Poor Girl Summer
With gas reaching outrageous prices along with the sky-rocketing price of, well... EVERYTHING, I think it's time I introduced an idea I've been absolutely obsessed with since I thought of it... Poor Girl Summer.
“Poor Girl Summer” isn’t another thing to buy. It's not really a trend at all. It's a way of life, one that harkens back to a time before everything was being sold to us all the time. It's the natural result that comes from years of over-marketing. Now we've all got closets and drawers and storage units full of clothes, but we're still stuck on the hamster wheel of buying a new wardrobe every year.
Poor Girl Summer is a call back to the naïveté of childhood, when we just wore what we had and we wore it with a smile. It's minimal effort, rewearing the basics and unique items from your closet, and joyful confidence no matter what.
Picture soft, worn-in clothes, pieces that feel lived in - because they have been. Not sloppy, just relaxed. Poor girl summer is faded tees, oversized button-downs, tank tops, thrifted or reworked pieces, denim that’s not trying too hard. It's hair that’s air-dried, a little imperfect, or a ponytail or pigtails or a braid topped with a hat. It's sunscreen and minimal makeup.
The key rule of Poor Girl Summer is that it cannot look forced, because it cannot be forced. If you're scrolling Amazon for something new to buy for this aesthetic, you're doing it wrong. You should be scrolling your own closet, which is exactly what I did. I created a Pinterest board based on things I already owned because I'm sick of seeing a rotation of “Rich Girl” items I don't want, don't need, and don't have room for.
The magic of Poor Girl Summer is in the “I just woke up like this” energy. Energy that yells “I'm here! I'm ready for adventure, ice cream, and long, hot days by the water!”
How to make Poor Girl Summer work for YOU
Here’s where things get fun, because you absolutely don’t need to buy a whole new wardrobe, or anything at all! The only things you should be buying are quality, timeless staples you truly need.
1. Start with what you already own
Look in your closet, and pull out all your summer pieces - your softest, most worn out tees, that skirt you almost donated, the jean shorts that fit just okay, the hoodie you live in. Now's a great time to put away any winter clothes you won't be wearing. You can pack them in vacuum seal bags if you're low on space, or just rotate them to the back of the closet.
2. Romanticize Your Clothing
Now you're left with your very own personal summer capsule. Romanticize it! Look up those exact pieces on Pinterest and put them in your own Poor Girl Summer vision board. Black baby tees, red tank tops, jean shorts, sporty dresses, palazzo pants, athletic shorts, oversized graphic tees or whatever else you have. Look it all up and prepare to be amazed how cute it can look! After all, you bought it for a reason.
3. Don't Shy Away From Color
Standard fashion advice right now seems to be: cream, black, white, gray, faded blue, soft green, nothing too loud, and absolutely nothing too fun or happy. Not here! Poor girl summer is all about colors and prints - neons, bolds, pastels, stripes, florals, polka dots... Mix and match to your heart's delight. Of course, if you've always been a neutrals person, stick with that! You’re tapping into yourself and your personal style, not chasing someone else’s version. Just remember, nothing in your closet is off limits this summer.
4. Underdo the Accessories
Again, if you've got it, flaunt it! Jewelry, scarves, hats, bags, and all the rest are totally allowed if you already have them! But honestly? Clothing takes center stage here, while accessories take a back seat. Necessary canvas bags or purses are great. Last year’s baby backpack or crossbosy bag still work great! Any new jewelry should be inexpensive or very simple. Things you can make at home like friendship bracelets and shell necklaces are perfect. Purposeful accessories like scrunchies and hair ties around the wrist are also great. For metal jewelry, stick to 1 to 3 pieces max, of the highest quality you can afford. Hair should be free and easy: air dried, messy bun, claw clip, ponytail, or in any sort of braid. Top it off with a baseball cap or bandana and you’re ready to walk out the door!
5. Confidence and Happiness is the Whole Thing
Wear your Poor Girl Summer wardrobe with a big smile, no matter what. The aesthetic falls apart without it. The vibe we’re going for is “I’m fine exactly the way I am.” Not polished, not perfect, not striving to be someone you're not. It's time to embrace you just as you are, comfortable and joyful.
What to Avoid:
Being actually unclean instead of casually under-done
Trying too hard to look like you didn’t try
Buying a bunch of “poor girl aesthetic” outfits, which defeats the whole point
Note:
Poor girl summer is about embracing frugality and making do with what we already have. It isn’t sinking into a depression about the current economic situation, shifting our personalities, chasing an aesthetic at any cost, or lowering our standards. It should be thought of more as a stepping back from the current rat race, an opting out of a system built to drain us, and a nostalgic return to simpler, more care-free time. Rather than just another trend, it should feel like the summer vacations of our childhoods, stepping away from the cycle of fashion and trends and instead taking time to embrace the people and things we truly love that make us who we really are.
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