The Girlhood Aesthetic Is Still Going Strong in 2024
Designers from Sandy Liang to Prada make it easy to embrace your inner child.
Sweet visuals of girlhood have been swirling around the fashion industry for months. Under the catch-all of the girlhood aesthetic, hyper-feminine motifs dominated several Spring 2024 runways and returned on the Fall 2024 fashion week circuit in various ribbon-topped interpretations.
In New York City, Sandy Liang decorated her runway with schoolgirl-inspired pleated skirts and subtle bow embellishments, while Carolina Herrera celebrated symbols of femininity by way of floral-embroidered dresses. In London, models who walked in Simone Rocha’s show wore fanciful nightgown-inspired garments and carried shaggy stuffed animals at the hip. In Milan, a shift dress plastered with bows took center stage at Prada. And in Paris, Dries Van Noten dabbled in youthful hues of pink, ranging from bubblegum to cherry blossom.
The girlhood aesthetic has also flourished off the runways. #Girlhood has appeared on 283,700 TikTok posts (and counting), trickling into personal style on and offline through ribbons, pearls, and ballet flats.
Ultimately, it's a style experience that captivates the senses through nostalgia. "The girlhood aesthetic is a [trend for] adults that embodies all things sweet and innocent," fashion stylist Catherine Bibeau explains. Perhaps Sandy Liang's pleated skirts remind you of the ones you used to wear to elementary school, or Prada's bow-adorned dress evoke memories of presents and birthday parties.
Bibeau tells Marie Claire that many people find a sense of liberation through embracing the girlhood aesthetic in their wardrobes. "Women are reawakening their childhood selves, free to express their creativity without judgment," she says.
Maybe living in a fantasy world and dabbling in a fairytale feeling here and there isn't such a bad thing. Find a few ways to partake in the girlhood aesthetic ahead, through bows, ballet flats, headbands, and more.
Shop the Girlhood Trend
Statement Hair Bows
When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously.
One of the easiest ways to have fun with the girlhood aesthetic is to clip a bow (or several) into your hair. It takes absolutely no effort, and it's easy to style. Consider pairing your hair bow with a white T-shirt, a pair of jeans, and ballet flats for the upcoming spring and summer seasons.
Dainty Ballet Flats
Although relatively simple in shape, a pair of ballet flats can instantly elevate any outfit while harkening back to days spent at the dance studio. Wear your flats barefoot or pair them with colorful, thin socks to add a bit of contrast.
The Humble Headband
Once reserved for youth, the humble headband is making a return with grown-up twists. Keep things simple with a straightforward banded design, or amp up your look with a few embellishments.
Whimsical Hair Clips
Stacked hair clips capture the haphazard excitement of the days when styling your hair felt new and novel. Try two or three (or four) placed along the hairline to capture the street style approach.
Bow-Adorned Bags
Want to add a playful touch to your designer handbag collection? Look no further than a bow-adorned bag like the ones carried through the bustling streets of New York City and across the fashion week runways. A tiny bow is always a cute embellishment, but a ginormous bow that engulfs your entire bag is lots of fun, too.
Meet the Expert
Catherine Bibeau is a renowned fashion stylist with over a decade of experience in the industry. She is widely respected in the fashion industry for her outstanding work in fashion design, styling, branding and fashion marketing and sales. She has experience working at Buffalo Jeans, Ferragamo, and various other consumer luxury brands.
Stay In The Know
Marie Claire email subscribers get intel on fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more. Sign up here.
Lauren is the Fashion Editor at Marie Claire, where she writes trend reports, shopping pieces, and celebrity news stories. Prior to Marie Claire, Lauren worked for Harper’s Bazaar and ELLE as a freelance editor with a specific focus on seasonal styles and coveted products. She also worked for Town & Country, where she developed a robust portfolio of fashion roundups and designer profiles.
Lauren graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s degree in communications and a minor in journalism. While attending Penn, Lauren contributed to the university's fashion magazine, The Walk, while also interning for Philadelphia Style Magazine and EveryStylishGirl.
When she’s not exploring the world of fashion, you can find Lauren sharpening her skills as DJ, discovering new restaurants in New York City (she’s a foodie), and spending quality time with friends and family. Follow her along at @laurenktappan.
-
We're Catching On to Blake Lively's Favorite High-Low Formula
She wore it twice in two days.
By Hanna Lustig Published
-
Olivia Wilde Says You Can Wear Pink and Be Taken Seriously
Power dressing isn't all black suiting.
By Halie LeSavage Last updated
-
Katie Holmes Had a Dawson’s Creek Reunion at Her New Broadway Show
One of her old co-stars attended the play's Sept. 17 premiere.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
New York Fashion Week's Best Spring 2025 Looks Redefine Real Clothes
Kallmeyer, Rachel Comey, and Maria McManus define a new kind of everyday aspiration.
By Halie LeSavage Published
-
What Does Toteme Clothing Have That Other Minimalist Brands Don't?
The label positively took over New York Fashion Week.
By Halie LeSavage Last updated
-
Save Over 50% On Meghan Markle's Favorite Sarah Flint Sandals
This chic gladiator style is majorly marked down.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
First Jamie Haller's Shoes Captivated Tastemakers. Now She's Taking Over Their Entire Closets
Jamie Haller's first clothing line is available today.
By Halie LeSavage Published
-
The Best Summer Work Shoes Don’t Have To Scream ‘Corporate'
Footwear that means business in the best way possible.
By Lauren Tappan Published
-
The Nostalgic Wedge Sandal Is Officially a Summer Shoe Trend (Again)
The aughts-era shoe trend was due for a comeback.
By Emma Childs Last updated
-
Gigi Burris Will Make You a Hat Person
Rihanna, Lady Gaga, and every fashion tastemaker you follow are fans of her headwear. You're about to join the list.
By Emma Childs Published
-
Summer's Best Flip-Flops Don't Forgo Style
From leather styles by The Row to jelly variations by Tory Burch, tastemakers are officially embracing the quintessential beach shoe designer makeover.
By Emma Childs Published