A plethora of microtrends have taken over TikTok lately, with hyper-specific aesthetics reflecting Gen Z’s desire to define their personal style. All-pink palettes sum up Barbiecore, while the coastal cowgirl trend mixes Western staples with breezy basics.

The “soft girl” is one more viral microtrend. Inspired by Y2K and Japanese kawaii fashion, soft girls straddle the road between girly and edgy. They’re more likely to favor pastels and female patterns like gingham or florals, accessorizing their looks with daring bucket hats and chunky shoes.

Now that the soft girl has officially taken over, listed here are all the ways you’ll be able to channel the favored trend.

Trend mixing

Given the sheer variety of TikTok microtrends, there’s tons of room for crossover. Soft girls and fans of the coquette aesthetic, for instance, share an affinity for puff sleeves and eyelet details. Meanwhile, kidcore adopters have a penchant for colourful hair clips, which also occur to be a must have soft girl accessory.

Soft girl summer style

Designers like Sandy Liang, Batsheva and Leslie Amon have already caught onto the soft girl craze. Batsheva’s spring 2023 collection included a lavender knit with floral embroidery, which was paired with frilly floral shorts on the runway.

Naturally, celebrities are also favoring soft girl-inspired styles. Paris Hilton tried out the trend at Chanel’s resort 2024 show in Los Angeles, while Sydney Sweeney put a more casual spin on the soft girl this month in Recent York City.

Soft girl hair

While the soft girl aesthetic can seem a bit nebulous, its hairstyles could be easily defined. Add on accessories like clips and bows, or wear your hair in a half updo to channel the trend’s feminine flare.

Soft girl makeup

Soft girl beauty tends to fall into two categories. For those who’re feeling daring, add pops of color to your makeup with vibrant eye shadow or lipstick shades. You may as well go full “soft” with a natural look — pink or coral blush and stained lips are your best bet.

Soft girl items to take a position in

For those who’ve fallen in love with the soft girl look, there are a couple of easy staples you’ll be able to add to your wardrobe. Cardigans and cropped jackets are an absolute must — preferably in the event that they’re in a pastel shade. Pleated miniskirts are also a favourite of sentimental girls, and could be purchased in a wide range of colours and patterns. For layering, lean into trusty basics like white T-shirts and tanks.