The ephemerality of TikTok micro aesthetics are reaching hypersonic speed, with the recently viral Tomato and Strawberry ‘girls’ already progressing to their next food fixation: lemons.
Depending on your geographical inclination, we are in the midst of a ‘Lemon Girl Summer’. Or about to enter one, if you’re reading this from the Southern Hemisphere.
Though the vibrant ‘Illuminating’ yellow shade was dubbed by Pantone as their colour of the year in 2021, the style set on social media and real life has only now begun to embrace the merits of this balmy hue.
Perhaps the colours reign has transpired as an antidote to the stealth wealth grey and quiet luxury beige flooding the zeitgeist, but the buttery hue has transpired at an apt moment in time.
Just as we were beginning to fatigue from the over-saturation of the tomato-coloured tone, bright and warm yellows have taken centre stage after waiting in the wings for several years.
Yellow is a shade appropriate for the precarious times of now. Backdropped by a cost of living crisis and insecure state of being, the lemon tone encourages a serotonin-boosting style similar to the dopamine dressing trend proliferated during the pandemic.
It’s not as traffic-stopping as a bold blood-red, or as pervasive as a head-turning Barbie pink; yellow is a tone that is quietly powerful and washes everything in a soft warm glow. The ‘Lemon girl’ factor establishes a kinship between understated fashionphiles who understand the power of understated dressing.
Slightly sour and eclectic like the aesthetic’s fruity namesake, a ‘Lemon girl’ may find a kindred spirit in Dinosaur Design’s sculptural resin bangles that appear to have been crafted directly from butter.
Or the ‘Kill Bill’ mustard Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 sneakers that became the shoe du jour after kicking Adidas Sambas to the curb. Perhaps even Saks Potts’ deliciously sized William striped shirt.
In Hollywood, the style set has been silently showing their support for the lemon drop silhouette, with everyone from Kylie Jenner to Sofia Richie Grainge endorsing the bourgeoning TikTok trend.
Just look to Kendall Jenner’s shimmering 50s style Bottega Veneta dress worn after Jacquemus’ show in Versaille, or Margot Robbie channelling Cher Horowitz in a high-octane tweed Chanel skirt suit while in Sydney to promote Barbie.
Or, to the perennial optimistic Gucci ensembles worn by Harry Styles on his ‘Love On Tour’.
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On the red carpet, Winnie Harlow even embraced the acidic element of piquant aesthetic in a fragrant Armani Privé gown at this year’s Oscars.
Though we can expect Ganni and New Balance’s highly-coveted sneaker collaboration to also cement yellow’s place in the zeitgeist, fashion’s vanguard has supplied a plethora of evidence proving that lemon is the shade of the season.
This story first appeared on GRAZIA International.