Spring into the Ethereal: A Trend Report
Seeking levity in airy delights, otherworldly style, and celestial music amid increasingly dark times.
Welcome to the spring edition of In Season, a quarterly trend report weaving together the distinct creative worlds shaping our culture. This time, we’re shifting from our usual food-forward color story to take a more conceptual approach—exploring food, fashion, home, and music through the lens of the ethereal.
Ethereal is having a moment—the not-so-distant cousin to established and emerging trends1 and the common denominator of 2025 predictions (Pinterest, lmk if you wanna talk 2026!). Ethereality is permeating all areas of culture from stunning red carpet looks2 to the dreamy worlds of visionaries like photographer Petra Collins, cult-skincare brand Dieux (and their very clever pop-up), and furniture designer Eny Lee Parker.
However, the ethereal is nothing new—humanity has always strived for it, whether in art or places of worship. Defined by a light, airy, dreamy, heavenly, or otherworldly quality, ethereality is most commonly referenced in aesthetics or music. But in true No Crumbs fashion, we’re offering a fresh interpretation and bringing food to the party.
Its current rise is especially poignant in a time marked by deteriorating democracy, political unrest, economic decline, and an ongoing ecological crisis. I can’t help but be fascinated by the stark contrast of our grim socio-political realities with the cultural gravitation toward the fantastical and whimsical, further enforcing my belief that 1.) everything is political, and 2.) everything is connected.
TASTING the ethereal
I was struggling to cook up the theme for this issue, determined not to be yet another voice in the butter yellow-verse for spring—that is until I had the good luck (a friend with an in) to try shmuck., NYC’s buzziest cocktail bar. One sip of their Le Petit Fizz confirmed my hunch that gin fizzes are the cocktail of the season, and then, the big picture became clear: airy delights—or what I’m calling ethereal treats—are taking over the culinary world.
Everywhere I look, there are dreamy drinks (e.g. foamy cocktails, nostalgic floats, fluffy matchas, cold foam on everything), towering bowls of butter, and whipped spreads piled high on toasts. But heavenly desserts like pavlova, meringue, mousse, and soft serve rise above them all (and monopolize my sweet tooth).
The shift from bold and decadent to elevated and refined desserts draws parallels to trends in fashion. High-quality ingredients, like European butter or farm-fresh cream, are essential for successfully executing these simple wonders. Amid the rising egg prices, are pavlovas the quiet luxury of the culinary world?
Bringing it back to the gin fizz, the boozy bev that calls for heavy cream and egg whites to achieve its distinct frothy texture, it’s truly a cocktail of luxury and labor. Born in 19th-century New Orleans, took over 10 minutes to craft, and eventually required a slew of “shaker boys” just to keep up with demand, it’s no wonder bartenders love and loathe it.
Lucky for us, today’s drink masters are equipped with cream whippers, creating innovative cocktails topped with foamy goodness—it’s easier than you think.
NYC sips & slices of heaven
La Cantine for sweets, day or night
Palmetto’s negroni sour (or any of their top-notch drinks)
Taku Parlor’s floats and Larry’s matcha cold foam coconut water (per
’s expert matcha recommendations)
STYLING the ethereal
As the most widespread form of self-expression, fashion is never just about the clothes—what we choose to wear reflects our identity, and we reflect the culture at a moment in time.
For example, the rise of trad wives exists amidst regressive politics. While I can’t say ethereality is its antithesis—acknowledging the overlap in the romanticized conventional femininity—there are many differences between the two. For instance, one is rooted in the known past versus the imagined unknown, one hides the body and the other bares all. In a hyperconnected, yet increasingly isolated society, what does sheer appeal reveal about how we expose ourselves online and in person?
Ethereal style is defined by airy, translucent materials, most often in a pastel palette, but also embraces ruching, draping, sculptural, and gravity-defining silhouettes—think organza skirts, crochet tops, mesh ballet flats, and bubble skirts. Issey Miyake, Simone Rocha, and Paloma Wool are all exemplary designers of this aesthetic, often referencing ethereality in their work.
While the ethereal is inherent in the plane of high fashion and couture, it’s so exciting to see it expressed in everyday looks and even interpreted into streetwear.
Angels (small brands) among us
Allina Liu: romantic, voluminous apparel
Charlie Beads: bloomers
Medeas: glass jewelry
Junes: pretty and practical sheer totes
I can’t write this piece without addressing the problem of ethereal aesthetics: diversity. Who is considered an ethereal beauty? What is an ethereal body? Unsurprisingly, it tends to exist within the context of whiteness and thinness.
However, young black creatives like photographer Tyler Mitchell, luxury designer Nia Thomas, hair artist Kayra Theodore, and the incredibly-stylish Atiya Walcott bring dreamy, even fantastical, elements to their craft, truly embodying an ethereal spirit. Of course, the work to bridge the gap in representation should not solely fall on creatives of color.
LIVING in the ethereal
Does the ethereal have a place at home? The two are intrinsically at odds—home, a space designed to ground us, and the heavenly, otherworldly essence of the ethereal. How can they coexist? Well, through light, form, and texture.
Take two of the most influential minds of modern interior design, Luis Barragán and Isamu Noguchi. Their work is rooted in a unique relationship to light—Barragán constructing spaces that glow and Noguchi taking a sculptural approach to create an unmatched ambience. Though nothing compares to Javier Senosiain’s otherworldly abode, Casa Organica, inspired by earthly wonders. Though it’s sadly closed to the public, you can vicariously experience it through
’ firsthand account.
Today’s ethereal interiors have many of the same elements as its fashion counterpart—translucence, airiness, sculptural appeal—with an added emphasis on natural materials and take the form of paper lanterns, stained glass, sheer curtains, and organically sculpted metalwork.
Other markers of this style are celestial motifs, hand-painted details, murals, and ornate wallpaper. It’s also reminiscent of grecian architecture, old-world feel, coming through in the softness of rounded edges, arches, billowy drapery, and of course, decor to match. For that, I look to
’ artful home brand and the epitome of ethereal, LES collection.
Needless to say, the ethereal is alive and well in home trends—whether it’s the revival of glass blocks, first reported by
, or Marco Zamora’s viral DIYs from his canopy bed to hand-drawn interior accents. Oh, and I can’t stop thinking about this candle sconce that popped up on my feed in all its handmade, celestial glory.HEARING the ethereal
The ethereal has long had a place in music, from early religious hymns to the hazy soundscapes of ethereal wave, shoegaze, and dream pop. It’s the unsung connector of experimental, indie, ambient, and even pop genres. I first took notice when Spotify introduced genre filters in 2021 and, to my surprise, many of my favorite artists were grouped under something unexpected: ethereal.
To celebrate the return of spring (and the music that first sparked this piece), I’ve curated a playlist that channels the spirit of the season—opening with atmospheric, ambient buds and later blooms into vibrant, energetic tunes.
Want more?
Second servings are always welcome at No Crumbs. Dig into past issues of In Season and other recent posts, just in case you missed them the first time around.
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I share bits of my life on Instagram and sporadically yell into the void on TikTok. I’d love to ✨collaborate✨ with fellow creatives or brands — say hello at kayroolaart@gmail.com.
coquette, balletcore, dreamy aesthetics, fairy foods
Ariana Grande and Lupita Nyong'o at the Oscars, Gracie Abrams at the Grammys
Living for and loving the idea of ethereal for spring 🪷
you are the most ethereal person on this app so this is very fitting