What is ‘whimsymaxxing’, the internet’s latest fad?

Many Gen Zers from Chennai comment that when ‘whimsymaxxing’ becomes a trend, it is basically just consumerism repackaged and sold in the name of whimsy | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement If you have been chronically online this month, you may have come across the rhinestones and stick-on crystals that have been making their way onto people’s headphones, laptops, chargers, and so on. But this ‘bedazzling’ has gone up a level now, with people sticking crystals all over their faces and bodies, and even decorating their disposable takeaway coffee mugs, face masks, and sunscreen tubes. An act of whimsy, the followers of the trend say.This word, ‘whimsy’, is an idea aimed at protecting and bringing out one’s inner child in a world where everyday life can feel too serious or mundane. When one maximises that part of their life, it becomes ‘whimsymaxxing’. But many Gen Zers from Chennai comment that when it becomes a trend, it is basically just consumerism repackaged and sold in the name of whimsy.What ‘whimsy’ means to peopleUma Shankari, a science teacher in her 20s, says whimsy is just about finding magic in the mundane and holding on to one’s childlike sense of wonder. “It is the silver living that goes beyond what society tells us we should value. It could be something as simple as imagining pavement stones as hopscotch boxes,” says Shankari. She adds that since people live in a weary world, they need levity in some manner to help feel not-so-bogged-down.“I think what people truly consider whimsy and what capitalism and influencers sell to us as whimsy are two separate things. It was never meant to be something that adds a whole new column to people’s budget trackers; it is supposed to bring joy, not financial stress,” she says, commenting that people are now buying expensive mushroom-shaped lamps only to fit the aesthetic of appearing whimsical.Whimsymaxxing as a lifestyleIn other words, the trend does not stop with bedazzling – which may well disappear as quickly as it arrived. ‘Whimsymaxxing’ appears more like a lifestyle now. For Anya, a 25-year-old writer, being whimsical is almost part of her identity; she proclaims she has added rhinestone stickers to her pink headphones. “I love bedazzled personal items but the amount of stickers people bedazzle anything and everything with is not whimsical at all,” she adds, commenting how it was all going to end up contributing to the landfill.“I don’t want to create serious art; I want it to be fun, to spark something and raise questions. The element of play in my life is what being whimsical is to me. The best way I can explain it is by calling myself an elf. But capitalism digs its rusty claws into everything,” she says, adding that she detests any word that ends with “maxxing”. “That is when I know we are cooked and are going to go broke. I don’t see the need for buying $2,000 lily shoes just to prove that I’m ‘whimsy’. I sew random buttons onto my T-shirts and paint red stars on my denim to cover up a curry stain. This, to me, feels whimsy,” she adds.Beyond the trendMeanwhile, a 26-year-old freelance illustrator from the city, Diya, says whimsy to her feels like “performing witchcraft” with the things she has at home. “I place a coin under my pillow and forget about it and then when I stumble across it while cleaning, I’m like, ‘Oh wow, look at that, I’m rich.’” She says most of the whimsy she subscribes to is more habitual than anything else; it is not about investing in the aesthetics of it. “I make butterfly pea flower tea and experiment with herbs that are already in my house,” she adds.Dakshini, another Gen Z-er from Chennai, who prepares for competitive exams, says being whimsical is what keeps her going. “Preparing for competitive exams can be tedious, so I just light a scented candle, play ‘study with me’ YouTube videos while reading, or put on some soft lo-fi music. That makes even studying feel fun,” says Dakshini.Almost all of them reiterate that whimsymaxxing as a trend may die down soon and be replaced by another, but whimsy, when it is habitual, is a state of mind that is not about overconsumption. “At the end of the day, whimsy is not supposed to be outside of your means,” adds Shankari. Published - September 17, 2026 05:34 pm IST