“It’s whimsical!” I reasoned as I added a 7th emoji to my Instagram caption, or after someone complimented the pink highlighter dotting my nose. They commented that it popped, or that it was fun, albeit a bit extra. All over TikTok people are claiming that to live a “whimsical,” romanticized life, you have to spend allll this money. To them, whimsy is a trend: flying randomly to Paris because you can, or completely changing your hair for the fun of it. And while yes, these things can add spontaneity or joy to someone’s life, you are not excluded from the whimsy club if you cannot make it work. By definition, whimsy characterizes something as fun and lighthearted. And I am here to show you how you definitely do not need a trust fund to add it to your vocabulary.
Appearance & Accessorizing
One of my favorite ways to embrace whimsy this summer is through my outfits! And just because I live near NYC does not mean they are all from Fifth Avenue…try Marshalls. Bright colors make outfits pop, stand out against crowds, and will stop a doomscroll on any Instagram feed. Also? A cute hair thing always gets noticed. I have a basket full of ones that I have collected. Claw clips from holiday stockings, ribbons from gifts that I have turned into bows, and many many scrunchies from middle school. These things can get very expensive sure and the cheaper ones are not great quality. My hack for this? I tie my hair with a normal hair tie, then use a fun claw clip to cover it up. With all the compliments I get, no one ever makes it known if they see the hair tie or not!
Like I mentioned before, I love my glitter face highlighter. And yes, I do use a makeup product. My two favorites have to be the r.e.m. beauty Glow Stick in fembot, which retails for $22, and the Florence by Mills Self-Reflecting Highlight in Self-Respect, which retails for $17. Even when using a generous amount every day (my usual makeup routine is a clear lash/brow, lip gloss, and highlight) these products last me well over six months each. If that splurge is feeling like a little too much right now, that is a-okay too. Many cheap eyeshadow pallets have a glittery shade-perfect to dot on your cheeks and nose for a pop!
My favorite way to respond to any compliment (besides “it has pockets!”) is “Oh thanks! I did it myself.” Which is why my last tip on a whimsical look is to do your own nails! A bright summer shade, especially on your toes for the beach, attracts many eyes. And it is ten times as much fun when it is a bright summer shade from your own collection!
Digitally
Some claim that I take a lot of pictures. I am constantly the one making all my friends smile for a .5, or hug for the camera. But, I will never apologize! I love a memory, and I also love getting to collage all of my photos for the occasional Instagram story-bonus points if they came from my digi cam! Which by the way, was completely free…to me at least. If you ever want that digital camera aesthetic, but do not want to pay resale prices, I guarantee someone in your life has one or two in the attic. Personally, mine is from 2011 and the memory card holds a lot of memories of me and my brother. My mom did not use it for years until I found it, and now it is the star of every function that I am at.
Also? Pinterest is so whimsical. You are not doomscrolling, you are planning your dream life. Enough said.Â
In tandem, I like to think that my Instagram is very whimsical. My secret? A short caption and a cute emoji combo. And before you click away because emojis are cringe, I will defend them until the day that I DIE. I adore those cute little guys. And the perfect combo (I have a Note full of them) can make your posts even more amusing. If you are gonna wear daily glitter on your cheeks, I think your Instagram followers can handle a smiley face.
Hobbies
If you keep up with HerCampus at UB, you would know that my hobby of the summer is Junk Journaling (and if you do not, then your hobby of the summer should be binge-reading some amazing content). I think holding onto small memories is soooo fun and lighthearted, even if some people would refer to it as junk.
My other favorite summer hobby is, and has always been, reading. If you need some recs, UBHC has got you covered. And if you do not want to pay $20 for a paperback you saw on BookTok, I give you…drum roll please…your local library! If you can write your name, you can get a library card! (Which was a big hurdle for me in Kindergarten). And, many libraries are a part of a system, if they do not have a book you want, one of their sisters definitely does. Or, if you prefer digitally consuming media, connect your library card to Libby. Books are (and always should be) accessible. So go get that beach read! You will sound so much cooler talking about Off-Campus when you can argue why the books were better.Â
Whimsy should not be based on compliments, so if you are about to embark on any of these endeavors, I urge you to do it because it makes you feel confident. And hopefully your summer sparkle will encourage others along the way!