The ultimate guide to becoming an e-girl (2024)

An E-girl “is an online term used to describe a young woman who uses the internet actively, usually trying to get attention on social media.” There are a few stereotypical types of e-girls, from gamer girls to VSCO girls, but the common similarity is that they use the internet as a place to socialize, and find entertainment.

The stereotyping of e-girls came with the rise of internet culture, like how we got the basic white girl, the cheerleader, and the like with the rise of high school culture, and the hipster girl with the rise of indie culture. But, this guide focuses on e-girls, and how to become successful in a healthy and enjoyable way.

With the ever-growing success of TikTok (you might have heard of it?), a new generation of pensive young adults has been experimenting online with the gothic stylings of the past.

However, these emo-centric, edgy outfits and make-up looks have been updated by Generation Z to form the ‘E-girl’ trend.

What’s an Egirl, you ask? 🌟 An E-girl is a girl who embraces the E-girl lifestyle: a blend of geeky elements with a sexy twist, like wearing cow print crop tops.

They often sport eye-catching E-girl outfits such as neon crop tops, cargo pants, and other fashion-forward pieces. E-girls love showcasing their unique style on social media — particularly TikTok — but can also be found on Instagram, among a community of influencers.

Finding your perfect E-girl style involves experimenting with your look, including E-girl hair and makeup characteristics. Don’t be afraid to play with contrasting elements and express your individuality.

The E-girl phenomenon traces its roots back to the early 2010s, with the term “e-girl” originating from “electronic girls” as a nod to their significant online presence. Tumblr was the breeding ground for the earliest examples of E-girl style, which evolved from previous subcultures such as emo and scene. However, the E-girl aesthetic also incorporates influences from various sources, including Japanese Harajuku fashion.

It will be a rare sight if you ever find an e-girl in person. The aesthetic is bold, yet mostly limited to the online world. Thus, your next door neighbour who you see in sweatpants and jumpers might be the edgy one, and you wouldn’t ever figure that out.

Beyond its cultural inspirations, the E-girl look also draws heavily from video game and cartoon characters, particularly those found in anime. Signature elements of the E-girl style, such as pleated skirts, chokers, and neon-colored hair, can be traced back to these animated influences.

This colorful and playful vibe is often juxtaposed with a darker edge, resulting in a unique aesthetic reminiscent of similar Tumblr-born styles like pastel goth and pastel grunge.

This fusion of eclectic influences has resulted in the distinctive E-girl style we know today, characterized by its bold, vibrant colors, edgy undertones, and unmistakable nods to popular culture. As the E-girl trend continues to evolve, it remains a popular and captivating form of self-expression for those who embrace it.

E-girls when compared to the insta-face have the liberty to express their personality as long as they fit (and love to fit) in the aesthetic. The silent and moody nature of the e-girls also stands in stark contrast to the outgoing and bubbly nature of a VSCO girl aesthetic, which rose to popularity simultaneously.

E-girls got the best of both worlds. The girly silhouettes with monochrome color palette (and some pop of reds, pinks and electric blues) juxtapose the two aesthetics, yet combine them into one complete edgy persona.

Now let’s take a look at how to become an egirl, embracing this popular internet persona and style with this following list:

Striped Solidarity

Become the bad girl crush of the internet with various types of monochrome stripes. Stripes have been the go-to print for outerwear when it comes to any subculture remotely related to emos.

E-boys are often seen in such stripes, however, it can be easily worn as an e-girl with a black dungaree and a pair of boots to complete the look in as few pieces as possible.

Crop tops are super versatile and allow you to accentuate your waist, giving a doll-like shape. While these items come in a wide variety of colors, neon green crop top is a favorite among the e-girl community. A great piece is our , which is currently available in our store. The crop top comes with buckle straps to help you nail that futuristic look, so make sure to check it out!

Graphic Gazes

The e-girl aesthetic takes inspiration from the grunge culture of the 80s and 90s, which denied the use of fresh clothes and instead believed in makeshift DIY.

Worn out graphic tees are one such aspect of grunge adopted by the e-girls. Think tees of bands like Led Zeppelin, Nirvana and Arctic Monkeys.

Nets and Crops

Sheer fabric of any kind adds on to the mystery in an outfit, and e-girls utilise the psyche of a fishnet to perfectionism.

A classic black and white pair can keep you company for decades, as fishnets are often worn when going all out with your clothing style. If you shy away from baring your skin, neon fishnets act as a great accessory over any shorts or crop tops.

Flared pleated skirts are the most common type of silhouette worn by the soft e-girls, while the more edgier ones look towards tight silhouettes of a black denim skirt, or even a leather one. The fishnet and skirt duo is versatile and can be worn with heels, boots or sometimes even flats.

Having skirts in the closer checklist for an e-girl also distinguishes them from the typical e-boy aesthetic, which usually has black skinny jeans.

When it comes to pants, the priority is comfort. Ripped or not, e-girls wear both skinny and baggy jeans confidently. Greys and worn out blacks are common hues for denim, while leather is thrown about whenever the outfits need to be elevated just a notch.

Comfy and edgy, cargo pants are a go-to item for E-girls. Choose pants that balance the sweetness of your crop top with a bit of grit for a signature E-girl look.

A not-so common piece is the dress amongst the e-girls, as they might point out the dungarees being equivalent to a dress. However, the influence of Japanese kawaii culture has brought alternate versions of the ‘maid dress’ in the internet scene.

In favour of the lockdown, the e-girl hairstyles skyrocketed as a trend thanks to the DIY nature of the look. The most basic hairstyle is the coloured strands of hair in front of your face, which can easily be done by anyone with a colouring kit at home.

Ponytails and space buns are some of the hairstyles which require maintenance, yet are a defining hairstyle for the e-girls.

E-girls take jewelry to the extreme. Inspired by their punk predecessors, heavy silver chokers in circles or heart shaped designs are the most common necklace accessory. Chokers are often layered with dangling crosses and hearts which go down to the torso.

Necklaces also have leather straps in either black or pastel colors, embedded with pins and pointed studs. Chains used for the dangling beauties are either thin or thick enough to become a statement in itself.

Rings of any kind, be it on the earlobe or on your fingers, have connected chain links with the earlier mentioned motifs to keep a cohesive look. Silver is by far the only color used by the electronic girls and boys, which suit their calm yet eerie personalities.

On the talk of jewelry, let us balance it out with statement footwear. Heeled boots, doc martens or Mary Jane shoes are common favorites and work perfectly well with knee high socks on any given day.

At its minimal, an e-girl makeup consists of shaped eyebrows, bold eyeliner and eyeshadow with a natural blush and tinted lips. Yet more is more when shown on a screen; Bold cat eyeliner, heavy eyeshadow and equally prominent blush in various shades of pinks, reds and purples are staples in makeup.

Try adding stamp-like motifs of hearts and stars as freckles if you wish to go creative. The blush tones are often matched with the hair or t-shirt colour for a unanimous look head to toe.

The E-girl aesthetic allows you to express your unique style through a mix of sweet and edgy elements. By experimenting with different clothing pieces, accessories, hair, and makeup, you’ll be on your way to captivating your social media followers and making a splash in the sexy E-girl community.

Remember, the key to becoming a successful E-girl is to embrace your individuality and have fun while experimenting! Let your creativity shine as you build your ideal e-girl look!