- As a disclaimer, the term ‘Woman’ is not used as a fixed term for cis-gendered females. It is merely a concept of femininity in this article.
As October comes around, the days get shorter and the nights grow longer, the wind brings change into the air. The summertime Clean Girl Aesthetic leaves, and inflows the Bridget Jones from Bridget Jones Diary (Reneé Zewelleger) and Iris from The Holiday(Kate Winslet) aesthetic. A frazzled, Helena Bonham Carter archetype of a woman; with many mismatched scarves and practical boots. This change in appearance, perhaps even lifestyle, is a commodity that comes around once a year at the beginning of September, out with the old and in with the new. Simply, it is an aesthetic centred around the unkempt and dishevelled woman.
Perhaps the unattainable, middle-class Drunk-Elephant-Skincare-Routine wielding Clean Girl aesthetic becomes too out-of-reach at the turn of the season. With the summer holidays ending, and time is no longer in abundance, this look becomes unfashionable. It’s impractical. A bouncy blow-out is doomed in the October rain. Therefore, the frizzy-haired heavy coat look takes its place. Practicality is a strong factor in the Frazzled Woman Aesthetic. We replace our tinted moisturiser with the tinted lip balm. Leg hair replaces fake tan.
An icon of this Frazzled Woman Aesthetic is Helena Bonham Carter, who pointedly maintains this fashion all year round, or Bridget Jones, from Bridget Jones’ Diary (2001). This change in fashion harbours the idea that with the unexpected rainy weather, frizz is chic. Layers become fashionable. Wrapping up warm and prepared is aestheticized. Arguably this extends to the irregularity of shaving. Women (used as an extension of all feminine/non-binary presenting people) utilize the long sleeves and thick trousers as permission not to shave as often. Allowing the hair to grow as another line of defence against the cold. This shows that The Frazzled Woman steers more towards the Female Gaze. It’s accessorizing with body hair. It’s inherently feminist.
But this is not to suggest that The Clean Girl is not feminist; but rather that it is just more tailored to the Male Gaze. It’s idolizing the pristine SPF-wearing woman. The skin-care, hair-care, summer-body ready Woman. Whereas, The Frazzled Woman stands on the opposite end of the spectrum and is not restricted to the routines. The Christmas, New Year, and Valentine’s Day, festivities are all centred around drinking wine and eating well. This is shown in Bridget Jones’ Diary where there is an over-arching discourse around weight and women. The Frazzled Women again gives permission to cheat days. It’s the rejection of endless routines in favour of a glamourised wind-swept look. There is a replacement from the beach to the sofa. A hot chocolate instead of a smoothie. A Bridget Jones woman instead of the unachievable Elizabeth Bennet.
The broadcast of The Frazzled Woman, is particularly found on the social media platform TikTok. The women that are idolized, the easily attainable multilayered fashion is often stylised by celebrities whoM of which are white Western cis-gendered women. This starts the argument that this aesthetic is only achievable or fashionable if you comply to the foundations of the look, white, western, and cis-gendered. There is little representation of a POC Frazzled Women or even non-binary Frazzled Women. Could this perhaps be a commentary on the exclusiveness of fashion and aesthetics? Furthermore, is this a look at how prevalent the patriarchal beauty standards are always underlying even when the aesthetic is favouring the Female Gaze? There is no Frazzled Male. A man is inherently practical all year round. He is in shorts in summertime and joggers in winter. The fashion trends are less defined. Micro-trends do not seem to conform to them.
Moreover, the emphasis on The English Frazzled Woman should also be discussed. Stereotypically, the British weather is unpredictable and cloudy, especially in the autumn; therefore it has become aestheticized by The Frazzled Woman. It has been romanticised. But is this not exclusive? That in order to be The Frazzled Woman, must she be English? Must she be sturdy and wise, practical and effortlessly attractive in her Vivienne Westwood boots – the embodiment of British weather?
Autumn is seemingly intertwined with the Frazzled Woman Aesthetic. There are many style guides and how-to’s online. It is attainable, it is riskless. Much like the the Clean Girl Aesthetic. The conversation surrounding femininity and The Clean/Frazzled Girl are interchangeable. Long autumnal nights showcase a necessity for comfort and warmth. It’s ditching the straighteners for the heating. There is an embracement for dishevelment so that in case for rain or wind, one always looks appropriate.
In the same breath, with the reinvention of your wardrobe, there should also be a reinvention of your mindset. Look towards your work-life balance, your love life, and how to budget in time for Christmas. All these factors and the re-evaluation crisis that one finds themselves in tends to occur just in time for the season to change. This emotionally dishevelled mindset also contributes to The Frazzled Woman Aesthetic. What you feel on the inside, you should personify in your wardrobe. Much like Bridget Jones running outside in her underwear, chasing after Mark Darcy in the snow.
Therefore, this leads to an updated How-To guide on achieving the Frazzled Woman Aesthetic.
- Watch the Bridget Jones trilogy.
- Allow your natural hair to go free.
- Wear many scarves (the bigger the better).
- Layer up. Tights under trousers or skirts are a must.
- Coats are a statement. Fur, patterned, long… all complete the look.
- Accessorise with leg warmers, gloves, or hats.
- Find a lip stain, much like in summer it can work as a blush and lipstick (and can also be placed on the tip of the nose for a cute just-come-in-from-the-cold look)
- Allow yourself a sweet treat or two. It maintains morale for the long nights.
- Invest in some waterproof shoes, you never know when you will step in a puddle.
- And finally, take some time to think over your life. Are you fulfilled at work? Are you in a healthy relationship? What will you get someone for Christmas?
This is not a step-by-step guide and can therefore be interchangeable to each person. What matters most is that The Frazzled Woman Aesthetic is easily achievable and inclusive to all. It is not merely an appearance, but also a mindset. It’s a coping mechanism when you suddenly feel out of control. When you do not know what to wear, wear everything. The Frazzled Woman is so in right now.