Alt girl
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Alt girls, also alternative girls, are girls who are members of a modern youth alt-subculture that emerged in the 2020s.[1][2] The subculture has spread in TikTok and fandoms. Alt girl is a young girl who adheres to alternative aesthetics and subculture and stands out for her appearance - colorful or, on the contrary, dark clothes, hairstyles, brightly colored hair, makeup and piercings.[3]
They use a mix of styles in their closet, pink socks and black army boots, school uniforms and belt chains.[4] Adherents of this community often combine styles from other movements - goths who like black colors, emos who dye their hair pink, punks who shave Iroquois on their heads, etc. use clothes similar to those of other subcultures: leather jackets of punks, decorative hipster glasses, loose-fitting dresses with ethnic designs preferred by hippies. To stand out from the crowd, dye their hair in non-standard bright colors: bright red, acid green, purple, etc. Apply makeup: tattoos, abundant use of dark shadows, glitter. The fundamental criteria of alt girl in the creation of the image are non-standard solutions and a complete lack of restrictions in the freedom of choice.[5]
E-girls also belong to the group close to the alt subculture. Representatives of the trend combine the styles of Asian street fashion and emo. They are fond of anime, listen to melancholic tracks, surf the Internet a lot and wear bright colors.[6]
History
[edit]In English-language Internet slang, the concept of “alt-girl” emerged in the late 2010-s at the intersection of several earlier informal movements such as goth, emo, punk, and skate culture. In slang, the word “alt” has become a universal adjective to describe an “alternative” aesthetic that differs from the mainstream.
According to the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary, the word “alt” means “an alternative version of something intended as a challenge to the traditional version”.[7]
The alt-subculture became most widespread and educated in the 2020s with the emergence of TikTok. The users of the social network decided that all content in it is divided into two opposite directions: streetwise and alt. This division reflects the cultural and aesthetic characteristics of young people with different interests. The hashtag #altfashion in TikTok has collected more than 1.8 billion views in 2023.[8]
Runet users call “alt-girl” imposing girls with extraordinary appearance, also the word “altushka” is used in relation to girls who try to stand out in society.[9]
Representatives of the "alt" movement have been criticized for frequently romanticizing mental problems, especially depression.[10]
Style
[edit]Alternative style has long defined different eras and emerged from a variety of subcultures including goth, punk, emo, and grunge.[2] The style of alt girls is reminiscent of 90s grunge and early 2000s punk culture. Saturated eyeliner, gothic accessories, and heavy metal heavily characterize the alt-girl style.[11] It can best be characterized as the style of emo, indie, and members of the 00s who emerged in the internet age.[12] Alternative girls tend to wear a lot of netting, massive shoes, baggy pants, piercings, and brightly colored hair.[4] Some alternative girls display dual identities and a love of cosplay.[11]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Roque, Valentina (2022-09-16). "Alt-Girl: The Trend Is Here, But Are We Ready For It?". MALVIE Magazine. Retrieved 2025-01-28.
- ^ a b Fox-Suliaman, Jasmine (2022-08-31). "Alt-Girl Fashion Has Gone Viral on TikTok—Here's What You Need to Know". WhoWhatWear. Retrieved 2025-01-28.
- ^ "Альтушки: кто это, как выглядят, что за мем альтушка с госуслуг". РБК Тренды (in Russian). Retrieved 2025-01-28.
- ^ a b "Почему людей увлекают фандомы: психология, история и мнения экспертов". РБК Тренды (in Russian). Retrieved 2025-01-28.
- ^ "Насколько вы отстали от жизни, если не знаете эти 9 молодёжных слов". Life.ru (in Russian). 2024-05-28. Retrieved 2025-01-28.
- ^ "Что за мем в рунете про представительниц альт-субкультуры". Т—Ж (in Russian). 2024-02-01. Retrieved 2025-01-28.
- ^ Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. "alt".
- ^ Ngwe, Glory; CNN (2023-06-20). "The Black girls reclaiming alternative fashion". CNN. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
{{cite web}}:|last2=has generic name (help) - ^ "Альтушки: кто это, как выглядят, что за мем альтушка с госуслуг". РБК Тренды (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2024-09-16. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
- ^ "Кто такие «альтушки» и причем тут Госуслуги: новый молодежный тренд". ura.news (in Russian). 2024-02-10. Archived from the original on 2024-09-16. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
- ^ a b "What It Means To Be An 'Alt Girl'". YourTango. 2022-10-04. Retrieved 2025-01-28.
- ^ "Why Alt Girls Are TikTok's Newest Fashion Inspiration". Nylon. 2020-08-14. Retrieved 2025-01-28.