Cool Girl Essentials: A Guide
- Dakota Duran
- Jan 15, 2024
- 3 min read
By: Dakota D. Duran
The “clean girl” aesthetic is one I highly favor. The ability of solid-colored clothes and a slick-back hairstyle to make you look put-together was fun for a few months, however, I found myself getting bored, and starting to have a receding hairline.
Throughout my senior year of high school, being eclectic was my forte. I enjoyed embodying Claudia Kishi from “The Babysitters Club,” my childhood icon. I embraced different styles and constantly mismatched, making two completely different patterns flow together.
Of course, when I got to college, I felt as though I had to dress more “adult,” resulting in my love for the “clean girl” aesthetic. After many trips to Aritzia and putting gel in my hair daily, I had the look down to a “T.”
Even though this aesthetic is one that I love, I also feel it is one that just does not suit me. I like expressing myself through clothes, jewelry, and tattoos, and wearing a matching set all the time just wasn’t cutting it for me.
By the end of 2023, I found myself reverting to my old sense of fashion, and while this was happening, the “clean girl aesthetic” began phasing out, and the “cool girl” aesthetic began to make its way into society.
The phrase “cool girl” can be controversial, as some may believe that it is restricted. While I think that a person is cool if they are simply a kind, genuine person, I would think they are extra cosmopolitan if I see them wearing these items, ones that make you look effortlessly chic and as if you are the girlfriend to the lead singer in a band. Here are the essentials to being a “cool girl:”
Extra baggy jeans/pants
My go-to combo is always a small top with extra baggy pants. While they give off the impeccable “streetwear” vibe, they are also super comfortable. On top of this, they go with absolutely everything and can fit almost every occasion. My favorites are linked below:
Graphic t-shirts
The clean girl aesthetic embraces the look of basic t-shirts, ranging from Skims and Amazon dupes. As much as I have loved wearing these, especially as it made getting ready in the morning a lot easier, it felt repetitive. Graphic t-shirts are fun, and I also find them to be cool conversation starters, as I find people often asking where the shirt is from or complementing the shirt itself. Here are links to some of my favorites:
Faux fur coats
Personally, I feel that anything with fur instantly gives “it girl,” only if it is faux of course. I also just love anything fluffy and soft to the touch, thus resulting in my collection of faux fur items, specifically coats. Faux fur coats instantly uplift an outfit, making sweats look chic. While I found my favorites through Depop or the thrift, here are some dupes I found online:
Big glasses
I love accessorizing, and because my eyesight is absolutely terrible, I always love to have fun with different types of glasses. Whether it be for being able to see something four feet away from me or to protect my eyes from the sun, I adore finding new pieces to put on my face. The type of glasses I find myself having a preference for are huge, tinted glasses. I always thought Elton John was doing something with this look, and I love to see that it is trending now. Here are the links to my current glasses lineup:
Funky sneakers
An entire outfit can be basic but instantly elevated with the choice of shoes. If there is one thing I invest in more than items for my home, it is shoes. I love having different options for every event in my life, but the one thing I noticed the most about my collection is that the majority of the pairs I own have color or are avant-garde. I feel that this perfectly matches the “cool girl” aesthetic, and here are some pairs I currently fancy:
Beanies and baseball caps
Beanies and baseball caps were unironically added to my wardrobe, as I go to school in a more brisk environment and often have bad hair days because of the weather. However, I ended up loving the look of them. I don’t know what it is about such a simple hair accessory, but I see why frat boys always have a cap on. Every outfit looks ten times more snazzy with a beanie or cap on, and here are some of my favorites:
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