In tandem with every swipe on social media comes ceaseless product promotion and wildly glamorized portrayals of “lifestyle.” At the epicenter of it all is a pop culture symbol that has persisted through decades of modern culture: the envied “It Girl.” Whether illustrated through the latest trending clothing item or influential figure, “It Girl” culture has gained the identity of continuous product consumption to achieve a desired mainstream look. The term, now often used loosely, represents an individual ahead of trends, someone who diligently conforms to modern fads. Viewers are constantly fed the deception that the newest colorway of the sought-after Stanley Cup, or the pair of jeans that your feed is adamant “you NEED” will raise you closer to the media’s ever-climbing expectation of perfection.
Originating within the youthful years of the twentieth century, the “It Girl” found her meaning through the contents of Rudyard Kipling’s 1904 short story, “Mrs. Bathurst.” Describing the qualities of a uniquely desirable woman, Kipling expressed, “T’isn’t beauty, so to speak, nor good talk necessarily. It’s just It.” Despite its early inception, the social phenomenon only began to gain its modern traction more than half a century later. A newfound style attracted the young demographic of the nineteen-seventies; contemporary, lavish spreads circulated in tabloids and magazines, promoting a form of nonchalant, simple beauty. The appeal of the “It Girl” relied on her incautious, fast-paced lifestyle, and others’ perception of her effortlessness. Whether through a magazine’s waxy pages, or the harsh glare of a screen, a fresh voguish figure would encapture the attention of global juvenile audiences throughout the following decades.
As access and popularity of social media flourished, “It Girl” culture has subsequently adapted. Modern fashion and beauty standards emphasize significant tones of consumer culture within society, establishing nuanced expectations of the Golden Girl. The label is used often to market products, utilized as a crucial keyword in supporting the ever-moving consumption of fashion. It aims to advertise individuality and a promise of a certain lifestyle to young adults. Though relying laboriously on mainstream opinions and popularity, the label now suggests that to obtain a unique, iconic social status, you must, ironically, constantly consume and mirror those around you. Modern media’s definition of the “It Girl” has strayed away from its initial roots, emphasizing contemporary culture’s reliance on wealth and privilege, rather than the effortless allure of the once-worshiped “It Girl.”
Emily Nolan ’26 expresses to the Register Forum what an “It Girl” means to her: “[Someone] who is confident in who they are, but also have a unique way of carrying themselves.” Nolan continues, “They are fashionable, although not too trendy, whether it’s clothing or something else. They have a magical spin to them.”
An “It Girl” is not achieved through a pair of jeans or a new bag, the “It Girl” persona is devised through how someone is uniquely themselves. The mainstream paradox promotes the need to be viewed as socially acceptable, although not entirely conforming. This expectation ironically destroys individuality, and the once simplistic, distinctive beauty of the “It Girl.”
