Soft girl or softie describes a youth subculture that emerged among Gen Z female teenagers around mid-to late-2019. Soft girl is a fashion style and a lifestyle, popular among some young women on social media, based on a deliberately cutesy, feminine look with a "girly girl" attitude. Being a soft girl also may involve a tender, sweet, and sensitive personality.[1]
The soft girl aesthetic is a subculture that found predominant popularity through the social media app TikTok. Singer-songwriter Ariana Grande has been credited with popularizing the soft girl aesthetic.[2]
Aesthetics
The trend consists mainly of soft pastel colors, Y2K, anime, K-pop, and 1990s-inspired clothing, as well as cute and nostalgic prints with flowers and hearts, stuffed animals, fluffy pillows, and other soft and cuddly items. It parallels some of the Kawaii-centric aesthetics in Japan but with a more subdued look.[3]
