Clean Girl Aesthetic Vs A Messy Vintage Look

In a world of slick-back buns and smudged red lipstick, which side do we pick?

The other day, as I was sitting on a bus on my way to the shopping center, I found myself caught between two very different aesthetics. On one side of the bus, a girl with a flawless slick-back bun, dewy glass skin, and gold, thick hoop earrings scrolling through her Instagram feed, her aura exuding effortless cleanliness.

On the other side of the bus, another girl, wrapped up in an oversized thrifted leather jacket, her chipped red nails weaving through the pages of a small classic paper-back that she fit into the back pocket of her light-washed baggy jeans as she walked off the bus.

It was then that I realized that perhaps fashion isn’t just about hundreds of different trends, it is about your lifestyle. And right now, we’re living in the age of two differing aesthetics: the Clean Girl and the Messy Vintage Girl.

The Clean Girl Aesthetic

I will begin by describing what entails The Clean Girl Aesthetic. She’s all about minimalism. Think glazed skin, fluffy brows, and lips that look naturally plump and pink. Tailored basics in neutral tones, sleek gold jewelry, and a timeless designer bag are musts for the look. A look that states, ‘I’m expensive, but I don’t have to try too hard’.

She has a ginger shot every morning, followed by a Pilates class, her favorite perfume is Vanilla and she must have a matcha every day. Her life is a highlight reel of curated perfection.

But here’s the thing about this aesthetic: Behind the effortless glow is an entire skincare routine, a blowout schedule, making it pretty expensive to keep up with. Some may also argue that it lacks creativity. The neutral basics are an everyday need, leaving no room for experimentation.

The Messy Vintage Girl Aesthetic

And then, there is the Messy Girl Vintage Aesthetic. The complete antithesis of the Clean Girl Aesthetic. She doesn’t have an endless skincare routine as of the belief that ‘less is more’. Her hair is slightly wavy, a tad unbrushed and crimped from the different trails of new hairstyles, and may be held together with a claw clip she found at the bottom of her tote bag. She wears oversized leather jackets, baggy jeans, a bright pair of Converse high-tops, and sunglasses so big you wonder if she’s disguising her tiredness. 

She might be always losing track of time, always carrying a book and a notepad around, and always making you feel like she’s just come from an underground party you weren’t cool enough to know about. 

Messy Vintage is rebellious, nostalgic, chaotic, and unique. It allows for individual creativity and ease when choosing an outfit in the morning as of the contentions with imperfections in your outfit. 

Choosing Between Two Aesthetics

As I sat there, observing these two different aesthetics sitting before me I had to ask myself - which side do I fit in? Do I crave a pristine, put-together elegance, or do I want to look more out there and carefree?

The truth is, most of us are somewhere in between. Perhaps some days I want to be the girl with the slick-back hair and a matching sweater set, glowing with the effects of a well-balanced lifestyle. On other days, I want to throw on my vintage baggy hoodie, smudge my eyeliner slightly, and pretend I’m in a Sofia Coppola film.

Maybe style isn’t about choosing one aesthetic over the other, maybe it’s about embracing both and using your own individual creativity.