Vogue ushered in the year 2022 by addressing some of the next big fashion trends and because fashion is often cyclical, we all knew that 2010s fashion was the next stop. This is especially considering the hugely popular Y2K aesthetic right now. Enter (or rather re-enter) 2014 Tumblr Fashion, according to the Vogue article by MARIA SANTA POGGI published on January 2nd 2022 .Â
Originally an ode to the 90s’ grunge aesthetic fueled by the likes of indie – now dubbed “alt” artists -such as Arctic Monkeys, the 1975, Twenty-One Pilots and of course, Lana Del Rey. Besides the music, there are also many characters that pioneered this look, such as Effy Stonem from the uber popular show Skins. It is considered the predecessor of the HBO show, Euphoria.Â
2014 Tumblr Girl fashion consisted of things like fishnets, oversized flannel shirts, ripped (at both knees!) black skinny jeans, denim jackets, tennis skirts, black knee-high socks, and black Doc Martens. And of course, the winged eyeliner, dark smokey eyes and coloured hair – bonus points if it’s blue like Halsey’s iconic hair – styled in space buns.
This was very much a call-back to the 90s’ grunge aesthetic, in the same way that Y2K fashion is a call-back to the loud and eccentric looks of the 60s. Y2K and 2014 Tumblr Girl fashion both pander to nostalgia. We as a society have been thriving on this ever since 2020, because who doesn’t love a little bit of longing for the good old days?Â
However, 2014 Tumblr Girl fashion has its drawbacks. Coming from a former self-proclaimed “Tumblr Girl” that was on Tumblr much too early in life, the style had its constraints. The pioneers of those looks all seemed to have several factors in common: Eurocentric features and being skinny. Body diversity, as well as diversity simply as a concept, was not nearly as mainstream as it should’ve been. As a result, many of us former wannabe Tumblr Girls felt pretty excluded in this aesthetic and struggled to feel like we fit in. So, I sincerely hope that with the increased pressure on the fashion industry, we will see a lot more diversity this time around.Â
Tumblr Girl fashion has slowly leeched into many other current trends, such as “Alt fashion.” Many currently famous artists and influencers are wearing similar or staple items of the style. Think Gen Z icons, such as Willow Smith, Olivia Rodrigo, and Barbie Ferreira. (Interestingly, Barbie Ferreira was also a popular face on 2014 Tumblr as a teen.) As a result, it is quite simple to find the staple pieces of this style. This makes it an easy trend to follow, if you want it to be.Â
I’m sure many of us have a flannel or checkered shirt lying around at the back of our closets. Similarly, fishnets are quite easy to find and on top of that they can double as layering. Simply cut a hole in the crotch region for your head and you’ve got a new top for layering under your band tee or flannel shirt.Â
You can also opt out of skinny jeans for the more popular and more modern baggy fit. Simple changes like this to the style can help to make the aesthetic a bit more current. Denim jackets are also a staple item of the aesthetic, but they’re also just a staple item overall. You cannot go wrong with a timeless piece like that, so it wouldn’t be a waste to invest in a good one that you really like.
Don’t forget the black boots as the final touch. Accessories are pretty important here and can make or break the look. Overall, my suggestion is lots of silver jewellery. Don’t be afraid to layer those necklaces. I stick to the golden ratio of three at different levels, but it’s up to you after all. Black eyeliner is also essential. I personally love Wet N Wild’s Mega-Liner Liquid Eyeliner for the bold winged liner and the Essence Soft Touch Eyeshadow in Shade 06 Pitch Black at the ends of the eye and just under. This results in the dark smoked out eye of the 2014 Tumblr Girl aesthetic.Â
Don’t be afraid to try it out yourself – especially my fellow wannabe former Tumblr Girls out there that didn’t feel like they fit into the mould. I encourage you to go scourging for those tattoo chokers and flannel shirts and to put it all on once again even if it is just for the nostalgia!