The ‘rockstar girlfriend’ is TikTok’s latest fashion trend for effortless grungy vibes

Just when we were embracing 2023’s new Vanilla Girl Aesthetic with its sheeny skin, wafty linen shirts and creamy cashmere cardigans, another TikTok trend has coming creeping out and it’s safe to say it couldn’t be any more different. In fact, it’s the literal opposite. Hello, “Rockstar Girlfriend.”

With over  113.3 million views for the #rockstargirlfriend tag on TikTok, it’s clear the internet might be kinda over the unattainable perfection of ‘clean girl beauty’ once and for all and instead welcoming in all things grunge and indie. But don’t worry, you need to learn guitar, instead grab your finest leather pants, smudgiest eyeliner and faux fur coat. Here’s what you need to know about “The Rockstar Girlfriend” trend.

What is a “Rockstar Girlfriend”?

We have the idols of the late ‘90s and early ‘00s to thank for the inspiration behind this new TikTok aesthetic with musician-adjacent female celebs including Kate Moss (when she dated Pete Doherty from the Libertines) and Pamela Anderson (in her Tommy Lee years) as the Rockstar Girlfriend poster girls. Flash forward 20 years and this party girl lifestyle, with its morning-after makeup, cigarette-in-hand and messy hair, is back (we could argue, actually it didn’t really go away).

Now, we have some new muses – there’s Devon Lee Carlson’s “Rockstar Girlfriend” era when she dated Jesse Rutherford not to mention those who embody the look so effortlessly – Kourtney Karshadian, Lily-Rose Depp, Suki Waterhouse, Julia Fox and Alexa Chung.

Understandably, the name of the trend has received some backlash with some people saying it’s objectifying women by reducing them to a ‘side piece’, through their relationship with men not to mention glorifying the 24/7 drug-fuelled, hedonistic lifestyle. But, as with most TikTok trends, it’s more likely about recreating a fantasy image rather than actually adopting the lifestyle as such.

How to nail the “Rockstar Girlfriend” aesthetic

To get the look of a “Rockstar Girlfriend,” eyeliner will become your closest ally. This ‘morning after the night before’ look is perfect for people who never managed to master the wonky-free wing. Grab a black eye pencil and line a thick layer over your upper lashes. At this point you should resemble a panda, don’t worry this is a good thing, so now get a brush, or your finger, and blend the liner until it looks smoky and smudged. Clean away any excess patches with a cotton bud and there you have it, the perfect “Rockstar Girlfriend” smoky eye. 

You might want to take cue from TikToker  @hayleybuix and sweep eyelids with a wash of glittery gold for extra rock chicness and a bold, glossy lip. It’s makeup without looking ‘too done.’

Other important components that make up the “Rockstar Girlfriend” aesthetic include leather pants, leather jackets, leather boots (you get the picture), denim cut-offs, silk slips, fishnets (ideally with a few holes in them), silky shirts paired with blazers and bralettes underneath. This is all about carefully curated messiness.