Meet Vanilla Girl: 2023's Latest Trend That's Going Viral on TikTok

Balletcore, coastal grandmother, and coquettecore, meet "vanilla girl," the winter-weather, Hailey Bieber esque, soft-life, romantic look that's been making the rounds on TikTok lately as 2023's inaugural aesthetic. Necessary components include white bows, cream cardigans, luxurious candles and a 10-step self-indulgent skincare routine that would make any celebrity aesthetician jealous. In a nutshell, the trend is just cozy, warm, winter whites.
Following in the footsteps of the "clean girl" aesthetic trend, the newer, softer version dubbed vanilla girl promises a quiet life in the country, high-thread-count duvets, and cozy Ugg boots. After a year of cycling through TikTok aesthetics for my job, vanilla girl has to be the easiest-to-replicate of the 30+ trends I've seen over the last year.
Vanilla girl is a complicated thought to me: On one hand, the trending aesthetic seems simple and fun—just throw on a cream-colored cardigan and put bows in your hair. On the other hand, though, it's important to acknowledge how the TikTok algorithm promotes certain vanilla-girl videos over others—ones often centering thinner, white women rather than plus-size creators or creators of color. Thankfully, there's a large and dedicated audience of cool, authentic people owning the trend and making it their own, a necessary step toward radical inclusivity that's just now taking stride across social media. It's about time!
Below, shop all the cozy and cute vanilla-girl essentials you need to take you through the rest of winter.
Shop the trend
I need a pair of cream Moon Boots as soon as possible.
This camisole is perfect for layering under an oat-milk-colored chunky sweater.
Next, 30 Fashion, Beauty, and Wellness Items One Editor Deems Worthy of Purchasing
Ana Escalante is an award-winning journalist and Gen Z editor known for her sharp takes on fashion and culture. She’s covered everything from Copenhagen Fashion Week to Roe v. Wade protests as the Editorial Assistant at Glamour after earning her journalism degree at the University of Florida in 2021. At Who What Wear, Ana mixes wit with unapologetic commentary in long-form fashion and beauty content, creating pieces that resonate with a digital-first generation. If it’s smart, snarky, and unexpected, chances are her name’s on it.
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