The City Girl Aesthetic: A Look at How Gen Z Celebrities Are Redefining Urban Chic

Last update:07 December 2024, 1:41 p.m. IST

The City Girl Aesthetic mixes elements of modern fashion with vintage feminine silhouettes.

A quick perusal of outfits worn by Gen Z celebrities like Khushi Kapoor, Shanaya Kapoor, Suhana Khan and Palak Tiwari shows a common element. Their outfits exude an aesthetic that screams confidence, elegance and the charm of urban living. The clothes can easily transition from a business meeting to a coffee session. This style is gaining ground on social networks and many young fashion girls are moving towards it. Called City Girl Aesthetic, this style combines urban practicality and élan.

The City Girl Aesthetic romanticizes life in a bustling city that offers plenty to do. Think vintage silhouettes, but incorporate elements of modern, sleek fashion with a lifestyle that screams independence, confidence and ambition. The City Girl Aesthetic exudes effortless elegance and what better way to describe it than with dresses? The best way to describe this aesthetic is to look at simple dresses that are both contemporary and feminine.

Consider Suhana Khan’s black floral dress she wore to Ambani’s pre-wedding in Italy. The dress was chic, elegant and feminine. Dresses are a central part of the City Girl aesthetic. They are versatile and can be dressed up or down by adding elements. The key to this aesthetic is the versatility it offers. This is why she relies heavily on neutral colors like white and mocha which can be worn for almost any occasion. These neutral tones with a pop of color, like pink and red, can easily create a fashion statement.

Summer Somewhere’s latest Holiday Resort collection encapsulates the charm of the City Girl aesthetic. Speaking about the collection, founder Meghna Goyal said, “This collection embodies the spirit of a woman who romanticizes life in a metropolitan city with a busy schedule, effortlessly transitioning from a brunch with friends, to a romantic date, end-of-year celebrations or a quick getaway. She’s a girl who stays on top of trends but her style is very timeless – which is why each style in the collection is carefully selected and perfectly tailored to suit these occasions.

Another key example of the City Girl aesthetic is this strapless white bodycon dress worn by Shanaya Kapoor.

The charm of the City Girl Aesthetic lies in its simplicity. If the cuts are simple and easy to recreate, so is the makeup. Since the aesthetic is all about staying stylish and playing, makeup leans more toward clean, minimalist looks. Think of Ananya Panday’s effortless glamorous looks where she prefers to keep her skin dewy and adds a pop of color with blush and just a hint of mascara and lip gloss to tie her look together.

Or Khushi Kapoor’s beautifully sun-kissed makeup during her friend’s bachelorette trip to Thailand.

The most popular example of the City Girl aesthetic is Sex And The City’s Carrie Bradshaw who nailed every one of her outfits. Her look was not only stylish but also practical and could easily transition from work to a casual lunch with her friends in New York. A fairly recent example would be Emily Cooper from the superhit Emily In Paris which mixes Parisian elements like a beret with the aesthetic.

Today, celebrities are reaching new heights by adding their own personal touch. Whether running errands or heading to an office meeting, the City Girl Aesthetic combines style, versatility and practicality.