Forget summer of hot girls, Generation Z's latest aesthetic trend is VSCO Girl - a preppy beach look that has taken YouTube, Instagram and Tiktok by storm.
2019 first brought us the Summer of Hot girls - a trend that spread through rapper Megan Thee Stallion, who, along with her music, "Just having fun....... Don't care what people say."
But now, it's time to move on to the next fad.
Enter: VSCO Girl.
As the latest hashtag to take social media by storm, you've probably seen VSCO Girls on your Instagram front page, YouTube, or Tiktok. You may even have seen them in the VSCO photo editing app, where they came from.
In fact, VSCO Girls has become an entire Internet subculture, popular with Gen Z.Although it seems to center around Birkenstocks and Hydro Flask cups, the trend actually goes much deeper, and some have even called it the new sexiness.
A little confused? Here's everything you need to know about VSCO Girls.
What exactly is a VSCO girl?
The photo editing app often used by VSCO girls, VSCO (pronounced "vis-co"), is known for its hazy beach-style filters. The term goes far beyond this application, though.
It has become shorthand for a particular preppy, beachy aesthetic that has emerged among Generation Z - think broad-cut t-shirts, scrunchies, shell necklaces and birkenstocks.
Other must-have items include Fjallraven backpacks, Pura Vida bracelets, Crocs, Vans, Mario Badescu facial spray and Burt's Bees lip balm. The VSCO girls are also likely to be environmentally conscious: The Hydro Flask and metal straws are also included in the starter package.
How did VSCO Girls take social media by storm?
According to Know Your Meme, the trend can be traced back to January 2019, when YouTub blogger Greer Jones released the video "Become the Ultimate VSCO Girl."
Since then, there have been numerous tutorials on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Twitter, as well as numerous bloggers' over-the-top interpretations.
Why is the VSCO Photo editing app so popular?
Photo editing app VSCO was first launched in 2011 and now has more than 30 million users worldwide, 75% of whom are Gen Z.
The app offers a variety of retro-inspired filters to choose from and is a social media platform in its own right; Gen Z sees it as a more relaxed space because it has no ads, comments or likes
What is the favorite phrase of VSCO girls?
"And I oop" - an expression of shock or surprise - is often used by VSCO Girls and comes from a YouTube video shared by "rupaul Drag Queen Show" contestant Jasmine Masters in 2015. "Sksksk" is often used to express laughter or embarrassment.
What does the VSCO girl trend remind us of?
The VSCO girl trend stems from nostalgia for the 1990s. In fact, Princess Diana has been described as "the original VSCO girl."
This trend is often compared to the "basic" stereotype that emerged in 2014, although VSCO girls are seen as a more powerful label.
