dollar store to see if I come across something perfect for very little. I hardly ever use a sewing or knitting pattern without adapting it at least a little.
That might make me sound like some kind of hipster, bohemian or craftsy kitschy type, but I’m not any of those things. When I’m putting something together I aim for (though not necessarily achieve, sigh) a polished, elegant look. I don’t buy stuff I think is ugly ironically or otherwise (unless I plan to make it over). I don’t think most things look good worn and I try to purchase stuff that’s good quality and that will stand up to use and keep its looks for years. I think handmade stuff should be at least as good in quality and appearance as store bought stuff. My tastes lean towards the classic and are a little retro – retro in this/my context meaning “first half of the twentieth century” – and I like things to have some detail and visual interest and to always be a little bit unexpected and different. Sometimes I like to reference a particular style or idea. For example, my house was built in 1912, so I’m trying to give it an Art Nouveau feel, and I’m collecting Christmas decorations on a “Twelve Days of Christmas” theme.
Here's a link to my Flickr photo sets for the home renos I've done and things I've made, in case seeing some examples of my taste helps identify it.
So I’m not boho, I’m not hipster, I’m not craftsy, I’m not a fashionista… but I also don’t think I’m just suburban mainstream as I’d never just go out to a store and buy some little black dress for a special event or a complete matched set of furniture for the living room. Is there a word or term to describe how I approach shopping and decorating and dressing? Am I part of some distinct subculture without being aware of it? Or am I after all really mainstream, only pickier and with some skills?
Post-feminist?
posted by themadjuggler at 1:07 PM on February 6, 2011
posted by themadjuggler at 1:07 PM on February 6, 2011
Classic good taste with (maybe) a touch of modern vintage.
posted by vers at 1:17 PM on February 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by vers at 1:17 PM on February 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
Orange Swan-ic.
posted by inturnaround at 1:26 PM on February 6, 2011
posted by inturnaround at 1:26 PM on February 6, 2011
Is "shabby chic" too obvious? Do you want a new term? Maybe "retro chic"? I wouldn't say you were minimalist, but there is a "spare" quality to some of the house photos that isn't captured by any term I know of. Practical-retro-shabby-crafty chic?
posted by parkerjackson at 2:01 PM on February 6, 2011
posted by parkerjackson at 2:01 PM on February 6, 2011
FWIW, I've always thought of your style as classic and conservative.
posted by jacquilynne at 2:02 PM on February 6, 2011
posted by jacquilynne at 2:02 PM on February 6, 2011
Art Good-as-Nouveau
posted by infinitewindow at 2:11 PM on February 6, 2011
posted by infinitewindow at 2:11 PM on February 6, 2011
Millennial art deco.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 2:15 PM on February 6, 2011
posted by A Terrible Llama at 2:15 PM on February 6, 2011
I answered too quickly -- no, I don't think there's a particular term to describe your taste, and actually I think that's a good thing. If you want, you could pick any of the terms above, but I think if something's original, it doesn't have a 'movement' attached to it.
So actually, Orange Swanic would do it.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 2:19 PM on February 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
So actually, Orange Swanic would do it.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 2:19 PM on February 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
I would say that my design/decor aesthetic is a lot like your aesthetic, and a friend once described my apartment as Thunderdome Chic. Though at the time I was more aggressively into repurposing.
Your mention of Edwardiana reminds me of Steampunk, but I guess you're probably not Steampunk - you would know if you were. Maybe a more tamped down version; I'd call it Captain Jack Harkness' Drawing Room?
posted by Sara C. at 2:36 PM on February 6, 2011
Your mention of Edwardiana reminds me of Steampunk, but I guess you're probably not Steampunk - you would know if you were. Maybe a more tamped down version; I'd call it Captain Jack Harkness' Drawing Room?
posted by Sara C. at 2:36 PM on February 6, 2011
I would call it retro minimalist. You seem to combine the modern aesthetic of minimalism with retro pieces and sensibilities.
posted by Go Banana at 2:48 PM on February 6, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by Go Banana at 2:48 PM on February 6, 2011 [3 favorites]
Eclectic artisan?
posted by lemniskate at 2:55 PM on February 6, 2011
posted by lemniskate at 2:55 PM on February 6, 2011
I think the word bespoke needs to be in there, maybe it's eclectic bespoke or expressionist bespoke or millennial bespoke...?
posted by Jubey at 3:02 PM on February 6, 2011
posted by Jubey at 3:02 PM on February 6, 2011
Hmm, after looking at the clothes as well as your living room, I'd go for one of these:
Classic
Traditional
or
New Classic
New Traditional
posted by bluedaisy at 5:50 PM on February 6, 2011
Classic
Traditional
or
New Classic
New Traditional
posted by bluedaisy at 5:50 PM on February 6, 2011
Your clothes: Bookish Femme?
Your home: Bedroom in Arles?
PS, your sewing is impressive- that aqua velvet jacket you made is especially gorgeous!
posted by pseudostrabismus at 6:44 PM on February 6, 2011
Your home: Bedroom in Arles?
PS, your sewing is impressive- that aqua velvet jacket you made is especially gorgeous!
posted by pseudostrabismus at 6:44 PM on February 6, 2011
I came in thinking retro minimalist, or retro minus the kitsch. Reading the others, zakka sounds right. The colors are retro to me but the furnishings are more old fasihioned.
posted by mrs. taters at 5:52 AM on February 7, 2011
posted by mrs. taters at 5:52 AM on February 7, 2011
"Ladylike?" That sounds kind of goofy, but your style seems like something I've never been able to achieve; pretty, classic, simple (but not boring/simple - more like "strong"). Sturdy femininity.
posted by Kloryne at 6:40 PM on February 7, 2011
posted by Kloryne at 6:40 PM on February 7, 2011
Response by poster: "Ladylike?" That sounds kind of goofy, but your style seems like something I've never been able to achieve; pretty, classic, simple (but not boring/simple - more like "strong"). Sturdy femininity.
Womanly maybe? I remember telling a friend of mine that I felt my decorating style was feminine, but that I aimed for a grown-up feminine, womanly rather girly.
posted by orange swan at 7:20 AM on February 9, 2011
Womanly maybe? I remember telling a friend of mine that I felt my decorating style was feminine, but that I aimed for a grown-up feminine, womanly rather girly.
posted by orange swan at 7:20 AM on February 9, 2011
Your clothes, definitely. I don't see how your interior design fits that aesthetic, but that's probably because I'm not sure what 'womanly' interior design is.
posted by bluedaisy at 9:49 PM on February 9, 2011
posted by bluedaisy at 9:49 PM on February 9, 2011
Response by poster: I find all your answers very interesting (except perhaps the "grandmotherly" answer — HUFF!). I guess there is no one term to describe my taste and style, unless I want to go with traditional-minimalist-bespoke-eclectic. (Catchy, eh?) I was kind of hoping there would be because I thought it might be nice to find that there's a whole subculture out there with my kind of aesthetic, from which I could draw ideas and inspiration. But then I suppose even if there were a community of like-minded people, I would still want to distinguish myself from them in some way.
For those of you who have commented on the spare, minimal quality of my taste, good call. I should have mentioned in the post that the Shakers have been a major influence on me, because I love their stripped-down aesthetic in which beauty comes from the sheer utility of design and very high quality of their materials and workmanship. It may sound odd but I aim for a Shaker-like practicality and high quality in everything I make or design, with the one extra condition that everything also must have just as much detail as it needs to be visually interesting and distinctive. I doubt the Shaker and Art Nouveau styles have ever been made to mesh before, but to my mind they are compatible and marry well.
Thanks all for your thoughtful and interesting answers.
posted by orange swan at 8:52 AM on April 12, 2011
For those of you who have commented on the spare, minimal quality of my taste, good call. I should have mentioned in the post that the Shakers have been a major influence on me, because I love their stripped-down aesthetic in which beauty comes from the sheer utility of design and very high quality of their materials and workmanship. It may sound odd but I aim for a Shaker-like practicality and high quality in everything I make or design, with the one extra condition that everything also must have just as much detail as it needs to be visually interesting and distinctive. I doubt the Shaker and Art Nouveau styles have ever been made to mesh before, but to my mind they are compatible and marry well.
Thanks all for your thoughtful and interesting answers.
posted by orange swan at 8:52 AM on April 12, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by maudlin at 12:49 PM on February 6, 2011