Is the Frazzled English Woman aesthetic the most realistic trend ever?
By Aggie Tweedie
Picture this:
It's cold outside and you’re running errands. You’ve been smart and have finally chosen the comfy puffer coat over your thinner cooler jacket. You don’t regret it as you can now walk around doing your chores as if in a duvet. You think you’ll treat yourself to a coffee and you head into your fave coffee shop to grab something to go.
Walking in, you feel a slight change in temperature, but, with all the bags you’re holding (from all the very responsible shopping you’ve done), you realise that taking off any layers is more than impossible. Its fine, you tell yourself, you’re getting it to take away anyway, and the queue isn’t that long. Getting closer, you attempt to take your earphones out, its more polite, and you like to be polite, there’s no way you want the barista to think you’re a rude customer, so, reaching with your stiff, heavily layered arm, you drop your earphones into your bag and let them fall to the bottom . You’re getting closer to the front of the queue and you still aren’t quite ready. You look at the slightly pretentious, slightly expensive chalkboard to decide!
Normally you would just get a hot flat white or cappuccino to go, its easy and if made well, it will keep you going for the rest of the afternoon, but, now, feeling stuffy and extremely flustered, you’re questioning whether to get it iced. It’s an extra 40p charge, and that seems to add even more decisions. you know its colder outside, its logical to get something hot, but right now you’re feeling like you might have heatstroke, and the knitted jumper you carefully picked out (that definitely needs a wash) is suddenly feeling very heavy.
Theres only one person in front of you now, and they are just getting their water bottle filled up, which means you have very very little time. Right, you think, I’ll get an iced coffee, I’m wearing enough layers to keep my body warm, and I can always fish out my gloves (the ones buried right next to the earphones) you’re flushed and you gargle your order to the waitress (with a lot of pleases and thank you’s) and then waddle over to wait for your order.
Grabbing your drink, you leg it to the door, experience an awkward push and pull with someone trying to enter the café, and finally, outside, you can unfluster. You sip the cold drink, and although its nice and refreshing, your hands are starting to freeze and you realise the cappuccino was the better option, but you won’t fish your gloves out.
A hard read, I know, but a relatable one for anyone that struggles with winter outfits. The layering that is required for the cold just does not accommodate warm cafes and anxious people, however, positively, a new aesthetic is trending that requires no new clothes or products, and a way to feel less ashamed of your constant embarassing-ness.
Think of the most relatable romcom protagonist ever, even better if they are from the 90’s, and that’s the basis for ‘The Frazzled English Woman’ aesthetic. Like Billie Piper, Helena Bonham Carter and of course, Bridget Jones. It encourages nothing slicked back or perfectly flawless – it’s frizz and rustic all the way. Jeans are a must, comfy ones, no specific style, just comfy. Heavy knitwear and basic tops, and whatever jacket on top, maybe colours, maybe neutrals. It’s not even really about the clothes but the attitude, the frazzlement that the user feels that is key. Maybe a collared shirt here or there, dress it up, or dress it down. If you are feeling a little bit funky, striped knit scarfs and colourful hair clips are always shown (at least on Pinterest they are!), and maybe a pair of boots just to make you feel taller than everyone else. I encourage comfort over style and layer until warmth is prioritised, as well as something unique to you that adds a bit of pep and excitement to your day, a novelty necklace, a tacky brooch or maybe just some colourful makeup – whatever it is, whatever you want, smudge, tie, or throw it on!
It is all of the above that makes this aesthetic achievable, or at least relatable. It is only meant for empowerment and having satisfaction in not being perfect, of feeling confident in your slightly unkempt look. It allows you to feel great in slept-in makeup and unwashed hair, and to be your messiest most unapologetic self. Not only are you feeling great with less effort (you’re effortless!), it also allows you to feel completely in your own world of a 90’s romcom, and with that, create a playlist that can only exaggerate it – the Arctic Monkeys, Scouting For Girls, Lily Allen, David Bowie – all the greats into one situation.
This is a trend that really has no direction nor specific features, (the ones above are just observations, but also, admittedly, classic winter attire anyway!), and unlike the ‘y2k’ trend or the ‘clean girl’ aesthetic, refuses any boundaries or criteria to fit in and really is an ‘embrace your uniqueness’ type of sitch, and actually, the main focus on the trend is only on the verb ‘frazzled’, the feeling of complete disarray, and your outfit and aesthetic mirroring that.
I reiterate at the end, that this trend is quite literally for everyone, and really, is just an aesthetic for the people that are wanting to romanticise their constant frizzy hair (despite straightening it the day before), or their makeup that never quite stays as they want and, quite frankly, just wanting to live in delusions and get through winter!
Sending lots of love while I attempt to type and spill my coffee at the same time (a stained white tee is very aesthetic).
