intricate analog pilgrim
Disclaimer: I in no way condone or advocate for colonization nor the horrific treatment of the indigenous peoples of the Americas by the Europeans who stole their land. The use of the word "pilgrim" here refers only to a certain aesthetic sensibility, as well as to the more general identity of a "sacred traveler".
I once saw a bit of "style advice" that said you should pick three "style words" and curate your closet and looks accordingly. The examples were more traditional fashion terms like "earty classic academic" or "eclectic elegant retro." My mind went somewhere a bit different....
This led me to create / discover / coin my style, "intricate analog pilgrim." Each of these words means something very specific to me, and they come together to form a unique aesthetic / philosophy / lifestyle that is constantly shifting and evolving. It's not only a description of my style, but speaks also to how I understand myself. Click the above icons to explore each style word in depth, or keep reading to see how they all come together.
I. Intricate
In the styling context of intricate analog pilgrim, intricate speaks to both my love of ornate and handcrafted pieces, but also the intricacies of layers and colors paired together in unique ways. An outfit does not necessarily need silver jewelry to be intricate, so long as there is an aspect of complexity to it. However, an easy and effective way to achieve this is with ornate accessories.
intricate examples:
II. Analog
As explored on the "analog" page, this word, to me, encapsulates a crossover between styles like "normcore" and "tumblr grunge", with a specific interest in retro tech and minimalism. This appears in the intricate analog pilgrim style as an affinity for the artfully "basic"; a beige T-shirt, jeans, and Doc Martens. Analog is simple but effective, communicating a hipster sensibility with as few pieces as possible. A good guiding question for the analog is: "Would this outfit be easy to draw/animate if I was a character in a comic book or video game?" The magic of "intricate-analog" is in the contrast between the detail of the intricate and the intentional, almost camp "normalness" of the analog. The magic between "analog-pilgrim" comes from the unlikely commonality between grunge, twee, and genuine babooshka fare.
analog examples:
III. Pilgrim
"Pilgrim" as a style points towards my love for "baby doll" or bell-shaped silhouettes, accented collars, buckles, cloaks, and lace, as well as a general bend towards the vintage, folksy, printed, and patterned. It is at once timeless and whimsical, austere and playful, old and new. Pilgrim can lean witchy or vampiric, taking on a boho or gothic slant, respectively, or can be American Girl Doll-coded, featuring quilting, needlepoint, and other such frontier crafts. Pilgrim also overlaps surprisingly seamlessly with eras like the 60's, 70's, and 80's, thanks to the prevalence of accessories like head scarves, collars, and knee socks. Pilgrim is a bit buttoned-up, a bit academic, a bit twee, and a bit sacred.
pilgrim examples:
IV. Crossovers and Cohesion
Here are some examples of overlap between style words. As you'll see, the distinction between categories is quite fluid and up to interpretation. I like this, because it allows intricate analog pilgrim to morph and adapt over time.
Examples:
This drawing demonstrates the wide range of styles encompassed by the "pilgrim" label:
This bracelet is both intricate and pilgrim because of its ornate details and folk art style:
This ring is both intricate and analog because of its engraving and its minimalist design:
This outfit is both analog and pilgrim because of its 2014 tumblr style and silhouette featuring a prominent collar:
This outfit is both intricate and analog because of its careful combination of patterns and colors while maintaining comic-book-character simplicity:
V. Convergence
My overall thesis and research of intricate analog pilgrim can be understood by this Instagram story I made:
Now, without further ado, I present to you some examples of intricate analog pilgrim.
From the Internet:
From my own experiments:
