It’s easy to think about the fashion community as one big, monolith, but in reality, it’s a diverse mosaic of varying style subcultures. One of which I frequently find myself referencing is the trendy, cool girl. A broad category in itself, it’s a bit Y2K, a sprinkle of coconut girl, with a dash of downtown sensibility. You’ll find equal parts vintage and micro-trends in their closet, along with a slew of emerging labels. In short, they’re the crowd to look to when you need to know which trends to keep your eyes peeled for. Thankfully finding out takes little more than hopping over to Instagram to check out what’s brewing on the fashion it-girl scene. After browsing through a host of my favorite style accounts, it didn’t take long for a few trends to emerge from the midst of outfit pics and mirror selfies. Given the popularity of all things Y2K and retro, a few of these might give you a dose of nostalgia. For the full report of which finds cool girls everywhere will be wearing this season, keep scrolling below.
Blame it on the new season of Gossip Girl, but the fashion world has been engrossed with all things Academia for a minute now. The latest object to come of that fascination is the schoolgirl skirt. From plaid minis to tartan skirts, cool girls, in particular, have absorbed the trend, wearing it with chunky boots, sweater vests, and platform heels.
Cargo pants have long lived on the fringes of mainstream style, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that cool girls have gravitated once again towards them this season. Way more elevated than cargo pants of yesteryear, the new take on them include high waist and on the more extreme end, ultra-low rise fits as well as baggier silhouettes. Wear them ironically with heels or go full GI Jane with combat boots.
A statement coat is an essential if you’re a fashion it-girl, and right now the honor of most-wanted goes to fluffy fur (or shearling) trimmed toppers. The style is nothing new by any means, but thanks to Scandi label Saks Potts, it circled back into the spotlight. The defining characteristic is the trimmed detail, which feels a bit sleeker than a coat completely covered in faux fur. Although trending now, it’s a piece that really won’t ever be out of date.
What started out as a crescendoing home decor trend has turned into a full-fledged fashion love affair with all things check. Within the past year I’ve seen countless checkered dresses, pants and tops pop up everywhere from Zara to Mango, with check pants specifically blowing up my feed.
If you know you know: House of Sunny is a quintessential fashion girl brand, based in the U.K. Its Hockney dress might be one of the most recognizable pieces of 2020, but there are a lot more quirky, colorful finds where that came from. Take the Waterloo cardigan—a cheerful zip sweater that features removable cuffs and a collar. The brand is a master at churning out mood-lifting statement pieces, so anything from here is bound to catch someone’s attention.
