By Emma Khayat
I am personally very excited to talk about the new “collector core” aesthetic because my mother has been collecting a variety of things since I was young. She has collected everything from china tea cups to old cameras to PEZ Dispensers. Growing up, I thought her large collections of random things were ridiculous. In my head, she was a borderline hoarder, which is why I am so interested in collecting as an aesthetic.
So, what exactly is the “collector core” aesthetic? This whole idea stems from “clutter core,” an aesthetic that gained traction around 2023. In my opinion, “clutter core” was the culture’s response to minimalism, which was all about keeping things sleek and simple. “Clutter core” is the exact opposite of these ideals, rooted in the belief that you should fill your spaces with things that make you happy. It doesn't matter whether it’s books, art, knick knacks or plants. It's all about making yourself happy with the things you love. Eventually, this idea was taken a step further, and thus, “collector core” was born.
Photo: Travel+Leisure
“Collector core,” in a way, is the inverse of “clutter core.” Instead of pleasing yourself with lots of different things, the joy comes from having lots of one or more types of things. It’s all about collecting things that you love.
I didn’t realize until writing this article that perhaps I subscribe to this aesthetic myself. I have all the postcards I’ve received taped to my wall. I have every book I have ever read dispersed across my room. I have all my favorite records on vinyl and an innumerable amount of knick knacks. I have candles all over my desk and art all over the walls. I have been collecting a variety of things without even knowing.
All in all, I suppose I owe my mother an apology. The mass amount of things in my room are not indicative of a hoarder; they are indicative of who I am on the inside. These things are a mosaic and come together to tell the story of who I am and what I enjoy. That’s what the collector aesthetic is rooted in: expressing yourself and taking delight in having lots of the things you love. So yeah, I am sorry I ever called my mom a hoarder.
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