This is an index that documents how aesthetic culture has evolved over the decades.
| Decade | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| 1890s | The 1890s were a period of transition, with aesthetic trends varying significantly based on geographic location, region, and social class. Increased media circulation, through mass-produced photography, color lithography, and wider newspaper distribution, exposed people to diverse cultures and lifestyles, sparking interest in the exotic and foreign. This era saw the rise of Art Nouveau, a highly ornate design style, which found favor among the upper classes of Western Europe and North America. Simultaneously, the Arts and Crafts movement promoted simpler aesthetics and handcrafted goods, particularly among the growing middle class. In Japan, traditional artistic styles like Ukiyo-e woodblock prints continued to flourish alongside growing Western influences. Colonial regions experienced a fusion of indigenous artistic traditions with European styles imposed by their respective empires. |
| 1900s | The 1900s marked a period of continued transition and growing international exchange in aesthetics. Art Nouveau reached its peak popularity, influencing architecture, fashion, and decorative arts. This style was particularly prominent in Europe and North America, seen in works by architects like Antoni Gaudà and designers like Louis Comfort Tiffany. The rise of the suffragette movement began to influence fashion, with women adopting more practical clothing styles. Japonisme continued to influence Western artists and designers, which led to cross-cultural exchanges and adaptations of Japanese aesthetics. Meanwhile, in other parts of the world, indigenous artistic traditions evolved, with colonial influences. The 1900s laid the groundwork for the aesthetic shifts that would occur in the following decades. |
| 1910s | The 1910s witnessed a growing tension between tradition and modernity in aesthetics. While Art Nouveau's influence persisted in some areas, a shift towards functional designs began to emerge, particularly in architecture and fashion, as seen with movements like Plakatstil and Bauhaus. The outbreak of World War I in 1914 had a profound impact, leading to a focus on practicality and a decline in elaborate ornamentation. Women's fashion saw a gradual move away from restrictive corsets and towards looser silhouettes. In art, movements like Fauvism and Expressionism challenged traditional aesthetics, while abstract art questioned the very nature of representation. The 1910s were a decade of upheaval and change. |
| 1920s | The Roaring 20s, mainly in the United States and Europe, were a period known to be a symbol of festivity, joy, and abundance. After the First World War (1914-18), the wealthy classes sought entertainment and organized lavish parties, a trend reflected in the exuberant Art Deco style that flourished in architecture, interior design, and fashion. This era also saw the rise of the "flapper" culture, characterized by women with bobbed hair, shorter hemlines, and a sense of social freedom. The 1920s were also a decade reminiscent of the world of gangsters, prohibition, and the jazz scene, which influenced not only music but also dance and fashion. However, this decade of exuberance was not without its contrasts, as the rise of industrialization and mass production began to standardize certain aspects of design and aesthetics. |
| 1930s | The 1930s, a decade marked by the Great Depression, saw a shift in aesthetics towards practicality and escapism. While the exuberance of the 1920s faded, elegance and sophistication remained important ideals. In fashion, this was a shift towards different silhouettes, bias-cut gowns that emphasized the female form, and the rise of "Hollywood Glamour" inspired by film stars like Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich. Art Deco continued to be influential, but its forms became more subdued. Everyday fashion embraced more affordable and durable fabrics, and "make-do and mend" mentality encouraged resourcefulness and repurposing. In entertainment, Hollywood provided a much-needed escape from the harsh realities of the Depression, with musicals and glamorous comedies offering a sense of hope and optimism. |
| 1940s | The 1940s, marked by World War II, saw aesthetics shaped by wartime shortages and a focus on practicality and functionality. Fashion, heavily influenced by rationing and the need to conserve resources, featured simpler silhouettes, shorter hemlines, and the repurposing of older garments. "Utility clothing" became commonplace, with durable fabrics and practical designs taking precedence over elaborate ornamentation. Despite its limitations, women found ways to express style through accessories like headscarves and lipstick, which became symbols of femininity. The war effort also influenced design, with propaganda posters and military aesthetics becoming prevalent. In art, movements like Surrealism and Social Realism reflected the anxieties and social concerns of the time. |
| 1950s | The 1950s were a decade of post-war prosperity and numerous cultural shifts. In the United States, the rise of youth culture led to the emergence of many teenage subcultures, which sought to distinguish themselves from older generations with fashion choices like poodle skirts and leather jackets, deviating from the more conservative mainstream. The advertising and mass media industries flourished with economic growth, promoting ideals of consumerism and domesticity. This era saw the rise of mid-century modern design, characterized by organic forms and the use of new materials like plastic and fiberglass. In fashion, Christian Dior's "New Look" re-emphasized elegance and traditional notions of feminity in women's fashion. The 1950s also marked the Golden Age of Hollywood. However, this decade was also marked by social and political tensions, with the Cold War and the Civil Rights Movement influencing artistic expression and cultural trends. |
| 1960s | The 1960s were a decade of radical social and cultural change. The rise of youth counterculture challenged established norms, leading to a rejection of traditional fashion. The "Space Age" fascination influenced design and fashion with futuristic shapes and synthetic materials. In cinema, movements like the French New Wave and Italian Neorealism revolutionized filmmaking, while "Swinging London" became a hub of fashion and music innovation. Pop Art challenged traditional notions of art with its embrace of mass-produced imagery and pop culture. Music scenes and subcultures such as the British Invasion, psychedelic rock, and hippies heavily influenced fashion and youth identity. This era also saw the rise of social and political movements, such as the Civil Rights Movement and anti-war protests, which found expression in art, music, and fashion. |
| 1970s | The 1970s were a decade of diverse and contrasting aesthetic trends. The early 1970s were a continuation of the 1960s' counter-culture influences, with hippie styles like bell bottoms and flowing floral patterns remaining popular. However, this era also witnessed the rise of Glam Rock, with its androgynous fashion, platform shoes, and glitter, best represented by artists like David Bowie, Queen, and T. Rex. Disco emerged as a dominant force in music and culture. The decade also saw a growing interest in ethnic and folk styles, with handcrafted clothing and natural materials gaining popularity. In interior design, earthy tones, macrame, and houseplants became fashionable. The rise of punk rock in the late-1970s was a rebellious counterpoint to disco and glam with its anti-establishment attitude. |
| 1980s | The 1980s were a decade of self-expression and excess, with aesthetics reflecting a growing consumer culture and technological advancements. The early 1980s fashion retained some of the 1970s' flamboyance, but it quickly developed its own distinctive aesthetics. Shoulder pads, leg warmers, big hair, and power dressing were emblematic of this era. New Wave music broke with the anarchism of punk and influenced fashion. The rise of MTV brought music videos and visual culture to the mainstream. This decade also saw the emergence of postmodern design movements like Memphis, originating from Milan, which used bright colours, geometric patterns, and experimental shapes. |
| 1990s | The 1990s were a decade of significant transitions, with aesthetics reflecting both a continuation of past trends and the emergence of new influences. The early 1990s saw the lingering impact of 1980s maximalism. Grunge, a subculture that originated in Seattle in the late 1980s, reached mainstream popularity. The growing awareness of drugs in the United States and the Western world in the early-1990s led to fashion controversies such as Heroin Chic, which glamorized a detached, starved look. However, as the decade progressed, a major cultural shift as technology advanced. The popularization of the internet and computer-based graphic design saw the emergence of many experimental early web design styles, such as Old Web. Y2K Futurism reflected the excitement and social anxieties surrounding the new millennium. Rave culture began to grow internationally, significantly varying by region. The late-1990s saw the resurgence of preppy and old money styles and a growing interest in vintage clothing. |
| 2000s | The 2000s were a decade of rapid technological advancement and evolving youth culture. The internet became a central force in shaping aesthetics and trends. As internet usage became mainstream, online platforms like MySpace provided spaces for youth to connect and express themselves, leading to the proliferation of subcultures like Scene and Emo. Hip-hop continued to be a major cultural force, which influenced the "Swag" trend. By the late-2000s, "Frutiger Aero" reflected a more optimistic approach to digital design. Reality television shows, celebrity culture, and popstars such as Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera helped influence mainstream aesthetics. Trends were rapidly disseminated through magazines, forums, and blogs. |
| 2010s | The 2010s were a decade defined by the rise of social media and its major impact on aesthetics and trends. As platforms like Tumblr, Pinterest, Instagram, and WeHeartIt gained popularity, the spread of different aesthetics accelerated. Alternative subcultures, once confined to niche communities, gained mainstream visibility, which sometimes also led to commercial appropiation (i.e. Scene Tween). The concept of an "internet aesthetic" emerged, with trends like "health goth," "vaporwave," and "soft grunge" finding expression through online visuals, fashion, and less frequently, music. Hipster culture, a subculture that initially existed in the 1940s, resurged and became a legitimate slang word. The galaxy pattern was a prominent feature. By the mid-2010s, Flat Design and Flat Metro became widely used graphic design styles, which made websites look more uniform and flatter than the previous Frutiger Aero aesthetic. In the late-2010s, various aesthetics shifted towards a sadder tone through the resurgence of emo influences. Trends like Emo Rap on SoundCloud, Sadbois and Sadgirls, "Trxsh" (Trash Gang), and E-Boys and E-Girls reflected this. |
| 2020s | The current decade, the 2020s, are a decade characterized by the continued dominance of social media and its evolving influence on aesthetics and trends. Internet aesthetics, once confined to online subcultures, have now become mainstream. The "-core" suffix has been used to label and categorize a wide range of aesthetics, although its use dates back to earlier decades. Examples of aesthetics popularized by Generation Z include Cottagecore, Dark Academia, Goblincore, Dreamcore, Weirdcore, and countless others, which reflects the increasing fragmentation and specificity of online identity expression. In the early-2020s, the dominating graphic design aesthetic was Corporate Memphis, which is loosely based on the original Memphis Design movement and features characters with unrealistic proportions and colours. Currently, Flat Design is slowly shifting towards Neumorphism or Fluent Design, which presents a more stylized form of digital minimalism. Short-form content platforms such as TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts have become driving forces in popularizing and rapidly disseminating trends. This has led to microtrends, fashion trends that emerge extremely fast but fade away within months or even weeks. These microtrends, such as "Tomato Girl Summer," "Clean Girl," and "Mob Wife," are frequently rehashed familiar concepts that contribute to the cycle of consumption and accelerated trends. This decade saw the rise of ultra-fast fashion brands like Shein and Temu, which offer trendy clothing at inexpensive prices, but at the expense of quality, longevity, and workers' rights. The resurgence of Y2K aesthetics was fueled by the 20-year nostalgia cycle. "Nowstalgia" specifically refers to a longing for the recent past experienced by a generation that grew up with rapid technological and cultural shifts. The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified nowstalgia, as lockdowns and social distancing measures disrupted the sense of time and created a yearning for pre-pandemic experiences and trends. Frutiger Aero, a graphic design trend that remained unnamed until 2017, was re-popularized on social media. The 2020s have also seen the proliferation of Large Language Models (LLM) and AI art. This has caused major controversy regarding copyright, authorship, plagiarism, its impact on human artists, misuse (i.e. impersonation, revenge porn, and misinformation), and its rapid proliferation on the web, leading to search engine decline. |