“Move Over Clean Girl Aesthetic: Why I’m Embracing the Messy Girl Trend”
Between Grannycore and Clean Girl, we’ve become obsessed with vibe-ifying just about everything. The latest aesthetic to go viral? Messy Girl. Think undone, unpolished, and unapologetically unfiltered, whether that’s your wardrobe, your home or just your general demeanour. Messy Girl is a bona fide antidote to the Clean Girl trend that sent the algorithm into a glazed-doughnut skin, 10-step Korean beauty regimen frenzy of late.
Here, The Handbook’s Contributing Fashion & Lifestyle Editor, Astrid Carter, dives into why she’s far more aligned with being a little bit messy, and why leaning into the chaos feels gloriously freeing…
If the “Clean Girl Aesthetic” is Hailey Bieber, the “Messy Girl” is an Olsen twin. One is a green juice at 6am, the other is a third espresso by noon, knocked back, totally unbothered. One is glazed-doughnut skin; the other is a French fashion editor’s smoky eye and three months of grown-out roots. You get the picture.
The former is a somewhat unattainable beauty standard that has dominated social media trends in recent years. It suggests you have your life together, because, well, you look like you do: squeaky clean (AI-generated kinds of clean), polished, and without a single external blemish or hair out of place.
The latter? Well, it’s clearly the necessary antidote. It’s for those seeking something more authentic, more real, and one that rejects the pressure of perfection. And just to be clear: Messy Girl isn’t about a lack of hygiene; it’s about personality.
Here’s why I’m far more into embracing this year’s viral Messy Girl trend…
If the “Clean Girl Aesthetic” is Hailey Bieber, the “Messy Girl” is an Olsen twin. One is a green juice at 6 am, the other is a third espresso by noon, knocked back, totally unbothered.
Astrid, Contributing Fashion & Lifestyle Editor
The Clean Girl Aesthetic just doesn’t feel that cool.
While Hailey Bieber undoubtedly looks incredible with her dewy – or is it glazed? – complexion, I’ve never felt at home in that world. Aside from the fact that I’d rather stick pins in my eyes than commit to a 10-step skincare routine every night, or attempt to sculpt a tornado-proof bun with a specialised toothbrush, I find the whole thing a bit boring. That isn’t to say I don’t value self-care; you’ll have to pry my vitamin C, retinoid, and SPF out of my cold, dead hands when the time comes. I just don’t have the time, or the interest, for a life that feels like it’s getting ready for my next Instagram post.
Messy doesn’t mean unclean; it can be intentional, too
When I say “messy,” what I really mean is lived-in. It’s that effortless French Girl sensibility: the love-worn vintage tee, the jumper borrowed from a boyfriend, the slightly wonky but charming smudge of eyeliner, or hair that suggests you just woke up and chose life over battling with a Dyson Airwrap. But there’s a caveat. There is work that goes into looking this unbothered. Even in my supposed nonchalance, there is an element of performance. But isn’t that the entire point of fashion?
There is work that goes into looking this unbothered. Even in my supposed nonchalance, there is an element of performance. But isn’t that the entire point of fashion?
Messy girls are the ones who push boundaries
Aside from overstuffed tote bags and tangled wired headphones, Messy Girls have another common denominator: they are inherently cool. The Messy Girl is the one who isn’t afraid to push boundaries, to be a little controversial – think Charli XCX and her iconic Brat Summer, sweaty dance floors, and makeup that looks like it’s hanging on from the night before.
Or Billie Eilish and her grungy vibes, green tips, and aversion to conforming to standard beauty norms. Even the OG Messy Girls were doing it long before the internet term was coined: Kate Moss in her party-girl era, or the Olsen twins with perpetually tousled hair, masterful layering, and battered Birkin bags. They all prioritise the message over the style, but in doing so, they end up with style by the bucketload.
Messy shows you have a personality… and taste
The viral trend has been attributed to interiors, too – a kind of messy girl’s apartment vibe. But this doesn’t necessarily mean hoarding clutter or a house full of tat. It’s a curated chaos; a mess made of things that proudly represent your personality rather than squirrelling it away.
Being messy in your home or your wardrobe suggests you are multi-layered and interesting. It says, “I have depth, and I want to tell you about it.”
It’s the three started-but-unfinished books on the bedside table that suggest you’re well-read. It’s the stack of beautiful, but coffee cup-ringed tomes in the living room that says you’re cultured. Or the slightly rugged suede jacket you thrifted because you have a keen eye for style. Being messy in your home or your wardrobe suggests you are multi-layered and interesting. It says, “I have depth, and I want to tell you about it.”
Messy doesn’t necessarily mean cheap
In fact, it can be expensive to look this undone. I certainly spend a significant amount of time and money making my hair look like I’ve just rolled out of bed. My messiness is intentional; I want to look a little dishevelled. Think of Jane Birkin and her namesake Birkin bag – overflowing, scratched, and adorned with trinkets. It’s high-low perfection that is the epitome of the Messy Girl. Granted, when the world’s most iconic handbag is literally named after you, the rules no longer apply, but it’s that “I don’t give a damn” attitude that I find undeniably chic.
Think of Jane Birkin and her namesake Birkin bag – overflowing, scratched, and adorned with trinkets. It’s high-low perfection that is the epitome of the Messy Girl.
Life is messy and chaotic, so why pretend?
There is humility in imperfection. Personally, I’d rather see someone warts and all if it means I get a glimpse of the real them. Through TikTok and Instagram, we’ve been conditioned to vibe-ify every corner of what we find remotely interesting. Whether it’s “Clean Girl,” “Mob Wife,” or “Grannycore,” we’ve learned to label and aestheticise absolutely everything. If “Messy Girl” is my jam, I’m perfectly fine with that.
