soft girl
{{Short description|Subculture}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
Soft girl or softie describes a youth subculture that emerged among some young women around mid-to late-2019. Soft girl is a fashion style and a lifestyle, popular among some young women on social media, based on a deliberately cutesy, feminine look with a "girly girl" attitude. Being a soft girl also may involve a tender, sweet, and sensitive personality.{{Cite web|url= https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/dec/04/tiktok-soft-girl-femininity-empowerment-culture|title= TikTok's soft girls: could a hyper-cute aesthetic be a symbol of empowerment?|last= Matei|first= Adrienne|date= December 4, 2019|website= The Guardian|language=en-us|access-date=January 11, 2022}}
The soft girl aesthetic is a subculture that found predominant popularity through the social media app TikTok. Singer-songwriter Ariana Grande has been credited with popularizing the soft girl aesthetic.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/09/cnn-underscored/what-is-a-soft-girl/index.html|title=What is a soft girl? Shop the latest teen trend|last=Thompson|first=Courtney|date=March 9, 2020|website= CNN|language=en-us|access-date=January 11, 2022}}
Aesthetics
The trend consists mainly of soft pastel colors, Y2K, anime, K-pop, and 1990s-inspired clothing, as well as cute and nostalgic prints with flowers and hearts, stuffed animals, fluffy pillows, and other soft and cuddly items. It parallels some of the Kawaii-centric aesthetics in Japan but with a more subdued look.{{cite web|url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/fashion/g35290385/soft-girl-aesthetic-outfits/|publisher=Cosmopolitan|title=17 Cute "Soft Girl" Outfits That Channel a Romantic Aesthetic|date=February 5, 2021 |access-date=2022-04-06}}