We independently assess all our recommendations. Purchases through our links may earn us a commission.
In this article:
- The soft girl aesthetic is a recent off shoot of the hyperfeminine aesthetics that began to gain traction around 2019 to 2020.
- This new style mixes the Y2K, cottagecore, and 2014 Tumblr girl trends.
- Like the aesthetics that came before it, it can be broken down into elements to help you emulate the style with the cutest soft girl aesthetic clothing and accessory items we’ve picked out for you.
If you’re over the age of 20, you’ve likely seen the soft girl aesthetic before.
It’s no secret that fashion trends are cyclical, returning every few years or so under a new name or a slightly different cut of jeans. But with the internet and social media comes a diverse range of styles and substyles as well as faster trend cycles.that bring back styles faster than self-proclaimed fashionistas can write about them.
Y2K? 80s? 90s? They’ve all returned and now co-exist in 2022 so it’s unsurprising that we’re seeing a mid-2010s style coming back in the form of the soft girl aesthetic.
What’s A Soft Girl and What Does She Embody?
Unlike bigger aesthetics from the late 2010s, the soft girl aesthetic is harder to pin down. It’s no Dark Academia aesthetic, a style that thrived on Tumblr and left thousands of text posts and Pinterest boards in its wake.
What’s clear about the soft girl aesthetic is that it came out of TikTok, likely as an offshoot of other hyperfeminine aesthetics such as Angelcore and Cottagecore. What’s different this time is that the soft girl aesthetic is drawing inspiration from the Tumblr styles of the mid-2010s. Think Ariana Grande’s Cat Valentine but also Electra Heart-era Marina and the Diamonds.
The soft girl is a lot like Angelcore in that she wears a lot of pastels and accessories with innocent themes. Think candy bracelets, ita-bags, and Y2K makeup with the glossiest lips ever.
The soft girl is unabashedly feminine, a sharp 180 from earlier grungy and masculine styles that use harder visuals to convey strength. She wears her girliness with pride and has Blair Waldorf for a heart. At the core, she’s another aesthetic that celebrates modern femininity.
Related
Angelcore: The Internet's New Femme (And Feminist) Aesthetic
What Makes An E-Girl? A Guide to the E-Girl Aesthetic and Life
Elements of the Soft Girl Aesthetic
The soft girl aesthetic has a lot of overlap with other feminine styles, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t any formula to getting the look. A quick search of the soft girl aesthetic shows you that it’s all about pastels, plaids, and soft pink blush. Honestly, if you’re a girly girl and you still have your clothes from 2014-2017, you’re already set.
1. Pastel Colors
The soft girl’s wardrobe is dominated by pastel pink and, to a lesser extent, other pastel colors. Soft’s in the name so it makes sense that the color palettes for this style lean towards soft and light shades. Darker colors can be used sparingly for patterned clothes, but generally, you don’t see a lot of blacks and browns in this style.
Jewel tones can also be used to make an outfit stand out more, but it’s never so blindingly colorful that it could pass for the 80’s aesthetic.
2. Feminine Clothing Items
Unlike the more relaxed silhouettes of Cottagecore and the reserved cuts of Angelcore, the soft girl wears the short skirts and crop tops popular at the time of its creation. Don’t worry, unlike the two mentioned styles, you can wear as many pants as you’d like with this one, but expect to wear fewer tees and more co*cktail dresses.
Still got tennis skirts and a-line plaid skirts? It’s time to check if they still fit.
3. Kawaii Items and Accessories
But not too kawaii or you’ll look a little too pastel goth/e-girl. Floral themes and cute animal-inspired accessories are okay. A bag that looks like a rabbit? Yes, please! An ita-bag with a lot of anime merch may be a little too far outside the soft girl aesthetic. But hey, you do you.
Clothing Items for Your New Soft Girl Wardrobe
If you weren’t around for the last time this style trended or you’ve thrown out your clothes from back then, it’s time to put together your wardrobe with these pieces that give you the right balance between a statement piece and actually usable clothes. For the students out there you’re in luck because none of these items are going to get you dress-coded.
This Ultra-Cute Mint and Pastel Pink Jacket
Get Neon Rose’s Oversized Shacket With Jewel Buttons in Pastel Colour Block
Isn’t it the cutest? A few years ago, pastel pink and mint green were all the rage and now it’s back again. This oversized shacket lets you go back and forth between Y2K, 90s, and soft girl depending on how you style it. Picture it tucked into a white tennis skirt and paired with yellow converses.
These Cotton Candy Sweet Trainers
Get Puma’s Cali Dream Chunky Trainers in Pastel
It’s time to get some new kicks if you really want to commit to this style. These Puma Cali Dream trainers are just as style flexible as the jacket. It’s mostly white but has pastel-colored accents that draw the eye, making it a great functional accessory for the fashionista who hates wearing accessories.
A Softgirl Dress for the Girls Who Aren’t Over Cottagecore Just Yet
Get the Asos Design Shirred Maxi Sundress With Tiers in Lilac and Lemon
Still not over Cottagecore? Cling to that pandemic microtrend with this pastel lilac and lemon dress that can be styled with the Y2K knit blazers that are so popular with the soft girl aesthetic. Besides, Cottagecore will make a comeback anyway. Just give it a few more months.
A Kawaii Candy-Themed Necklace
Get the Daisy Street Exclusive Necklace With Gummy Bears in Pastel
This adorable necklace not only fits the soft girl and Y2K aesthetic, but is also the perfect accessory to invest in for when you make you pivot to decora. It’s already gaining traction on TikTok so chances are, the style will go mainstream in a more subdued form in the coming months.
An Oversized Hoodie From Cat Valentine’s Closet
Get the Asos Design Oversized Hoodie in Pastel Purple
The soft girl aesthetic primarily draws from Tumblr girl staples around the mid-2010s. Aside from the tennis skirts and converses, you’re going to need an oversized pastel hoodie like this lilac one from Asos Design that wouldn’t look out of place on Victorious.
Your support fuels our mission to provide bold entertainment content that sparks meaningful conversations. With your help, we can keep A Little Bit Human a thriving, independent platform.
Become a Supporter
