Soft Girl Era – Meaning, Origin & Usage
In recent times, the phrase “soft girl era” has been increasingly bandied about on memes on social media apps. If you were ever unclear on what is meant by that, worry not, because this article is going to explain it all.
We will kick things off with the basics, by explaining what is meant by the phrase, before going into the origins of the soft girl trend. We will then go into the characteristics of the soft girl aesthetic, complete with a few soft girl fashion and beauty tips. We will also discuss popular soft girl icons and influencers and their cultural impact, before explaining how to embrace the soft girl lifestyle, and how the “soft girl era” differs from other trends.
And without further ado let’s get straight to it!
What does ‘soft girl era’ mean?
The “soft girl era” is the name of a lifestyle and fashion trend that involves prioritizing self-care, peace, and kindness. It can also be interpreted as a rejection of the “girlboss” culture, which is the tendency to work long hours and to prioritise work over self-care.
Primarily, the soft girl era lifestyle trend is about choosing to surround oneself with kindness and support, and making the effort to live in peace and happiness. This “vibe” is accompanied with the “soft girl” aesthetic, which is based on a deliberately cutesy and feminine look. Overall, the soft girl aesthetic is basically a message that it’s okay to be feminine and vulnerable, while still being strong and confident. It celebrates youthful innocence.
While the “soft girl” aesthetic is based on a particularly girly look, the term “soft girl” can also be used to describe someone’s temperament, or involve a tender, sweet, and sensitive personality. It can also refer to living a lifestyle of ease, comfort, balance, and peace.
Origins of the soft girl trend
The concept of a “soft life” originated in the Nigerian influencer community in 2018, in a context where Nigeria was experiencing its own cost of living crisis. These influencers promoted the idea of forgetting about flamboyant materialism and instead to don comfortable outfits and to be gentle with yourself.
As the SoftLife trend took off on a variety of different social media platforms, such as Instagram and TikTok, the lines between fashion and beauty blurred with lifestyle, culture and identity. The trend involved rejecting the bold “boss girl” aesthetic and needless expenditure on luxury in favour of slow, intentional, purposeful living, as well as simply taking time to rest and recuperate.
There were more than 400 million TikTok videos brandishing the Soft Life hashtag, declaring such things as “Welcome to Black Woman Bare Minimum, a safe space where you can do the least, and be the most” and “Slow living tip: adopt the mindset that you deserve rest”. Some Black women have said that the soft girl era allows them to explore practices that invite relief and remind them that they were not born to just survive.
The trend seamlessly spread into the wider community, moving from a trend for black women to a trend for all young women. And by mid-to late 2019, thanks to the famous artists such as Arianna Grande, the trend became a favourite lifestyle and attitude among Gen Z female teenagers and young women. The soft girl aesthetic was imitated all over platforms such as Instagram and Pinterest, and at the same time the female population was ready to put greater focus on self-care and work life balance. Later the soft girl era came to be described as the precursor.
Characteristics of the soft girl aesthetic
The soft girl aesthetic is inspired by Y2K, anime, K-pop, and 1990s clothing. It is a cutesy, feminine look that’s often associated with clothes in pastel shades, floral prints, cropped tops, skirts, dresses, floral prints, fluffy knitwear, and soft textured oversized hoodies.
In terms of make-up, you’ve got a lot of pale pink make-up, especially pink lipgloss, pink blusher and pink eye shadow. Then there’s elongated cat eye, feathery fake eyelashes, faux freckles.
You’re also quite likely to see long, wavy hair, colourful butterfly clips and pretty jewelry, and even heart motifs stamped onto the face.
Soft girl fashion tips
The key point for fashion in the soft girl trend, is to not be afraid to dress up. Not just for dates, or going out-out, but even if it’s just for a trip to the shops.
Another top tip would be to wear a neutral base outfit such as something in white or cream, and pair it with something in a pastel shade. Baby pink, mint green and pale blue are often popular options. If you want to add a print, go for light options, ditsy florals, nostalgic gingham, and soft striped knits.
Go right ahead with accessories. Stuffed animals, fluffy pillows, and other soft and cuddly items can complete the look. Above all, be sure to wear clothes that make you feel pretty and feminine.
Soft girl beauty tips
Achieving the soft girl look can be helped along by having a good, or even meticulous, skin care routine. For example you could use make-up that’s been enhanced with sunscreen. Then there’s a hydrating cleanser and moisturizer to consider in order to maintain a dewy glow. You could also spritz facial mist throughout the day to refresh and add moisture. Eye cream should also be considered to combat under-eye puffiness and dark circles.
The idea is to achieve a “glass skin” effect. Avoid “heavy” looking make-up, such as bronzer. Instead, use a light foundation or tinted moisturizer in a shade that matches your skin tone for a natural look. Apply concealer under the eyes and on any blemishes for added coverage. You can use a contouring kit to make your facial features appear more delicate. You can also use a light shade of cream blusher to the apples of your cheeks for a natural blush.
For the eyes, we recommend sticking to soft shades like creams, pinks, and browns to create a subtle gradient. Use eyeliner along the upper lash line for a delicate effect and apply multiple coats of mascara for voluminous lashes. And don’t forget to fill in your brows with a brow pencil or powder for a fluffy look.
For the lips, many soft girls like to go for a nude or soft pink lip gloss or tinted lip balm. That said however, a well-blended lip pencil may help to make your pout look more delicate.
The soft girl look favours hair styles with loose waves or soft curls. Gentle waves can be achieved with a curling iron or texturizing spray. The hair should always have a relaxed style, such as a ponytail, or half-up and half-down. We also recommend using cute clips, headbands, or ribbons to add a touch of femininity.
Popular soft girl icons and influencers and their cultural impact
Ariana Grande is arguably the poster girl for soft girls everywhere; she’s sexy yet sweet, owns her femininity but also bosses it as a powerful player in the music industry. Other notable figures associated with the soft girl aesthetic include Sofia Richie, Sydney Sweeney, and Kendall Jenner. Many who try the soft girl aesthetic get inspiration from characters such as Cher from Clueless, Rachel Green from Friends, and Regina George from Mean Girls.
There has been some criticism of the soft girl trend, with some people arguing that it’s “just promoting the traditional gender norms that we have worked so hard to push back on”.
How to embrace the soft girl lifestyle
The “soft girl era” is about more than a mere feminine aesthetic. It’s all about self-care and putting yourself first rather than work, and avoiding overworking yourself in any way. It’s about ensuring work-life balance, and taking the time to just relax and put your feet up now and again. It’s about putting mental and emotional health above mindless productivity.
The soft girl lifestyle often involves rejecting power-hungry girlboss culture, and focusing instead on being present for your family and making lifelong memories. It involves being deliberately in touch and in tune with your emotions. It’s about making time for yourself, and for anything that helps you to relax and unwind in order to recharge and reflect.
Embracing the soft girl lifestyle means taking care of your health and fitness without going overboard. For instance, for many young women, self-care may feature eating well, drinking fruit smoothies, and doing cozy cardio or pilates as opposed to hardcore High Intensity Intermittent Training workouts.
Final word
So, to summarise, the phrase “soft girl era” refers to a lifestyle and fashion trend that involves prioritizing self-care, peace, and kindness and is accompanied with the “soft girl” aesthetic, which is a cutesy, feminine and girly-girl look.
The “soft girl” aesthetic and lifestyle is perhaps best exemplified by Ariana Grande who always looks delicate and feminine, yet at the same time is also someone who can achieve great things in her work.
