DIY Soft Girl Fashion: Easy Ways to Transform Your Style
Soft girl fashion, also known as soft girl aesthetics, is a popular fashion trend among young people on social media. This fashion style is all about a deliberately cutesy, feminine look, featuring pastel colors such as pink and yellow, floral and heart patterns, oversized sweaters, and plaid skirts, along with heavy blush makeup.
The origins of the soft girl aesthetic are unclear, while some believe that it originated from Nigerian social media influencers, others believe that it has been heavily influenced by the Asian entertainment industry. Whatever its origins, one thing is for sure, Soft Girl aesthetics has gained momentum through social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, where users share their soft girl outfits and makeup looks.
Soft Girl Aesthetics: Embracing Femininity and Self-Expression
For those who identify as Romantics, the soft girl aesthetic can be an excellent way to embrace femininity without being seen as childish. It’s a style that celebrates the freedom to dress how you want, without judgment.
The soft girl aesthetic represents a deliberate embrace of femininity and playfulness. It is characterized by a cute and youthful look, featuring pastel colors, floral patterns, oversized clothing, and cute accessories such as hair scrunchies and headbands. The heavy blush makeup also plays a significant role in achieving the soft girl look.
The soft girl aesthetic is a reaction to the dominant cultural norms that often prioritize traditional masculine attributes such as strength and aggression, and undervalue or punish feminine qualities. By embracing the soft girl aesthetic, young women are asserting their right to express their femininity in their own way, and to reject traditional gender norms that may not align with their own sense of identity.
Soft girl aesthetic is closely linked to the idea of self-care and self-expression. By embracing a playful and cute aesthetic, young women are creating a space for themselves to explore their own sense of style and identity, and to express themselves in a way that makes them feel confident and empowered. Ultimately, the soft girl aesthetic is about celebrating individuality and embracing the freedom to express oneself authentically.
There’s more. According to Evie Muir of the BBC, the concept of a Soft Life originated in the Nigerian influencer community before it became popular through social media. Contrary to the flamboyant expressions of materialism or wealth, typically associated with a life of leisure, a soft life had a different meaning in the Nigerian context, especially considering the ongoing cost of living crisis. Soft life isn’t about flamboyant living and luxury, rather it requires us to “don our most comfortable outfit and consider what a day-to-day life of ease would look like for ourselves”.
How to Embrace Soft Girl in Your Style
With some DIY tips and tricks, you can easily transform your wardrobe and embrace the soft girl fashion trend without breaking the bank. There are lots of ways to achieve the soft girl look including adding pastel colors to your outfits and incorporating soft fabrics.
Let’s dive into some simple and easy DIY ideas to get you started.
Soft Colors and Floral Prints
Soft girl fashion is all about pastel colors, floral and heart patterns. To achieve the soft girl look, it’s important to incorporate soft colors such as pink, lavender, and light yellow into your wardrobe. You can start by adding a few pieces of clothing in these colors, such as a light pink blouse or a lavender sweater. For a more statement-making look, try wearing a floral dress with a soft, romantic print.
I personally love wearing a pink floral dress with a white cardigan, and pairing it with some cute white sneakers.
Oversized Sweaters and Plaid Skirts
Oversized sweaters and plaid skirts are also a staple of the soft girl fashion trend. You can easily achieve this look by pairing an oversized sweater with a plaid skirt. Make sure the sweater is soft and cozy, with a loose, relaxed fit.
For the skirt, choose a plaid pattern in soft colors such as pink or lavender. I love wearing an oversized sweater with a pink plaid skirt and knee-high socks. It’s a comfortable yet chic look that’s perfect for colder weather.
Accessorize with Hair Scrunchies and Headbands
Hair accessories are an essential part of the soft girl fashion trend. You can add some cute and playful elements to your outfit by accessorizing with hair scrunchies and headbands. Scrunchies in soft pastel colors such as pink or yellow are a great choice. Headbands with cute floral prints or knotted details are also a popular choice. I love wearing a white headband with a bow detail, paired with a pink floral dress.
Embrace Heavy Blush Makeup
Heavy blush makeup is a key element of the soft girl trend. To achieve the soft girl makeup look, apply a heavy amount of blush to the apples of your cheeks. The goal is to create a cute, youthful look that’s both playful and feminine. I like to use a pink blush with a subtle shimmer to achieve a dewy and fresh look.
Soft girl aesthetics should not be confused with e-girl or anime aesthetics
While there may be some overlap in the visual elements of these aesthetics, they each have their own distinct characteristics.
Soft girl aesthetics typically feature pastel colors, floral patterns, and cute accessories such as hair clips and bows. The overall look is feminine and delicate, with a focus on innocence and youthfulness.
E-girl aesthetics, on the other hand, tend to be darker and edgier, with a focus on alternative fashion and makeup. This can include elements like bold makeup, dark clothing, and neon colors. E-girls are often associated with gaming and internet culture.
Anime aesthetics draw inspiration from Japanese animation and often feature exaggerated or stylized versions of reality. This can include bright colors, bold patterns, and fantastical elements like animal ears or wings.
While there may be some overlap between these aesthetics, it is important to recognize and appreciate their unique qualities and the communities that they represent.
