Bella Hadid And The “Weird Girl Aesthetic”

    Date:


    Bella Hadid. Photography courtesy of Getty Images

    This whimsical trend will make you rethink the boundaries of personal style.

    By Natalie Michie

    Date May 11, 2022

    In theory, clothing can never be ugly. I mean, at its core, styling is all about self-expression. So what makes us think that some things are fashionable and others are not? That’s the question surrounding the new “weird girl aesthetic.”

    Earlier this week, a tweet that shared photos of different women in eclectic outfits featuring mismatched patterns, child-like colour combinations and fuzzy accessories went viral. “Is it anti-fashion? Are people trying too hard just to look ugly? Does it only work on Bella Hadid?” it read. (The answer to each of these questions is “no,” and I’ll explain why.)

    Bella Hadid’s street style has become an object of fashion fascination. Her coffee-run outfits, often comprising re-worn pieces, lots of layers and cutesy hair accessories, are put together without the help of a stylist. In fact, unlike most A-list celebs, Hadid hasn’t had a full-time stylist in two years.

    “When I leave the house in the morning, what I think about is: Does this make me happy? Do I feel good in this and do I feel comfortable?” she told the Wall Street Journal in a recent interview. And that’s the ethos behind the “weird girl aesthetic.”

    Colourful patterns, mixed textiles and playful accessories like chunky rings and fuzzy bags are thrown together haphazardly to create a statement-making #OOTD that is delightfully random. And while mismatched socks and cartoon heart motifs might be weird to one person, they’re the epitome of fashion to another. That’s the beauty of it.

    This type of kitschy, inventive dressing is nothing new. It can be traced back to the late ’90s and early 2000s street style of Japan’s Harajuku district. In the early 1980s, Harajuku became a shopping hub where experimentally dressed teens and street performers would gather in unique and expressive outfits.

    Popularized by the photographs in Fruits Magazine, Harajuku fashion was a youth-led rejection of societal norms. And thanks to the variety of subcultures within the rebellious fashion movement, there was room for endless creativity and diversity.

    The West has long taken inspiration from this Japanese style. In 2004, Gwen Stefani named her first solo concert tour “Harajuku Lovers,” and Nicki Minaj’s famous alter ego “Harajuku Barbie” channels its imaginative attitudes. Influencers like Sara Camposarcone, Clara Perlmutter and Rowan Blanchard sport maximalist wardrobes reminiscent of the movement. Contemporary clothing brands, too, employ this playful weirdness in their designs, like Heaven by Marc Jacobs and smaller labels Minga London, Tunnel Vision and Unif.

    The colourful kitschiness of expressive dressing is taking over the fashion world. And the original tweet’s suggestion that this aesthetic “only” works on someone who looks like Bella Hadid forgets the communities that first popularized it. Fashion can be fun for everyone — that’s the lasting message of Harajuku.

    More-is-more style aesthetics are a welcome rejection of the powerlessness and restriction we’ve all felt during the pandemic. With much of our lives migrating online and WFH becoming the new norm, we’re going through yet another style revolution. As such, the lines of what constitutes “good” or “bad” fashion have been blurred — leaving us to wonder whether we need those labels at all.

    The “weird girl aesthetic” disrupts the repetitive dressing born from the explosion of micro-trends (like the Miu Miu micro-mini skirt featured on many an influencer’s Instagram feed). It encourages wearers to hunt for unique, special pieces that can be re-worn as part of a capsule wardrobe. And by promoting unique personal style, it’s the antithesis of fast fashion and overconsumption.

    Cute to some, ugly to others, this new wave of dressing leaves room for interpretation and encourages total style freedom. It’s not anti-fashion. It’s ultra-fashion.

    Read The Full Article Here

    Popular Posts

    More like this
    Related

    j-hope of BTS Drops ON THE STREET VOL. 1: STREAM

    j-hope of BTS has released a six-track special...

    Official US Trailer for Jérémie Périn’s ‘Mars Express’ Animated Sci-Fi

    Official US Trailer for Jérémie Périn's 'Mars Express'...

    Om Bheem Bush Teaser | Sree Vishnu | Rahul Ramakrishna | Priyadarshi | Harsha Konuganti

    Om Bheem Bush Teaser on UV Creations. #OmBheemBush -...

    STEPHANIE GOTO ARCHITECTURE IS SEEKING A STUDIO MANAGER | ASSISTANT IN NEW YORK, NY

    Since its inception in 2004, the international and...
    Christine Quinn Has ‘Felt Unsafe for a While’ With Husband Christian
    Kenan Thompson Says to ‘Investigate More’ After ‘Quiet on Set’ Doc – Hollywood Life
    Diddy’s Former Backup Dancer Says She Avoided Him ‘At All Costs’
    Kristen Stewart and Fiancee Dylan Meyer Froze Their Eggs – Hollywood Life
    Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Movie Review
    Imaginary Movie Review
    Who Should Win the Oscar in Each Category
    Dune: Part Two Movie Review
    ‘Survivor’ Winner Cast In Season Two Of ‘House Of Villains’
    As Stephen Colbert Apologizes For Kate Middleton Jokes, Has The Era of Late Night Edginess Come to an End?
    Sarah Hyland Confirms Love Island Exit Upset How News Revealed
    The Jinx, Which Transformed the True Crime Landscape, Returns with More Robert Durst
    j-hope of BTS Drops ON THE STREET VOL. 1: STREAM
    How to Get Tickets to TOMORROW X TOGETHER’s 2024 Tour
    Consequence Crossword: “Enter the Matrix”
    Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show Review: A Brutally Honest Doc
    STEPHANIE GOTO ARCHITECTURE IS SEEKING A STUDIO MANAGER | ASSISTANT IN NEW YORK, NY
    Kering & London college of fashion partner for new programme
    Must Read: 'The Hollywood Reporter' Unveils 2024 Most Powerful Stylists, Marine Serre Is Pitti Immagine Uomo's Next Guest Designer
    Kalki showcases Inara collection at Lakme Fashion Week in India
    Easter Bloody Easter: Striving to Become Your Easter Horror Tradition
    Michael S. Rodriguez’s horror film DAISY coming this summer
    This Italian Horror Will Make You Want to Call Your Mom (Seriously)
    HalloweenCostumes.com Official Sponsor of FEAR VILLAGE Haunted Attraction
    Official US Trailer for Jérémie Périn’s ‘Mars Express’ Animated Sci-Fi
    Om Bheem Bush Teaser | Sree Vishnu | Rahul Ramakrishna | Priyadarshi | Harsha Konuganti
    ‘Darkness of Man’ Trailer | Moviefone
    Maharshi Full Movie in Hindi Dubbed Release Date || Maharshi Full Movie Hindi Dubbed 2020
    Taylor Swift – Love Story
    Rihanna – We Found Love ft. Calvin Harris
    Lauren Daigle – Hold On To Me (Official Music Video)
    for KING + COUNTRY – For God Is With Us (Official Music Video)