whimsy

“Whimsy builds distance from the pressures of the present, like vintage or nostalgia; living whimsically flies in the face of challenges by presenting an alternate, more playful reality,” says Jane Dhall. “It’s armour, if you will.”

“desire to be unserious in a serious world”.

In 2025, whimsy has increasingly blended with the soft, internet-driven forms of spirituality that are popular right now. Astrology charts, tarot pulls, and intuitive journalling sit comfortably beside pastel accessories, handmade trinkets and other gentle, nostalgic aesthetics. The result is a simple mix of playfulness and quiet metaphysics, where... See more

What links these testimonies is a shared desire for small interruptions in the standardised rhythms of adult life. Whimsy becomes a technique for reopening channels to surprise and emotional immediacy, qualities that are often dulled by structure, screens and repetition.

Beneath the capris and cotton tanks, there’s a deeper desire to return to a time when working out felt fun and accessible rather than expensive and unachievable. “It’s so expensive to buy workout sets, and I feel like people are going back to things that can be accessed on YouTube instead of taking a class,” says Satenstein. (We’ve seen that this... See more