return of the regal aesthetic
rockstar or princess, both fit a tumblr theme circa 2010s
Hello friends! I'm so happy you're here. I’ll jump right in.
Coquette, Miffy, bows, pink, vintage heart cakes, Sandy Liang, Sofia Coppola, and twenty-something teenage girls took over the internet last year. As we enter a new year, I've noticed several media and fashion trends on social media, which show a rise in the regal aesthetic. 👑💋
Regal, by definition, means royal or relating to a king or queen. Regal style is often associated with elegance and luxury. For women, it's looking like a beautiful queen, a pretty princess, a strong and majestic saint, maybe even ethereal.
I will file the traditional take on regal style under "princess" and the modernization of it under "rockstar."
You might be thinking, "Cool, why should I care?" The simple answer for this one: It's fun. Natural to extra. Neat to messy. The best part is we can enjoy both.
Regal Princess
The natural evolution of 2023's year of the girl was an added element of glamour and details. Hand-made and expensive details. A "regal princess" is cute, classy, and shiny. The most obvious example is Clio Peppiatt—a young creative designer making bold garments for women from her original drawings.
Recently seen on Taylor Swift and Olivia Culpo, Clio Peppiatt's dresses and bridal collection will only grow in popularity. And they should!! Each design is a stunning work of art showcasing exquisite beadwork and design. Not just a sparkly dress.
As a 2023 bride, I got to experience the insane pricing for anything and everything under the umbrella of marriage (engagement, bachelorette, and wedding festivities). Clio Peppiatt's bridal collection differs from brands that are drastically unattainable to normal girlies. That's what makes it so great. If you're going to invest and spend $ on your wedding events, it should be as detailed and perfect as a Peppiatt piece.
Similarly, Jennifer Behr, a New York atelier, has accessories that fit the same aesthetic. For my wedding, I knew that I wanted to wear a headband. But I wanted it to be well-made and crafted to a level of perfection that was worth spending the money on. My non-traditional choice was to find one in pink because it's my favorite color and style.
When I tell you, Jennifer Behr delivered.
Their bows are having a moment on the red carpets during Hollywood award season. So, if you're interested, check out their Instagram. For the sake of this letter, I will focus on their headbands and bobby pins. A sparkly headband is the next best thing to wearing a tiara, and their celestial bobby pins (also sported by Miss Swift) give off "your majesty."
Okay, let's talk about embroidery—one of the major embellishments that elevate simple objects and clothing. Although I love the L.L.Bean Boat and Tote, I am not talking about simple monogramming and script embroidery. I'm talking about beadwork, gold, silver, royal colors, and velvet fabrics.
Le Lion, a family-run, Italian-based but New York hand-embroidered apparel company, allows you to personalize various knitwear with whimsical embroidery, monograms, zodiac signs, and more.
Now, truthfully, these are out of my budget. It's worthy as an investment piece or a special birthday gift. But God, they're so pretty to look at.
Another beautiful thing to look at: Millie Amber's illustrations and art.
Millie is an illustrator and textile artist based in London. Her work explores romantic symbolism, folkloric motifs, and poetic narratives. I followed Millie on Instagram the moment I saw her embroidery work. Although not clothing, everything in her shop would stylistically make for a killer gallery wall.
What all these brands and creators have in common are meticulously designed hand-made pieces. Regardless of sticker price, in the era of trends and fast fashion, it's nice to be reminded that attention to detail makes a difference. I also love pretty things. If we (21st-century humans) can design and wear princess-like clothing, we should.
(This is not me telling you; you should. Your style and preference is yours. But I will be drooling over sparkles, beads, gold, and silver.)
Regal Rockstar
We meet the princess's twin, a rockstar. Think Princess Protection Program, Lizzie and Isabella, Mary Kate and Ashley, etc. But remember, you can channel your inner Gemini and embrace both twins.
The "regal rockstar" wears smudged eyeliner, hair tinsel, metallic eyeshadow, big fur (or faux fur) coats, and clothes that cosplay H&M. It sparkles and glitters … messily. It has an "I don't need to prove anything" attitude amid extreme curation (and often, wealth), with the significant influence of its cousin, grunge.
Saltburn is the latest example of this aesthetic catching fire. Everyone on the internet has an opinion on this movie, but you can't deny that it is visually stunning. Venetia will be the blueprint this year.
But let us not forget the original muse. Effy Stonem. Skins.
To bring a luxury brand in, Vivienne Westwood girlies will reign supreme under this aesthetic. And dare I say … Juicy Couture? Their charm bracelets are going to fly off of Depop. I regret that mine got lost somewhere in the boxes from teenager to college student.
Ugh, what a time to have been alive! Me, begging to go to a department store at the mall for a new charm. My mom, reluctant to spend money but ultimately giving in to my insistence. I'm not proud. I bartered grades, birthdays, Christmas, cleaning my room, etc. Today's tweens have Drunk Elephant skincare, and I had Juicy Couture charms.
The English and the time frame of the 2010s directly influence a lot of this style. With the final season of The Crown spotlighting Will & Kate, new audiences are finding paparazzi photos from their college years as inspiration. A photo, taken by Alison Jackson, is actually not them but gives the necessary vibes. Jackson is an English artist known for her lookalike photographs of celebrities.
I’ll wrap up “regal rockstar” with this recent Instagram post from Addison Rae.
Whether the regal influence swings one way or another, I'm excited to see outfits and inspiration that are more visually stimulating than the color beige. The clean girl aesthetic will make room for the messy girl and glamorous girl aesthetic. Get your Pinterest boards ready. 👀
This was a long one. So, if you made it this far, it means so much. Also, these are supposed to be weekly on Sundays, but I use the energy when I have it. Until next time! 🫶🏼
Honorable mentions I couldn’t find a way to wiggle in:
L A R A on TikTok for Saltburn themed parties
ktrivz on TikTok for the mob wife aesthetic
naomieliav on TikTok for grunge makeup
Rodarte at the Golden Globes
Guo Pei regal designs
“Murder on the Dancefloor” from Saltburn makes the TikTok edit rounds