What do certain fruits signify?

Fruit is more than just a nutritional food for consumption- it’s a status that society and culture assigns value to. While immersing myself in the world of fashion, I noticed how different fruit motifs elicit certain feelings and create references beyond their identity as a fruit or an item of clothing. In this article, I’m going to break down what I think certain fruits signify when they are printed on clothes and accessorized.

Apple-Studious

Apples and their connotations can fluctuate depending on whomever you ask. Apples are often interpreted in a biblical sense as forbidden fruit, tempting and successfully seducing Eve in the Garden of Eden. However, when it comes to Apple's fashion accessories, their meaning, at least to me, alters completely. Whereas the biblical apple might represent something more salacious, the apple as an accessory to me signifies an almost childlike idealization of the study aesthetic. 

There are several reasons for this association. The prime reason for apple’s associated with academia is an old tradition where students give teachers apples as gifts. This tradition doesn’t have clear origins, but it has been traced all the way back to the 16th century  where parents would give teachers apples of payment instead of money due to their inability to afford school financially. Another reason apples were the chosen gifts of students for their teachers was because apple’s symbolized good fortune and knowledge. Bing Crosby’s 1939 hit, “An Apple for a Teacher,” although a romantic song, successfully perpetuates the notion that an apple is a token of appreciation for the teacher. 

Despite the more explicit associations between apples and teachers, there are more general associations between apples and academia as well.  For one, apple harvest typically begins in early September, which aligns with the start of the school year for many people. Since the prime apple season is in the fall months (September-November), there is also a strong association of the fruit with the season. So, if you want to sport a nostalgic and timeless aesthetic of academia, perhaps a “cottagecore academia,” (“cottagecore” to  incorporate the rural, fall aesthetics of the apple) find yourself some apple printed clothes! 

Banana- playful

Banana print is perfect if you want to communicate in a playful style. The bright, yellow of a banana print is immediately evocative of a bright personality and the unseriousness of a banana (think of the classic comedic prank of slipping on a banana peel, using a banana phone, etc.). Bananas, although fun and playful, also have strong associations to the jungle. Monkey’s are often characterized as playful animals who love to eat bananas, strengthening the tie between the fruit and playfulness. Although all of these associations are largely positive, they can be misconstrued in a negative context. For instance, there is a  problematic and racial history of the banana and its exotication. The term “monkey” has been used as a racial slur to characterize Black people as uncivilized and exotic. As a consequence, bananas and their “exotic” associations  are often weaponized as racist signifiers for Black people. For instance, Josephine Baker dawned her infamous banana dress  as she danced for an audience of (mostly) white men. Although Baker herself had some agency in putting on the outfit, the amusement from the audience largely came from the subsequent characterization of Baker as some exotic, dancing “monkey” as she shook her hips in the banana skirt. Even outside of fashion, bananas are used as racist props to demean Black people. Therefore, it’s important to be conscious how you accessorize and contextualize the banana as a fashion statement, because there are larger implications for how the fruit may be perceived. Nonetheless, once you recognize the different symbolic nature of the banana, you can playfully adorn it in ways that have positive signifiers. 

Berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries) - Cottagecore

I decided to lump the category of berries together because they all signify similar connotations- soft, sweet rural fantasies that make you want to write poetry in a dandelion filled meadow. Therefore, berries and their connotations can best be represented through the cottagecore aesthetic. Cottagecore speaks to a dainty, pastoral aesthetic and lifestyle in which one is immersed in nature. There is something soft about cottagecore that berries can embody. Berries, whether they’re strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, etc. are often associated with femininity, due to their characterizations as  sweet, unassuming and fresh treats. However, berries within the fashion world are not (and should not) be limited to their traditional gender associations. The feeling of escapism is universal, and the particular sensation berries give is the desire to flee a world of hyper-commodification and processed goods (i.e. capitalism) for something more “natural.” The symbolism of berries resonates with social and political identities, such as “hippies” that vye for simplified lives. Since a lot of these movements such as the “hippie movement” and other escapist sentiments are often expressed by young people, there is also youthfulness to berries. 

Berries specifically can be viewed as uncomplicated fruits that don’t require much agricultural labor in the sense that many berries simply grow from bushes and figs out in the wild, easily foraged.  Therefore, their simplicity makes them approachable fashion motifs when styling a look. Although all fruits carry the association of “naturalness,” there is something about berries that specifically resonates with an organicness that quite literally, makes an outfit look fresh and clean. 

Lemons (& other citrus)- positivity and boldness

When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade- you can also make a fashion statement. Lemons are bright and bold fruits that have a positive association when adorned as an aesthetic statement. Some symbolic attributes of lemon are prosperity, optimism, and determination. Just as the taste of lemons are bold with their sourness, the look of them are bold too. Lemons are eye-catching, demanding to be looked at. The bright, highlighter yellow contributes to the fruits association to boldness, but it also elicits feelings of happiness. If you want to make a statement and embody sunshine in a fruit, consider indulging in some lemon print clothes and accessories. 

Lemon motifs are often combined with other citrus fruits that elicit similar feelings. Oranges elicit a summery warmth that brighten the outfit, while limes add some quirkiness to the aesthetic. The combination of citrus fruits brighten up an outfit and adds a lot of personality. These accessories are often sported in warmer months, such as spring and summer. 

Cherry- sweet or seductive. 

Cherries are one of the most popular fruit motifs in fashion in recent years. Specifically, Gen Z has curated specific aesthetics around cherries, creating a whole world of associations and meanings for the small, dark red fruit. One such association of cherries is sweetness, derived from the flavor of cherry’s. However, the dark red of the fruit also gives an air of seduction to the cherry. When you think of the fashion world, cherry is used to describe a specific color and style. For instance, you might have cherry lips or cherry nail polish and a cherry red dress. The dark red color itself elicits an association of romance, which contributes to the cherry’s characterization as a potentially sweet, seductive fruit. 

Additionally, the cherry has been adopted by trendsetters as a symbol of the dark feminine, adding to the mystique of the aesthetic. I myself own a cherry skirt, however I would describe it more as sweet than seductive. This demonstrates the versatility of the fruit and its signifiers. The two connotations of cherry (sweet and seductive)  might be contrasted  in two songs. Harry Styles song "Cherry"  is more of a pure innocent sweetness while Lana Del Rey’s "Cherry"  discusses a more hypnotic, seductive romance. Evidently the associations of cherry go beyond fashion and have created its own culture/aesthetic in pop culture. Depending on how you style the fruit, you can either embody sweetness, seductiveness, or both. 

Pomegranate - antiquity and sophistication (dark academia)

Pomegranates might not be the first fruit you think of when you envision common fruit prints on clothes. However, the presence of pomegranates are highly present in accessorizing, whether it be the fruit itself or pomegranate themed jewelry. Pomegranate seeds are often compared to red rubies, making them popular motifs as beads and jewels in accessories. Additionally, Pomegranates are largely associated with the dark academia aesthetic, likely due to the fruit's association with antiquity. For instance, Pomegranates play a significant role in Greek mythology as the goddess of spring, Persephone, eats pomegranate seeds, which ultimately ties her to the God of the Underworld, Hades. The Pomegranate is significant in other religions too, such as Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and Persian mythology.    

The fruit is also a popular art subject as it’s featured in many still lifes and was a common motif in Christian art during the renaissance period. Common symbolizations of the pomegranate include fertility, resurrections, prosperity, and even death. The ancient symbolisms of this fruit give the pomegranate an air of sophistication and class. The beauty of the fruit, along with its meaning, makes the fruit an evocative aesthetic that can add intrigue to a look. 

Conclusion

As I mentioned before, fruits and how we choose to style them, represent something larger than its physical and nutritional value. I hope through my exploration of specific fruits and their aesthetics, I have given insight to how much meaning a fruit can have. Thank you so much for reading and be sure to check out my other articles!

*Sources for images can all be found here: https://pin.it/4WTjehg

*sources for information are embedded links within the underlined text