The "sloth girl summer" trend sees laziness drive fashion and beauty trends. Photo: AFP
The latest fashion trend to go viral on social networks is the "sloth girl summer". This micro-movement has racked up several million views on TikTok, and takes the effortless look to the extreme, with joggers, creased T-shirts and pyjamas.
Is laziness about to take the fashion world by storm?
That was what predicted at the start of the year, but now it's being seen even more concretely in a new fashion aesthetic called "sloth girl summer".
In response to "hot girl summer", which for several years has been reflected in deliberately provocative and rebellious attitudes and outfits, this new trend brings laziness to the fore in every conceivable way.
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On TikTok – Gen Z's favourite social network – the associated hashtag has already racked up over five million views, and summer still isn't over quite yet.
It's more of an attitude, or even a lifestyle, than a fashion or beauty trend per se.
The focus here is on keeping things stress-free. It's not about claiming any kind of freedom or liberation, but about living simply, easily, and above all, for yourself, not for others.
If the many videos found on TikTok are anything to go by, it's about taking a nap while the rest of us are soaking up the sun at the beach, watching eight seasons of a series while the party's in full swing, or reheating whatever you can get your hands on when you're too lazy to cook a proper meal.
Contrary to what you might think, the aim here is not to single out or shame those who have adopted the "sloth girl summer", but to shine light on a state of mind that seems to appeal to many social media users.
Especially since followers claim to have spent the summer making decisions based on their own desires, regardless of the opinions – or lifestyles – of others, similar to the "rat girl summer" trend, also a hit on TikTok.
Although the "hot girl summer" and "rat/sloth girl summer" trends may be polar opposites, they do have one important point in common: they encourage women to fight back against certain preconceived ideals of female beauty.
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In fashion, this is being reflected in a boom in basics, and a veritable ode to simplicity.
Shades are neutral, cuts often shapeless, and many pieces are taken from the sportswear repertoire. In the end, it's all about using whatever you've got to hand to put together an outfit that can be more or less polished.
Washed-out shorts, an oversized sweatshirt, pajamas, jogging pants and comfortable shoes would all be ideal wardrobe staples for a "sloth girl summer" look.
Still, this is likely to be a short-lived trend that should gradually give way to much more sophisticated looks for the fall season. – AFP Relaxnews
