Symbol Seekers and the Need for Meaning in What We Wear

While our Escapism Series has explored different ways consumers use fashion to disconnect from reality, the movement of Symbol Seekers offers a more introspective and unique approach. This emerging cultural shift still craves escape, but through meaning rather than detachment. In uncertain and overwhelming times, many are turning to unique symbolic cues as tools for emotional grounding, clarity and hope. With less time and space to fully withdraw from reality, small rituals like dressing in lucky colours (+0.8%), wearing angel numbers (+3.6%) and meaningful charms (+42.7%) have become small forms of self-guidance, turning style into a source of strength and intention.

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Why Now

Rather than stumbling upon these symbols by chance, today’s Symbol Seekers curate them with personal intentions. What was once a fleeting moment, catching 11:11 on a clock, or making a wish whilst blowing out birthday candles, has evolved into something more permanent in wearable rituals of reassurance. Talismanic symbols, such as four-leaf clovers (+72.9%) and evil eyes (+11.4%), have gained popularity due to their symbolic value. Through symbol seeking, they can be drawn upon for some extra luck, hope or protection throughout the day.

This turn towards emotional self-expression and intentional symbol seeking has been amplified by aesthetic subcultures like Witchcore (+2.6%), which romanticise personal intuition and soft spirituality. TikTok, in particular, has created spaces for these practices, with personalised tarot readings, dream interpretations, and colour analysis styling guides, all helping to cultivate individual reflection and community connection. Among the hyper-rationality of everyday life, digital mysticism offers an alternative escape, as a way to prioritise instinct, seek emotional guidance, and dress according to one's feelings.

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Who’s Leading the Movement

The nature of symbol seeking is inherently personal and often practised quietly, making it difficult to define clear leaders of the moment. However, in their unique ways, we see public figures and celebrities intertwining their rituals into the mainstream, which has helped shape the overall Symbol Seeking movement.

Jennifer Aniston’s 11:11 tattoo is one example, representing her love for spirituality and personal connection to its meaning. Additionally, Aimee Lou Wood has spoken extensively in interviews about her love for reading horoscopes and its impact on how she navigates daily life. Similarly, Pedro Pascal has also shared more about his personal connection to astrology, discussing his birth chart and how he relates to it. This use of symbol seeking across promotional media also relates to Robert Pattinson’s promotion for Mickey 17, in which he had his seasonal colour analysis assessed, connecting personal colour theory to brand messaging.

Lana Del Ray, known for her nostalgic and emotionally charged style, channelled her Taurus Venus sign by wearing emerald green in her Gucci campaign, aligning with the rising trend of dressing according to your Venus sign to find your most authentic style. Elsewhere, Devon Lee Carlson's campaign with Realisation Par, modelling their Zodiac-themed T-shirt line, and Louise Thompson’s lucky charm-inspired jewellery collection with Carrie Elizabeth, showcase how personal symbols are becoming fashion accessories expressing intention and identity.

These unique symbols are increasingly being turned into emotional support anchors, extending far beyond traditional uses. From emotional support water bottles to lucky socks, these everyday objects are filled with personal meaning and ritual, becoming a huge source of comfort and grounding. We see this in figures like BLACKPINK’s Rosé and Lisa, who are often seen with Labubu’s, acting as talismans of comfort and happiness. Even brands are embedding this symbolism into their storytelling, with Bella Hadid’s Kin Euphorics launched with a sweater collection featuring celestial angelic motifs, bridging wellness with this new wave of spirituality.

These symbols, whether a number, colour or charm, mundane or abstract, are tools for self-comfort against the harshness of reality and serve as reminders of hope, luck and intentional living over just style or trends.

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Symbol Seeking as Escape

Symbol Seekers aren’t turning away from reality; they are creating new ways to cope with it. Much like the introspective ethos of the Losercore movement, this trend of symbolic dressing is about looking inward. Building unique rituals, curating your own meaning and reclaiming control through deeply personal visuals and meaning-making.

With a lack of global stability and uncertainty, wearing a lucky colour or talisman allows us to create our own whimsy and luck, to find softness in everyday structure and a protection against external chaos.

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Trending Elements

The rise of digital mysticism and symbol seeking, from seasonal colour consultations and birth chart analysis to online tarot, is reshaping how we approach style. These practices are allowing fashion a gateway to emotional alignment. Dressing in the era of symbol seeking is all about channelling energy, manifesting intentions, and protecting the self.

Whether designing custom charm bracelets or choosing colours based on manifestation goals, outfits are becoming filled with intention and meaning.

Here are the ways we are seeing symbol seeking take over fashion.

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Dream-Led Dressing

With manifestation believed to be its most powerful during sleep, when the subconscious is most receptive. This connection between dreams and intention is now playing out across fashion, with designers using bedtime routines as style statements.

We are seeing a rise in day pyjamas (+10.4%) and dreamy, ethereal silhouettes (+34.1%), signalling a new wave of dream-led dressing. Across the runways of Spring/Summer 2025, brands like Vivetta, Setchu and Sankuanz embraced the aesthetic with flowing silky silhouettes and night gown-inspired designs (+3.3%), blurring the lines between sleepwear and ready-to-wear. Valentino’s Resort 2026 collection took these ideas even further, featuring models sleeping in their looks, fully embodying the theme of dream-led dressing.

This narrative is seen off the runway too, with mainstream labels like Reformation, Rixo and Nobody’s Child all embracing the whimsical by designing pieces that are suitable for both night and day. At the same time, brands like Djerf Avenue and The Frankie Shop are creating elevated sleep co-ords that are ideal for everyday wear. Meanwhile, Tekla’s collaboration with Auralee merges comfort and structure with pieces that maintain the dream state with their collection of both pyjamas and outerwear.

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Colour Theory and Calling In

As colour analysis (+3.9%) becomes more mainstream, we are seeing a significant shift in the use of colour in dressing. From designers to consumers, colour is being used as a way to call in specific emotions, outcomes and energies. Reported by Coloro and WGSN, we are beginning to see a rise in bright jewel-toned colours for S/S 26, including Transformative Teal (+10.5%), Electric Fuchsia (+4.7%) and Amber Haze (+6.5%), all symbolising different meanings and outcomes for symbol seekers.

Wearing green to attract abundance, pink for inner peace or red for romance is no longer a niche concept, and being shown on the runway from brands like Selkie, Rabens Saloner leaning into the light feminine tones evoking softness and emotional vulnerability, whilst Jade Cropper, Joao Maraschin and Operasport exploring bolder and more passionate monochrome palettes (+0.3%) to convey confidence and desire.

This emotionally charged use of colour stories has filtered down into mainstream brands like Good American, COS, and Miss Selfridge, who are embracing gemstone tones in matching sets (+6.9%). At the same time, Zara, Meshki and Next are pairing these tones with softer silhouettes.

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Emotional Objects and Accessories

Emotional objects are another key aspect of symbol seeking. We are seeing accessories and clothing being transformed into memory and intention holders. With a rise in popularity of pieces like custom charm bracelets (+5.8%) and protective pendants (+4.7%), which act as wearable affirmations and luck.

The Business of Fashion has spoken about these ideas, exploring how jewellery sales in particular have been booming whilst luxury fashion brand sales have been facing a decline. Their report states that consumers now are finding more value in jewellery over categories like handbags, due to jewellery’s ability to hold personal meaning and more tangible luxury, suggesting that shoppers are looking for pieces that spark emotion and make them feel something other than just an investment piece.

Luxury brands are leading this evolution with deeply intentional and meaningful storytelling. With Vivenne Westwood’s Fall/Winter 2025 collection at Paris Fashion Week drawing on the number 19 as a talisman, Andreas Knorthaler designed the collection to inspire viewers to dream big and reach for their goals. Echoed in the collection itself with powerful silhouettes and shimmering fabrics. Similar themes are seen from Magliano using the snake as a symbol of wisdom and rebirth (+5.4%) for the lunar new year. Additionally, from Jonathan Anderson’s debut as Dior's creative director, the invitation to the S/S 26 show was a plate topped with eggs, symbolising new beginnings and a new birth for Dior with his vision. While designers like Marine Serre, 3Paradis and Sia Arnika incorporated embroidered symbols of love, peace and dreams directly into their pieces.

Accessories in high fashion are also being reimagined as modern talismans. Marc Jacobs zodiac motif tote bags blend functionality with identity, while Van Cleef & Arpels pair lucky clover shapes with abundance-attracting gemstones like green malachite. Dior’s lucky capsule collection includes the Luck Book Tote, embroidered with a dreamy sky of mythical creatures and monsters, embedding luck and symbolic narratives into Dior’s classic pieces. Meanwhile, Jade Trau’s talismanic evil eye (+11.4%) charms work for protection and luck.

Mainstream brands are echoing this with more accessible pieces. Radley and Pandora launched their snake-adorned pieces, tapping into this year’s transformational energy. Heaven by Marc Jacobs and Bo + Tee released affirmation-printed t-shirts, making it easy to become a part of our everyday rituals. Notably, Astrid + Miyu’s story chain builder allows customers to create personal talismans using angel number (+3.6%), birthstones (+14.7%) and initial charms (+18.4%), making symbol seeking deeply personal and commercially viable.

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Where It’s Heading Next

The rise of symbolic styling reflects the cultural need for meaning. Being a Symbol Seeker is a mindset, one that asks brands to move beyond trends and into intuitive and emotional pieces for consumers to resonate and express themselves with. Helping us to stay grounded, connect deeper with who we are becoming and the world around us.

These meanings are extending beyond just personal and into communal. Brands tap into shared symbols and build unique visual languages that only their audience resonates with and understands. We are seeing this with charms, whether from Pop Mart or Astrid & Miyu or brand logos, creating small communities that see the world in a similar way.

Etsy is also emerging as a hub for the Symbol Seeker movement, expanding beyond just custom symbolic jewellery and talismans. The platform also offers custom spells for everything from love, success, protection and even sports results. As reported by The Wall Street Journal, a growing number of young people are turning to witchcraft and spirituality out of desperation, seeking control of areas in life that feel uncertain and unfulfilling – acting as a further escape from real life, with responsibility increasingly being put into the universe’s hands.

These uniquely emotionally charged pieces anchor us in uncertain times, helping us remain grounded and find whimsy and hope in the everyday. Helping to support and call in the person we envision ourselves becoming, over just expressing who we are right now.