Fashion continues to excite and delight us in new ways with every turn of a corner. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, a new look emerges that completely blows the rest out of the water. Maybe it’s the resurgence of an old trend that comes back with a force too strong to ignore, such as the Y2K craze that’s taken the fashion set by storm. Whatever the case may be, it’s obvious that the fashion industry is evolving faster than ever. Influencers, celebrities, and trend forecasters are delving into a myriad of style aesthetics that have yet to materialize into mainstream trends. Each sector happens to have its community of enthusiasts that become evident in just a few scrolls on Instagram and TikTok. In light of the new year now upon us, we thought this would be the perfect time to switch up your wardrobes. So, we put together this list of 10 aesthetic trends worth trying out if you want to push your style boundaries in 2022.

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Soft Girl
For those who love to play up their more feminine side, this aesthetic is for you. The soft girl look encompasses a mix of girly pieces, with a large focus on pastels. Think soft pinks and lavenders as well as heart and floral patterns. Perhaps one of the easiest ways to test drive the soft girl aesthetic is to lean into pieces with a youthful color palette. Team them with everyday pieces, like jeans and a tank top for an organic look.

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Coconut Girl
Channel the carefree feeling of spring and summer as early as you can by embracing the coconut girl aesthetic. This is essentially a vibe that conveys beachy vacation feels by focusing on clothing reminiscent of the early 2000s. Look to crochet halter tops, tropical floral prints, and shell jewelry to pull it off. It was one of the most-searched aesthetic trends of 2021, so we expect it to blow up as we creep closer towards spring and summer.

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Academia
Dark romantic novels, candles, and the fine arts are just a few things that would interest someone who is invested in the academia aesthetic. More specifically, this look contains both dark and light themes. The latter encompasses plaid skirts, turtlenecks, and loafers in softer, neutral tones whereas dark academia is a moodier scheme of the same clothing variety. Inspired by Harry Potter and American prep, this collegiate-inspired look is perfect for creating an edgy outfit with a romantic spin.

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Sage Green
Green has become so popular that it essentially became an aesthetic of its caliber. We even see tastemakers utilizing the delicate hue of sage green as a neutral, everyday color akin to beige and grey. In the past, it was thought of more as a warm-season color but has since proven to be appropriate throughout the year. Most notably, the sage green sits well with some of the aforementioned aesthetic trends like coconut girl and soft girl.

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Y2K
You’d be completely remiss to not notice the Y2K aesthetic – it has one of the biggest momentums in fashion yet. As you can guess, the Y2K look is composed of everything from micro mini skirts to kitschy, colorful jewelry and sky-high platform boots. Take one of these elements and add it to your everyday looks for a subtle flair of Y2K. Or, go big and pile on the colorful clothing and bright accessories!

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Cottagecore
This aesthetic has been the name of the game for the past year and a half or so. To go after this look, imagine yourself in an expansive field filled with wildflowers and mushrooms with a quaint cottage sitting on the horizon. This is exactly the mood that cottagecore embodies – it’s complete with flowy dresses and sweeping skirts that are vintage-inspired.

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Baddie
On the opposite end of the spectrum, let’s talk about the baddie aesthetic. This particular look is all about releasing your confidence and divine female energy in everything you do. Body-con party dresses, bold colors, and faux-fur coats are the big-ticket items we would use to summarize this trend. The baddie aesthetic is perfect for when you want to make a lasting impression when heading out for a night of fun.

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E-Girl
An abbreviation of electronic girl, the e-girl aesthetic is considered a more contemporary version of goth. This style takes a lot of inspiration from popular anime and skates culture – and channels the dark vibe into their everyday style. As one may expect, this aesthetic favors all shades of black, and Ariana provides a prime example of what an e-girl outfit should look like. Take it a step further with fishnet stockings, chain necklaces, and doll-like makeup.

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Fairycore
The next aesthetic trend you should consider trying out in 2022 is focused on the beauty of nature, including butterflies, flowers, and gentle animals. The ethereal, fantasy-like lifestyle is exactly what you would imagine from a classic princess story. Style-wise, seek out clothing filled with textured ruffles, lace, and corsets. You can also go after sheer fabrics and billowy dresses that easily make one swoon.

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Artsy
The artsy aesthetic (also known as Arthoe) focuses on an appreciation for all things art and nature. Followers of this style are not ones to shy away from color. Outfits are meant to be visually stimulating, comprising rainbow stripes and bold hues. Give it a run by rocking funky patterns, iconic artwork plastered on top of a t-shirt or dress, and mix it up with bold-colored accessories.