The ‘Cool Girl’
Who is she? Can fashion make her?
The cool girl. What does that really mean? Every season, we go hopelessly searching for what the cool girls are wearing. What coat are they wearing this winter? Where are they getting their corporate attire? And when it rains, are the cool girls carrying umbrellas or wearing rain jackets — and, more importantly, which ones are the coolest?
Cool girls are accessory crazy: sunglasses, jewelry, the coolest little bags (and big ones), and, of course, hats. But they can also keep things simple, with subtle touches of color and minimalist jewelry that are just as impactful. They wear magenta and aqua blue and can be just as eccentric as ever. So what exactly are the cool girls wearing this autumn?
And how do we know who is actually cool? If a cool girl tells me that this bag and these shoes are cool — especially together — and I buy them, does that make me a cool girl too?
But What Does It Mean To Be A Cool Girl?
The term “cool girl” has long been associated with a tomboyish nature, sometimes involving a diminishment or even denial of femininity. Historically, the idea has often been tied to an imagined version of the perfect female companion: a woman who adored football, poker, and dirty jokes, while being attractive and, importantly, not demanding too much.
Since then, the term has evolved and been rebranded over and over again. It has become associated with nonchalance, low-maintenance beauty, confidence, and a certain distance from other girls and women. These days, I think “cool” has become shorthand for stylish, confident, and effortlessly put-together. In many ways, the cool girl has become the modern “it” girl.
But is the cool girl more than just the clothes?
If all I have to do is dress a certain way to be a cool girl, then that’s good, right? And if I can do it, can everyone else? But if everyone can be a “cool girl,” then no one really is.
I think the cool girl is less about trying to be cool and more about being confident enough to be different. It’s about discovering your own niche, figuring out what you genuinely like, and redefining what “cool” means to you over and over again.
Maybe the coolest thing you can do is stop worrying about whether you look cool at all.
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