As the leaves turn brown and the crisp autumn air sets in, I look forward to the warmer outfits I’ve been saving. Sundresses and beach cover-ups fade out as grandpa sweaters and sheer tights take over the fashion scene. Year after year, trends come and go, but a general consensus lies around seasonal traditions. As the weather grows colder, sleeves grow and jeans flare.
In the late summer of 2022, the term, “downtown girl” blew up on TikTok. With over one billion hashtag views, the aesthetic continues to have a strong hold over the seasonal fashion world. It means what it says—the romanticism of a downtown streetwear style. Picture it: you’re walking down the streets of Lower Manhattan, orange and yellow leaves coating the sidewalks, an iced matcha in hand. Downtown girls wear warm, trending clothes that match the vibe of studying in a small coffee shop, The Smiths playing through your headphones.
The style is based on late ‘80s and ‘90s city fashion, from the young women living in places like Boston and New York. It combines several subcategories of fashion; the most popular being vintage, streetwear, and grunge. A classic downtown outfit includes a dual color palette of darker colors like navy, black, and brown, alongside lighter ones like cream, light gray, and white- with the occasional details of brighter colors.
Interested in rocking the downtown girl aesthetic as the weather starts to cool down? You can find some great pieces online or in department stores, but there’s also a variety of shops throughout SLO to explore. Here are some of my favorite tips and tricks for the fall look:
- FALL TOPS
There are plenty of long-sleeve tops to choose from, but downtown girls tend to wear henley tops and striped two-color shirts. They look great when paired with a knit sweater or cardigan on top to be bundled up in the cold weather. You can find the perfect top or sweater from almost any major teen fashion brand—such as Brandy Melville—or stores in downtown SLO, like Urban Outfitters and H&M. I would also recommend checking out online reselling websites, like Depop.
- LEATHER JACKETS
Investing in a good quality jacket is a great way to maintain the downtown look in the long run. Free People has some great leather jackets, which you may find at the FP Movement store in downtown SLO. A less expensive—yet still excellent—option is ordering a bomber jacket from Edikted or Depop. Your local thrift store likely has some good finds, and luckily for slocals, there is a wide array of places. In downtown SLO, vintage clothing store Thrifty Beaches just opened and has a wide selection for all of your fashion wants, especially jackets.
- FLARED JEANS
The next step in the hunt for downtown girl clothing is flared or bootcut jeans. Downtown girls generally wear lighter blue jeans, but darker washes fit in just as well. These jeans best fit the aesthetic in the low-rise style. The most popular stores to find these specific items are Brandy Melville and Motel Rocks Jeans.
- TIGHTS AND BOOTS
A bold yet perfectly fitting way to dress downtown is by combining sheer tights and knee-high boots in your outfit. Sheer black tights are a staple that every girl needs, and represent the downtown girl aesthetic perfectly. However, if you want to change things up, fun tight colors are trending in the subcategory, especially wine red tights. I’ve gotten good quality colored tights from Amazon, but there are many other places you can find them for cheap, like Target and the Party City in the Madonna Plaza.
There’s a wide range of brands and stores that sell knee-high boots, but some trending boots on TikTok are from Steve Madden, Vince Camuto, Vagabond, and Frye. Although expensive, boots are a perfect item to maintain the downtown style and can be worn in a variety of places. Downtown girls wear black or brown knee-high boots with simple details.
- LOAFERS
Although tall boots don’t work the best for the jeans style this trend calls for, there are a couple good shoe options for pants. Black loafers and frilly socks are the perfect fall shoe to add to your collection and fit the downtown vibe. The most popular are from Doc Martens, which you can find in many stores nearby, such as the Designer Shoe Warehouse and the Tillys in Madonna Plaza. I’ve also found some good quality, less expensive ones on Amazon. If you’re not into the style of loafers, a downtown girl classic is Converse All-Stars. You can get them in any color you prefer, but the ones that fit the aesthetic the most are dark red, navy blue, gray, and of course, black.
- ACCESSORIZE!
A major step in downtown girl fashion is adding some distinct accessories to your outfit. You may not consider it, but small accessories can make all the difference. There seems to be an accessory trend of themed earrings, or small clips for hair to pull outfits together. The aesthetic focuses on star and heart shaped accessories. Downtown girls tend to also carry bigger bags, such as a canvas tote or a messenger bag.
- HAIRSTYLES
The last thing you should pay attention to is your hair and how you will style it. Claw clips and banana clips are neat upgrades from just a hair tie for a messy-neat updo. There are a few other great styles to match the aesthetic. One of the most common is a half-up style that’s executed with a mini clip, and a few strands pulled out to frame the face. This works on a variety of hair types: from short to long, curly to straight, thick to thin. Another style I’d recommend is a classic messy bun—again, going for a half-messy look. The clean girl aesthetic revolves around neater, slicked-back hair, whereas downtown girls thrive on the frazzled look.
If you’re thinking about how to dress cute and still thrive in the chilly weather, downtown girl clothing is perfect for you. Combine these tips and tricks for an alluring autumn look!