Vaporwave
aka Aesthetic, Retro Future, Mallwave
"Nostalgia for a future that never came"
Internet-born aesthetic critiquing capitalism through 80s/90s nostalgia, glitch art, and Roman busts. Surreal digital nostalgia.
Atmosphere
The sensory world of Vaporwave
Dead malls, Windows 95 screens, palm trees, Roman statues, sunset grids
Philosophy
Critique through aestheticization, lost futures, everything is a simulation
Who Lives Here
The character archetypes that embody Vaporwave
The Digital Archaeologist
The Mall Walker
The Glitch Artist
What It Rejects
Vaporwave exists in opposition to:
Sincerity
Modern minimalism
Corporate authenticity
Daily Rituals
The practices and behaviors that define this way of living
Glitch art creation
Nostalgic media consumption
Digital collage
Retro gaming
Origin
Emerged online around 2010 as music genre and visual aesthetic, peaked 2012-2015, sustained through internet culture.
Era
2010-Present
Regions
Internet-native, Global online
Trend Score
Key Elements
Key Garments
- •Windbreakers
- •Pastel sportswear
- •Japanese text
- •Retro athletic wear
- •Bucket hats
- •Fanny packs
- •Geometric patterns
Silhouettes
- •90s Athletic
- •Oversized
- •Retro
Color Palette
Digital sunset palette of retro futurism
Primary Colors
Secondary Colors
Accent Colors
Key Brands
Materials
Cultural Context
Post-internet art, capitalism critique, nostalgia for pre-9/11 optimism, meme culture