§014: The Power of Pretty
Because what would life be without beautiful things?
For the longest time, I would say that I choose function over novelty. I’ve realized that is absolutely not true.
I love cute things.
A lot.
And I think you do too.
I think because my aesthetic leans more minimalist and neutral, one would assume that I am anti-kitsch. According to Wikipedia, “kitsch relates to camp, as they both incorporate irony and extravagance.”
I love extravagance. My version of extravagance just may look different from yours.
When I was 16, I remember making my parents take a roadtrip to Bartlesville, OK to spend the weekend at the Price Tower designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. On the guided tour of the building, I remember being intrigued by the sharp interior corners formed by his application of double parallelogram-shaped units, custom pieces of furniture manufactured in unique angles to fit the space exactly, and his use of mixed materials like concrete, aluminum, and copper. Everything was crafted with intention. Nothing felt out of place. Although the tour guide mentioned how it was challenging when it came time to replace custom-made items with everyday mass-produced products like trash cans or chairs because everything fit into the puzzle perfectly, and if the designated piece was removed, nothing else could fit the space quite right.
In general with Wright’s work, he prioritized the environment and feel of the whole architectural project over pure functionality.
Nothing was impractical, but it also wasn’t solely practical. It didn’t need to be.
“The making of a good building, the harmonious building, one adapted to its purposes and to life, [is] a blessing to life and a gracious element added to life,
is a great moral performance.” – Frank Lloyd Wright
Making design choices purely for the purpose of novelty is a sentiment I rarely see in practice anymore. This mission is what deemed Frank Lloyd Wright to be the “greatest American architect of all time” by the American Institute of Architects.
People really don’t understand how much beauty impacts them until they experience it for themselves. It’s the way that art, music, fashion, architecture, and graphic design work together to create a better quality of life for all of us–
as they say, good design is invisible.
“The mission of an architect is to help people understand how to make life more beautiful, the world a better one for living in, and to give reason, rhyme, and meaning to life.”– Frank Lloyd Wright
Good design as a form of care and respect is a concept that inspires me daily.
What can I do to make someone feel understood and seen through a photo, or clothes, or a piece of writing? How can it brighten their day?
Art is often viewed as a form of escapism, but how can you make reality so beautiful that you don’t want to avoid it?
I love seeing playfulness show up in fashion again more recently.
The way that Sandy Liang is able to translate childlike nostalgia into clothing, makes her work feel like play:
SHUSHU/TONG is another brand that I foresee exploding in the next few seasons. Their recent collab with Asics sold out immediately and are now selling for upwards of $1000 on resale sites.
Both of these brands are heavy contributors to the “ballet core” aesthetic. Bows, ribbons, lace, trims, pearls, diamonds are being incorporated across all categories to bring “cute” back.
This is an unofficial Part 2 of §011: In: Luxury & Opulence where I talk about living extravagantly through the notion of great comfort.
Making design decisions based on the notion of “fun” has been reshaping my approach because I am seeing how it effects my life choices in every way. I’ll choose to take the more scenic drive home. I want to sit in the coffee shop that has the best lighting. I want to walk around the museum that keeps me curious. A candy heart necklace styled with a more serious editorial look makes me smile.
Without the element of play integrated into everyday processes, life loses its luster. There’s too much grief and sorrow already. Prioritizing play makes life worth living. These small moments of joy sprinkled throughout our homes, workplaces, parks, clothes, etc. is what keeps us inspired and gives us hope that maybe life can be pretty great.
For example, this meme that Antwerp Meme Department made to promote their sweater from Milk of Lime:
We, as human beings, love cute things. We want to see a cute dog on our walk to get coffee. We want to wear something that puts a smile on our face.
Beauty is all around us.
Let’s try to create more of it.
