Mallory Valvano, fondly known as the Party Girl Bake Club, is tirelessly bringing waves of vibrant creativity to the kitchen. She is a master at bringing cakes to life with colorful buttercream and eye-catching themes marked by artistic aplomb, resulting in desserts that are a genuine standout amid the fondant crowd. Adorned liberally with balsamic reduction, blueberry curd, cinnamon toast caramel, and black sesame cookies, her pastries, daubed with shimmering glitter and grape jelly frosting, take sugar art to new heights.

The once awe-inspiring and dauntingly symmetrical treats filling our Instagram feeds have proliferated an industry. However, traces of fatigue loom due to the constant drive for perfection created by these flawless confections. Times indeed have changed. Now, as one scrolls, it is not unusual to see a hearty slathering of buttercream, glitter, uneven chunks of fruit, or playful sayings glittering on the dessert. These cakes exhibit authenticity over perfection and are made for pure enjoyment.

Self-taught baker Blair Gutierrez is also propagating this new wave of individuality in her bakery, Velvet Valley Cakes. Drawing from her experience in a Korean bakery and a love of Victorian-style aesthetics, her custom creations are rich visuals of neon frosting and jewel adornments. She firmly believes in quality, making homemade jams and fresh fruit toppings. The resurgent popularity of the old-school aesthetic is hard to miss.

Like Gutierrez, Mallory Valvano’s dessert designs have a distinct edge. Think of them as retro meeting Instagram under one name: Party Girl Bake Club. Cakes covered in fruity pebble sprinkles, confections with barbed wire icing, and even candies designed to look like ashtrays - yet, there’s an enduring artistic lineage hidden in these pastry creations. They embody the Lambeth method, a Victorian-era cake decorating style that is currently enjoying a much-deserved revival.

The style, inspired by Joseph Lambeth (who wrote a book on it in the 1930s), is about piping thick, sweeping swirls of icing on the cake-like waves atop a sea of sweetness. In the mid-20th-century, home baking companies joined the scene, causing a resurgence in popularity of this style. Thanks to tools and televised tips, anyone could mirror royal frosting techniques at home, creating pieces capable of being the talk of the party.

These creators are having fun, and they want us to join in. Valvano said no formal training is needed. In fact, she relishes how her unorthodox approach lets her experiment with flavors. "I love the blend of white cheddar and blueberry”, she quips.

These modern Lambeth-style cakes are inviting, unfussy, and unpredictable. Just like the current fashion and interior design trends, the days of sleek, seemingly flawless aesthetics are evolving into a meaningful celebration of authenticity and individuality. Fashion influencers now embrace comfort, houses exhibit characterful clutter, and ornate cakes replace streamlined symmetry. All of these shifts allude to a greater appreciation of reality over unrealistic perfection.

Baking trends are indicative of the current zeitgeist. Today's consumers are seeking truth and authenticity, with messy sheet cakes inexplicably made in household kitchens gaining more plaudits than ever. Gutierrez, however, argues that this trend isn't ephemeral. Instead, she views it as "retro," a callback to vintage baking practices that will never fade.

Valvano echoes a similar sentiment. She believes in delivering pure joy and nostalgia through her creations. In her own words, "The most important thing about baking is having fun and trying it all. You can truly have it all."