Tropical

The image says it all

Other names

Island Life, Islandcore

Key motifs

Cool breezes, cold drinks, beach life, islands, oceans, seashells, fishing, swimming, second-hand clothing, fresh fruit

Key colours

Green, blue, red, orange, yellow, purple, white, cyan

Key values

Simplicity, naturalism, survivalism, connection with nature, protection of sea life, balance

Related aesthetics

Beach Day (subgenre)
Bohemian
Chicha
Frutiger Aero
Heatwave
Hollywood Regency
Nautical
Ocean Grunge
Pirate
Poolcore
Reefwave
Seapunk
Summer
Surf Crush
Tomato Girl Summer
Tropical Disco
Vacation Dadcore

Related media

The Blue Lagoon, Castaway, Nim's Island, Kon-Tiki, Return to the Blue Lagoon, Six Days and Seven Nights, Moana, Waterworld

Related brands

Bohemian Diesel, This Island Life, Spell.co, Island Boutique, Tommy Bahama, Billabong, Roxy/Quicksilver

Tropical is an aesthetic that is based on comfort, ease, and utility and is eclectic by definition. The style is characterized by warm and soothing themes and colors drawn mostly from natural elements such as the sea, sky, and vegetation (plants, fruits, flowers, etc). Hues may be deep and rich or may fall on the lighter, brighter side.

Visual[]

Tropical aesthetics are usually inspired by a tropical island, the beach, salty life, simple living and bohemian living. The clothes are usually beach friendly, mostly white clothes to help with the heat of the sun, beige colors, green and brown. This (currently) small aesthetic is closely related to Nautical and Bohemian.

The principles are inspired by survivalism and eco-friendly life. It includes elements of tropical culture, such as the stilt houses of traditional Southeast Asian architecture.

Tropical islands
Turquoise water
Sandy beaches
Shipwrecks
Straw huts
Hammocks
Jungles
Coconuts
Bananas
Palm trees
Ocean
Crabs, turtles, and other sea animals

Fashion[]

Tropical fashion can go in any multitude of directions, but it's generally agreed upon that Tropical clothing is usually very lightweight and breezy.

For younger people, there might be a nod towards the Surfer look, such as oversized t-shirts, beach waves, beach bags, and a carefree attitude. These characteristics also tie into stereotypical surfer vibes, which are a large sum of the origin of this aesthetic. Many women may opt for swimsuits or bikinis or even wetsuits if they are also surfers.

For the more well-to-do, there is Resort wear (also known as cruise wear) is a fashion style that was initially only for customers of affluence who would travel abroad around Christmas and New Year's to warmer climates, but has since become a more common fashion aesthetic with the increase of both volume and accessibility in air travel. Resort wear is signified by its lightweight material, ease of cleaning, and don't need to be ironed at all. The look of resort wear can include a Nautical theme, Hawaiian prints, Mediterranean colors, and overall bright floral patterns combined with oversized hats, sunglasses, swimsuits, and open-toed shoes. Despite the ease of access to Resort wear for regular people, it can still be a signifier of relaxation, affluence, appreciation of nature, and a sharp sense of style. Even though there are stores that specialize in Resort wear (like Banana Republic, J. Crew, and Tommy Bahama), individual fashion houses will still create Resort wear lines in their individual collections (like Chanel, Prada, Marc Jacobs, and Michael Kors).

For older men, there is the Vacation Dadcore aesthetic, while older women may identify with the Coastal Grandma lifestyle.

Like its visual elements, the fashion of the tropical aesthetic is also inspired by traditional culture. For example, the flower necklaces commonly worn in the aesthetic are Lei that originated from Austronesian people.

Common clothing elements from Tropical aesthetics include: