Just when we thought we had seen the end of American Apparel skirts and fishnet stockings, Tik Tok had other ideas.
2021 has been a year of unforeseen events. But nothing has impacted people more than the comeback of the 2014 Tumblr-era aesthetic. Tattoo chokers and an excessive amount of plaid filled our Tumblr dashboards and shaped the aesthetic of the early 2010s.
Bands like the Arctic Monkeys and The 1975 were at the forefront of the ‘soft grunge’ era. Teens took to Tumblr to show off their indie-rock styles and repost anything and everything that fit their angsty aesthetic.
The Tumblr era was infamously fueled by feeling alone and escaping the world by going online. Most users were young teens who would repost quotes or images that expressed the feelings they couldn’t grasp themselves. Dashboards could be used to create online identities that best represented the user.
The 2014 Aesthetic
Tik Tokkers pair their oversized black-rimmed glasses with high-top converse to showcase the iconic looks of the 2014 Tumblr era. In POV-style, Gen Z is reminiscing on their daily routines of getting ready in 2014.
Following the trend, Tik Tok user @heatherambrosia writes “mentally I’m still in 2014” as she sports winged eyeliner, a red lip, and a skater skirt. Naturally, Knee Socks by the Arctic Monkeys is playing in the background of the get ready with me.
Finally, it’s time to dust off all your old soft grunge outfits and put on “AM” by the Arctic Monkeys to ride this trend before it inevitably dies out once again.
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