The earth girl fashion style was initially perceived as far-fetched by Kenyan women. At that time, this fashion style seemed something that only the elite cared about.
However, a fashion style that was webbed in confusion initially in Kenya steadily snowballed to a fashion trend embraced by more Kenyan women.
Talking to The Star, Oliver Kimani, a fashion stylist, explains what the earth girl fashion truly encompasses.
The earth girl fashion trend emphasises natural elements, earthy colors, and a connection to nature, promoting sustainable and comfortable styles.
To begin with, this fashion style is embodied using natural materials. Fabrics like cotton, linen, wool, and other organic materials are favoured for their comfort and connection to the earth.
In addition, the silhouette for this fashion style is distinctive. This is because the silhouette more often than not tends to lean more towards loose and comfortable on the lower side of the fit and small and light on the upper side of the fit.
To further elevate the look, vintage and upcycled pieces are used. Incorporating vintage or pre-loved items into outfits aligns with the sustainable and eco-conscious aspects of the trend.
For the accessories, they are just as unique as this fashion style. Accessories like wooden jewelry, leather belts, and items with natural stones or plants add to the earthy aesthetic.
The concept of layering is also vital to achieve a good earth girl look. Layering different textures and pieces, like a chunky knit sweater over a dress or a long vest over a top, creates visual interest and depth.
Though a bit tricky, layering is the cherry on top for most earth girl fashion outfits.
In some instances, the Bohemian influence is incorporated into the earth girl fashion style.
While earth girl fashion focuses on natural tones, simple silhouettes, and a connection to nature, bohemian fashion embraces a more eclectic, whimsical, and free-spirited vibe with vibrant colors, patterns, and statement accessories.
Despite these differences, the bohemian look of vibrant oversized tops and flowy skirts and maxi dresses with floral patterns is sometimes used as a complementary aspect of earth girl outfits.
“The core of this fashion style is the color palette of earthy tones inspired by nature, including browns, greens, yellows, and other natural shades,” Kimani describes.
Aurora Njoki, a 25-year-old fashion enthusiast, is one of the Kenyan women on the hype train for the earth girl fashion trend.
The first time that Njoki saw the earth girl fashion style was in an Instagram reel of Carrie Wahu, a popular influencer in Kenya.
Seeing how cool and sophisticated the influencer looked, she decided to fully dive into this fashion trend.
From that video alone, she instantly understood that layering was important in the earth girl fashion style.
Unlike other fashion styles that mostly incorporated two pieces, the earth girl fashion style necessitated an array of different pieces that would harmoniously create a good look.
With this information, she woke up bright and early the following Saturday to go to Gikomba.
After trekking the whole day under the hot scorching sun, she was at least happy that she had found some timeless pieces that would come in handy.
“I was so scared the first time I tried an earth girl fashion outfit at a social event- the compliments from strangers received were definitely gratifying,” Njoki says.
The earth girl fashion style is not just a trend to Faith Makena, a millennial, but rather a lifestyle.
When she lost her husband and infant daughter in a catastrophic road accident, her emotional and mental state plummeted.
Crouched on her bed in a darkly lit bedroom, Makena would spend her days and nights crying herself to sleep. In that moment, she believed that her dying as well would be the only justifiable outcome in this tragedy.
In her lowest moment, her best friend suggested doing yoga.
At first, she scoffed at this, saying that yoga would not bring back her family. However, after trying one session from YouTube, she was immediately hooked.
Intrigued, Makena went down the rabbit hole of earth spirituality that encompassed the type of yoga sessions she loved.
Through this deep dive, she became equipped with various healthy means she could process her grief.
For the first time in months after her loss, she felt like she could live somewhat normally without the constant feeling of grief suffocating her.
It was as if the weight of the world had been lifted off her shoulders. Within three months, Makena became the full embodiment of an earth girly, both inside and out.
“When I walk in public fully adorned in my earth girl fashion outfit, it is not just a fashion trend but rather a representation of the culture of the earth girlies,” Makena voices.
All in all, there are some Kenyan women who do not necessarily see the wow factor in the earth girl fashion trend. One such woman is Pamela Nekesa, currently a university student.
When the earth girl fashion began gaining traction in Kenya, Nekesa assumed that it was one of those trends that would simmer down after a while.
It is therefore surprising for her that this fashion trend is still relevant in many fashion discussions.
To begin with, she believes that unlike other fashion styles, the earth girl fashion style has a bit of spiritualism tied to it.
Not interested in learning or embracing this spirituality, the appeal of the earth girl fashion style dwindles in her eyes.
Though not claiming to be a fashion expert, Nekesa is not a fan of the layering aspect in this fashion style.
For her, the style often looks like random things were thrown in to hurriedly make an outfit.
Moreover, she is of the opinion that not every woman can pull a good earth girl look. In more than one instance, she has seen several women walking in Nairobi streets with epically failed earth girl outfits in her opinion.
Something that was meant to exude an aura of ‘the cool girl’ ends up aging the woman by another 10 years.
“If you are not careful, you might end up looking like someone’s grandmother with your earth girl outfit- this is a fashion risk I will never be willing to take,” Nekesa emphasises.
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