Tumblr and Turn
Hi everyone, happy Wednesday!
Today’s issue is my 110th! Every tenth issue I write about some things that I dislike and don’t want, just to have some fun and switch things up. I feel like it’s been a while since I’ve done one of these, so I’m delighted with the very timely resurgence of an aesthetic that I have some, um, firsthand experience with: Tumblrcore.
Contrary to popular belief, there’s not one unified Tumblr aesthetic; whether you were a twee princess or an indie sleaze queen, a grunge bitch or an art hoe, there was a community ready to welcome you with open arms on Tumblr dot com. There are just some garments, however, that are so closely linked with the platform in my mind that they have the power to immediately transport me back to 2012. I myself will not be participating in this early 2010s revival; I have zero desire to revert to the way I was dressing when I was 13, but I can’t resist indulging in some harmless reminiscing. What was your Tumblr aesthetic back in the day?
Don’t Give a Hoot
VINTAGE OWL NECKLACE SILVER/BRONZE - BIRDSNHERBS ($6)
While researching which products to write about for this issue, I knew I needed to include this owl necklace as soon as I clapped eyes on it. Do you guys remember these?? What a moment!! You couldn’t scroll five seconds without encountering a picture of a girl wearing this necklace with some oversized glasses and a denim jacket, possibly while showing off her mustache finger tattoo. Really takes me straight back to middle school, hanging with my friends at the mall on an aimless Saturday afternoon and snagging one of these in the Forever 21 checkout line.
Out of This World
GALAXY BUTTERFLY NINJA PANTS - BLACKMILK CLOTHING ($42)
I have no idea why galaxy print was such a big Thing on Tumblr, but it was everywhere: on boots, backpacks, skirts, T-shirts. Space in general, I think, was a big motif; who could forget the dreamcatcher and coffee cup edits? I myself did not own a pair of these leggings, thank god, but I did buy a pair of hot air balloon-printed leggings from this Etsy shop Fox Savant, previously Carousel Ink, and ended up never wearing them because what would I possibly wear them with?? Graphic tees and Doc Martens?? Big props to anyone who can pull that look off, but I can’t quite get behind the “leggings as pants” look, and I have unfortunately purged my closet of any and all shirts that contain words on them.
Off the Grid
AMERICAN APPAREL GRID SKIRT - POSHMARK ($20)
I would be remiss, of course, not to mention the iconic American Apparel skirts. (Coincidentally, also often paired with graphic tees and Doc Martens — those Docs were doing some heavy lifting!) Between grids and galaxies, it’s a toss-up as to which pattern was more ubiquitous. Actually, I’m not sure if these AA skirts ever truly went out of style — I’ve seen some girls on TikTok wearing the pleated tennis ones — but the circle ones with the grid print absolutely scream, “I own the Arctic Monkeys’ AM album on vinyl!!” Which I do not, so I shall be declining to dress as if I do!
Tried one of my recs and loved it (or hated it)? Wanna get something cool on my radar? Drop me a line at kittylguo@gmail.com or swing by my Twitter @kitguo!