Hyper-Femininity, Fashion, and Film
The resurgence of hyper-feminine styles after the long-held ‘not-like-other-girls’ movement that impacted the everyday silhouette throughout the 2010s has, personally, been long awaited. Whether you love or hate the aesthetic, I’m sure we can all agree that this style insurgence has helped feminists reclaim femininity and ‘girliness’ as a positive thing. As Elle Woods so fabulously demonstrated to us all 22 years ago; wearing a hot pink driving suit and six-inch designer heels doesn’t hinder academic ability.
Reece Witherspoon in Legally Blonde (2001)
In Legally Blonde, “pink was more than just an emblem of femininity” - AAMINA KHAN, Vogue. The colour stood for female empowerment in the workplace, compassion, and hard work. A “what, like it’s hard?” attitude. In contrast, when analysing similar movies at the time we see hyper-femininity oozing out of the pores of iconic antagonists such as Regina George and Sharpay Evans, both characters flaunting ultra-girly outfits that supposedly fit their catty personas.
Despite being the villain of the trilogy, Ms Evans was - and still remains - one of the most loved characters in the films. Her theatrical and OTT personality was mirrored perfectly with her fashion choices, showing her fearlessness and ambition to achieve everything she wanted. Although hyper-femininity in this instance was arguably used to heighten her “mean girl” persona, her redemption arc and passionate drive for success didn’t give exaggerated femininity an overly negative reputation (but still not the most positive one).
Ashley Tisdale in High School Musical 2 (2007)
On the Runway
Aside from how ultra-femininity was portrayed on-screen, the resurgence of the aesthetic both on and off the runway has re-empowered people to ‘bring out their girly side’. On the runway, many hyper-feminine styles were exhibited in Giambattista Valli’s Spring 2023 collection: the babydoll, delicate florals, and extravagant puffed dresses in sugary hues. Setting aside the extreme runway-ready elements, most accents and design ideas of the collection are extremely wearable for the everyday this season.
Collage of pieces shown in Giambattista Valli’s Spring 2023 collection: photos found on Vogue.com and presented here by Lana Free
Incorporation into Your Own Style:
Personal styling is where fashion becomes an extension of yourself and, quite frankly, unbelievably fun. Fully adopt the hyper-feminine and go all out on the pink, the ribbons and bows, the heels, and the florals. (“Florals. For spring? Groundbreaking.” I know, I know. But you’ve got to admit that they’re a classic). Do an Elle Woods and go for head-to-toe pink, or opt for romantic lines such as the ones popularised in Bridgerton.
Or, add a contrasting pop of ‘girliness' with a typically masculine silhouette - one of my favourite styling ideas over the last few seasons has been the motorbike jacket and ribbons combination. Combining juxtaposing elements always creates a unique-chic look.
Meera Zhao on Pinterest.com