pinterest aesthetic 😵💫 watching Somebody Somewhere (so good) & in the midst of a fight one of the characters says “You think you’re Pinterest, but you’re really Hobby Lobby”… and it makes no sense but i understood! branding, core-ism like you said, etc etc wow
Love the deep dive into aesthetic commodification—it’s wild how fast individual quirks get flattened into digestible labels. But here’s the thing: maybe aesthetic labeling isn’t just about fitting in—it’s also about signaling where you belong. Algorithms may drive trends, but they also help people find their weird little corners of the internet where their taste feels seen.
From a marketing lens, this "sameness" isn’t purely passive—it’s an active attempt to create micro-identities that feel both personal and shareable. And brands? They’re tuned into that. The real power play isn’t just selling a product—it’s selling the feeling of being “in” on something before it hits the mainstream.
Also, isn’t there a tension between craving niche authenticity while obsessing over how we present that niche? Is a photo dump casual if you overthink the order? Can you ever be “different” if your difference is already part of the discourse?
In a world where taste is public-facing and hyper-visible, maybe the real flex is caring a little less—but still showing up for the things (and people) that feel real.
Would love to hear your thoughts—how do you think brands navigate this contradiction while trying to stay ahead of the culture curve?
this was the closest someone has ever come to understand the workings of my brain when it comes to aesthetics & micro trends, thank you for writing this beautiful piece.
My first post is about this same concept! (in a much more personal, chaotic way), but you worded it so beautifully. Reading the sentence "The community we seek is often the same one we reject when we deem it too crowded" actually made me gain neurons. Absolutely loved this piece.
It’s also not new, people, particularly those in teens and early twenties are seeking their identity and long to connect and associate themselves with like-minded others. Think punks goths mods etc. What’s new is the fast rate at which social media can circulate these terms and Shein can produce items to fit that “aesthetic”
This piece materialized all the bits and pieces of opinions ive had about this entire individualism thing !!! I love the power of community and it's so sad to see people fight so hard against it just to "stand" out even at the expense of their true self ! Thank you for this amazing piece ! I now have a lot to "thought daughter" about 🤣
thank you for articulating this in a way my brain could not
thank you for reading 🫂
omg, you've put my recent thoughts so beautifully into words!!
ahh tysm nic <3
so, we need a drink of [insert potentially overpriced fusion of crafting + drinking natural wine] and go down this rabbit hole together
agreed.
this perfectly articulated so many thoughts that have been whirling in my mind recently, and i’m so happy to finally see someone writing about it
appreciate this asha!
pinterest aesthetic 😵💫 watching Somebody Somewhere (so good) & in the midst of a fight one of the characters says “You think you’re Pinterest, but you’re really Hobby Lobby”… and it makes no sense but i understood! branding, core-ism like you said, etc etc wow
Love the deep dive into aesthetic commodification—it’s wild how fast individual quirks get flattened into digestible labels. But here’s the thing: maybe aesthetic labeling isn’t just about fitting in—it’s also about signaling where you belong. Algorithms may drive trends, but they also help people find their weird little corners of the internet where their taste feels seen.
From a marketing lens, this "sameness" isn’t purely passive—it’s an active attempt to create micro-identities that feel both personal and shareable. And brands? They’re tuned into that. The real power play isn’t just selling a product—it’s selling the feeling of being “in” on something before it hits the mainstream.
Also, isn’t there a tension between craving niche authenticity while obsessing over how we present that niche? Is a photo dump casual if you overthink the order? Can you ever be “different” if your difference is already part of the discourse?
In a world where taste is public-facing and hyper-visible, maybe the real flex is caring a little less—but still showing up for the things (and people) that feel real.
Would love to hear your thoughts—how do you think brands navigate this contradiction while trying to stay ahead of the culture curve?
this was the closest someone has ever come to understand the workings of my brain when it comes to aesthetics & micro trends, thank you for writing this beautiful piece.
My first post is about this same concept! (in a much more personal, chaotic way), but you worded it so beautifully. Reading the sentence "The community we seek is often the same one we reject when we deem it too crowded" actually made me gain neurons. Absolutely loved this piece.
It’s also not new, people, particularly those in teens and early twenties are seeking their identity and long to connect and associate themselves with like-minded others. Think punks goths mods etc. What’s new is the fast rate at which social media can circulate these terms and Shein can produce items to fit that “aesthetic”
This piece materialized all the bits and pieces of opinions ive had about this entire individualism thing !!! I love the power of community and it's so sad to see people fight so hard against it just to "stand" out even at the expense of their true self ! Thank you for this amazing piece ! I now have a lot to "thought daughter" about 🤣
I cannot express how well you put my swirling, undefined thoughts into such beautiful prose. Every sentence struck a chord within me. Thank you!