rad alien core

Tumblr in the 2010's was about reviving all things '90s, from Kurt Cobain's grunge style to the optics of the early internet (see: the entire aesthetic of seapunk).  But beyond fashion styles and aesthetic movements, another fad of the '90s got its second time in the sun on certain niche corners of Tumblr—that fad being aliens. 

For the uninitiated (or those too young to remember), aliens had a pretty big moment in the '90s, especially towards the end of the decade.  TV shows like The X-Files and movies like Men in Black documented the cultural obsession with the extraterrestrial, as did groovy '90s fads like alien-themed lava lamps.  

Which brings us to the sub-aesthetic I have personally coined as RAD ALIEN CORE.  This aesthetic takes quite a few pages from '90s style, and often features tattoo chokers, holographic clothes, and alien motifs sprinkled throughout one's outfit.  If you wanted to be cool on the indie side of Tumblr back in the early 2010's, all you had to do was post a selfie with your hair in space buns while wearing a t-shirt that showed an alien riding a skateboard with a slice of pizza or something.  It was rad, out of this world, intergalactic, and nostalgic all at the same time, which is what makes Tumblr aesthetics so special—nowhere else could you find such thorough and inventive revivals of trends long past.

 

Tash Bonniface Appreciation

If you were on the ☆indie/bambi☆ side of tumblr, there’s a good chance that Tash Bonniface—also known as specklesoftash—looks familiar. Known for her colorful style and sage life advice, Tash was like a big sister of sorts to thousands of teenage tumblr users, answering countless messages on the daily that ranged from personal style dilemmas to relationship counsel.  Her outfit posts got thousands of notes, and it seemed like she really was the figurehead for a very specific, niche aesthetic that was quickly gaining prominence on tumblr (and would go on to evolve into the 2014 indie tumblr aesthetic we all fondly remember today). 

Tash's blog remained popular for a while, even after the indie/bambi aesthetic faded away in 2014.  However, by 2016, Tash had slowed down the blogging, posting less and less, until her updates trickled to a stop in 2018.  Even though it's been over a decade since the height of her popularity, I've never forgotten how Tash influenced my personal style or how I would stalk her blog after school, reading all the questions she answered.  

I never really see people mention Tash Bonniface in current day discussions of tumblr influencers.  There's a lot of talk about more famous tumblr girls like Acacia Brinley and Aly Antorcha, but I have yet to see Tash brought up.  And I think that's a real shame, because Tash was one of the good ones—her blog was this beacon of safety and positivity which was pretty rare to find on the hellsite days of tumblr, and I think her and her influence deserve to be more well-known.  So, Tash Bonniface—here's to you, your amazing style, and all the wisdom you shared with your tumblr followers: