The Lost Feminine Aesthetic

There is a certain visual style associated with girly media containing soft pastel color palettes, floral motifs, and lots of sparkles. Although this style hasn't been lost to us entirely, and is still prevalent in magical girl anime it's never looked quite the same as it did in the late '80s and early '90s when it was first introduced. Maybe this is just nostalgia speaking, but the soft, tranquil environments of older cartoons never feel as relaxing as imagery from back then. The sharpness of HD resolution and modern CGI gets in the way of the fuzzy, dream-like feel of older cartoons. Even the wobbly, unrefined animation of older shows added to the charm in a way that we can't get today with crisp CGI models.


Pictured above is Lady Lovely Locks, a cartoon series from 1987 that encapsulates the look and feel of feminine nostalgia. Though it had short episodes with a simplistic story, the visuals of this series and others like it inspired a generation of girly girls that no longer exist in modern media. The heavy use of the color pink has gone out of style thanks to modern sensibilities, and the big, pretty dresses and hairstyles would get in the way of princesses who need to fight to save their kingdoms. It's no longer acceptable to portray princesses or animated heroines dancing around in flower fields just looking pretty and being happy. Another property I admire purely for the aesthetic is Peppermint Rose, which is pictured below. Her cartoon special from 1992 may be a confusing mess, but the artwork on her merchandise is lovely.


A few months ago, I participated in an interview for the YouTube channel The MaryLoo for her video essay about the downfall of girly media. The three-hour analysis of feminine media and culture is now available to watch online, taking a deep dive into the history of feminine media and when it began to decline around the end of the 2010s. Now, beautiful imagery like Peppermint Rose is frowned upon due to its overabundance of the color pink and hyperfeminine themes. Modern media in general has become more unisex, making it harder for people to gravitate toward either end of the spectrum, but there is still hope. The video is filled with interviews from independent creators who are still interested in producing and consuming girly media. Bookmark it or give it a watch below.


The increased diversity of modern shows isn't a bad thing. There should be more options for different tastes and interests. However, the purely pastel feminine aesthetic of early 2000s Barbie movies is harder to find in modern media than it once was, posing a problem for those of us who still crave it. Even the hit live-action Barbie movie had some harsh urban real-world imagery to contrast the feminine Utopia of "Barbie Land." When asked what I think the most important aspect of girly media is, I realized pretty quickly that it's all about the aesthetic. Portraying magical environments that are softer and more peaceful than the real world is important to those who consume girly media for the sake of escapism. Even remakes of girly properties seldom capture the same nostalgic feel of the originals due to the overusage of modern technology.


The nostalgic visual style of girly media, characterized by soft pastel colors, floral motifs, and sparkles, has become a rarity in modern media due to a shift towards more diverse and unisex content. The aesthetic of girly media plays a crucial role in providing escapism and a sense of magic and peace. While modern technology has improved animation, it often loses the soft, tranquil feel of older cartoons, leaving fans of girly media yearning for a return to this nostalgic visual style. As highlighted in The MaryLoo's video essay, independent creators are still interested in sharing their nostalgic visions with the world. What are some modern creations you've seen that remind you of the soft, feminine imagery of the past? Let me know in the comments!
I have always dreamed of being a writer and creating the next great fairy tale princess heroine. Princesses inspire us to be our best selves. While you're here, feel free to follow my page on Facebook, subscribe to my YouTube channel, and check out my books. I'm also on Instagram and Twitter.

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Comments

Charli Dee said…
Well written post! One of my favorite colors is actually pink! I used to love everything pink, and I’m still a girly girl! I love pink and flowers! I also love the idea of a fairytale wedding and marriage! Some would probably call me old fashioned, but that’s ok. I like what I like! I personally think a woman leaning into femininity and desiring feminine things is completely ok. That’s the whole point of the women’s rights movement. Freedom of choice was a big deal.
July 28, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Lisa Dawn said…
I completely agree! Feminism should be mean being able to choose how feminine you want to be, not eliminating it entirely. People still tell me how much they enjoyed attending my magical fairy tale wedding. :)
July 28, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Lady Culturina said…
I remember I called this style "girly", when I rewieved a few 80's aesthetics home decor (in French, ask me for a translated version if you want to.) https://culturinaa.blogspot.com/2019/02/la-decoration-des-annees-1980.html . I used to possess a Lady Lovelylocks doll (Fairhair) despite I did not watch the cartoon, and discover Peppermint rose recently through Pinterest. Other similar works with feminine aesthetics I listed are Strawberry shortcake, Poochie, or Little twins stars. I also made a few artworks on the subject (like a wallpaper with stars and rainbow), always felt inspired by this aesthetic, despite it fell out of grace. I recently found a maybe 80's sheet, pink with rainbow. And certainly make a dress out of it...
July 29, 2025 at 4:36 AM
Lisa Dawn said…
Thank you for sharing. I think the "shabby chic" style you posted about feels closest to this aesthetic in terms of decor. The '80s were a fun and lovely decade that we may never see anything like again.
July 29, 2025 at 5:20 AM
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