Romanticism Revival
Photo by Olivia Peay (@__avvs__)
For the days we feel like it, romanticizing the way we dress is a gift: a reminder to indulge in the sweet things in life, even if it’s only in brevity. Why not take it a step further – or backward – and look towards centuries past for inspiration, using modernity to flesh out our fashion fantasies?
With roots in French flirtation and Victorian aesthetics, the romanticism, or coquette style, is a trend that has transcended time. With an enchanting allure of shimmering, glittery softness, romanticism allows fashion enthusiasts to let their outfits do the talking in a language that’s part Shakespearean sonnet, part femme fatale.
“When I think of romanticism, I think of the color red. That’s why it’s my favorite color! Red is my hair, red is my favorite lipstick. Red is romance. It’s flirtation, passion and love,” says Athena Vasquez, 29, tutor at the University Writing Center at Cal State Long Beach.
Vasquez frequently sports romantic-wear in her own life, adding pearls to her outfits and makeup looks, but also adding a “touch of romance” in her body language and tone. Wearing such looks is empowering and makes her feel sophisticated.
“It’s a style that depends on the person wearing it – I don't think it’s strictly feminine or masculine. Romanticism just is. It shapeshifts,” she says.
Many believe that the ubiquitous bow lies at the heart of romanticism, wrapped in strands of pearls and tied with threads of lace. But no matter what accessory you add to your outfit, incorporating romantic looks into your wardrobe lets freedom of expression reign.
“I practice romanticism almost every time I get ready,” says Nelson Ponce-Chosco, 21. “It challenges me towards self-discovery on what I may find romantic in my own right. Embellishing my outfits allows me to blend into my surroundings, or go completely off-the-rails into what I call ‘Planet Nelson’, where my wildest imaginations take form. In Planet Nelson, I can do and wear as I please without public or self-ridicule.”
Ponce-Chosco majors in Studio Art and minors in Film and Graphic Design, using their artistic vision to fuel what’s in their wardrobe. He encourages the use of romanticism as a direction for anyone’s style endeavors to allow “any fantasy in your mind to come to life”, revived by a love for living. To elevate their own ensembles, Ponce-Chosco includes a variety of accessories: loose ties, stuffed animals, fishnets, fur, stickers, handmade pins, crochet and more.
Gallery photos of Ponce-Chosco’s outfit. Photos by Olivia Peay (@__avvs__)
“I even pinned a Marlboro cigarette box that I found on the side of the road to my skirt to live out my cigarette fantasy,” he laughed. “Romanticism doesn’t always have to mean pearls, lace or glam, which I do love to dabble in... It can also take a turn for the darker side. In fairytales, there are many tales worth telling, even if they’re the less opulent ones.”
On social media, coquette-inspired romantic styles are often characterized by softer looks. However, reciprocating individualism and artistic rebirth is the true embodiment of the Renaissance, where light, lavish expressions meet with the bold romantic ideals that characterized the era. Ponce-Chosco believes that as a whole, romanticism cannot be defined by one side or the other.
“Many times we’re told that these two ends cannot coexist. But what if I love both? It’s allowed me to ponder, ‘Do I hate it or am I taught to hate it by an outside force?’. Asking myself this question gives my romantic style an entirely new meaning; it makes me feel more than just pretty. It can make me feel rebellious, powerful and not alone.”
Romanticism is a celebration of uniqueness, something that invites individuals to infuse their lives with love, no matter what form it takes. So, whether you opt for a pearl-adorned blouse or a noir-shaded crop top, embrace your inner romantic and let your fashion journey be a celebration of your own style.
“We’re all multifaceted beings with many identities that we want to encompass in our lifetime,” says Ponce-Chosco. “We just need to find a way to bring out and balance them within ourselves.”