Soft girl is the umbrella term for a female teen subculture that emerged in the mid-to-late 2020s. The soft girl is a fashion and lifestyle trend popular among young women on social media that combines a cutesy, feminine appearance with a girly girl attitude. A soft girl may have a tender, sweet, and sensitive personality. Pastel colors, Y2K, anime, K-pop, and 1990s-inspired clothing, as well as cute and nostalgic prints, dominate the trend. It is similar to some of Japan's Kawaii-centric aesthetics but with a more subdued appearance.
The soft girl aesthetic is a subculture that gained prominence thanks to the social media app TikTok. Ariana Grande, a singer-songwriter, is credited with popularizing the soft girl look. Choosing soft, muted, and dreamy colors that evoke nostalgia and whimsy is the key to creating the perfect pastel palette for a soft girl aesthetic. Here's a step-by-step guide to selecting the ideal pastel palette:
1. Understand the Soft Girl Aesthetic
Unlike the bigger aesthetics of the late 2010s, the soft girl aesthetic is more difficult to define. It's not the Dark Academia aesthetic, which thrived on Tumblr and inspired thousands of text posts and Pinterest boards.
Understanding the soft girl aesthetic entails delving into its defining characteristics, fashion elements, and cultural influences. It's a popular look that combines nostalgia, femininity, and a dreamy, whimsical vibe.
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2. Pick Your Dominant Color
Start off by deciding on a dominant or base color for your pastel palette. Soft pink, lavender, baby blue, and mint green are popular colors. This color will be the primary backdrop for your aesthetic.
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3. Choose Complementary Pastels
Soft girls are definitely drawn to pastel shades, and they frequently create monochromatic outfits in coordinated shades of varying degrees of pastels. Classic academic prints such as houndstooth, checks, and plaid, all in pastel, are also among her favorites.
Once you've decided on your dominant color, select two or three complementary pastel colors to go with it. These can be lighter or slightly different shades of the dominant color and other pastels that work well together. For instance, if your base is soft pink, you could pair it with blush, peach, and pale yellow.
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4. Make use of neutrals to strike a balance
Use neutral tones such as white, cream, or light gray to keep your palette from becoming too busy. These neutrals can be used as backgrounds or accent colors to balance out the pastels.
5. Play with Color Swatches
Make a digital or physical swatch palette of your chosen pastel colors. Make sure they complement each other and create a visually appealing combination. Play around with different shades and make adjustments until you get the desired soft and dreamy look.
6. Think about the texture and material
Remember that the soft girl aesthetic frequently incorporates soft and tactile elements. Consider textures and materials such as pastel-colored fabrics, plush toys, or vintage lace.
7. Make Use of the Palette in Accessories
When it comes to jewelry, the key is to keep it simple and sweet. Wear delicate necklaces, cute earrings, and maybe some pretty bracelets. Pearls, butterflies, and hearts are all no-fail styles.
8. Embrace your natural hair texture
In terms of hairstyles, I recommend embracing your natural hair texture and avoiding heat. This keeps your hair soft and healthy. Then, add girly accessories, such as the iconic butterfly clips. A hair bow, a pearl headband, a brightly colored claw clip, or a satin scrunchie are also excellent choices. A low ponytail or half-up half-down hairstyle is simple, pretty, and feminine.
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9. Expand the Range of Makeup Palettes
Makeup is a prominent feature of the soft girl aesthetic. Soft girl makeup is more than just a color application; it's an art form in and of itself. The makeup is designed to give the wearer a youthful, fresh-faced appearance while also incorporating dreamy and ethereal elements.
The key to soft girl makeup is to have flawless, dewy skin. To achieve a natural complexion, a light coverage foundation or BB cream is applied generously on the apples of the cheeks to mimic a youthful flush. The eyes take center stage, with soft pastel eyeshadows in pinks, purples, and peaches. Long, fluttery lashes complement the delicate eyeliner, which emphasizes the eyes without overpowering them.
Lips are typically adorned with soft, rosy hues or even glosses to enhance the natural pout to complete the look. Soft girl makeup's artistry is its ability to highlight innocence and whimsy, allowing people to express their inner fairy tale fantasies.
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10. Decorate Your Space
Consider decorating your living space with pastel-colored decor, furniture, and artwork to fully embrace the soft girl aesthetic.
11. Create a Mood Board
Create a mood board with images, fashion inspiration, and color swatches to see how your pastel palette will look in your lifestyle and personal style.
12. Personalize your Palette
Keep in mind that the ideal pastel palette is a matter of personal preference. Choose colors that speak to you and make you feel at ease and happy.
13. Consistency is Key
To fully embrace the soft girl aesthetic, keep pastel colors consistent in your clothing, accessories, makeup, and surroundings.
The soft girl aesthetic is essentially about being unapologetically feminine and girly. This approach to femininity, on the other hand, can be applied to all aspects of life, from your wardrobe to the music you listen to and how you exercise. There is no denying that the soft girl style is the antidote to the recent gloomy days, and with the right pieces, you can get in on this viral trend right away.
Do you agree that being a soft girl is more than just a fashion statement but a way of life? Let us know in the comments below.