part 3 of my style analysis series, including hair, accessories and clothing (patterns, colors..). other parts can be found on my blog.
analysis under the cut
kohane azusawa: comfy, cutesy, funky
colors: peachy tones, more on the pink and red side, but magenta and orange are also suitable. yellow in all shades, from pastel to mustard. grey, white and black as neutrals.
items: graphic t shirts, baseball caps/bucket hats/beanies are an iconic part of her look. jackets vary from varsity/bomber/windbreaker jackets, cardigans, hoodies and practical zip ups, overalls. skirts are pleated and in neutral colors. crop top hoodies and shorts are also cute. another iconic part of her look is a graphic belt with lettering on them. shoes wise, apt for white sneakers. try overall skirts/pants, collared shirts, turtleneck shirts and thigh high striped socks. layering is key!! (im still confused how vbs can survive in humid japan with so many layers as dancers though..) at least one thing is oversized, wether that be her sleeves or jacket (maybe her pants, but make them baggy or flared. no sagging PLEASE). jackets like leather or blazers for formal occasions are great, since kohane’s costumes like to add some masculine elements.
materials/patterns: denim bottoms are very common, but breathable fabrics like cotton are fitting for kohane’s street performer life style. she doesn’t have many patterns, but ruffles, soft florals and stripes are used.
hair: obviously she outs her hair into two low pigtails, but side ponytails, and short fluffy bobs can work, maybe even her sick ass jellyfish cut from one of her cards. try mixing up your look with braids with your pigtails or fun hairties. maybe even use hair chalk and hair exentsion clips in fun colors. its all about being funky.
an shiraishi: tomboyish, casual, cool
colors: an likes bright colors, so out with all that demure and mindful bullshit. colors often seen on her are midnight purple, navy blue, magenta/pink, lime green, teal, and terracotta red. black and stark white are her neutrals.
items: pants are straightlegged or baggy, never skinny (idk how they dance like that but oh well), she loves sweatpants, hoodies, and casual shorts. oversized tees, fingerless gloves, and jewelry such as hoop earrings, funky bracelets and necklaces (chokers and pendants) add a nice finishing touch. an usually wears crop top shirts, and ties her oversized bomber jackets on her waist when it gets hot. clunky sneakers and combat boots are her go to.
patterns/fabrics: her outfits have very geometric patterns, but also have little graphics on them. fabrics are very breathable and flexible, but if you use denim, its best that it is ripped and/or distressed. try using patches and other things to customize your hats and/or jackets
hair: an’s hair is very fun, dying it her iconic ombre. of course, if you cannot dye your hair, you can put fun hairclips on the side of your bangs. she uses all types of colors, but they are all vivid and fun (bright purple, her infamous indigo, red..), streaks and highlights can also work (i reccomend those extension hair clips with fun colors from places like claires). her hair stays mostly the same, simpky being down, but you can pull it into two pigtails or a high ponytail. she seems to have waves at the bottom, so feel free to do that if you wish. her hair is usually tucked behind one ear with side swept bangs, and you can even cut it shorter to a jellyfish cut or a bob. some of her outfits and sprites show her with yellow star hair clips, so feel free to use those too.
akito shinonome: cool, sporty, versatile
colors: terracotta red, midnight blue, bright orange, deep olive green
items: akito’s usual outfits consist of: hoodie/baggy graphic tee, jacket, cargo pants. jackets are usually bomber jackets, sherpas or puffy jackets with an array of patches, though he has been seen with a denim one. pockets are also quite an important part of his look, on his jacket or pants. these jackets are the statement of his look, and have brands or designs on them. if you want to dress up a bit more, akito SOMETIMES uses turtlenecks under his streetwear jackets. to add some layering without the jackets, put a simple long sleeve under your baggy shirt. he also uses silver/white gold jewelry like drop earrings, rings and chain necklaces. his shoes are versatile, ranging from the classic sneaker to boots.
patterns/materials: akito’s most notable pattern he uses is army print. it looks really good on him, and suits his hot headed yet determined personality.
hair: akito has one streak of yellow in his hair, but otherwise doesn’t do much with it. its very messy, but as long as you take basic care of it and brush it sometimes, it’ll still abide by akito’s hair. try adding more volume or texture using products if you can.
toya aoyagi: profession, contrasting, unique
colors: toya’s color palette is very cool, including multiple shades of blue, charcoal, light grey and purple.
items: unlike the rest of vbs, toya’s style is very sleek and understated, but still has that streetwear edge. he is the only member to frequently use sweaters. toya’s jackets are usually just normal zip ups, with minimal designs. however, hes been shown to rock denim jackets more than all of his fellow vbs members. tees are simple, with words or basic patterns. he also likes sweatshirts. he also uses tank tops, albeit plain. jewelry wise, toya goes for a simple dogtag or pendant. for formal occassions, he likes wearing blazers over his usual outfits.
patterns/materials: toya seems fond of vertical stripes on his sleeves, but other than that, doesnt wear many patterns. (minus gingham for formal events)
hair: unlike his partner akito, toya’s hair is neatly brushed. while short, his bang style varies from sideswept to curtain. overall, not much to say about his.
poorly put together sleep deprived hannibal analysis of stylistic shifts in abigail and will
Its sooo fascinating the way wills wardrobe transformation almost mirroring that of abigails after her attack. In a way, both of them experience a kind of puberty or ritual of maturity and are exposed to apart 9f the world/their mind they'd never experienced before. Once dressing in a way that appeared, in abigails case, childish and naieve, and in wills case, rumpled and disheveled. After, they wear clothing that presents a deeply and carefully crafted inage of concealment, one that serves almost as a barrier of their real self vs the one they show everybody else. One could also attribute this similarity towards hannibals "human-suit"
Abigail dresses perhaps a little more childish than you might expect of an 18 year old girl, with her clothing representing light colors, open necklines, florals. She has a lot of layering but it's not heavy layering her hair is curled suggesting a fun youthful look (maybe even a style her mother would do for her) and with her arms showing.
Obviousky, after the attack, she has a scar on her neck. She wear turtlenecks to cover up her scar but also to help build shields between her and the people who may potentionally want to exploit her. She is secretive and elusive, and it shows in her clothing. She chooses dark, stormy colors and her hair is usually pin straight and falls about her face in a way that serves almost as a curtain. Yet another barrier she puts up between herself and others. Another interesting thing of note is her layering and how it varies from before. Her jackets are thick, heavy. Not to mention they scarves she always has.
Now looking at will, we can also see the many changes in his physical appearance. Obviously all throughout season 1 he's subject to emotional manipulation and we witness that decent into madness, and even if parts of season 2 we see will subjected tk occasional bouts of hallucination.
Now here's will in season 1. He is generally seen wearing a plaid shirt, some grey/earth toned jackry, and some facial hair though its rather scruffy, along with his hair. His curls are unruly and shuffled most of the time, and while he may not look bad, he's certainly not somebody you might expect to be profiling serial killers for a living. He reflects the state of hid mind, especially at the beginning. Fragile in some ways, but sturdy and dependable. As the season goes on, he becomes more and more unstable with this brign reflected in his nightmare waking etc etc.
And even when he does have his so called "awakening" in prison (realizing what hannibal has done to him) he is in a state where he's physically unable to control his appearance. He's grappling with his sanity and trying to hold onto the truth that is his identity and who he did not kill, but he has very little control over his own appearance. When he's in court, or being photographed by freddie; in his own fate, even in some cases his own actions and memories, he lacks control of himself and his image. He slowly becomes aware of who he is, but he cannot fully exert that.
But now we see will outside of prison, free at last. He visits hannibal, now having "escaped" from the grasp of his manipulation. He hair is clean, slicked back and not curly. His beard is trimmed and neat. He wears a carefully crafted persona, well aware now of the idea people have in their heads about him. He knows the impact of others people's distortions of eho you are: they landed him in prison, after all. He can no longer afford to appear mentally unstable, not when he has to catch hannibal and remain free. This is a man with a goal, and with that goal comes careful, very careful personality that must be maintained at all times. Is he mentally stable? He'll no. But he is trying to appear in that way. That means he has to be guarded. He already can't trust people after he trust hannibal and he nearly killed him and got gim in jail. No, he needs to maintain careful boundries. So he dresses professional and clean, not to mention the turtleneck and thick wool sweaters and coats, not unlike abigails.
Look at him. So beautiful.
Anyways, jts 5 am I've been jl all night. Thus is really surface level analysis and probably dumb but I felt like rambling abt it and thought the comparison was interesting
❗❗EDIT 10/9/24: i've moved to @ph7soy, where i'll be posting all my original content from now on ᨐฅ
welcome to the first entry in my style analysis series- where i take a different fictional character for each entry and take a look at their fashion sense, as an exploration on how fashion plays a role in forming a character's personality & overall identity. in other words, it's a deep dive into the intersection of story & style. today we're starting off with nana komatsu (who we'll be affectionately referring to as hachi from here on out) from NANA, my favourite character from my favourite manga of all time.
NANA is a manga very near and dear to my heart. i could spend all day talking about why, but i'd say one of the biggest reasons is for how ai yazawa (the creator of NANA) uses fashion as a means of storytelling. in NANA, clothes are not just a typical character design element, but are instead a visual narrative tool used to convey a characters' personality, as well as to express their traits and feelings. today i've chosen hachi for the style analysis because i'm fascinated by the subtle changes to her style syncing with her character development over the course of the story. also, i think her style is just super cute. so let's get into it! (⚠ anime & manga spoilers ahead)
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overview
if i only had one word to describe hachi's style, i'd say feminine- think frills and lace details. she's all about babydoll silhouettes, pleated skirts, knit cardigans, ballet flats, and generally embodying shoujo fashion from the early 2000s with a good balance of cute and classy. hachi's fashion sensibilities lean more towards the modest side, as her dresses and skirts are usually around midi-length, and mini skirts are often paired with extra layers like tights or leggings underneath. it's a very good girl chic look, which fittingly leans in to her innocent personality. hachi is very stylish and clearly puts a lot of thought into picking her outfits everyday, as she's not afraid to occasionally experiment with different styles every & to use fashion as a key means of expressing herself.
in terms of colour palettes, hachi's wardrobe has a bit of everything- warm hues, earth tones, soft pastels, which all work together to capture the warmth and sweetness of her character. she's definitely more attuned to light colours than dark. this suits her personality better too, as light coloured clothing is said to convey feelings of friendship, fun, compassion, and approachability. fabric-wise, hachi likes to keep it light and airy with materials like chiffon and tulle; switching to warmer fabrics like cashmere and wool for cold weather, giving her outfits a vintage feel.
we can see that hachi pulls fashion inspiration from various aesthetics and fashion trends across different decades. she definitely incorporates her love for vintage fashion in her style, particularly with elements we've seen her wear before like mod dresses, neckerchiefs, pearl necklaces, long fleece trim coats, and brown platform boots. you can also see it in how some of the pieces she wears feels so unique, like a surprise gem you would find in a vintage boutique while thrifting. in dressier looks, hachi's girlish charm and allure is slightly reminiscient of 1960s it girls, like twiggy and sharon tate. she draws from a lot of 60s-inspired elements- the romantic parisienne style, and a bit of vintage preppy chic.
scarves and bandanas are a vintage essential as well as one of hachi's signature accessories. they have tons of versatile styling options, plus the potential to be dressed up or down. we've seen her wearing one scarf (exhibit A) multiple times over the series. the babushka scarf version has to be my favourite, it's very hepburn-esque, who i 100% i could picture hachi having a poster of in her childhood bedroom. i also think that having characters re-wear pieces we've seen before is generally just a cool subtle styling detail, which adds to the realism of NANA's 10/10 worldbuilding. the scarf's many appearances styled in different ways also goes to show how hachi enjoys being creative with her outfits, loves the pieces she owns and wants to get as much use out of them as possible.
hachi's style also incorporates a touch of influence from the kawaii lolita subculture, particularly modern offshoots like larme-kei. lolita is french rococco-inspired with a focus on cuteness, and has its origins in early 2000s harajuku street style- which is also where mori/kogyaru fashion originates from; hachi's go-to style during her high school years (see: her modified school uniform, miniskirts, fuzzy legwarmers). both of these movements were heavily pioneered by j-fashion magazines of the time like FRUITS, Olive, Larme & CUTiE, which were mainly popular with teenage girls and young women, and hachi is no exception. her fashion sense is also heavily inspired by famous japanese celebrities and style icons like risa nakamura.
if we had to really narrow it down, i think hachi's style can be best described by otome (lit: maiden) fashion. known as one of the predecessors of lolita fashion, this style was very popular among young girls in the 70s-80s and is heavily centered around embodying all things traditionally feminine. sweet, cute, girly, and romantic are all common descriptors of the style, which pulls influence from 60s mod fashion (which, as we've seen, has prevalent elements in hachi's style). think tons of layering, pattern mixing, longer hemlines, and mary janes/flats, all of which we frequently see in hachi's outfits. we also see that she takes elements from modern lolita fashion like frills, bows, ribbons, lace, tights & stockings, and incorporates them into her own personal style as more understated outfit details; making it more wearable on a daily basis while still being a tribute to one of her sources of style inspiration.
now that we've explored what makes hachi's personal style unique to her character, let's dig into how her style is influenced in relation to how the story progresses and how her character develops. and just for funsies, i'll also be styling a casual everyday outfit that i could picture hachi wearing for each story arc. let's go!
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i. art school
i'd describe hachi's style here as the most youthful, which makes sense considering she's freshly moved to tokyo to study at an art school. we see her sporting a face-framing pixie cut, which gives her look a bit of edge, but not too much as she still retains her signature soft girl style to balance it out. also, can i just say: super farmer's daughter vibes when paired with a bandana! jeans were having a moment too- during this era, hachi was often seen wearing a pair of bellbottom flares or baggy jeans, creating a casual and easygoing look which really leaned into the artsy college student fashion. this would also mesh well with her then-best friend junko's more bohemian/indie, woodstock-inspired hippie style. the short hair paired with her experimentation on androgynous silhouettes definitely accentuates her gamine facial features, lending to a cute boyish look.
all these style elements are in direct contrast with the hyperfeminine looks of her high school years, back when she'd opt for skirts over jeans and long, styled hair; showing how hachi underwent a pretty drastic style change whilst adapting to the new environment in tokyo. at the same time, it could also hint at hachi's approach to self-expression & using fashion as a coping mechanism to deal with major life changes. dressing more casually to blend in with the college crowd is one of many indicators on how easily influenced hachi can get, which is pretty on-brand behaviour for someone with a tendency to seek validation from others instead of oneself.
so let's get into the first look i've picked out for her: layers on layers on layers baby! for this outfit, i took a lot of inspiration from hachi's first day of class outfit. i tried to be consistent with her theme of 70s-inspired prints and silhouettes during this phase, but also wanted to incorporate a modern y2k touch since we know that younger hachi (before fully developing her unique & personal sense of style) is more of a trend chaser, and what could be more early 2000s than a blouse + dress + jeans combo? accessories-wise, i wanted to pick out unique-looking pieces that had a lot of charm, as i was really going for that 'flea market finds' vibe since she obviously wouldn't have been able to afford any designer yet on a college student budget. also please notice the gorgeous vintage floral print ballet flats- i was so excited when i found it, i thought it screamed hachi!! they look so comfortable to walk in on top of being cute, it's the perfect shoe to slip on for a long day of classes without sacrificing style.
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ii. apartment 707
during this time, we see hachi start to embrace feminine styles again. she lets her hair grow out and we see her back in skirts, dresses, and all things girly, which is why her otome fashion influences shine through most here. she wears tons of pieces in floral and polkadot print, as well as flowy babydoll tops which are very y2k-girl-next-door-reminiscient. we also see her starting to wear vivienne jewelry (the pearl choker, the dainty silver orb earrings), likely as a result of nana's influence (who she heavily admires and looks up to) & wanting to emulate her style. hachi's outfits here seem to have more colour and print, which i believe is reflective of her mental state here; happy, confident, and surrounded by support. good vibes all around, her environment at this time encourages her to take more risks in not just decision-making but also in her fashion choices.
in general, this era is where hachi seems to be getting a better hold on growing into her own personal style. she's still open to trying out different styles every now and then, but we can see there are some style elements that really stick and appear most often in her outfits. she's also seen here experimenting with all kinds of different hairstyles- french braids, pigtails, twin buns, the half-updo. to me, i think all of this signifies how hachi's style development runs parallel to her identity formation and how she grows as a person. at this point of the story, hachi believes she's finally found a place where she fits- within this ragtag but loving cast of unique characters.
so the second look was a little more of a challenge to work with- that's because hachi's style during this era doesn't subscribe to any one specific aesthetic or subculture, but more like a bit of everything, and her outfits can differ a lot between episodes. the goal here was to go for a casual daytime outfit, and i ended up super proud of the colour coordination in this one! i've styled hachi in a frilly vintage floral print chiffon slip dress that's almost reminiscent of the strawberry dress of 2020, but with unique details that give it much more character. i gave hachi a cream-toned vivienne crossbody purse, a scarf to balance out the salmon pink of the dress accents, styled as a neckerchief, some strawberry hair clips to match, and of course i had to include her much-spotted pearl orb necklace too. the highlight of this look are definitely the shoes, which are maison margiela tabi ballet flats- something i could 100% picture hachi wearing if NANA were set in the context of modern day fashion trends.
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iii. motherhood
as time passes, we also see how hachi's fashion sense has slightly evolved into a classier, more refined version. more adult, if you will. this occurs when hachi decides to move out from apartment 707 and starts getting serious with takumi. not only did her living situation change, but as did her lifestyle, and with that, her fashion sense too. her style here simplified and took on a more mature look. she started prioritizing function over form as she cut down on layering and accessorizing. she would also opt for longer, flowier silhouettes and comfortable styles, often wearing simple dresses or aprons over a basic shirt-skirt combo. i really like how the change in style here - which pulls a lot from the 50s-suburbia housewife trope (think frilly aprons, puffy dresses, flared skirts, modest hemlines) - feels like a sublte detail to show how hachi settles into her new role of motherhood, expressed via clothing choices.
as a whole, this period of her life signifies the drastic 180° change from spending carefree days of young adulthood, to taking on the role of mother/wife in a nuclear family unit. it's the most major life change she's ever had to experience at this point, and it's expected that her style evolves alongside this. she's seen wearing noticeably less patterns or colour during this time, which could hint at possibly representing her inner feelings- the bleakness of spending her days in a mostly-empty home, and the isolation of being separated from the friendships she once surrounded herself with daily. thankfully, we do eventually see her return to dressing fashionably again after the timeskip. however, it's extremely important not to gloss over this period of her life as it portrays how she must have felt having most of her agency taken away overnight, with her style being all she had left as a form of control.
so last but not least is the final outfit, which was tough styling as there was comparably less material to go off, but i based it on the few going-out looks we get to see hachi wear post-takumi. rolling with the 50s-inspired looks, i've styled her in a coral short-sleeve button down dress. for the outerwear i picked a long checkered overcoat, which nicely complements the dress in addition to being a going-out staple for classy ladies everywhere. since the outfit is mostly harsher silhouettes, i decided to keep the colour scheme light to balance it out. while i was going for 'stylish mature woman', i still wanted some youthful elements in there to maintain hachi's signature girlish look. i balanced it out by accessorizing with a headband (a prep chic essential) and dior saddle bag, both lime green for a pop of colour and contrast. and of course, i had to incorporate the iconic neckerchief too as it doesn't get any more vintage-looking than this. the final piece to tie it all together are a pair of classic miu miu ballet flats- chic and comfortable!
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final thoughts
all in all, hachi's fashion sense is super girly and sweet, which i'd say directly reflects on her character's personality. hachi is an outgoing girl who wears her heart on her sleeve and has a lot of love to give. she's warm and approachable, which she expresses through her clothing choices by embodying the cheerful, down-to-earth girl next door look. her bubbly style is youthful and fresh, which personality-wise is in character with hachi's innocence and willingness to trust others. this is shown through how much hachi cares deeply about her loved ones & often (unhealthily) prioritizes their feelings over her own. however, this naïveté unfortunately leaves her a lot more vulnerable to others seeking to exploit her emotional attention.
hachi's fashion evolution over the series shows how she uses fashion as a coping tool to help adjust to life changes, capturing her emotional growth and how she matures over the course of the story. the way that hachi's sense of style develops alongside her character is so realistic. her style development tells the story of a girl who finds herself and loses herself over and over again, frequently changing jobs and wardrobes in a constant struggle to find an identity to latch onto- until she does. hachi's style story is one of self-expression & identity formation; a story that speaks to all the young, unsure girls out there who see a bit of themselves in her, trying to figure out their place in a world in a world that often decides for them.
Bram Stoker’s classic brought many iconic characters that continue to inspire fashion and art to this day, one of them being Lucy Westenra. Set in 1890’s, her look was based on late Victorian fashion. Described as soft and sweet, her style is very feminine and modest at first, but as her character changes into a deadly vampire, so does her style evolve into a more dark romantic look. To translate that into a personal style, it’s a perfect inspiration to bring both contrasting sides into one single creative and ethereal aesthetic.
I would keep the classic and feminine pieces and softness of colours as base, and mix it with modern, more relaxed cuts and details, as well as accessories and jewelry that add a little bit of edge and pop of colour for that gothic and vampiric element. Waist is usually emphasised/cinched while silhouette is rich on top or bottom. It can be achieved by combining pieces such as long ruffled skirts of sleeves, or lace and lightweight sheer fabrics like organza/chiffon, with lined and harsher pieces like corsets and bodices. Layering over with items that resemble lingerie, slip dresses and nigh gowns also incorporates well into this style. Some of the go-to pieces – lace turtlenecks, corsets, ruffled skirts/dresses, drop jewelry, laced boots, puff sleeve blouses, off shoulder dresses and tops, stockings, floral details, choker necklaces
colours – off white, silver, peach, muted shades of orange and pink, red
hairstyle – romantic waves or relaxed bun, any type of feminine head piece/accessory
makeup – minimalistic makeup with blurred/stained red lips
Lucy Westenra outfit inspiration
ethereal, dark romantic, lace pieces, muted colours, ruffles, stained lips, red details, feminine
Because while I usually focus on TV analysis, that actually comes from something deeper — I studied media communication and marketing, so analyzing narratives and representation is something I’ve always done.
But there’s another passion of mine that has been just as constant: fashion history.
Fashion doesn’t just change with time.
It records it.
Every silhouette, every fabric choice, every detail — they all tell you something about the world women were living in at that exact moment. What they were allowed to be. What they were expected to be. And sometimes… what they were quietly starting to become.
This isn’t just about clothes.
This is about identity, pressure, rebellion — and evolution.
Let’s go back.
1962 — Red Flare (Candy)
This piece is inspired by a Balenciaga design from the late ’50s and early ’60s, later reinterpreted by Givenchy and Yves Saint Laurent.
It was typically made in red velvet with white satin lining, and it represents a very specific kind of structured, high-fashion elegance.
This look is not just fashion — it’s an image of controlled, refined femininity that defined the early ’60s.
1963 — Senior Prom (Barbie)
Here, the reference is very clear: the American prom, but filtered through French fashion influences of the time.
The key element is tulle — layered, voluminous skirts that create movement and softness.
The color combination — deep blue with petrol green underneath — enhances that dreamy, almost cinematic effect.
What’s interesting is how this style never really disappeared. Designers like Giambattista Valli still use exaggerated tulle silhouettes today, showing how certain aesthetics remain relevant across decades.
1966 — Fashion Luncheon (Rommie)
The Fashion Luncheon look reflects a classic, functional outfit — a dress designed to look like a two-piece suit, paired with a jacket and the iconic pillbox hat.
This style is defined by:
– discreet elegance
– clean structure
– refined simplicity
It’s a kind of elegance that doesn’t disappear with time — which is why we still see it today, especially in brands like Chanel.
If we think about real-life references, this silhouette immediately brings to mind Jacqueline Kennedy, especially with the iconic pillbox hats designed by Oleg Cassini.
1967 — Swirly Cue (Astarte)
With Swirly Cue, we move into Pop Art aesthetics and youth culture.
This is the moment when fashion becomes:
– playful
– bold
– expressive
Mini dresses, geometric patterns, psychedelic prints, floral motifs — especially the daisy, strongly associated with Mary Quant.
Silhouettes become simpler and younger:
– A-line cuts
– straight lines
– short skirts with flares or ruffles
This isn’t just a stylistic change — it’s a generational one. Fashion becomes a form of identity, especially for younger people.
1968 — Silver Cage (Celia)
This look represents the futuristic imagination of the late 1960s.
A pink nylon mini dress layered with a silver metallic mesh overlay — simple in structure, but visually experimental.
To understand this style, we need to consider the historical context:
The Space Race — the first humans in space, the first moon landing, the global fascination with the future.
This directly influenced fashion, leading to what we now call space-age aesthetics.
Designers like:
– André Courrèges
– Pierre Cardin
– Paco Rabanne
– Rudi Gernreich
…translated this vision of the future into clothing using innovative materials and experimental designs.
This same aesthetic can still be recognized today — even in modern media that recreate a 1960s vision of the future, like The Fantastic Four.
What Changed — and What Didn’t
Looking at these years in sequence, what stands out isn’t just how fashion evolves.
It’s how slowly — and how powerfully — women begin to shift within it.
From being shaped…
to shaping themselves.
From being observed…
to existing.
And maybe that’s the real story behind every dress:
Not just what women were wearing —
but what they were allowed to become.
Which of these looks represents you the most?
Which one reflects your personality, your way of expressing yourself?
And also:
Which of these styles do you think still feels current today?
Because if there’s one thing fashion history proves, it’s that trends don’t disappear.
hi gorg!! i had the most random thought and wanted your opinion. i've been recently been binge watching the vampire diaries, pretty little liars, and one tree hill and it got me thinking..how would you describe the following characters aesthetics: maya st germain, aria montgomery, elena gilbert and brooke davis? ilyyyy
hi love!! omg i literally gasped when i saw this ask in my inbox because these are some of my absolute favorite shows!! like… are we the same person?? i've been in such a nostalgic tv mood lately too (rewatching gossip girl for the 37284th time as we speak lol)
so about these characters' aesthetics… let me just dive right in because i have THOUGHTS
maya st germain is like this effortlessly cool indie girl with that slight edge to her style. she's vintage band tees paired with ripped jeans and those perfectly worn-in combat boots that look like they have stories to tell. her room would have fairy lights, polaroids of emily everywhere, and records displayed on the wall. she's the girl who introduces you to music you've never heard of and makes you fall in love with it immediately. there's something so magnetic about her style. it's not trying too hard but it's still so put together in that "i just threw this on" way that actually takes forever to perfect.
aria montgomery is literally the definition of eclectic boho meets dark academia. she's mixing patterns that shouldn't work together but somehow do? like those statement earrings with vintage dresses and boots and those little touches that make you go "only aria could pull that off." she's the type to find the most unique pieces at thrift stores and layer them in ways no one else would think of. her aesthetic is so literary too, you know she's carrying a sylvia plath book in that oversized bag with all those keychains and pins. she's not afraid to stand out and that's what makes her style so iconic.
elena gilbert starts with that classic small-town girl next door vibe - all converse and straight hair and simple tops. but her evolution!!! she goes from basic cute to this sophisticated casual chic that's so timeless. her aesthetic becomes these perfect fitted jeans, leather jackets, and those boots that make her legs look amazing. there's something so clean and classic about her style even when she's going through it all. it's like… effortless but intentional? and when she turns off her humanity… that edge comes through in all black everything and those statement necklaces. the duality!!
brooke davis is the ultimate girly girl with substance. her aesthetic is preppy meets hot meets fashionista. she's the blueprint for the popular girl with a heart of gold look. those perfect highlights, the cheerleader uniform that somehow looks couture on her, and later those sophisticated business casual fits that still manage to be youthful. she's pencil skirts and cute tops and the perfect accessories. her style says "i know exactly who i am and i'm not apologizing for it." she's the girl who makes you want to go shopping immediately after watching an episode.
honestly these characters defined a whole generation's style and i'm still not over it!! which one resonates with you the most? i'm such an aria with a touch of brooke personally!! thank youuu so much for this question! this was post so sooo fun to make <3
