Beyond Aesthetic: Building an Identity, Not Just a Vibe
The Age of Aesthetics Is Ending
For years, social media has thrived on aesthetics. The Clean Girl. The Tomato Girl. The Mob Wife. Each one a meticulously curated look designed to embody a fleeting mood. The internet’s algorithmic obsession with visuals made these aesthetics feel like identities—but really, they were costumes.
And now? The mood boards feel…tired.
In 2025, the energy is shifting. People are craving something more rooted, more personal, and more honest. We’re moving beyond aesthetic—and stepping into identity.
The Burnout of ‘Core’ Culture
The concept of living as a “core” (Cottagecore, Balletcore, Coastal Grandmother) started as a form of escapism. It was fun, whimsical, and creative. But as trend cycles sped up, the vibe-chasing became exhausting:
Too many rules: Suddenly, liking one aesthetic meant adhering to a prescribed wardrobe, playlist, and color palette.
Aesthetic competition: Social feeds became performance art—less about living authentically and more about staging perfection.
Emotional fatigue: It’s hard to be a “new person” every three months just to keep up.
People are tired of pretending. The vibe has officially lost its shine.
The Shift to Personal Identity
2025 is bringing a cultural reset. Instead of wondering, “What vibe should I be?” people are asking, “Who am I really?”
Identity > Aesthetic
Aesthetics are surface-level: They focus on how life looks.
Identity runs deeper: It’s about how life feels.
Personal identity is rooted in your values, interests, and experiences—not just your outfit or Instagram grid. This means expressing yourself holistically, mixing influences without worrying if they “match.”
Examples:
Wearing a thrifted leather jacket with designer heels and your dad’s old band tee because it feels like you.
Decorating your apartment based on comfort and joy, not for a viral “apartment tour” video.
Pursuing hobbies—like pottery or DJing—not because they’re trending, but because they fulfill you.
How to Build an Identity, Not Just a Vibe
1. Audit Your Influences
Take a hard look at who you follow online. Are they inspiring you—or making you feel like you’re not enough? Unfollow accounts that push you toward performing instead of living.
2. Define Your Pillars
Choose three things you want your life to express. Think beyond aesthetics and toward values: adventure, sensuality, curiosity, elegance, creativity. These become your compass when you make style, lifestyle, or social choices.
3. Play Without Conforming
Allow contradictions. Maybe you’re a romantic minimalist who loves punk jewelry or a wellness enthusiast who also lives for late-night concerts. That tension? That’s you being real.
4. Live It Offline
Your identity isn’t just an online display. Bring it into your day-to-day life:
Go to events that excite you (even if they don’t fit your “look”).
Pursue passions without documenting them for clout.
Create private rituals—like morning journaling or solo art days—that no one sees but shape who you are.
The Beauty of Being Unpolished
There’s freedom in stepping off the trend treadmill. When you stop trying to be a “type of person” and just be a person, everything softens. You’re allowed to be messy, layered, evolving—because real life is.
And ironically? That authenticity becomes your aesthetic—one no one else can replicate.
Closing Thoughts
Trends will come and go. Another “It-Girl aesthetic” will pop up next month, then vanish just as quickly. But the real flex in 2025 isn’t perfect hair or curated living rooms—it’s having a life that feels good, not just one that looks good.
Stop chasing a vibe. Build your identity. Because you? You’re already the aesthetic.