What do crushed velvet, celestial motifs and stars Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman have in common? They encompass an ultra-specific and ultra-moody aesthetic that many Gen Z-ers and millennials find themselves spellbound by come fall: whimsigoth. Coined by architectural designer as “whimsigothic” and eventually shortened to “whimsigoth,” the aesthetic, as its name suggests, is a blend of whimsical and gothic styles. The aesthetic first arose in the late '80s, peaked in the early to mid '90s and practically disappeared by the new millennium.
“At the time, I was just calling it ‘whimsical, mystical, gothic, celestial,’” Collins, who is a founder of the , told Yahoo Entertainment. “[Whimsigoth] seemed to be the best fit for what I was looking at, with the gothic influence of having this dark and moody side and incorporating heavy metals and mystical imagery and iconography ..
. but then mixing in all of this very playful, celestial imagery.” Plush seating, sheer and lace fabrics, tapered candles, curly, wrought iron furniture and tarot iconography are often found in whimsigoth homes.
The average whimsigoth enthusiast likely watches Tim Burton films, lusts over Thierry Mugler designs and has Mazzy Star on repeat. Though perhaps the most defining characteristic of the modern whimsigoth woman is her love of '90s-era pop culture witches, like characters Sally and Gillian Owens. The 1998 film, which was adapted from Alice Hoffman’s bestseller of the same name, h.
