Originating in the late 1980s-90s, Whimsigoth aesthetics emerged from the peak popularity of gothic-inspired pop/rock music, Tim Burton, and the graphic design work of Margo Chase, Vrontikis, and a bit of Vaughan Oliver. Very popular in the fields of furniture, product, and interior design [1]. Inspired,
Evan Collins of the Consumer Aesthetic Research Institute coined the aesthetic as “Whimsical Mystical Gothic Celestial” but was eventually shortened to simply “Whimsigoth”[2]. The aesthetic is known for its emphasis on celestial bodies, namely stars and moons, houseplants and crystals.,
Personal craft room wall inspired by Whimsigoth aesthetics.
It was first used to describe decor, after Collins noticed “moody, sort of dark, but still weirdly playful” elements in late ’80s and early ’90s design—think spindly wrought iron, glass baubles, and gilded light fixtures [4].
Whimsigoth offers a fairytale-inspired take on gothic fashion, birthing a fantastical aesthetic for those who embrace both darkness and feminine, fairy-like grace in equal measures. Think new-wave edginess topped with an otherworldly twist, less Disney fairytale and more Brother’s Grimm [5].
Repurposed cage for Fae. Spindly light fixture purposed to be decorative.
The history of the aesthetic however, derives from something other than whimsy. In researching the original emergence of the gothic subculture, Evan Collins and CARI (Consumer Aesthetics Research Institute) have found a lot of ties to collective trauma experienced by those in the design industry, specifically them living through the AIDS crisis, and the influence that had on the development of gothic aesthetics in design. “You want to understand the context of the time period when certain trends were emerging,” he told us, “we try to delve really pretty deep into various social and cultural forces that show why these aesthetics appeared in the first place; what was going on at the time and what would have led to certain trends rising, falling, or being replaced by something else. With whimsigoth, the aesthetic shows how people dealt with such difficult times and experiences. They tried to make something out of hard times and deal with their trauma in a visual sense; candles, moody interiors, and heavy draperies – stuff that represented collective darkness.” [6].
Amidst its visual nods to anything ethereal, otherworldly or magic, the aesthetic promotes being at one with nature, spending time outdoors and appreciating the magic in the everyday. It adds a dimension of playfulness to life, encouraging people not to take things too seriously, to be free and influenced only by themselves and what they feel is right [7].
Twisty and spindly, whimsigoth light from Walmart.
Find the playfulness in life,
paint a horse into a celestial being.
A drain pipe re-imagined into a tree branch to fit the aesthetic of Whimsigoth.
Other areas of the aesthetic is clothing, The term eventually made its way to TikTok, where users translated it to the dark, witchy, goth-adjacent fashion that was popular throughout the same era. It’s luxurious without being fussy and distinctly feminine with a razor-sharp edge—exactly the brooding, slightly theatrical wardrobe you’d wear if you, too, could become a teenage witch. whimsigoth’s slip dresses, chunky footwear, maxi skirts, celestial jewelry, corsets, and paisley tops. (Bonus points if they look burnished, tattered, and inconspicuously anachronistic)[8]. 
Sanchez, Anissa. “How Whimsigoth Evolved from a ’90s Fashion Fad to Viral TikTok Subculture.” Alternative Press Magazine, 7 June 2023, www.altpress.com/whimsigoth-style-tiktok-trend-explained/.
[2] Smith, Jake. “Meet Whimsigoth, Tiktok’s Favorite Autumnal Aesthetic.” Glamour, Glamour, 13 Sept. 2022, www.glamour.com/story/whimsigoth-aesthetic-tiktok.
[3] Smith, Jake. “Meet Whimsigoth, Tiktok’s Favorite Autumnal Aesthetic.” Glamour, Glamour, 13 Sept. 2022, www.glamour.com/story/whimsigoth-aesthetic-tiktok.
[4] Smith, Jake. “Meet Whimsigoth, Tiktok’s Favorite Autumnal Aesthetic.” Glamour, Glamour, 13 Sept. 2022, www.glamour.com/story/whimsigoth-aesthetic-tiktok.
[5] Culverhouse, Charlie, and Guap. “Equal Parts Whimsical and Moody: The Eclectic Whimsigoth Aesthetic.” GUAP, 8 Jan. 2023, guap.co/the-eclectic-whimsigoth-aesthetic/.
[6] Culverhouse, Charlie, and Guap. “Equal Parts Whimsical and Moody: The Eclectic Whimsigoth Aesthetic.” GUAP, 8 Jan. 2023, guap.co/the-eclectic-whimsigoth-aesthetic/.
[7] Culverhouse, Charlie, and Guap. “Equal Parts Whimsical and Moody: The Eclectic Whimsigoth Aesthetic.” GUAP, 8 Jan. 2023, guap.co/the-eclectic-whimsigoth-aesthetic/. [8] Smith, Jake. “Meet Whimsigoth, Tiktok’s Favorite Autumnal Aesthetic.” Glamour, Glamour, 13 Sept. 2022, www.glamour.com/story/whimsigoth-aesthetic-tiktok.
The Craft Photo: Sanchez, Anissa. “How Whimsigoth Evolved from a ’90s Fashion Fad to Viral TikTok Subculture.” Alternative Press Magazine, 7 June 2023, www.altpress.com/whimsigoth-style-tiktok-trend-explained/.
3 Comments. Leave new
Hey Efrosini! This post was super insightful into an aesthetic that I previously was unaware of. I liked that you dove into its origin with quotes from Evan Collins. I think those quotes added good context for how people felt during the time period. Your images looked very cool (especially the drain pipe) my only suggestion would be to try and figure out how to increase the size of some of your other images.
I really appreciated the variety of images and examples used to help show that kinds of things could be created to represent whimsigoth and how well you explained the idea of this aesthetic and how it came to be. Is there an aspect of whimsigoth that can be found in clothing or accessorizing as well? If so, could you find any examples that could be included?
That is actually a very fair point. I don’t know why I didn’t think about clothing, I will add that in the update. Thanks!