When I first heard this I was lost. I had no idea that there were so many attributes that we could choose from and I had no idea what attribute to use for my work. I nevertheless went to the forums to seek the answer to my dilemma. I was lucky because I found Penny from Melbourne Australia. She has a great shop on etsy. It is called "Sparrowsalvage" and the shop can be found by following this link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/sparrowsalvage Penny was gracious in that she set about giving us some great descriptions on what the attributes were all about.
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| The First Dawn - tribal salvage earrings - neolithic beads - hammered wire http://www.etsy.com/shop/sparrowsalvage |
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| three waters - tribal sci fi bracelet - 3 strand bohemian - vintage beads http://www.etsy.com/shop/sparrowsalvage |
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| Anestrah - tribal sci fi earrings - hammered metal - opalite spears http://www.etsy.com/shop/sparrowsalvage |
I have asked Penny if I could list these descriptions on this blog so that my followers would have the information necessary to help them with their attribute classifications. Here is her forum post on the subject. I am sure there will be some additions to the descriptions nevertheless, the list as is stands at the moment is enough for us to use.
Here are the attributes according to Penny.
I've been reading about the new attributes Etsy's putting in to our listing, but as I clap my hands with delight at how much easier it's going to be for me to shop for my friends and myself, I'm worried for a lot of people that this is going to be difficult for them. As I've been obsessed with fashion and interior magazines for the better part of 25 years I've heard most of these genres, so I thought I'd offer up some help in an attempt to make it easier for people. Most of you already know your own style, and any of these styles can also be Googled with the addition of 'style fashion' on the end but you might not get a pure idea of the style, and that cold take a long time!
So buckle yourself in, sweethearts! Here's my basic breakdown- I'm sorry it's very long but there's a lot of genres! It's taken me the best part of 3 hours to do this!
So buckle yourself in, sweethearts! Here's my basic breakdown- I'm sorry it's very long but there's a lot of genres! It's taken me the best part of 3 hours to do this!
African - fairly straight forward- anything that has a style of Africa. Animal prints, safari fashion, primitive shapes and natural materials in deep rich earth tones.
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| The print in this dress has a unique African cultural design by: http://www.etsy.com/shop/goziem?ref=seller_info |
Art Deco - 1920s-1930s, geometric designs, stylised figures, straight lines. The Chrysler building, Miami hotels, flapper girls.
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| "Confidence" by; amybeth http://www.etsy.com/people/amybeth3822?ref=ls_profile |
Art Nouveau - rich flowing lines, earthy colours, beautiful women, insects and flowers. The most widely known (and pure example) of Nouveau style is of Gaudi's buildings and Mucha's illustrations.
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| Clutch/Shoulder Bag by: artdemix http://www.etsy.com/people/artdemix?ref=ls_profile |
Asian - pretty straight forward, though given we have 'zen' down there as well, I'm going to assume Asian is anything that looks Chinese. Red and black, feng shui symbols- think Chinatown.
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| Retro Cami Knickers Japanese Print Orchid Pale Blue Cotton With Lace Handmade Vintage Style by; Swoon http://www.etsy.com/people/Swoon?ref=ls_profile |
Athletic - Just think of the local sportwear shop, that's athletic. Tight fitting, simple lines, little in the way of pattern. I would assume yoga wear, leggings and gym bags would go in here.
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| Sports Beanies by: Haley http://www.etsy.com/people/haleyg3 |
Avant Garde - this is tricky- it's sort of art fashion. It literally means 'the new guarde' and it's anything hyper-modern and a bit out there, stuff you look at and think 'woah, that's...different.' If you consider yourself ahead of your time, then your stuff goes in here!
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| Feather coller by: Metro Gypsy http://www.etsy.com/people/MetroGypsy?ref=ls_profile |
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| Beret by: Bessette Art http://www.etsy.com/people/BessetteArt |
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| Native America baby Blanket from; gnomeandgarden http://www.etsy.com/people/gnomeandgarden |
Fantasy - anything with dragons, fairies, dwarves and elves (oh my!). Think Lord of the Rings, Labyrinth, Brian Froud, Conan. You can add romantic, tribal, gothic or steampunk to this style as well, it's quite broad.
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| Barbara Wright's Mushrooms http://www.etsy.com/shop/PitBullLadyDesigns |
Folk - this is a narrow field between 'woodland' (see below) and boho- folk is Scandinavian prints, 70s ethnic and mod all bundled together. Think gypsy caravans, gingerbread houses and bundled up Russian maids.
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| Ronda Liebert's Sweet Folk Art Doll http://www.etsy.com/shop/genesislady |
Goth - black black black. Usually with skulls and crosses as motifs, think Addams Family, The Craft, The Cure... goth is emo with drama. Goth has a million different sub-genres but there's usually something particular about a piece- you can have boho goth, industrial goth, romantic goth, Victorian goth, kawaii goth... you'll know which one you're looking for if you want to make/buy goth items.
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| Presto Chango offers us a nice little vintage skull ring. http://www.etsy.com/shop/PrestoChango |
High Fashion - designer wear, tailored forms, good quality materials and excellent craftsmanship. High Fashion is like a delicate way of saying 'very well made and very expensive'.
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| High Fashion - Hats are back in. This cute number is offered by Connie Pominville http://www.etsy.com/shop/misfitsemporium |
Hip Hop - Think Run DMC, The Beastie Boys, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Hip Hop is 80s and 90s street style- bright colours and sportswear brands paired with over-the-top gold jewelry and the most ridiculous Nikes you can find.
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| Kris Kramer's Silver Swirls Pendant is a great accessory for Hip Hop gatherings. http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheSilverPendant |
Hippie - hippie is boho with the addition of tie-dye, acid bright colours, big floral prints and ethnic prints. Think Hair, Woodstock and 60s Haight/Ashbury.
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| From the VintagePatriotGirl shop http://www.etsy.com/listing/65083362/vintage-70s-macrame-hippie-purse-hand |
Hipster - barnwood, moustaches, black triangles, geometrics
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| Made by jDUCT http://www.etsy.com/shop/jDUCT?ref=pr_shop_more |
Historical - Anything that looks of a time period, usually pre-1920s. It's more specifically Victorian, Georgian, Elizabeth, Tudor... If you're going to label something historical it should be accurate for it's time- i.e. a Victorian style corset is not historical if it's not accurate to a decade (1880 for example), it's just a Victorian style corset. Most people who use/search historical will probably be looking for re-enactment gear and they want accuracy, accuracy, accuracy!
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| By Kate Slater Stafford, England, http://www.etsy.com/shop/KateFete?ref=pr_shop_more |
Hollywood Regency- part Moroccan bazaar, part Georgian townhouse, part Art Deco palace. Think 20s/30s/40s old-school glamour, Spanish architecture, silks and satins, creamy jewel colours and opulent rooms. Modern Hollywood Regency seems to have lost alot of the Moorish influence but still carries the elegant glamour of big old 1920s houses.
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| From the restylebopshop http://www.etsy.com/shop/restylebopshop?ref=seller_info |
Industrial - this is a sort of modern look, but with very factory-style lines. Industrial is a very simple almost severe look, and is most often comprised of vintage salvaged things like steel-topped tables, trestles, product moulds from factories and big signs. Industrial has the feel of a big old factory, with lots of metal, chunky wood and hazard colours.
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| From the Boitifole Secrets Books http://www.etsy.com/shop/Boitifole?ref=seller_info |
Kawaii - this is a Japanese fashion term, meaning 'cute'. Anything girlish and romantic with a serious addition of kitsch. Big eyed girls, anime, baby animals, candy colours. Anything a 14 year old girl would look at and think 'oh that's soooo cute!!!!' A hefty dose of pink.
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| By Aysha Exelby Johnson http://www.etsy.com/shop/BowCreeps?ref=pr_shop_more |
Kitsch - Kitsch is retro tacky. Think of your grandmother's donkey shaped salt and pepper shakers, 1970s tourist souvenirs, 1960s paintings on velvet etc. Anything 60s/70s, colourful and humorous. Think Hairspray, Pee-Wee Herman and old-school Disneyland.
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Shabby Chic, Vintage, Upcycled & Beach... |
Mediterranean- a sort of rustic with a dose of preppy nautical and a touch of high-end resort. Mediterranean is hard look to pin down- it's usually white, terracotta, and bright blue. Nautical themes, summer style. Think of the Greek Islands and 1990s Ralph Lauren.
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Soupbelly Photography |
Mid-Century - Pure 1950s! Everything that was modern and clean lined in the 1950s. Soft colours such as lemon yellow, aqua, baby pink and sea green are used. There's not much pattern but when their is it's usually shapes like atoms, kidneys, arrowheads and boomerangs. Dior's 'new look' (despite it being 1947!) and the TV show Mad Men are perfect examples. A lot of stuff that's mid-mod is also called Eames era and atomic age.
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| poppycottage http://www.etsy.com/shop/poppycottage?ref=seller_info |
Military - army style! Kahki greens and browns, brass buttons, soldiers uniforms, big black boots, tailored shapes, earth tones. Think M.A.S.H or the movie Stripes.
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| Military Wedding Cake Topper http://www.etsy.com/shop/gingerbabies |
Minimalist - following the mantra 'less is more', this is modern with the most simple terms. Natural materials, stainless steel, straight lines, smooth textures, functional. Think of old movies when they show people in heaven. (Though ironically it's most people's idea of hell!) Minimalist style contains objects and fashion that does little more than serve it's function- all adornment is shunned.
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| "Minimalist Landscape" http://www.etsy.com/shop/NDEAJ |
Mod - sharp graphics, black and white, tight fitting clothes, geometric shapes, Mod is a sort of Mid-Century avant guarde. It was the stuff in the 60s that was diametrically opposite to the hippies and predominantly a UK style. Micro length shorts and skirts, knee high go-go boots, Perspex jewelry, tailored lines and sharp cuts. Think Austin Powers, The (original!!) Italian Job and model icons like Twiggy.
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| Floral Mod Lamp Handmade Upcycled http://www.etsy.com/shop/pinkpoison74 |
Modern - Modern is a sort of generic term for anything that's made now and is the typical example of it's time. IKEA furniture, Crate and Barrel...The thing about the modern attribute tag here is that it will put a modern angle on anything else you choose. Use modern with tribal if you make runway style, use modern with traditional if you've taken an antique dresser and painted it pink, use modern with Romantic if you've made a necklace that's a tea cup shape cut from white perspex, etc.
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| Poppies in the Sky Modern Art Painting By Todd Young http://www.etsy.com/shop/ToddYoungArt |
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| Adorable Silver Plated Brooch Pin http://www.etsy.com/shop/sweetheartsinner |
Neo-classical- a bit tough to pin down, this is a sort of historical modernism. Usually Italian style of the 17th and 18th centuries with a fresh, modern twist. It's marble columns, Georgian features, pale colours and elegant forms. Think the great cotton mansions of the South, Italian Renaissance details, 80s country club decor.
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| Button Art - Neo-Classic http://www.etsy.com/shop/SusiePratt |
Preppy- think upper class, All-American, 1950s society athletics. It's country club golf lunch, private schools, tennis, yachting, croquet and equestrian pursuits. Think well-fitting clothes, clean lines, blazers, loafers, slick hair. Pattern is limited but is usually Argyle, checks and plaid.
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| MalcolmForTots http://www.etsy.com/shop/MalcolmForTots?ref=seller_info |
Primitive - from a style point of view, this is usually American primitive (also called 'prim'). Colonial furniture, muddy colours, rusty metals and faded prints. Harvest themes and simple solid farmhouse aesthetics. Other attributes that will go with this include Rustic, Country and Tribal (for when you mean primitive man).
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| Birdhouse Folk Art Rustic Country Primitive Saltbox Home Decor Garden Folk Art http://www.etsy.com/people/birdhouseaccents |
Resort - glamorous super models lounging by the pool. Kaftans, giant sunglasses, cocktails, swimwear (especially skimpy or classically tailored) and anything floaty and simple. There's a good dose of tropical in resort style.
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| Shoreline Beach Cafe http://www.etsy.com/people/sharonschock?ref=ls_profile |
Retro- I like to think of retro as 'kitsch vintage'. Retro is the period from the 60s to the 70s where things got a little out of control- think bold wallpaper, loud shirts, big patterns, wide flares and luminous colours. Disco meets Pop.
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| Rustic Retro Turquoise Bottle Cap Opener Wall Mount http://www.etsy.com/people/SweetButtonsAndBeaus?ref=pr_profile |
Rocker- this is sort of punk without the overkill. Rocker style is all about adding glam to a motorbike gang. Black leather, studded belts, cowboy boots, lightening bolts, skulls, electric guitars, stars and big hair. Colours are usually red, yellow, pink or lime green with a good dose of black. Think Aerosmith, 80s hair bands, Alice Cooper.
Rustic - texture! Anything that's rough, simply made and a little bit country. Raw wood, rusted metal, neutral colours. It's country pared right back and primitive without the colour.
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| Handmade Leather Journal, Notebook http://www.etsy.com/shop/WeeBindery?ref=seller_info |
Sci-Fi - Think star wars, star trek, Buck Rogers... lots of white, silver, clear, plastics and chrome. Colour is rare but it's usually fire engine red and royal blue in luminous 'what does this button do?' tones.
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| Robot Droid sci fi geek party favors chocolate lollipops http://www.etsy.com/shop/SugarBellysBoutique?ref=seller_info |
Shabby Chic - I think we all know what this looks like. I will delicately mention that Shabby Chic is a copyrighted term by Rachel Ashwell, and many people simply call it 'shabby cottage' instead (I would suggest Etsy changes this as soon as they can). It's white one white, lots of lace, faded natural tones, pink, roses, chandeliers, zinc buckets... you get the picture. Other attributes that will go with this include traditional, Boho, Victorian and Edwardian.
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| Recipe Box Wood Wooden Shabby Chic Owls http://www.etsy.com/shop/kotibeth?ref=seller_info |
Southwestern- I only just learned this one the other day, back in the olden days they used to call this 'tex mex' or Santa Fe. It's part cowboy, part Indian. Desert colours, Native patterns, natural materials.
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| Sun Valley, Idaho, Skull 10 x 7 Fine Art Photo http://www.etsy.com/shop/DigitalDivas?ref=seller_info |
Spooky - I would guess this is what I call Halloween gothic. Ghosts, spiders, haunted houses, graveyards etc. It's the more cutsey side of gothic, usually with bright colours and lots of black.
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| Crochet Pattern Spooky Spider Hat http://www.etsy.com/shop/crochetjolie?ref=seller_info |
Steampunk - Despite it's now ubiquitous place in modern lifestyle, a lot of people don't seem to know what steampunk is. Essentially it's anything of a mechanical nature given an overly Victorian appearance. It has a very flexible boundary, but for 'pure' steampunk it's earth and jewel tones, opulent design, Victorian lines and usually either clockwork, boiler rivets, old keys or some kind of industrial flair.
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| Handmade Mini Top Hat http://www.etsy.com/shop/YoHatterHatter?ref=seller_info |
Techie - Bit unsure on this, I would assume they mean computer hackers and science geeks. We used to have a Geekery section on Etsy, so I would think anything in there goes in this. The goth, sci-fi and modern attributes would also fit well with this.
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| Soap - Teal P. aeruginosa in a Petri Dish (Grape) http://www.etsy.com/shop/CleanerScience?ref=seller_info |
Traditional- Typically considered to be Georgian/Victorian, traditional is often a colonial look with handsome furniture, antique details and elegant patterns. Anything antique and grand usually fits the style perfectly. Relaxed dark colours and comfortable furniture, stately homes, gentleman's clubs and respectable hotels.
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| Blooming Oleander Dress - MADE TO ORDER http://www.etsy.com/shop/alexandragrecco?ref=seller_info |
Tribal - much like African, tribal has a primitive barbarian feel to it. Bone beads, earth tones, geometric shapes like arrows and triangles, native style, simple construction, rough cast metal and natural materials.
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| Medium Copper Disk Earrings http://www.etsy.com/shop/jenkahn?ref=seller_info |
Victorian - pretty straight forward- anything that's Victorian in style. You don't have to be accurate (that's what the historical tag is for!) but anything modelled to the last half of the 19th century is 'pure' Victorian, with the high peak being 1860s- 1880s. Though the Victorians were mad for colour, Victorian style now days is usually the ornate, lace-and-beaded black-on-black that was popular in the 1880s and 1890s, with high button boots, lace cuffs and cameo jewelry.
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| Victorian Cameo Clip Earrings http://www.etsy.com/shop/chapelgateroad?ref=seller_info |
Waldorf- this one I had to look up, with mixed results! (I'm sure they don't mean 'looks like a salad'.) I assumed it was traditional meets Deco, typical of the famous hotel of the same name. If that is what Etsy's referring to, think 1930s New York, with refined elegance and classical lines. It's Annie's Daddy Warbucks- classic 20th century wall street style meets Art Deco glamour.
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| South African Giraffe Knitted Toy http://www.etsy.com/shop/mamma4earth?ref=seller_info |
Woodland - sort of folk meets fairy tale. Anything with forest creatures such as deer, rabbits, foxes, birds and bears as well as flora like acorns, walnuts, blackberries, ferns, ivy and birch. Woodland stuff is very sweet and old-fashioned, like a children's story. Think Hansel and Gretel, Bambi and Goldilocks.
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| Woodland Fern - Tealight Candle Holder http://www.etsy.com/shop/TwigsandBlossoms?ref=seller_info |
Zen- this is the Japanese side of Oriental. Clean lines, modern shapes and simple construction, Zen is clam, neutral in tone and almost minimalist in design
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| porcelain tea Bowls - zen drinking cups http://www.etsy.com/shop/zalt57?ref=seller_info |
So there you go! I hope this helps everyone. If you're still unsure which attributes suit your items, do pop it in a comment here and I'll see if I can help. And maybe Admin will pop in and help with other related questions too!
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Penny wrote:
Amendment! I've just learned via convo that...
"Waldorf" comes from the educational scene - Rudolf Steiner is the founder. It describes toys, which are simple made.'
I remember seeing these dolls when I googled it. So there you go! Anyone who makes toys which are simply made and designed using natural materials, this is for you!
Amendment! I've just learned via convo that...
"Waldorf" comes from the educational scene - Rudolf Steiner is the founder. It describes toys, which are simple made.'
I remember seeing these dolls when I googled it. So there you go! Anyone who makes toys which are simply made and designed using natural materials, this is for you!
A big thank you to Penny.
Be the first to win a 20% coupon from my etsy shop.
The first person to state, "I want the coupon," in the comments, to this article will be able to use it to purchase from my shop.
If you see in the comments that you are first. Just go to my etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/zalt57, and convo me.
I will post it back to you.
Be the first.
The first person to state, "I want the coupon," in the comments, to this article will be able to use it to purchase from my shop.
If you see in the comments that you are first. Just go to my etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/zalt57, and convo me.
I will post it back to you.
Be the first.
What a really well thought out and put together list.I haven't visited etsy for several months (as I haven't got over losing the forums as they were) but if I do go back, this is going to be a very useful reference point.
ReplyDeletehttp://blueshedcrafts.etsy.com
http://blueshedcrafts.artfire.com
Good blog share!
ReplyDeleteI was happy to hear that etsy was moving towards a more relevance based search. Good for buyers I think.
Looking forward to seeing the images you post later.
:-)
Kristy
ShinyAdornments Handmade Jewelry
This was an interesting project. I have posted the final photo to support the documentary.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting.
I may replace photos every once in a while.
Etsy is a fantastic place for find very special and unique things.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this article.
great post, very helpful and thanks for including my store greatly appreciated! :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful collection! I am honored to have my handmade journal included with these talented artists! Thank you! :D
ReplyDelete