#wsiw

The year is 2013, and you are sat in your bedroom watching Zoella on Youtube and painting your nails in a DIY manicure. Something about this era screams early girlhood, having fun and not caring if something is perfect, as long as it looks pretty. At the time, tumblr and Weheartit was alive with ‘rosy blogs’, and if you search hard enough-- the graveyards of abandoned blogs still remain untouched, like a time capsule of such treasured years, reaching its peak at 2014. 

Where did the name ‘rosy blog’ come from?

No one knows. After many google searches, and coming up with nothing -- I can only assume it was coined from the huge insurgence in ‘rose gold’ at it’s time, florals and roses being featured in lots of rosy blog posts, and the ‘rosy’ warm, pinky filter that was laid over all the images to give it that classic look it was known for. These days, the aesthetic is more popularly claimed as ‘girly 2014 aesthetic’, ‘yours truly era’ or simply ‘2014 core’. As a long time girly girl, I am truly advocating to bring this style back. Here’s how. 

FLORALS, FLORALS, FLORALS. 

Taking a step back into this era, what better time to incorporate floral prints into your wardrobe that spring? Ditzy print, crowded florals on dresses and skirts and sunflower crop tops (Think old American Apparel) are the perfect ways to incorporate a Rosy chic back into your wardrobe. It’s girly, and can be worn super casually as these are not items that technically ever went out of fashion or became played out. 

DOT, DOT, DOT...

Undeniably, polka dot was huge in this era. Something about it can be so youthful, whilst also carrying this timeless chic that is vaguely reminiscent of the 50′s/60′s (See Audrey Hepburn, or kitschy housewife aesthetic) A simple black and white will totally do the trick maybe with pearl accessories or ribbon embellishments but a pink and white polkadot is super adorable too! 

WHAT BRANDS?

When looking back at the fashion of this era, a few brands stick out to me as being staples of their time. Thanks to early Ariana Grande, Wildfox became hugely popular-- especially in their knit pull overs, sweaters, and sunglasses. They were often pastel colours, donning some kind of cute cartoon print over the top such as a rainbow, or hearts. Another big brand that took over this time period would be American Apparel, and a quick search into ‘vintage American Apparel’ or selling sites would lead you exactly to what you need, the same goes for Vintage Victoria’s Secret PINK items -- however you might find some luck in their current resurgence of ‘Originals’ now being sold on the website. I recently copped some OG fold over leggings! For more girly, era relevant brands-- look into H&M, Brandy Melville, vintage Topshop, Hollister and Abercrombie for that classic girly girl look. Or, dig back into your closet and see if you kept anything from this era!

COLLAGE AND PIC EDITING GALORE

To truly encapsulate the way this era unfolded, try your hand at taking cute pictures and laying an warm-vanilla toned filter preset over the top. In this era, people would take pictures of just about anything cutesy-- think your cute tea mug, a girly phone case, your strawberries and nutella mid day snack, this could even consist of whatever show you’re watching on Netflix photographed on your laptop on some sweet bed covers -- the perfect hobby for a lazy day! If you want to take it that step further, collate these pictures into a bordered collage to really push that early-years-instagram aesthetic. 

SO...WHAT SHOULD I WEAR? 

To begin with outfits, there are a few staples I would look out for. When thinking Rosy Blog Chic, what springs to mind instantly is a bralet / crop top paired with a skater skirt. At first glance, this sounds totally out dated-- but to me, there is something so timeless about these kind of looks. This will be perfect as the weather warms up, but whilst its still cold, you can always pair it with a chunky knit cardigan and tights-- also staples of its time. Pumps, mary-janes, brogues and flats are all appropriate shoe choices for this look. 

Another casual look that is less strictly 2014 would be an off the shoulder sweater, leggings / yoga pants, and a pair of ugg boots. This is more appropriate for colder days and definitely will give you an old school Victorias Secret model off duty look. 

A common theme in this era of online photo’s was pyjamas! Again, perfect for a lazy day-- the girl behind the camera was often seen to be donning full length or shorts and a tshirt sleepwear in cute prints and colours. Whether it be VS classic stripes, polkadot/animal print, vintage Disney movie print, florals,  it doesn’t matter as long as it’s cute. 

To accessorize, bows were a huge deal. Whether its clipped to your pony, worn on your handbag or simply just there for decorating, oversized bows were one of the first trends Ariana Grande brought to the internet. The accessory portion of Rosy Blog Chic seemed to take a more classic, timeless and girly route that can often be seen in modern Coquette fashion today-- meaning ribbons, pearls, and lace to up the girly factor by 10. 

Try your hand at home made manicures if you are currently giving your nails a rest from Acrylics or gels! Essie nail polish was at its peak during this era, as everyone seemed to be rocking natural length pale pink nails! I love long nails, and they were still super popular-- this is just for those who want to give their nails a rest. 

Did I miss anything? Let me know! I hope to be seeing Rosy Blog Chic more and more this spring! 

For these situations, wanting to appear stylish whilst not being over the top is easy as long as you stick to the mindset of Less is more. For gym / sports related activities I feel you can't go wrong with one stand out piece, and the rest of the outfit being practical / built around it. Try opting for a unitard for a ballet-chic effortless look, and pair it with comfortable sports shoes in the same colour, black or white. For this occasion, leg warmers could be perfect with a matching claw clip, and you can throw on a cute hoodie over the top before and after the class to bring up the casual factor.

Alternatively, if you feel like a more modest look is called for-- yet you want to remain cool and comfortable, try a wrap top with some looser fit yoga style pants or joggers. A way to instantly achieve that put-together look is by making the look monochrome. For a pilates princess chic, baby pink is a no brainer. A warmer toned pale pink will be more ballet-core, reminiscent of ballet slipper colour whilst a cooler toned pink will give you that modern barbie exercise doll look. A matching alice band will tie the look together whilst keeping your hair out of your face.

Invest in a co-ord that supports sweat and working out efficiently. For the spring season, I see these sets coming into fashion and being worn in a more casual downtown girl way and I feel wearing them to a class will make you instantly shine as an it girl who is dedicated to her exercise grind. Pictured below is some inspiration in what to look for.

I hope this helped, good luck!

so given the description you supplied, a look immediately jumped to mind. at the mention of you love for turtlenecks, and incorporating a 60s chic with 90s model, and model off duty with a girly and elegant flair — try something like this.

instantly — it’s timeless, simple and classy whilst remaining girly and academic leaning. as you can see for each outfit i have given you choices for shoes depending on how dressed up you feel comfortable with. the gogo boots would really nail the 60s aesthetic down, and whilst the outfit is something simple you’d see on a 90s model, it’s a staple that transcends through many eras of fashion. to pair with little baby pink flats would push more of a coquette look which you’ve made it clear you’re impartial to. this outfit can be adapted with tights or high socks (with certain shoes) if you’re going on a colder day! this is my number one recommendation for you, however i will leave you some other options to pick from if this isn’t your cup of tea.

adapting a cher horowitz style look can be super easy and is sure to look girly and academic! if you’re looking to mix your styles this is perfect, as a sweatervest over a blouse has been popular for decades— but is especially noteable on cher on a few occasions throughout the clueless movie. pink tartan is a must in any 90s/00s loving girly girl wardrobe. if you really want to be like cher, a pair of white mary janes will add a dainty and feminine, bordering on coquette look to any outfit, but if you’re doing lots of walking and you’re not accustomed to wearing something lifted, white brogues or pink converse will do you perfectly!

if you’re not looking to show a more academic side and want to indulge in your personal style instead, the modern bimbo-core look is super adaptable and easy to achieve. this is personally how i dress, and i find it to be fun, flirty and attracts positive attention and treatment wherever i go. the colour combination i see the most in this field is white and pink, but if you’re more of a black and pink type of girl— that’s totally interchangeable. this type of style often is seen paired with some kind of platform shoe, but it’s not a must! this also looks cute with a sneaker or girly flat. my top tip for this is adding any kind of sanrio merchandise to your accessories! whether it be a hello kitty hanging off your necklace, a plushie key ring attached to your bag, or if you have any hello kitty printed item that’s even better.

finally, to make sure all options are covered— to sate your request for a classic y2k / video vixen type of look, i have one word for you: camo! when done tastefully, camouflage can give you that perfect music video girl from the 2000s look! paired with low waisted jeans and gold jewellery you’re sure to reserve your spot as the university it girl. to ensure you’re giving vixen and not fashion faux pas, ensure the camo placement is that of a tube top, or a mini skirt with a white tank top. this way it’s clear you’re meant to be giving y2k, and not army soldier. a baggy camo t-shirt will NOT do!

i wish you the best luck with your university endeavours! i’m sure you will look beautiful regardless of what you wear!

🌸 layering is your best friend. being girly/ feminine certainly isn’t down to your exterior, it’s what comes from the inside. but regarding the clothes you put on your body, the amount of skin you show has nothing to do with displaying your femininity! as you can see, leg warmers/ long socks and cardigans is the simplest way to add a cute winter spin on your outfit. a cute bag and maybe some earmuffs would be the perfect way to up the girly factor to this outfit.

🌸 for more covered up and winter friendly outfits— look to the 2000s! i know this era is known for its skimpy outfits — but look in the right places and you will see that they had lots of fun with scarves, hats, and knits with jeans. might i suggest you invest in some good snow boots for the colder months, perhaps in a pink or white colour. they are warm and fashionable and can add a feminine flair to most winter looks.

🌸 to dress up a look, something frilly and pink with tapered and flattering trousers can be paired with a heel for a smart and put together look whilst still displaying your girly and fun side. buffy displays this perfectly, and has kept it more simple with less accessories as sometimes less can be more!

🌸 displayed by gorgeous @lyssithadoll on twitter, the best thing you can do is invest in a pink coat! this way, you can dress in simple tones and colours and have a feminine flair anytime you step out. another staple i suggest is uggs, or boots of a similar look like mentioned before. as you can see in the image, baby pink and grey is a total staple for winter. you can mix and match these colours with white and black too if that’s not your jam.

🌸 lastly, with one last nod to the 2000s, i highly recommend you invest in a juicy couture tracksuit, and if you can’t find one in your price range— any kind of glam velour tracksuit will do the trick. pair it with diamontes and 2000s style accessories and you’ll be the it girl of your town.

i hope that helps!

So, for anyone who has begun trying to discover their inner fashionista and step away from perhaps more 'basic' and thoughtless looks you are totally on the right track with looking at Bratz. With the Bratz, its not always about wearing skirts and dresses to appear more 'feminine', they often look at texture, colour and the occasion they are dressing for.

As you can see in this picture, the girls stick to a casual crop top and either capri jeans or pants. As these tend to shorten the leg (But in my opinion emphasize the glutes!) a chunky heel adds a girly-girl flair and flatters the body. As you can see, the glamorous factor is emphasized by sparkling earrings, bracelets, and a chunky belt to bring it all together. This kind of look can be dressed up, or you could wear it casually and be remembered as a walking Bratz doll, an honorable title to keep!

In this image, we see their use of textures, prints and colour-- just from a first glance I am noticing what appears to be silk, lace, ruffles and velvet. For a more dressed up look, look at materials and textures you associate with more classically feminine outfits like these. As seen in the bottom right, you do not always have to have your legs and stomach out to achieve this either. A flowy top with a ruffle trim is balanced out with flares to provide a flattering silhouette. Often, when one item is a single colour, or appears more plain-- it will be paired with something more eye catching or printed, with a pattern or animal print to elevate the look.

To step away from athleisure but remain in your comfort zone when you are getting started, I suggest a velour co-ord of some kind! Whether its a full tracksuit, or a sweat-material top and matching skirt. Not only is this a 2000's style staple, but it may feel more familiar for more comfortable days. It's girly-factor can be upped by being paired with a mini bag (Essential!) appropriate shoes and jewelry. You can get these in any colour, and they don't have to be Juicy Couture to get the message across.

If you feel nervous about diving in headfirst, you can still go for more 'sporty spice' apparel. This still comes across totally 'girly' to me, with sport-themed, co-ords, baby tee's, skirts / shorts and even baseball caps (Which looks super cute with a cropped / baby tee, low/mid waisted jeans and any shoes. To me this screams football wife / courtside cutie!)

Here are some looks I created to inspire you given the information you have provided above. I have incorporated your preferences, the advice I have written up, and options for different levels of formality and preference. I hope you like them!

Remember to have fun! Especially 2000's fashion was all about experimenting and piecing together items you might not always expect!

Winter accessories are an absolute essential. When I feel a winter outfit is lacking something, a good pair of earmuffs and leg warmers take the look from zero to hero. If you're dressed all in black or all in white, try breaking up the outfit with some different colour matching ear muffs and leg warmers. I usually reach for pink or white! (Duh...)

Fur is the way! Staying warm AND looking cute? Sign me up. I have been after the perfect pair of fur boots since 2021 winter, and I am thrilled to see them come into style as I feel they make the feet look detached from the body like a Bratz doll, which is super cute and flattering! Fur hats have also been a staple of mine since 2020. Also, of course -- fur coats and uggs boots (Not paired together...) are furry / fluffy pieces everyone should own.

Something I absolute love incorporating into my outfits are long socks / stockings. Whilst I appreciate that they aren't always the most wearable to be appropriate, especially not in winter -- however I have found that wearing them over tights can be a super cute alternative! When wearing a skirt, try pairing some tights beneath some stockings to break up the leg! The tights can be opaque, or for more of a glam look try a sheer pair of tights with a shimmer/ glitter finish on them.

In terms of outfits, jumpsuits are your friend. If you live somewhere especially chilly, they can be useful as you can layer lots with them. A top / tank with leggings underneath the jumpsuit, with boots, leg warmers, a hat/ earmuffs on top, with a coat of some kind is guaranteed to keep you warm and toasty through the day.

Here are some outfits I have worn so far this winter. You will see me demonstrate the use of ear muffs, socks, leg warmers, tights, jumpsuits etc.

Hope this inspired you!

so what is “girly”?

to different people, femininity means different things— and whilst you’re on your style journey i urge you to have a long hard think, have some discussions, maybe do some journalling and inner work on what femininity means to YOU. whether it’s your womanly curves, your use of colour, enhancing your natural beauty, experimenting with makeup and fun clothes, it’s engaging in your hobby that makes you feel feminine and beautiful — that is completely up to you, and once you have identified this you can begin to base your style around it. from then on, keep these tips in mind.

1. PLAY WITH TEXTURE!

enhancing your femininity can really lie on what textures and materials you play with. wearing lace can add a delicate, soft and sweet type of girliness to your outfit. if your vibe is sexy, try implementing a mesh. for an ethereal yet glamorous type of femininity, silk is your best friend.

2. FIND YOUR INSPIRATION!

with how your request was phrased, i can only assume you mean classic ‘girly girl’ aesthetic. so, do your research! watch a bunch of 2000s teen movies, watch a bunch of music videos and take in the ‘video vixen’ era, observe how they put their outfits together, find a few characters/ singers/ actresses etc that speak to you personally and take inspiration. now this doesn’t mean copy clothing item for clothing item (although a recreation moment is totally cute if credited!) but there’s no shame in borrowing certain aspects!

3. BACK TO BASICS!

the one time that ‘stereotyping’ is helpful. what is typically girly? glitter, pink, faux fur, playboy, hello kitty, skirts, dresses, heels, gloss, rhinestones— the list goes on. do you have to include all of these in your sense of style? no. infact, i suggest you take a few and blend aesthetics to create your own, unique to you. however, make a list of the first thing that comes to mind when you think of girly girl fashion, see what ones you actually like and what actually suit you — and go shopping!