VSCO girl (2019 TikTok) was a specific moment: scrunchies, Hydro Flasks, Birkenstocks, 'sksksk' verbal tic. Preppy is the broader, decades-old aesthetic — polos, plaid, sailing-club. VSCO girl was a snapshot subset; preppy is an institution.
| Dimension | VSCO girl | preppy |
|---|---|---|
| Category | 👗 Fashion & Lifestyle | 👗 Fashion & Lifestyle |
| First attested | ~2010 | — |
| Views | 34 | 25 |
| Editorial status | community | community |
(Internet slang, TikTok aesthetic) (A girl or woman who embraces) a trend or subculture of the late 2010s and early 2020s, characterized by heavy use of social media and relaxed, beachy fashion.
(US, often, derogatory) Being or relating to something (such as clothing) that is typical of students at prep schools.
“I'll pick you up after the party. Let's see, there'll be all that deep preppy conversation, preppy dancing, piles of preppy fun. Party starts at nine, I'll pick you up at nine fifteen.”
Specifically the 2019 TikTok moment — now reads dated/ironic.
Enduring east-coast preppy aesthetic — Lilly Pulitzer, Sperry, Ralph Lauren.
VSCO girl (2019 TikTok) was a specific moment: scrunchies, Hydro Flasks, Birkenstocks, 'sksksk' verbal tic. Preppy is the broader, decades-old aesthetic — polos, plaid, sailing-club. VSCO girl was a snapshot subset; preppy is an institution.
Specifically the 2019 TikTok moment — now reads dated/ironic.
Enduring east-coast preppy aesthetic — Lilly Pulitzer, Sperry, Ralph Lauren.
They overlap heavily but the connotations are different. Use the "when to use" sections above to pick the right one.