NEW YORK, Feb 23 — Imagine the scene: A sumptuous velvet sofa, ornate chandeliers, antique furniture, and — of course — a roaring open fire. The ‘Enyacore’ aesthetic, which is a new source of fascination on social networks, combines elements of the mystical, a modern take on Middle Ages and castle life. Far from the low-rise jeans of the Y2K aesthetic, this new trend revives the mood of some of the hit shows of the late ‘90s, such as Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Sabrina The Teenage Witch.

On social networks — TikTok in the lead — micro-trends follow each other thick and fast, each time bringing something new, with many and varied aesthetics. Recent viral hits include ‘recession core,’ ‘romcom core’, ‘blokecore’ and ‘cartoon core,’ none of which have anything to do with one other. And the latest incoming trend changes the game again. With the ‘Enyacore’ aesthetic, it’s all about channelling castle life, the esoteric, and a modernised medieval look. And all this applies not only to fashion, but also to interiors and music.

Until now, the ‘90s and 2000s revival has meant low-rise jeans, an ode to Barbie, a taste for the romantic comedies of those two decades, and even renewed interest in some of the celebrities of the time, including Pamela Anderson and Paris Hilton. But the ‘Enyacore’ aesthetic explores another aspect of this period, "a moodier and more celestial side,” as Vice magazine describes it. Here, two eras collide — the second part of the Middle Ages and the end of the ‘90s — putting a modern spin on the gothic style. The whole thing even has a soundtrack, headlined especially by the song Orinoco Flow by Irish singer Enya, who, as you may have guessed, lends her name to this aesthetic.

An enchanting aesthetic

The ‘Enyacore’ trend builds on another aesthetic, ‘Whimsigoth,’ which invites people to embrace the wardrobe of (good) witches. But this time Sabrina and Buffy trade their teenage outfits and bedrooms for a more mature, wiser and undoubtedly more elaborate wardrobe and interior decor. The whole thing is tinged with esotericism — think spell books, stars, crystals and other symbols — a world that is gaining growing interest, especially among younger generations.

So, in concrete terms, what does the ‘Enyacore’ aesthetic actually look like? Don’t worry, it’s not about putting on a suit of armour to face a world in upheaval (although that might not be such a bad idea). The trend is essentially characterised by a profusion of velvet, in decoration as in fashion, motifs worthy of the most elaborate tapestries of the medieval era, or by the omnipresence of chain mail. For the home, think candlesticks, antique or old-world furniture, heavy fabric curtains and mystical knickknacks. In fashion, think slip dresses decorated with lace, velvet chokers, voluminous gowns, and even long gloves. A trend steeped in ‘newstalgia,’ this new type of nostalgia uses the past to propose something modern, totally fresh, and certainly more positive. — ETX Studio