The Rise of Modern Romanticism in Fashion.
How a bygone aesthetic is finding new relevance in fashion.
In modern society, fashion is dominated by streetwear and minimalism, but romantic fashion is making a resurgence. Key influences causing this are period dramas such as ‘Poor Things’ and ‘Bridgerton’ that engage viewers through their visual story-telling and iconic costume designs. TikTok is also an influence due to aesthetics such as ‘coquette’ and ’regencycore’. Is this a short-term means of escape or a lasting change in how we dress?
The elements that make up this aesthetic are flowy silhouettes, soft colours, delicate lace, and vintage-inspired tailoring. These evoke romantic and feminine moods that produce the aesthetic. Modern romanticism is a contemporary take on historical romantic influences such as the Regency era, the Victorian era, and the Rococo era. The Regency era was defined by simplicity with an empire waist; the Victorian era was dramatic and structured, and the Rococo era was excess and pastel decadence. Key designers embracing this are Simone Rocha and Cecile Bahnsen. Simone through her lace, puffy sleeves, and sheer layers. Cecile through her voluminous silhouettes, soft pastels, and intricate textures.
This resurgence in romanticism can also be linked to the fast-paced digital world and needing an escape from it all. Romanticism embodies softness and feminine energy that can be calming. When trends are fast cycling, it can be reassuring to return to what we already know- nostalgia. Hashtags like #coquette and #regencycore drive engagement towards that style of content which results in it becoming mainstream. Fashion has been slowly rebelling against minimalism, and this further shifts the spotlight away from the ‘clean girl’ aesthetic. It embraces a more theatrical and expressive way of dressing.
I think that modern romanticism will fade like past micro-trends because there will always be the next aesthetic due to over-saturation and consumer fatigue. However, vintage shopping does make the trend more appealing as you can find plenty of these items second-hand and high fashion brands are adapting to incorporate soft elements into their streetwear. In the end, in a modern era where trend cycles are shortened, modern romanticism reminds us that fashion can be fantastical and fun as well as functional.
The Rise of Modern Romanticism in Fashion.
How a bygone aesthetic is finding new relevance in fashion.
In modern society, fashion is dominated by streetwear and minimalism, but romantic fashion is making a resurgence. Key influences causing this are period dramas such as ‘Poor Things’ and ‘Bridgerton’ that engage viewers through their visual story-telling and iconic costume designs. TikTok is also an influence due to aesthetics such as ‘coquette’ and ’regencycore’. Is this a short-term means of escape or a lasting change in how we dress?
The elements that make up this aesthetic are flowy silhouettes, soft colours, delicate lace, and vintage-inspired tailoring. These evoke romantic and feminine moods that produce the aesthetic. Modern romanticism is a contemporary take on historical romantic influences such as the Regency era, the Victorian era, and the Rococo era. The Regency era was defined by simplicity with an empire waist; the Victorian era was dramatic and structured, and the Rococo era was excess and pastel decadence. Key designers embracing this are Simone Rocha and Cecile Bahnsen. Simone through her lace, puffy sleeves, and sheer layers. Cecile through her voluminous silhouettes, soft pastels, and intricate textures.
This resurgence in romanticism can also be linked to the fast-paced digital world and needing an escape from it all. Romanticism embodies softness and feminine energy that can be calming. When trends are fast cycling, it can be reassuring to return to what we already know- nostalgia. Hashtags like #coquette and #regencycore drive engagement towards that style of content which results in it becoming mainstream. Fashion has been slowly rebelling against minimalism, and this further shifts the spotlight away from the ‘clean girl’ aesthetic. It embraces a more theatrical and expressive way of dressing.
I think that modern romanticism will fade like past micro-trends because there will always be the next aesthetic due to over-saturation and consumer fatigue. However, vintage shopping does make the trend more appealing as you can find plenty of these items second-hand and high fashion brands are adapting to incorporate soft elements into their streetwear. In the end, in a modern era where trend cycles are shortened, modern romanticism reminds us that fashion can be fantastical and fun as well as functional.