The Totally Spies Decor Aesthetic Was Way Ahead of Its Time
When it came to the interiors, Velvey felt that the aesthetic’s celebration of maximalism and eccentricity echoed these sentiments of self-expression—every room had a special “personal touch” to it and every detail—from the vintage IKEA-esque moon and star wall decor, to the enormous, over-the-top Austin Powers style floor to ceiling lava lamps—made the space feel not just playful but distinctive and lived in.
In the early days of creating the show’s aesthetic, Totally Spies art director Stephane Berry envisioned dreamy, Space Age pop fantasies— Barbarella, Space Crash, Star Trek, and Charlie’s Angels were among some of the more detectable visuals on their initial mood board. But as a born and bred Parisian, Stephane shares that he also found himself inspired by the “ultracool” aesthetic of French thrillers and comedies of the ’70s like Oscar, The Magnifique, and Body of My Enemy. What resulted was a blend of ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s design, which was then modernized for younger audiences with the vibrant, hot pinks and lime greens popular in teen style at the time.
As far as why now, nearly 20 years later, audiences of all ages continue to resonate with the aesthetic of Totally Spies, Stephane suspects it’s largely due to the wide range of styles referenced. “It’s fun and very rewarding at the same time [that people connect with the interiors],” he says. “I think it’s because the ‘Totally Spies’ interior designs subconsciously embody decades of creative revolutions and freedom of tone.”
The last episode of Totally Spies aired in June of 2013, leaving behind six seasons worth of episodes to circulate interior design Pinterest boards and live rent free in my brain, informing all of my Esty home purchases, until my dying day. But I have good news to part with—Stephane and his team are currently working on a brand new season of Totally Spies, which will air sometime in 2023, and will be sure to bring all of our Y2K fantasies back to our screens.
