If you didn’t already know, New York based designer Sandy Liang is having a moment. And when we mean moment, know that she’s singlehandedly spearheading fashion’s return to girlhood. As it so happens, fashion has been obsessed with a certain whimsy-filled, coquette aesthetic—from bow-adorned outfits to ballet-core and puffy-everything, it seems fashionistas everywhere have been doubling down on the girlish trend.
Though honouring a child-like charm on the runway isn’t anything too new (see: Simone Rocha), but 2023 has been a hardcore year for the girls. Dinner is girl, math is girl—you name it, it’s girl. Girl is no longer just a noun—it’s morphed into an adjective. But what makes an outfit ‘girl’? At the top of our minds, Sandy Liang’s exaggerated bow detailings and school-girl reminiscent pieces take the cake—but of course, it comes down to a few sartorial components. Bows, mary-janes, pleated skirts, babydoll dresses and puff sleeves all fall under the jurisdiction of being a Sandy Liang-coded outfit.
The fad of dressing like a little girl has certainly caught on amidst celebrity circles—even Blackpink’s Jennie made a trip down to the Sandy Liang store in New York to play dress up. And in more recent times, Olivia Rodrigo was spotted in a full Sandy set in her recent photo dump. Let’s not forget about the power of accessorising, as IVE’s Yunjin dressed up her purse in ribbons and charms, while Nana Ou Yang completes her frilly look with a ribbon in her hair.
That said, ff you still haven’t gotten a clear grasp on the Sandy Liang aesthetic, we suggest you keep reading to see the celebrities that do it the best.
IVE's Kazuha
Kazuha’s outfit for the group’s recent comeback ‘Baddie’ is bow galore, which in our books, passes the Sandy Liang litmus test. Looking like a real ‘Baddie’ indeed.
Nana Ou Yang
A delicate broderie anglaise certainly speaks to the trend of girlhood, and Nana Ou Yang’s accessory of choice being a matching white ribbon in a ponytail is the perfect way to add a little ‘oomph’ into a simple outfit.
Kwon Eunbi
A giant pink bow on a baby tee? Say no more.
Laufey
Laufey is definitely a girls girl. A quick scroll through her Instagram feed will tell you that her personal style is a meeting of timeless pieces contrasted by interesting silouettes. Case in point? Laufey pairs a pair of loosely fitted denim paired with a poofy top to mix things up. With a cardigan slung over her shoulders, we think this is the perfect gateway outfit into dressing more feminine without giving up the comfort of your beloved jeans and sneakers.
Irene Kim
Knee high socks, mary-janes and a preppy co-ord is quite literally the uniform of Sandy Liang—but of course, with a Miss Dior in hand, Irene Kim’s take on the school girl aesthetic reminds us of a certain Upper East Side high schooler who goes by the name of Blair Waldorf.
Suzy
With her recent comeback to the limelight in Netflix’s hit show, ‘Doona’, Suzy’s outfit game has been on point. The outfit in question? A look that screams ‘private school prep’, which we’re all about.
Olivia Rodrigo
Consider our jaws, dropped. Olivia Rodrigo rocks a Sandy Liang set, which also happens to still be available for sale in a more sensible shade of Navy on the Sandy Liang website.
Meenoi
You might’ve seen Meenoi on Youtube as she hosts a myraid of A-list celebrities in her own cooking talkshow ‘Meenoi’s Yorizori’, but it’s high time she got more recognition for her styling sensibilities. A white dress is just about as girlish as it gets, and add a puffy lace-trimmed vest on top of it? She’s girlhood reincarnate.
Tu Tontawan
If there’s anything we know, it’s that Tontawan always delivers a fire fit. Looking almost saintly in a white babydoll dress and knee-high socks, the Thai star emanates the innocence and purity so often found in girlhood.
Le Sserafim's Yunjin
It’s evident from Yunjin’s feed that she’s well acquainted with ongoing trends. And judging from her dressed up purse, she knows exactly how to infuse a little bit of Sandy’s spirit without going overboard.
Chuu
Chuu goes big on bows in a co-ord that almost reminds us Sailor Moon, that is, if Sailor Moon had a side-hustle as an emcee…