THE ALT-GIRL SUMMER AESTHETIC, EXPLAINED

Lorde’s effortless baggy jeans and white shirt in the What Was That music video marked the fizzle of hyperfeminine looks and the rise of normcore. Whether she’s on the red carpet or spotted at Coachella, comfort is her unspoken manifesto. Months before her Virgin album release date, she was seen in NYC wearing a striped polo, jeans and ballet flats – simple and yet so cool.

GET THE LOOK:

Topshop jersey short sleeve rugby top in multi stripe, £30
Cotton On super baggy low rise jeans in rust blue, £40
ASOS DESIGN Lottie mary jane ballets in black, £20

This year, the sisters built buzz around their album I quit by recreating iconic paparazzi photos from the 00s – low-rise jeans, boring cardigans and infinity scarves included. Much like their new anthems Relationships and Take me back, HAIM are channelling a vibe that’s raw, lived-in, and somehow still totally fresh. Case in point: their AW25 Louis Vuitton looks, which were the very definition of effortless and undone.

GET THE LOOK:

ASOS DESIGN multi-functional puff sleeve blouse in black, £30
adidas Originals three stripe sprinter shorts in green, £33
Topshop Carey real leather loafers with ruched detail in black, £48

Maybe it’s the Charli XCX effect, but Addison has completely shaken off her squeaky-clean TikTok image – one day she's on the red carpet in a tailored corset and plaid fishtail skirt, next she’s dancing on stage in her lingerie. Want to rebrand like Addison? Put your headphones on, lean into being Y2khaotic, opt for grungy 'fits, minimal makeup and choose diet Pepsi over Coke, of course.

GET THE LOOK:

Kaiia tailored square neck corset back detail top co-ord in charcoal grey, £28
COLLUSION drop waist print maxi skirt in yellow check, £29.99

Whether she’s giving us serious bangers or looking like a Fantasy on the red carpet, JADE is the queen of versatility. Now in her post-Little Mix era, she’s ditched the glossy pop aesthetic and moved into her own lane of style – a look that’s more her. Think oversized tailoring, smoky eyes and that signature ‘I’m just doing my thing’ energy. It's mensy styling, but with a glam edge.

GET THE LOOK:

Vero Moda linen touch oversized, from £42
Stradivarius linen blend shirt in white, £22.99
ASOS DESIGN Masterpiece chunky loafer in black, £30

Pop, electronic, alt-rock, indie… PinkPanthress doesn’t stick to one genre, and her style’s just as unpredictable. Whether she’s wearing a cinched corset or carrying her signature handbag on stage, she always finds a way to make it work. Her Acne Studios AW25 look? It feels Illegal – it feels like our Y2K Pinterest board just came to life. If you’re plotting a summer aesthetic reset then take your style cues from Pink – clash patterns, choose interesting silhouettes and add tension with an 'ugly' shoe.

GET THE LOOK:

Reclaimed vintage cinched waist shirt with tie back in check, £32.99
Hollister low rise bubble skirt in red tartan print, £27.95
ASOS DESIGN statement buckle slouch tote bag in light Khaki, £34