The aesthetic playground: Downtown girl and boy

It is a running joke among Warwick students that our campus is situated in the middle of nowhere. However, if you would like to pretend that we are in fact in the middle of a bustling city, let me introduce you to the Downtown aesthetic. It started in the US and revolves around the romanticisation of downtown city living. New York is the biggest inspiration, but it’s also influenced by Chicago, San Francisco, and New Orleans for their fashion, museums, and blend of cultures. 

Stylistically, the Downtown look blends urban with a cosiness, emphasising sweaters, leather, and graphics, with key colours being reds, blacks, whites, browns, and beiges. It’s casual and easy, and I’m willing to bet that most students have at least one item in their wardrobe that fits in with the Downtown aesthetic. Its effortless, laid-back vibe makes it a great everyday look, whether you’re going to a lecture or browsing the shops in Leamington Spa. 

This aesthetic has a vintage element to it, so it favours earphones or headphones instead of AirPods

This aesthetic really favours oversized clothes, particularly large graphic or band t-shirts – they’re never hard to find, but Bershka and Pull and Bear have a great selection of these. I personally feel drowned in t-shirts that are too oversized, so this surf-style t-shirt from Pull and Bear is a nice compromise. If graphics aren’t your thing, plain or striped v-neck tops are also quite popular in this aesthetic. As well as jeans, Urban Outfitters have a nice selection of mini-skirts to pair it with, and this embroidered denim skirt is a favourite candidate of mine. If you want this as a summer look, hopefully you won’t need a jacket. However, UK weather is never that dependable, so for layering options, consider a leather jacket for a more urban approach, or a slightly oversized sweater if you want a softer look. In terms of beauty, eyeliner is popular for this style, as are dark reds for nail varnish.

The ‘Downtown Boy’ has very similar features, omitting the feminine aspects and putting even more of an emphasis on oversized clothes and hoodies. A graphic hoodie (River Island has a good selection) paired with smart, sporty joggers or casual trousers can go a long way.

Aesthetics should be an inspiration instead of a limitation

In terms of accessories, this aesthetic has a vintage element to it, so it favours earphones or headphones instead of AirPods. As for a bag, try a graphic tote or a leather handbag, such as this black bag with charms from Desigual. 

On a technicality, the Downtown aesthetic is more of an autumn look – search it up and you’ll see photos of people with coffees in their hands and a backdrop of red leaves. But it would be a shame to limit it to one short season of the year. Aesthetics should be an inspiration instead of a limitation, after all.