If you turn to TikTok for fashion advice, chances are you’ll probably have to sift through some unintelligible internetspeak in order to find helpful tips. One of the biggest shifts in modern fashion terminology has been the rise of “aesthetics” and “cores,” sartorial genres that attempt to categorize your wardrobe into searchable—and marketable—themes. Wear a lot of hot pink? That’s probably “Barbiecore,” a nod to last summer’s blockbuster. Are you into vintage blazers and relaxed J.Crew vibes? You might be an “old money girl.” But whether it’s “mermaidcore,” “eclectic grandpa,” or “coastal cowgirl,” these niche fashion trends often rise and fall in a matter of weeks, making them difficult for average consumers to keep up with.
This summer, a hot new bombshell has entered the villa: the “chic desert aunt.” Conceived by stylist Allison Bornstein, the look is inspired by natural, earth-toned fabrics, statement jewelry, and the idea of shopping less frequently and more intentionally, for long-lasting garments. “She has very elevated and timeless pieces, but she’s also super fun, and she wants to add a little spice to things. She’s going to put on a very chic kind of linen blouse, but she’s going to add an amazing necklace that her friend in Arizona made her,” Bornstein describes in her viral TikTok. Resourceful but full of personality, the chic desert aunt doesn’t have to be Texan, but you can certainly find her from Dallas to San Antonio to Marfa.
According to Laurel Kinney, a personal stylist who splits her time between Austin and the desert city of Taos, New Mexico, just because an aesthetic has a new, catchy name doesn’t mean the style is new to the trend cycle. (Kinney herself has identified as said aunt, without the language for it, for years.) To Kinney, “chic desert aunt” also feels like the perfect description of what a perimenopausal woman would wear, in part because of her shifting needs. “Earth tones. If you sweat, [they] don’t show sweat. Proportions that are really generous. And the things that you add to give it a couture perspective: things that you’ve collected over the years of your life traveling and cultivating an accessories collection,” explains Kinney. Whether you’re of aunt age or not, every Texan stands to benefit from wearing breezy styles that hide our sweat in the summer heat.
The rise of the chic desert aunt comes amid another shift in TikTok fashion content, in which microtrends and cores are being replaced by “microaesthetics.” Much like the punk subculture of the eighties and nineties, the idea of a microaesthetic isn’t limited to the wardrobe. Instead, your outfits are part of a much larger, specialized set of interests and consumption habits that signal an almost character-like persona. Though Bornstein personifies the chic desert aunt in her original video, Kinney points out the style’s potential to transcend the fleeting lifespans of cores and trends. “I love the way I feel out in the desert because there’s this wide-open, expansive feeling that I just don’t get anywhere else. And I think that’s why people love feeling like they’re in the desert. And if you’re able to dress to what makes you feel the best—even if you’re in a city—you’re feeling that expansive, grounded feeling from the clothes that you’re wearing.”
If the idea of the chic desert aunt also makes you want to escape to the sprawling landscapes of West Texas, look no further. Kinney, a stylist of nearly fifteen years, shares her tips on embodying those desert vibes.
Look to the land (and sky).
“The desert auntie trend can easily be worn with cowboy boots or the color palette of West Texas: sage green and terra-cotta and the color of the sky, like all those other desert, earthy colors that are ‘neutral.’ I actually like pretty interesting colors that you can combine with black and white and create different vibes without having to stray too far from your style.” If there’s an item of clothing in your wardrobe that you already love, consider buying it in more colors—especially ones that make you feel like you’re in a Fred Darge painting. That way, you are not only more likely to wear the new items, but you also open your outfits to more combination opportunities.
Pay attention to fabric and shape.
It’s important to pick natural fabrics that you can easily take care of and wear multiple times, explains Kinney. Think linen, cotton, and garments with higher concentrations of natural fibers. We like this short-sleeved linen button-up, from the San Antonio menswear brand Richter Goods, buttoned up or open for a casual but elevated look. You can even size up for a more oversized fit and choose colors that evoke some of those classic Big Bend sunset hues.
Kinney also recommends paying attention to the lengths of your garments to avoid feeling like you’re drowning yourself in too much fabric. “Just [think] about where you like the bottom of your shirt to hit on your waist and what kind of pants you like to wear the most, so that you’re not always trying to reinvent the proportion wheel when you’re getting dressed,” Kinney says. “Everybody gets so confused about wearing a flowy top. ‘Can I wear flowy pants and a flowy top and not look frumpy?’ [To balance it out,] pay attention to your waist and your neck and your wrists.” Highlighting those narrower parts of your frame helps a silhouette look intentional, even when you wear oversized clothes.
One of the major trends Kinney predicts for fall is tailoring garments to better fit the waist. But instead of going out and buying new clothes, consider adding belts or scarves to achieve a modern silhouette in a more sustainable way.
Shop for accessories, not clothes, when you travel.
“I always tell my clients that the things that they should be looking for when they’re traveling are definitely the accessories, because you can collect those when you’re on a trip and not have to lug back a big, heavy suitcase full of stuff,” explains Kinney. “Just any random little town that you are passing through. There’s always, like, a secondhand shop or a mom-and-pop antiques store. They’re not going to be picked over, and they’re going to have some real authentic pieces that you wouldn’t find in a regular store.”
If you don’t have any travel plans in your immediate future, we’d suggest looking to Frisco-based jeweler Julio Designs for statement necklaces that also delicately hint at your *refined* tastes.
Look for vintage items to make your look feel like one of a kind.
Secondhand Western basics, such as leather bags, suede vests, and turquoise jewelry, can add authenticity and a more lived-in feel to your outfits. To nail the timelessness that the chic desert aunt always seems to embody, Kinney recommends searching for vintage pieces of classic American brands such as Levi’s, Ralph Lauren, and Wrangler.
