Ladies and everyone else, we are so on. Stupid and the City ™ has resurrected back from the dead – or more like from her coma. For those of you unfamiliar with the column, Stupid and the City ™ is as if ‘I am just a girl’ was a piece of written work. A digital diary about what navigating life feels like as a young person if you will. With this column being the (absolutely) self-proclaimed bible for the city girl, I thought I’d share some of my wisdom on the subject of the season: the ‘IT Girl’, which is essentially the evolution of the city girl. The weather is warming up, the girls are out and about and it’s time to discuss what the bad b****es are doing, wearing and saying. As having somewhat of an obsessive character, I’ve been, like many other city girls everywhere, completely infatuated with the ‘IT Girl’ movement. Now the ‘IT Girl’ is somewhat of a mystical figure, but unlike mermaids, sirens and fairies, the ‘IT Girl’ roams through society freely and blissfully. She’s everywhere at all times. She is more than cool, she is everything (to me at least).
It is hard to define what the ‘IT Girl’ is because it is also more of an abstract concept or an all-encompassing vibe – if you will. Arguably, the main aspect that makes the ‘IT Girl’ is her outfits. We all have the iconic outfits of our generation’s biggest IT Girls memorised and permanently imprinted in our brains. Lily-Rose Depp and her trench coat tabis combo, Kate Moss and her Hunter boots, Devon Aoki’s pink leather pants in Fast and Furious etc. I could go on but the list would be endless, you get the picture. The ‘IT Girl’ has mastered the art of ‘outfitting’; a pseudoscience based solely on the theory of always looking effortlessly cool, which is clearly uncharted territory for the majority of the population.
In this meticulously researched study into the ‘IT Girl’; I thought it would only be appropriate to bring in the fashion guru, if not the Fashion Editor of Aa, Chiara. Chiara’s column ‘Trends on Ice’ breaks down all things fashion: from runway looks, styling tips and tricks, to trend forecasting. Anything fashion, she knows! Together, we are here to ring in the collab of the century – the Stupid and the City ™ x Trends on Ice ‘How to Build an IT Girl’ guide. You might be wondering if this is really necessary. The answer is absolutely yes, ‘IT Girls’ run this town and it’s time to closely dissect and deconstruct this phenomenon.
In manically digging through my closet, trying to figure out how to pull off this new ‘IT Girl’ rebrand I am attempting – it is clear that dressing like an ‘IT Girl’ is not just the first step to becoming one, it is its very foundation. From taking inspiration straight from current trends in high fashion to the intricate and highly complicated practice behind crafting looks out of our closets’ most worn (out) basics, this guide provides the ABCs of dressing like the contemporary ‘IT Girl’.
The Statement Top – Opinions are Hot!
The bigger the statement the bigger the ‘IT Girl’. Political awareness is hot, so make sure society knows that while you are serving coolness, you are still being woke. There is a fine line between airhead and bedhead – while our hair might be fried, our brain is not. We like to think things so we must make sure everyone else knows it. Part of the quintessential unbothered vibe of the ‘IT Girl’ is having her opinions printed on her clothing so she doesn’t have to waste too much breath time. Instead of saying it with chest, it’s said on chest. The statement tee has to be bold, catchy and definitely provocative. Styling-wise; the raunchier the statement, the chiller the pants. Think Conner Ives’ ‘Protect the Dolls’ tee, and then classic baggy jeans. The choice of political statement remains up to said ‘IT Girl’ when picking whether to target the statement towards more of an anarchist versus an environmentalist vibe. The effort needs to seem low maintenance because her political activism is a casual activity. Wake up, grab a coffee, leave a social commentary about the political and economic state of the world, go to bed – repeat.
Perceive me – but only when I say so
As the ultimate pop-culture icon she is, while the image of the ‘IT Girl’ feeds off of public attention, she herself does not crave it. She can’t really hide from the limelight, but she can sure pretend to. This is done by two core components: the first non-negotiable being the big bag. In it, we are stashing cigs, lip liners, and feminist literature. Said literature can range from bell hooks to Angela Y. Davis and very few authors in between. Other than these three classic pieces found in any ‘IT Girl’ ‘s bag, the rest is left up to the personalisation of each individual ‘IT Girl’. Personality is at the very core of the ‘IT Girl’ ‘s identity, it is the very element that differentiates her. While all ‘IT Girls’ share certain characteristics, the look of the ‘IT Girl’ is not homogenous.
In the big bag, we also always have the cunt sunglasses, the second core component. Rain or shine, night or day, hot or cold, in or out – no ‘IT Girl’ look is complete without the sunglass de resistance. It covers the eye bags, ensures anonymity from the opps, frames the face shape, oh and most importantly, adds the ultimate cunt factor. The sunglasses also allow for the far too common episodes of in-public crash-outs. The ‘IT Girl’ is very in touch with her emotions yet she won’t ever let them stop her from her regular-scheduled programming. The ‘IT Girl’ is so unbothered, that she will not make eye contact. The shade is literal, and it’s probably designer.
Lastly, the hair – the culmination of the seeming contradiction that is the ‘IT Girl’ ‘s essence. The ‘IT Girl’ embodies opposing characteristics effortlessly, especially the unexpected ones. Her hair is so unbothered and left completely to its natural state that it almost looks put-together. The ‘IT Girl’ has a lot going on in her head, her hair is just the outer protective layer of the ‘IT Girl’‘s mind. She has places to go, people to see, and things to say- her hair is the least of her concerns. Plus, there is no hairbrush worthy of taming the ‘IT Girl’s mane.
Cultural Zeitgeist – It’s my circus and my monkey!
She’s the star of the show always, and more often than admitted this spotlight comes from questionable life decisions. As the entertainment symbol she is, the ‘IT Girl’ not only claims the clown allegations, but she also feeds into them. The look takes the circus vibe quite literally, we are talking clown collars and harlequin print – eccentricity at the most stylish level. It’s about personality on personality pieces – that’s showbiz baby! Yet despite the drama of it all, it’s all done super nonchalantly. Duh.
Man, I feel like a Woman
Sade’s Kiss of Life in human form. When the ‘IT Girl’ dresses up, you can almost see the halo. An angelic little figure representing femininity in its most literal form. This etherealness is not limited or conformed to gender but is more of an overarching feminine fairy princess vibe ™. May it be almost offensively clear, that it is all done by and for the female gaze. The ‘IT Girl’ is a service to society made by women for women and this look is the manifestation of this.
BRAT
Fun, sexy, playful – the ‘IT Girl’ is everything and more! Think scandalous but regal. She is sugar but also most definitely spice. More is more in this case, and all cases, regarding the style of an ‘IT Girl’. She knows her place in society and leaves the look of simplicity to the monks.
The Duality of a City Girl
‘How I show up to the club in Noord’. The ‘IT Girl’ is always out and about and the utility jacket is her armour coat. She’s a club soldier and needs suitable gear to last her the full night. The utility jacket is a must to make sure the ‘IT Girl’ arrives at the function untouched by treacherous weather conditions. She’s a city girl after all, so aside from all the glitz and glamour of her being, she remains realistic. Now, what she is wearing underneath the utility jacket is a completely different story. That’s the duality of the ‘IT Girl’, a gorgeous party outfit hidden under the strategic jacket choice.
Disclaimer _ I am in no way shape or form proclaiming that I am an ‘IT Girl’. This is just wishful (or maybe delusional) thinking. The use of the plural pronoun ‘we’ when discussing the subject matter has been done intentionally to acknowledge that we all have elements of the ‘IT Girl’ in us.
What truly makes an ‘IT Girl’ is her confidence. She is bold and proud – and that is really what should be taken out of this guide. The ‘IT Girl’ lives in all of us, we just have to channel her when we want to romanticize life and add pep to our step. While statement looks can be a fun way to act the part, our everyday basics are not to be undermined. The ‘IT Girl’ is about the overall vibe she exudes. Our everyday wardrobe favourites such are the essential building blocks for the ‘IT Girl’ fit when accessorized with the proper attitude.
Xx,
Irene and Chiara
