VSCO Girl
what it means
Named after a photo-editing app. It's now mostly remembered as a case study in how fast an aesthetic can go from ubiquitous to embarrassing.
A 2019 aesthetic of scrunchies, oversized tees, Hydro Flasks, Birkenstocks and "sksksk and I oop".
the origin story
Named after the VSCO photo app, whose muted filters defined the look; the trend peaked on TikTok in mid-2019.
It was one of the first aesthetics TikTok created and destroyed on its own, going from genuine trend to mockery within months. "Sksksk and I oop" — the catchphrase attached to it — came from Black drag vernacular, a lineage that was almost entirely lost in the trend's coverage.
in the wild
Scrunchie on the wrist, metal straw, Hydro Flask.
Peak 2019 VSCO girl.
It died so fast.
Six months from trend to insult.
how to use it
- Discussing 2019 internet history
- Talking about trend cycles
- Nostalgic references
- As current fashion vocabulary
- As an insult
- Without acknowledging the catchphrase's origins
related terms
receipts
Community feedback
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