#;;muse aesthetic: rachel

[alexandriteobscuraarchive]

@magioffire

blue-banded king crow (euploea eunice) | source

[kaitlinamberxo]

“Nothing you can take from me was ever worth keeping.”

kaitlin's 100 favorite female muses — 53/100: Lucy Gray Baird

[ac1nums-moved]

@everdawn, quinn fabray in rachel berry's photobook. from this meme.

[vntagetee]

rachel keller / tags

[sapphiredhearts-a]

random tag drop ; the host / oth / friends

[salvatoraes]

— get to know rissa !

what's your phone wallpaper: lockscreen is madison beer & i'm one of those people who does the whole ios homescreen aesthetic thing & currently it's a fairycore one.

last song you listened to: TV by billie eilish !

currently reading: when in rome by sarah adams & next i got silver flames & then starting thorne of glass hehe.

last movie: the parent trap <3

what are you wearing right now?: a friends ( the tv show ) somewhat oversized crop top & black shorts !

how tall are you?: 5'2' ... i'm smol but i will bite your ankles.

piercings / tattoos?: none of either but i want a tattoo :/

glasses / contacts: glasses ! i'm too scared to try contacts lmao

last thing you ate?: pepperoni pizza rolls <3

favorite color: pink !!!!

current obsession: fortnite, the nanny, bridgerton, the evil dead movies, & lowkey back on my animal crossing bs.

do you have a crush right now?: my girlfriend is pretty cute, i think i gotta crush on them <3

favorite fictional character: the amount i have is insane but stefan of fucking course, josie saltzman, finnick odair, rachel green, kate sharma, brooke davis, louise belcher, joey potter, colin bridgerton & truly so many more ... honestly look at the muses on my multi lmao.

last place you travelled: lake george, new york last year ! only five weeks until this year !!!

tagged by ( stolen from ) : @regiinae <3 tagging : @starle1 , @kwsatz , @neptunc, @klaeus , @malka-lisitsa , & you reading this ! ( i hate tumblr for only letting us tag 5 people now ??? )

[burnishedrebel]

About and Rules

About

Welcome to Velvet Rogue!

My pseudonym is Marcus, and I’m 29 years old. I’m based in the UK and have been writing in the indie Tumblr RP community for over a decade now. 

This blog is the latest of several for me, and in previous iterations I was midnightsaboteur, classicdecadence, urbanesyndicate and suitsandbourbon. 

I have a 9-5 office job on weekdays, and I’m a hybrid worker, so I’m usually fairly active. I aim to publish a set of replies (usually 3-5 in any one batch) per day. 

My DMs are always open, so feel free to reach out, and we can get chatting! 

++

Core Rules

To begin, here are my 'core rules'. These are absolutely essential for writing with me. Why? Because I have a lot of threads at any one time, and these rules help me to cater for many muns without being overwhelmed.

The core rules are:

Spread replies out. Don't post them back to back or very quickly after each other. (This does not apply to open replies).

Limit replies to 1-2 only over any daily period.

If you owe a lot, don't mega-dump replies over 1-2 days for fear of needing to catch up. I'd rather have a slower pace than a lot fired at me quickly.

Check with me if you'd like to reply rapidly (i.e. within a few hours). I'm happy to do back and forth, but let's chat first.

I hate to be blunt, but my rules have been broken often, meaning I'm tight on them now. I will drop the threads in question if any of these four core rules are broken.

++

Other Rules and Notes

Styling: I use medium-sized gifs and do not engage with replies using static icons or large-sized gifs. 

Banned FCs: I do not write with any muses using the FCs of… Omar Ayuso, Melissa Barrera, Alexa Demie, the Hamid sisters, Rachel Zegler, Logan Lerman and Cole Sprouse. 

Additionally, I do not write against deceased FCs or those convicted or credibly accused of wrongdoing. 

NSFW: This blog contains untagged NSFW content. 

Starters: All my opens are available for replies, regardless of age. 

++

Preferences

Whilst I’m open to writing many different things, you may notice that I tend towards certain muse vibes, plots and aesthetics in my writing. 

These are:

Muses who are criminals, politicians, artistic types, actors, athletes and law enforcement. 

Plots revolving around crime, indulgence, infidelity, sexuality, hookups, secrets and established relationships.

Aesthetics of Los Angeles, New York, the Deep South and London for locations, and art, ballet, Hollywood, noir, writing, sports and government for interests. 

My muse vibes, plots, and aesthetics go beyond this list, but the ones above are a good, general summary of what I like to write. 

++

Muses

My muses are split between ‘Main’, 'Selective' and ‘Exclusive’. 

Main muses are those I use frequently and are available to anyone.

Selective muses are those that I use more sparingly but are nevertheless available to anyone.

Exclusive muses are those that I use in a select number of closed plots, with muns whom I've previously written those muses. They are not open to anyone beyond this.

[encrucijada]

oc questions tag.

tagged by @coffeeandcalligraphy ! thank you, rachel <3 i decided to do this one about piedad narváez from keeps staring and i'll never fall asleep.

5 words to physically describe your oc (do you have a drawing? even better!)

freckles, scars, fair, sharp, light-eyed (we're counting it as one)

i don't have drawings of piedad (unless you count this one my sister did). but i do have a fc for them! lydia graham. and here are some other photos that have their vibe

who inspired your oc?

piedad started as a percy jackson oc so first step was picking a godly parent for her. from the start i wanted it to be a muse because i knew i could give her some orpheus-like powers. i ended up going with urania because ✨stars✨. then because of the nature of my rps with @lethed-of-all i had to find a fc and just... randomly decided it would be lydia graham? then i gave her a violin because as a child of a muse she would need an instrument and i was listening to lindsey stirling at the time so naturally ballet summed to her aesthetic. things slowly developed naturally from there. i did more research on urania for piedad's powers and found out premonition was plausible. and long story short now she's the physical manifestation of fate in i'll never fall asleep <3 i'm not sure where the knives came from, though. i think it might have just been a vibe check that went well with her slowly establishing aesthetic. probably a result of me deciding the bow of her violin could turn into a stiletto knife.

give me a song to define your oc

oh man i can give you a couple of songs. recently i realised most of piedad-core songs are some form of "will someone please make me feel something" while adam songs are more "will someone please pay attention to me". so do with that what you will

shatter me by lindsey stirling (started it all. somebody make me feel alive then shatter me)

gasoline by halsey (quintessential in i'll never fall asleep. and all the people say: you can't wake up, this is not a dream. you're part of a machine, you are not a human being)

kairos by eden (the things only i know... i just keep waiting for kairos. fun fact! kairos is a greek word that means something approximately to "perfect time to do something")

love is a... by pvris (just put your hands around my throat, ain't been to heaven but i'm close)

circles by eden (this is my life i will not run in circles, ending where i start. so hold onto to me we'll burn down slowly)

if i met your oc on the street how would they greet me?

with strangers, piedad keeps her distance. would not initiate the interaction but would give a polite smile and greeting. with people she knows it's a bit of a range but usually she goes for a hug with her friends.

can your oc be your best friend? why?

i don't know lmao. i don't think so. no reason other than vibes i don't think we would connect enough to become best friends. maybe something like... coworkers or classmates that get along.

1 adjective and 1 noun to describe your oc

starry & blue. i dunno, piedad is just very silver and blue in my mind. with some green from her eyes.

and i'm tagging @onomatopiya @saltwaterbells @teddywriting @cannivalisms @moonssugar @cream-and-tea and anyone else who might want to do this!

[nocityfolk]

THE COWBOY CROONER FROM WYOMING, IT'S JESSE COLT !

𓄀 A STUDY IN: the lone son, losing your identity to fame, the loss of an abusive parent, overcoming toxic masculinity, & internalised homophobia.

independent & fandomless original musician character with multiple verses [horror, 80s, etc.,] | managed by rachel/rach, 25, they/them !

╰─▸ i. bio | ii. stats | iii. verses | iv. jesse's music | v. send memes! | other blogs: @ohkrateia, @butreverie | dash only ! | interest tracker [optional!)

[ psst. rules below the cut ! ]

hi. i'm rach, they/them, lesbian, 25, australian. mutuals, please feel free to ask for my disco.rd for plotting/ooc chatting! personal tumblr available upon request, too!

SELECTIVITY: i’m selective which means i choose who i want to roleplay with and i won’t follow for follow. tldr; i'm mutuals only. please don’t let this deter you, as long as i can see our muses going somewhere, i’m likely to follow back! / please don't message me, send me asks, etc., if i'm not following you. i will block you.

CODES: if you have a special code in your rules, i likely won’t send it. it can be kind of uncomfortable for me to do so but i can guarantee you that your rules will be read!

MEMES: memes are a great way to break the ice, and help build dynamics. i don't mind if you reblog them off me!

FORMATTING: i sometimes double-space and mostly use icons, but i'll occasionally match the formatting of the person i'm writing with. so if you prefer not to format or use icons, that's fine by me! i just ask that you use proper grammar and punctuation, and trim your posts.

RULES: following on from before, if i ever happen to break a rule, you’re free to pop into my ask & kindly tell me. i’ll make a note not to do it again. tell me gently and be kind, and i’m sure your sincerity will be returned.

IMPORTANT: if you ever need anything tagged, feel free to shoot me an ask, on or off anon, or dm me to let me know. i’ll keep your triggers in mind and make sure i tag them in future!

SHIPPING: i love shipping, & i would love to ship with jesse! i'm a big multi-shipper at heart, so he won't have a canon ship in his main verse. & please keep in mind, he's a closeted bi man in an industry that hasn't historically been the kindest, and in a genre that wouldn't treat him the best if he were to come out. i'm definitely open to m/m ships but in his canon verse, they wouldn't come without their caveats, unfortunately. that being said, f/m is a bit easier, but jesse was scorned in his last relationship and will struggle with trust issues. he's incredibly shy regarding romance/intimacy & will need a lot of encouragement, but he has a lot of love to give and he's a loverboy at heart!

USFW: this space will likely contain things usfw at some point, so i'll try to tag it as such when i can. side note but please feel free to send romantic/smut memes in if i post them, even if we haven't interacted. they're a great way to try out a dynamic, and i have a lot of fun writing them!

CREDS: screencaps, icon border, icon psd, dash icon template.

ETC: this is so funny to say, but despite portraying jesse as a cowboy-esque figure into the rodeo, etc., i've been vegan for many years and don't approve of it. aesthetically, it kinda goes off, though, so while i won't delve into the bad side of rodeos, horses, that kinda stuff with jesse, i ask that it isn't mentioned ic either! we're here to have fun.

[ please don't follow if you're: homophobic, racist, transphobic, biphobic, anti-palestine, pro-israel, anti-semitic, pro-trump, etc. i'm not interested! same goes for harry potter fans/blogs. i don't have banned fc's, either, but please no known zionists, abusers, etc. ]

[poetzproblem]

Sorry poetz, but I have to go back to the sex location list because I'm going to need you to expound on something: "Also the baby grand piano that goes into their house in Riverdale." Did Rachel trick Quinn into getting it by saying it was for her singing practice, when in reality she's always had a piano sex fantasy? Or did Quinn gift it to Rachel for her music when in reality Quinn had a piano sex fantasy? Love all you do poetz!

Can it be…

Both?

Both is good.

One of the perks of buying a house is the many extra rooms, of course, affording Quinn the opportunity to have a full-sized office with space for multiple bookshelves for the first time and Rachel with the opportunity for an actual music room.  Up until this point, her songwriting has been done with a serviceable electronic keyboard that can be easily stored in a closet, audio software on her laptop, and Quinn’s borrowed office whenever she needed a little privacy. Now she gets to have a whole, entire room - and one little electronic keyboard will just not cut it. She obviously needs a real piano for both function and aesthetics. 

So...

“Imagine how elegant a grand piano will look here,” Rachel muses, doing a little spin in the center of the empty room she’s claimed for herself.  

The house is officially theirs as of eleven forty-eight this morning when they’d signed the last paper at the closing. Now they only need to fill it with all of their possessions and all the new possessions that they’ve always wanted but could never cram into their tiny Manhattan apartments. 

Quinn raises a singular eyebrow at her wife’s antics. “Rach, sweetie, I know this room looks big now, but there’s no way we’re fitting a grand piano in here along with your awards case and the keyboard and that pink guitar your dads still have packed away in their closet for you.”

The grin disappears from Rachel’s face. “A baby grand then,” she amends on the fly. “There are a few high quality ones out there.” And with what they’d just spent on this house and what they’ll still be spending for a car that they now need, it's probably best not to sink the full cost of a second summer house into one piano. 

“There are high quality uprights too,” Quinn points out with a critical gaze roaming around the room in obvious contemplation of its dimensions.  

Pursing her lips in determination, Rachel steps closer to Quinn with a sway of her hips and slips her arms around her waist. “Quinn, baby,” she purrs, batting her eyelashes. “An upright isn’t nearly…sturdy enough for our needs.”

Hazel eyes meet hers in mild bemusement. ”Why would…?” she begins but abruptly bites off her own question, eyes suddenly sparkling with understanding. 

A slow, wolfish grin slants across her mouth, and Rachel knows that her wife is remembering a very particular fantasy that she’d once related to Rachel - one that Rachel had really had no way to safely fulfill in a way that wouldn't potentially get them arrested for public indecency. “Yes, sturdy would be better…for reasons.” 

Rachel hums in agreement, hands drifting lower to the curve of Quinn’s ass. “I knew you’d see it my way.” 

“You know, Teresa did tell us there was no hurry to pick up the girls today,” Quinn reminds her in that raspy, suggestive tone that never fails to resonate right down Rachel’s spine.  “We should take this time to review all of your many needs for this room.” Soft, skilled fingertips sneak a little farther underneath Rachel’s blouse with every word. 

Rachel closes her eyes on a sigh, leaning into her wife’s warm body. “If we were ten years younger, I’d let you have me on this hardwood floor right here and now.” 

Quinn chuckles huskily, her lips already sliding down to Rachel’s pulse point. “Oh sweetheart, don’t you know by now how creative I can be?” 

Heat sizzles through Rachel’s body when that talented mouth connects to her skin with intent, and she tips her head back, giving in just enough - just for a moment - to indulge in the impossible fantasy. Quinn takes the invitation without any hesitation, and before Rachel even realizes what’s happening, her back is hitting the nearest wall and her very professional black skirt is unzipped.  

“Quinn,” she gasps out in surprise, eyes flying open. 

“We should test out how sturdy this wall is, don’t you think?” Quinn asks, far from innocently. One palm is flat against that wall while the fingertips of her other are already dancing under the loose waistband of Rachel’s skirt. “It’s where your awards case is going after all.” 

And it is, of course. Quinn knows her too well. It’s the best place for the light of the window to reflect off her many statuettes in a way that will make them positively sparkle. 

Rachel’s eyes dart to that same open window, and then to the still open door of the otherwise empty room, and then she remembers that this is their house and they’re the only ones with the keys to the front door (that they did remember to lock behind them) and their precious, precocious daughters are safe in Manhattan, and Quinn is already doing very pleasant things to her body that she really doesn’t have any desire to put a stop to. 

“You’d better not throw out your back,” she warns, but her body is already giving in - hands pulling Quinn closer and thighs parting enough to give her more room to work. 

Quinn laughs, teasing, “So sexy in your old age, Mrs. Fabray.”  

Rachel’s fingers twist into blonde locks. “I’m merely protecting a long term investment, Quinn.” Her lips curve into an impish grin. “I still need you to help me shop for that piano.”  Quinn’s fingers sink deeper in blissful retaliation, and Rachel moans breathlessly. “Among other things.” 

“I’ll show you other things.” 

And she does. 

[infragilehearts]

Welcome to New York {RACHEL QUINN} !! They are a {TWENTY-FIVE} year old {CIS FEMALE} who uses {SHE/HER} pronouns. They’re a/an {INFLUENCER} who has been in town for {2 YEARS}, who lives in {QUEENS}. When looking at {RACHEL} you automatically think of {GIRLY, ELEGANT, ANGELIC} but that probably makes sense since they also remind you of {SABRINA CARPENTER}. You can always hear {LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO} by {TAYLOR SWIFT} coming from their place. Who knows what kind of trouble they’re going to get themselves into.

wanted connections | full navi | pinterest | musings blog | full bio -- the group

threads - thread tracker - visuals - musings - aesthetics - likes

— BASICS ☆

full name:;  rachel allison quinn

nicknames:;  rach

gender:;  born female

pronouns:;  she/her

sexual preference:;  bisexual

relationship role:;  easily submissive, sometimes dominates

birthdate:;  september 25th

birthplace:;  miami, florida – raised in brooklyn once she turned five

zodiac sign:;  libra

spouse / lover:;  none currently

— APPEARANCES ☆

face & voice claim:;  sabrina carpenter & similar to margot robbie's harley quinn

height:;  5′5″

eyes:;  has ocean blue eyes – has 20/20 vision

hair:;  naturally blonde, not dyed, likes to add colours sometimes for a change

body art:;  a small one on the back her right wrist of a bowie lightning bolt, another small one on front of her left wrist of a semi-colon, a small heart on her right ankle, the words ‘dream’ in small cursive letters on the left side of her ribcage // ears (lobe and industrial for both ears)

other distinguishing features:;  always has bangs and enjoys a ponytail often

fashion sense:;  classic, casual, trendy with a hint of 90s

body type:;  her weight/body type changes but she’s always healthy with the standard more straight (not so curvy) model body

— PERSONALITY ☆

traits:; clumsy, sassy, hard-working, confident

fears:;  not finding love, being generally alone

hobbies:;  making videos, cooking/baking, singing, writing, dancing, acting

skills:;  singing, acting, dancing and cooking/baking

quirks:;  clumsy, forgetful, bites lip when bored or nervous

— FAMILY & CONNECTIONS ☆

mother:;  megan quinn

father:;  ryder masters

siblings:;  older sister

children:;  none yet, would love one

pets:;  a cat named simba

— FAVOURITES ☆

ice cream flavour:;  strawberry

food:;  shrimp, ham & cheese omelet w/ sausage links, chicken & broccoli alfredo

time of the day / night:;  twilight

season:;  fall/autumn for the chilly days

holiday:;  new years

animal:;  all cats

colour:;  red

scent:;  cherry blossoms

musician/band:;  christina perri

— OTHER ☆

occupation:;  influencer/internet personality (runs a youtube channel and a minor musician/actor)

education:;  high school drop-out, never did anything more school wise

bad habits:;  drinking

a cherished item:;  a mood ring she always wears

random fun fact:;  she got her first tattoo at eighteen

random fun fact 2:;  released her first album in her early twenties

— BIOGRAPHY ☆

trigger warning:; drinking, depression

—- C H I L D H O O D  —-

rachel allison quinn was born to ryder masters and megan quinn, during a trip to miami, her parents had a struggling relationship, but she was always a bit of a daddy’s girl. she’d go with to his sets and watch him act and she felt it was something she wanted to do ever since. when she was eight years old, her father passed away and she was left with her mother and it wasn’t the most ideal, especially once her mother re-married.

she herself was a bit of a loner, she didn’t have many friends, but she always wanted to be more social. she did get close with a boy in middle school and they ended up dating before the summer ending middle school and shortly after split and she went into high school single. dealing with bullying, crushes and feeling unwelcome. school caused her battles with depression and her form of self harm was drinking. rachel was didn’t expand much and after freshman year, dropped out of school just not sure she could do it anymore. she tried home-schooling til she was 17 and got her first job, thus she was too busy and didn’t care much.

—- BACKGROUND  —-

her home life quickly became too much so she wanted to make her own money, but she was a bit too young for a real job yet and thus she found and decided to try out social media with youtube, tiktok, twitter and instagram (mainly youtube & instagram). she used her channel as a fun escape, show her style and then as she started building an audience and soon it became her passion. however this wasn’t her dream and this soon started her making skits and short films to show off her acting skills. in a couple of her works she shared her singing voice and her fans became obsessed so singing became a part of her channel at times. she started making money and decided to take it further but making a single, her own original song. it did so well and soon she came out with another.

now rachel finally opened up again, to a boy she met through some friends and they got close and started dating that summer. she really felt happy with him but soon he called it quits leaving her unsure of what went wrong and she couldn’t bare it. she went to seek help to forget him and then she dove more into her work as an escape from the pain of another failed and short lived relationship. she was able to afford a place of her own and was looking for where she wanted to live, she wanted to leave brooklyn for sure. rachel was mainly looking around los angeles to further her career. it took a lot but she packed up and left for the lovely state and soon she was living in a small apartment, getting used to her new life in los angeles as she had always dreamed. it took a few months, before she was discovered and offered a contract and she jumped at the idea of making a full album. her acting dream was set aside for now.

—- C U R R E N T L Y  —-

rachel soon finished and released her first album by the age of 21 and she moved to a house and got a cat to keep her company. with the success of her first album she got to do a small tour and within a couple years she released her second album at 23. this is when she ended up moving back to new york (but to the queens area instead of brooklyn), with her cat and now she’s eagerly working on a third album. while acting is her dream, music works, she loves writing and sharing her story. now living where she does, however, she’s finally got some acting with some small roles or cameos here and there. it’s a start to getting a big role on a major movie or television show, but she’s okay for now being an influencer does music and holding off on acting for now. she’s still young and happy.

[ will try to update as time goes on ]

[flcgod]

[ madelyn cline, cis female, she/her ] ⸺ i’m pretty sure that was just  lenora clemonte of the old money that just passed by. the twenty-six year old hotel heiress, socialite & philanthropist has been a resident here in the upper east side for fourteen years.  they’re known for being captivating & benevolent, but i overheard someone mention they’re also manipulative & vain…considering they’re a libra i think there might be some truth to it. but maybe that’s just because they’re always worried someone might find out about redacted.  something about them has always reminded me of blowdried bouncy hair, dewy skin, a glass of rosé during the day, chanel eau tendre perfume sprayed at the nape of her neck & decolletage but maybe that’s just because they like to have impulsive shopping sprees & be the center of attention in their free time.

  *    ◟ stats .

full name : lenora elsabeth clemonte nicknames : goes prominently as lena age : twenty-six years old gender : cis female pronouns : she / her age : 26 dob : september 24th , 1998 ( libra ) pob :  monte carlo , monaco sexual orientation : heterosexual / heteroromantic social group :  old money  

*    ◟ appearance .

height : 5'6" - 1.68cm build : slim ethnicity : white eye color : dark brown hair color : dirty blonde with light highlights notable features : fox eyes , plump lips , high cheekbones , a few freckles on her nose style : lena is famous for her notable natural beauty & often admired for looking gorgeous effortlessly

*    ◟ personality .

positive traits : captivating, confident, loyal, passionate, coquettish, benevolent, affectionate negative traits : manipulative, vain, stubborn, insecure, possessive, hypocritical, dramatic likes : romantic comedies, skincare, satin sheets, red lingerie, diamonds, charity work, snow days, summer days in the hamptons, champagne, yachts, shopping sprees, traveling, french cuisine, scented candles, peonies, having her picture taken, bubble baths. dislikes : being kept out of the loop or not knowing stuff, cheaters, being bored, low quality pictures of herself, bad mannerism, bigotry, being ignored in any shape or form muse inspo : serena van der woodsen ( gossip girl ) , gabrielle solis ( desperate housewives ) , cher horowitz ( clueless ) . rachel green ( friends ) , tahani al jamil ( good place ) , caroline forbes ( the vampire diaries ) , barbie ( barbie ) , haley dunphy ( modern family ) more aesthetic things : plumping lipgloss, dewy skin, blowdried bouncy hair, french top oval nails, silk dresses, champagne for breakfast, chanel eau tendre sprated at the nape of her neck and decolletage, impulsive shopping sprees, lavender oil, half naked pictures, rose water

*    ◟ career & education .

current occupation : hotel heiress , socialite , philanthropist past occupation(s) : model degree(s) : the nightingale-bamford school ( high school diploma ) , yale ( majored in business psychology but never graduated )

˚ detailed bio & more  .   ˚ wanted connections  .   ˚ pinterest .    ˚ penthouse tour .  　

[edhayne]

The One with the Smart Design System

It’s been 20 years since the lights went off in Monica’s apartment and Friends came to an end. The concept, the talent and chemistry of the cast, not to mention the brilliant script writing, have attracted a legion of new fans to a show that the top TV networks still fight over.

However, as tempting as it is to write about Rachel’s haircuts or the comedic genius of the late, great Matthew Perry, I want to focus on an aspect of the show that gets less attention but is highly relevant to our industry. DISTINCTIVE ASSETS.

Now before you accuse me of being a tragic Byron Sharp tribute act, my musings are more concerned with how we can look beyond our day job for some practical inspiration, rather than trying to impersonate the legendary Professor (Sharp, not Geller).

But why Friends you might ask? Well, what better place to go looking for inspiration than a show famed for developing and deploying assets that didn’t just operate as separate entities, but as members of a carefully considered design system. Spoiler alert, do this and your brand is far more likely to grow.

Of course, there are many elements to explore, but in the interests of brevity, I’ve selected what I believe to be the most influential.

Element 1 – Costume Design

Just like their familiar catch phrases, when it came to the costume design, it was important that each character stood out on their own, but also complemented each other. So, designer Debra McGuire assigned each character a colour palette in season one. For the girls, Rachel typically wore greens and blues, Monica stuck to black, white, grey, and burgundy, and Phoebe got brighter colours and floral palettes.

As for the guys, Chandler's clothes were often vintage and racing stripe shirts, Joey's signature style was "defined by texture," and Ross, because he was a professor, "dressed appropriately," according to McGuire.

Element 2 – The Set

It’s no coincidence that Monica’s apartment and Central Perk live so vividly in our minds. Both provided the perfect canvas for the visual identities of each character to become established, whilst also giving the show itself a distinctive aesthetic. My old CSO at Ogilvy, Kev Chesters always stressed that a brand ‘owning’ something like a colour was “laughable, hubristic, utterly delusional & over-ambitious”. He argued that the best course of action was “to just claim it, and then once you spend enough time telling and showing the world that you are the one who is associated with it, then anyone else can’t be.”

As luck would have it, this is exactly what Production Designer John Shaffner did with the colour purple. As well as enhancing each character’s wardrobe, his rationale for Monica’s apartment wall colour was simple: "When you switched to 'Friends,' you saw that it is purple, and you stayed tuned." Furthermore, it helped other design flourishes to become distinctive assets, most notably the iconic golden frame that hangs on the apartment door.

The orange sofa in the coffee house is another example of using colour effectively. Found in the basement of Warner Bros studios, it literally serves as an emotive piece of brand furniture and is proof that you don’t need to unceremoniously dump as many brand signifiers as you can find, to secure attribution. In fact, the lesson here is the exact opposite. Namely, if you want an asset to become distinctive, give it room to breathe and think about its relationship with the environment it exists in.

Element 3 – Easter Eggs

Like any brand at the top of their game, Friends is a brilliant example of refreshing and building memory structures. Importantly, this was never at the expense of having some fun and driving visual intrigue amongst their audience. Take for example, the Magna Doodle on Joey’s apartment door. Fans became obsessed with the drawings and messages that changed subtly in every episode, and even started looking for hidden meanings.

Similarly, only the most eagle-eyed fans will have noticed that the colourful dots in the F.R.I.E.N.D.S logo have a hidden meaning. In case you didn’t know, each dot represents the main characters in the show. There are six dots for six friends and if you pay attention at the beginning of the opening theme, you will notice that each character holds an umbrella that corresponds to the colour of the dots. The likes of Aldi (think Cuthbert the Caterpillar getting arrested in their Christmas ad a couple of years ago), are expert practitioners of this approach, and it’s something I’d love to see more of in our industry.

Are little details like this why Friends is watched by millions across the world? Of course not, but they add personality to the design system and enhance the viewing experience for those who want to engage with the show on a deeper level.

A quick word count check has revealed that this article is in danger of turning into 18 pages (front and back), if I’m not careful. So, now’s probably a good time to sign off.

If nothing else, I hope it’s underlined the fact that there’s more to building a design system than painting every object in the brand’s primary colour or slapping the logo on screen throughout a telly ad. Recognising that each asset is only as strong as the other elements of that system, is essential in understanding how brands grow. Evidently, the team behind the world’s most famous sitcom got the memo.

[jessamine-rose]

since you enjoy reading books do you have Goodreads?

Also we need book recommendations, I just know you have an amazing literary taste :))

Ohhh I never imagined that someone would ask for my book recs!! Thank you, dear Anonie :3

I don’t have a Goodreads account though I use the site to check the ratings/ reviews before I read a book. Now onto my list~

✿ RECOMMENDATIONS ✿

♡ Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace

My childhood favorite!! It offers a charming glimpse into the author’s life from the early 1900s. I read the full series in order, and it was truly endearing to witness the protagonist’s growth from five-year-old to married woman.

♡ It Only Happens in the Movies by Holly Bourne + other works

My favorite book by this author!! She was my introduction to contemporary feminism and social issues. She has a very realistic grasp on her female protagonists and their stories. I also recommend her The Spinster Club trilogy and subsequent novels.

♡ Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

A must-read~ The Gothic horror, writing style, and literary themes are expertly combined to create an unforgettable reading experience. I also liked her other book My Cousin Rachel.

♡ Bone China by Laura Purcell + other works

Written by one of the best Gothic horror writers imo. This particular story drew me in with its fae folklore, porcelain aesthetic, and imperfect protagonist. My other favorites are The Silent Companions and The Whispering Muse.

♡ Heartless by Marissa Meyer

In addition to the whimsical writing style and imagery, you will never get bored of Meyer’s references to Alice in Wonderland/ Through the Looking Glass. The ending left me devastated.

♡ This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar + other works

The prose, the imagery, the love letters…..I want to absorb her writing style. Her short stories are also a delight to read.

♡ Revenge: Eleven Dark Tales by Yoko Ogawa + other works

The stories are already great on their own, and it gets more exciting when you realize that they are all interconnected!! The Diving Pool: Three Novellas is another excellent example of how Ogawa tackles womanhood and dark themes. I hope more of her work gets translated :’>

♡ Poetic fragments of Sappho

There is something so intimate and beautiful about her poetry. Intimacy, vivid imagery, Greek mythology……..I just really love her work and it’s a shame that most of it was lost to history ;-;

♡ Classic fairytales and myths

Y’all have seen their impact on my works. These stories are iconic, nostalgic, and rich with literary inspiration. Aside from the Western classics, do remember the myths and stories from your own culture!!

✿ HONARY MENTIONS ✿

♡ Love & Olives by Jenna Evans Welch

♡ Circus of Wonders by Elizabeth Macneal

♡ Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

♡ Ghost Music and Braised Pork by An Yu

That’s all I can think of. Happy reading!! ( ´ ▽ ` )

[vntagetee]

rachel dawes / tags

[stars-written]

MUSE AESTHETICS

LIST 3-5 THINGS FOR EACH CATEGORY THAT YOU ASSOCIATE WITH YOUR MUSE

EMOTIONS / FEELINGS:

A deep-seated yearning to belong

The desperation of a man drowning

The naivety of inexperience

Challenging so-called order

Hard-won acceptance of self

GREETINGS / SAYINGS:

"How can I help?"

"Despite what you may have heard, I'm nothing like him. Or him."

"Well... that could have gone better."

COLORS:

Yellow-orange skies over Felucia

Red-splotched pink of nysillin

A deep earthy brown cup of tea

Intense blue eyes that pierce the soul

SCENTS:

Jungle moss

Well-kept leather

Lilac-scented shampoo

The faintest hint of sweat

ATTIRE:

Dark grey robes

A brown hooded cloak

Lilac, flowing dresses

Deep green tunic

OBJECTS:

A blue-bladed, rose-gold and black-hilted lightsaber

A small, Mustafarian diamond ring, kept locked away

A green and pink hair comb whose handle is fashioned out of lommite

VICES / BAD HABITS:

Chewing/stimming with her lips when nervous

Meloorun melon wine

Telosian whiskey

BODY LANGUAGE:

Fingers twined in/near her lap

Running her fingers through her hair

Back straight, poised

AESTHETICS:

The persistence of time, ever marching

The shock of cold sweat on heated skin

Warm wet circles; like a mother's kiss on your first broken heart

SONGS:

Could Have Been Me - The Struts

Fighter - Christina Aguilera

Fight Song - Rachel Platten

Crucified - Army of Lovers

TAGGED BY: @valorums (thank youuuuu)

TAGGING: anyone who hasn't done this because y'all i been OUT for a MINUTE and have no idea who might have done this already