Shift dresses, patterned tights and grandpa cardigans: what do all of these clothing items have in common? Aside from being wardrobe staples, if you’d describe them as being “twee” or reminding you of twee fashion, you’ve hit the nail on the head.
If you spent any time on Tumblr during the 2010s, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of twee. Whether you spent time reblogging posts of Zooey Deschanel, Taylor Swift or Alexa Chung – the queens of the trend – or you simply have an affinity for cute clothes, twee was one of the prettiest styles around.
Luckily for us, twee hipster fashion is making a comeback. Read on to find out everything you need to know about twee style, from some iconic twee celeb looks to how you can dress for the trend in 2022.
Related: 10 style and fashion trends to watch for in 2022.
What is twee?
Twee is a retro-inspired style that combines preppy femininity (think: dresses and flats) and hipster chic. It relies heavily on thrifted and vintage-looking pieces. As Vogue so aptly put it: “Twee was the girl whose favourite class in school was art, the girl who thrifted before it was cool, and the one who wore fake glasses for the aesthetic before it was mainstream.”
Now, Twee is becoming popular again thanks to TikTok, where fashionable users are pulling out their berets and Mary Jane flats to style some timeless looks:
@darlingindots how to update your style if you’re still a twee girl like me 🤷🏻♀️ #twee #tweestyle #2010s #2010sstyle #zooeydeschanel #2010sfashion ♬ Why Do You Let Me Stay Here? – She & Him
@keikolynn Late to this trend but she still likes cutesy things, okay? #twee #tweestyle #tweefashion ♬ Why Do You Let Me Stay Here? – She & Him
Related: 15 best sweaters in Canada under $100.
How to dress twee
Twee style staples include ballet flats and loafers, skirts, cardigans, patterned tights, shift dresses and Peter Pan collars (preferably layered under the aforementioned cardigans).
If you want to dress twee, look no further than Alexa Chung, who was one of the stars who absolutely nailed the twee trend during the height of its popularity. She continues to do so in the chicest ways possible:
You can also take twee inspiration from Zooey Deschanel – her characters in 500 Days of Summer and New Girl wore some cute twee outfits, and she perfected the twee aesthetic in real life with her dresses and cardigans.
Taylor Swift also popularized the twee trend with her affinity for vintage-looking A-line dresses:
Related: She’s got ‘Style’: Taylor Swift’s style evolution.
What to buy for the twee aesthetic
Don’t have any twee items in your closet? You can mix and match these key twee pieces to update your wardrobe and nail the look.
You need a cute cardigan, and this pretty pink one from Amazon will brighten up all your outfits.
Belle Poque Women Vintage Cropped Cardigan Hollowed-Out Lapel Collar Cardigan Sweater, Amazon, $39.
Polka-dot tights will work with a skirt or a dress.
Conte Tights with Polka Dot Pattern Sheer Pantyhose Dots, Amazon, $22.
This dress has puff sleeves and a collar that take it from boring to chic.
Airy Dress, H&M, $30.
You may also like: Fashion fails: the worst celebrity looks of February 2022.
