For many millennials, it’s been amusing to see the return of so many Y2K trends over the past couple of years. And while we’ve been having fun with eye glitter and butterfly clips again, we had a sinking suspicion that the next era was awaiting us.
Yep, we’re talking about “Indie Sleaze” aka “The Tumblr Girl” aesthetic (or what some younger TikTokers are calling “Rockstar Girlfriend”). Regardless of what you call it, you’ll know it when you see it. Some hallmarks of the look include heavy, side-swept bangs, disheveled hair and enough eyeliner to paint a room.
Indie Sleaze (and the many too-cool-for-school bands who perpetuated this aesthetic) dominated the early- to mid-2000s and it lasted well into the 2010s. Judging by our feeds and some recent fashion shows, it appears it’s sneaking back into our lives once again…or at least it’s trying to. We don’t know about you, but we’re not quite ready to bring back the raccoon eyes just yet—if ever. For argument’s sake though, let’s take a closer look at the trend ahead.
