The 'Gloomy Girl' Aesthetic Is About To Take Fall By Storm

As we move into the fall season, the weather gets gloomier as do our aesthetics. With summer filled with aesthetics such as 'tomato girl' and 'coconut girl,' we move on to something much more melancholy for fall — 'gloomy girl.' The gloomy girl aesthetic combines other aesthetics we know and love to create an eerie look perfect for fall. The gloomy girl may have the love for reading often defined as dark academia, an appreciation for fairytales known as fairycore, or a wannabe royal style deemed royaltycore — yet, instead of taking a traditional approach to these aesthetics, they turn dark. Gloomy girls are curious and experimental, seemingly existing in a world of their own.

Christina Grasso is not only a writer, an art director, and co-founder of The Chain but also a connoisseur of the gloomy girl aesthetic. In an interview with The Zoe Report about how they portray the aesthetic, they state they love "a sense of mystery." This curiosity and darkness is apparent in those who practice the gloomy girl look, but it doesn't affect their ability to continually look feminine. Combine your femininity with dark gothy culture for a gloomy girl outfit perfect for the fall season.

Gloomy girls want to represent how they feel with their clothing choices. Moody and mysterious tones don't necessarily have to be dark, but they must make those around you visibly see how you feel. While many use dark tones including blacks, browns, and purples to show this off, others use fleshy and white tones for an eerie, ghostly feel.

Bows are a feminine touch that can be added in small ways to otherwise moodier outfits. Instagram influencer @romneyellen embraces the gloomy girl aesthetic, as her feed is filled with images of her reading, visiting art museums, and lighting candles. As the fall season approaches, she adds bows to her moody outfits for a feminine twist.

Girls who love the royaltycore aesthetic but who prefer it to be darker often turn to a historical-style gloomy girl look. For example, women may turn to an Edwardian-fashion style signaled by the S-curve silhouette, "a shape that pushed the hips back and the bust forward, exaggerated by floppy blouses that hung over the waist at the front," according to Art UK. The look seemingly showcases a love for dark history and curiosity about other eras.

Femininity and darkness contrast in gloomy girl looks to create those that demand attention. "If I'm wearing a dress or a nightgown in the summer that leans super feminine, I'll do a combat boot, a black Mary Jane, or a white trainer, and maybe add a little winged eyeliner to give everything a bit more edge," gloomy girl connoisseur Christina Grasso tells The Zoe Report.

What better way to showcase your dreamy spirit than by wearing a literal nightgown as a dress? Nightgowns — or 'nap dresses' — are flowy and feminine but have an eerie, ghostly undertone. They also pay homage to history, as this sleepwear style often makes us think of decades past. As the years pass, those with a longing for the past continue to wear them.

While the gloomy girl style may seem minimal to some, it is more complex than it may first appear. Gloomy girl looks often have details that make the entire look or create a backstory. While some may consider a historical dress "just a dress," gloomy girls know there's a story behind it. Some looks may not have a backstory, but they have details such as frills, bows, and ruffles, which are back in a big way, with many ways to add them to your wardrobe.