For the past year, my Instagram Reels have been a steady stream of pilates, meal prep, extensive “get ready with me” videos and fashion advice on how to achieve the perfect “clean girl” aesthetic. While these videos are aesthetically pleasing, I can\u2019t help but notice the negative culture they promote. The 20-step routine required to achieve a “no-makeup-makeup” look, or the hour-long nighttime regimen just to wake up looking “effortless” has become mundane. So what if I have a pimple? Is that really so bad? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The problem with these trends is not just that they promote unrealistic standards, but that they also discourage originality; everyone just ends up doing the same things. The “clean girl” has become a tool for brands to push a singular, basic style that girls feel pressured to obtain. But that\u2019s not how fashion works! Fashion is fueled by creativity and personality, and frankly, I\u2019m bored with the rigid standards forcing us to look “clean” just to be considered attractive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While the “clean girl” trend isn’t going to disappear tomorrow\u2014as Vogue has already pointed out, “it refuses to die<\/a>“\u2014we are seeing celebrities push back. On one hand, you have figures like Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner, who famously promote attire fit for the Stanley Cup with clean, sleek outfits, flawless, slicked buns and perfect dewy skin. On the other hand, there\u2019s people like Charli XCX, Billie Eilish and Alex Consani who bring a distinctly unique vibe: fur jackets, bold makeup, messy hair, big sunglasses and even bigger personalities. It\u2019s not that we\u2019re trying to stylize burnout, but there is something more accepting and fun about not needing to perfect your clothes, hair and makeup each and every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s also not just celebrities; TV shows are also leaning into the carefree culture of 20-somethings. Shows like I Love LA<\/em><\/a> and Adults<\/em><\/a> show us that we might actually need a little more chaos, especially as college students. Overcompensating<\/em>,<\/a> the hit sitcom by Benito Skinner and Mary Beth Barone detailing Skinner\u2019s messy, imperfect and hilariously fun coming-out story, was just renewed for a second season. There\u2019s something reassuring about seeing people make mistakes and embarrass themselves, particularly in a culture that rarely lets you have a “messy hair day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I love pilates and hot yoga as much as the next person, and while consistency is important for a routine, it doesn’t have to be so strict. The “clean girl” culture suggests that you have to wake up at 5:30 a.m. every day to attend a barre class to be \u201chealthy.\u201d You\u2019re expected to get a full eight hours of sleep, eat only clean, organic foods, and stick to a monotonous work\/life schedule. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The reality is that if you aren’t an influencer who sets their own schedule, this level of commitment isn’t always attainable. As college students with academic and extracurricular demands, our sleep schedules vary and our workout times change by the day. But that doesn\u2019t make you lazy or inconsistent! We only have so much time before we start working a tedious 9-to-5 job, so maybe we should embrace the inconsistency of college life before we inevitably graduate into the “real world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The “clean girl” aesthetic doesn’t just promote a look; it centers a very specific demographic<\/a>\u2014typically white, affluent women. By branding this style as “clean,” the trend implicitly labels anyone else as the opposite. It can make it seem like being a \u201cclean girl\u201d demands a level of polished perfection that\u2019s only attainable with significant time and money. Beyond its exclusionary nature, the trend has been called out for rebranding styles that have existed in minority communities for decades. Elements like a slicked-back bun<\/a> have always been in style, but it wasn\u2019t until white influencers on TikTok promoted it that it went viral. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of forcing everyone into a singular, high-maintenance mold, the \u201cmessy\u201d alternative embraces the chaos of real life. It shifts the focus from an expensive, performative perfection back to authenticity, proving that your character is far more entertaining than fitting into a sterile, pre-packaged brand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Messy” might be a strong word to counteract “clean,” but what we\u2019re really talking about is authenticity. We\u2019ve always craved celebrities who show their true personalities, like Emma Chamberlain with her honest vulnerability or Jennifer Lawrence with her unapologetic realness. These are the qualities we love!<\/p>\n\n\n\nEndless Cycle of Consistency<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Problematic and Reused <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Messy\u2019 or More Authentic? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n