While I love the blithe and sexy atmosphere summer brings, there’s no season I love more than fall. There’s something so tranquil about the brisk air, crunchy leaves, fundamentalist views, and who can forget the cozy meals?
For those who are unfamiliar with the term, Christian Girl Autumn is a viral meme surrounding lifestyle blogger Caitlin Covington. The meme began in 2019 when Covington’s and her friend’s church outfits were posted on social media with the aforementioned phrase, Christian Girl Autumn. Every year since then, she posts photos from her annual Vermont trip, adorned in a snugly sweaters or flannel behind a picturesque backdrop of fall leaves. It’s ironically become the internet’s commencement for all things fall. Christian Girl Autumn however is not simply an anecdotal meme; There are many Caitlyn Covingtons among us, because for them, this is a lifestyle.
Given I went to a primarily White high school, many of my former classmates were devotees of Christian Girl Autumn: from the blonde highlights to the obsession with sugary lattes, and vanilla body spray— they ruled the school. At the time, this was not surprising. The fashion of the 2010s was rift with Rae Dunn products, brimmed hats, oversized scarves, and riding boots; It was a sign of the times. What I didn’t anticipate, though, was this was not a passing fad. Through meticulous observation (i.e., lurking on my teen Finsta and Snapchat), I’ve concluded this subset of fashion still exists among Gen-Zs and millennials in primarily White spaces such as sororities and stores like Marshalls and Starbucks. Unlike, many other distinctive fashion caveats, millennial core has surpassed the gripes of zeitgeist and remains somewhat relevant. I believe this can be partially attributed to current famed White celebrities like Taylor Swift and Blake Lively.
THE TAYLOR SWIFT EFFECT
Taylor Swift is the first billionaire to earn the majority of her wealth from her music. This is evident considering her record-breaking Eras tour looked more akin to a spiritual pilgrimage than a concert. Yet, as a musician, she’s less than spectacular. Most of her music can be described as insipid, inoffensive, derivative pop music; She’s hardly a vocalist or a dancer, and thematically she’s stuck in perpetual teenage angst at 34.
Now, in case a feral Swiftie reads this article and tries to ambush me in the comments: I don’t dislike all of Taylor Swift’s music. Given I was in middle and high school during her first musical peak, I’ve heard numerous of her singles on the radio and at school dances, and I like quite a few. However, I’d be pretty obsequious if I said she deserved even a quarter of the accolades and awards she receives every year. Swift’s true merit is as a businesswoman. She learned how to successfully market to (and become the leader of) a large remunerative American demographic: ordinary White woman.
Swift’s music, very much like her fashion, is stuck in the millennial time warp; She’s not the only one. I’m not sure when her bestie, actress Blake Lively, became a fashion “icon” but I’m glad the general population is coming to their senses. When did simply dressing on theme automatically warrant an outfit as stylish? I can give grace for the Met Gala, that’s a campy charity event. However, on a red carpet? There should be more effort placed on meticulous styling and finding complimentary garments, especially when you have access to the world’s top designers and clothes. Taylor’s red carpet looks are more innocuous, neither good nor bad, but Blake loves to boast about her lack of stylist— and it’s apparent…every time.
Whether we want to admit it or not, a lot of Swift’s and even Blake’s, meteoric success can be attributed to their image. They encapsulate what many conservative Americans envision for ideal patriotism: undoubtably White, modest, (probably Christian) traditionalists. This might explain why Donald Trump and other republicans were so appalled when Swift chose to endorse Kamala Harris for president. They push these ideals on their daughters early, hence why I noticed another pattern of White influencers obsessing with being skinny, some variant of Blonde, and married.
THE ALL-AMERICAN BEAUTY
Despite America being a mélange of different ethnicities and cultures, there is still an ideal beauty type being pushed: thin, White, (and preferably Blonde) women. As a woman, I see this archetype pushed to me nearly everywhere— and I’m not being delusional, either. According to Zippia.com, 55% of female models are White. While that statistic is stark, Victoria's Secret is an even worse contender. During their last runway show in 2018, only 16 of the 60 models were women of color (which roughly translates to 27%).
Yet ironically, in terms of consumerism, Black and Latino shoppers spend more than their White counterparts. If this is the case, then why don’t fashion brands try to appeal to people of color more? Styles such as boho-chic, coquette, or cottage core aren’t designated to one particular race. Why is there such an obvious lack of marketing to other diverse groups and backgrounds? Simply put, brands don’t want to. They want to create an untouchable, exclusive, primarily White fan base. In 2024, this seems preposterous…but is it?
A few weeks ago, I shopped at Reclectic, a liquidation warehouse selling clothing from Urban Outfitters and its subsidiary stores. Despite, knowing that nearly all the clothes from that store originated from practically three stores, most of the labels were still removed. Brand imaging is more important to these companies than they want to let on. If it wasn’t, I doubt people would spend thousands of dollars for simple leather pieces with a basic monogram.
My hypothesis for the lack of development in suburban girl fashion is because, like themselves, it’s a product of the immutable echo chamber W.A.S.P. women and their loyal brands are stuck in. Having lived in the suburbs for over ten years, this is shockingly true. Many of my old peers were in a perpetual state of groupthink. There is no need to genuinely think about social or political issues, as there’s no long-term effects for the suburban girl, a.k.a. the rich girl. The suburban girl has the luxury to isolate herself from any affairs she deems offensive or stressful. Whether intentional or not, I believe the suburban girl understands the power of Whiteness in America. Based solely on the color of her skin and her looks, she has the opportunity to marry well above her own finances, and become a stay at home mom (if she chooses). This position in society leads to selective friends, environments, and attitudes. Thus creating brands like Hey Dudes, Brandy Melville, and notably bigoted Abercrombie and Fitch.
LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE?
Simply put, like most things in America, Christian Girl Autumn is just another subtle display of White privilege. The scenic foliage is simply seasonal fodder. Hence, why in many Christian Girl Autumn photos, the subject is either explicitly wearing designer clothing or handbag.
Is this necessarily a bad thing? Surprisingly, I don’t think so. Every culture has their own way to flex for the gram. While some may not see it, this is a subset of their culture. As much as the internet tries to bash White people and refute the idea they have no culture, there still is indeed one. It may not be as developed or renowned as other ethnicities, but it exists. It’s raves, Sperrys, Vineyard Vines, Stanley cups, and Nutella. My issues lie with the fact people of color are never placed on a pedestal for doing next to nothing (the only exception being to be ridiculed online). But,
Christian Girl Autumn is another example of intersectionality online and a trend that cultivates a lucrative path for only a few. Top Gen-Z female influencers include the likes of : Addison Rae, Charli D’Amelio, Emma Chamberlain, and Alix Earle. Do any of them make any otherworldly talents, content, or charisma? Not particularly, however, they’re all millionaires under the age of 30. Even for those who decide not to engage in the influencer lifestyle, these types of women would still be well-off, by either being provided for by their husband or financially sound from their family affairs. How many platforms do thin, rich, Blonde White women need? I don’t engage with influencer Alix Earle’s content whatsoever, yet, I’m very well aware of who she is. Can Alix Earle say the same about another comparatively popular Black influencer? Black influencer Erika Kane and Fannita stated the same thing in their respective TikToks. However, when Fannita pointed out this distinction she received immense backlash, which I always found overkill. The difference between Alix Earle using literal slurs and the internet brushing it off versus, Fannita while being slightly unhinged was speaking her mind on issues. This speaks volumes on how Black women are perceived.
So, I have nothing against Christian Girl Autumn, inherently. I’m simply tired of White people capitalizing off of being White and using their privilege to continue to be ignorant. If they do decide to step out of their bubble for a millisecond, it’s probably to either victimize themselves or promote a product (a la Selena Gomez). It’s hard for me to fathom the majority of internet users willingly push these influencers (I’m looking at you, Hawk Tuah Girl). Thus, when the Internet once again decided to highlight an all ready oversaturated market for an overrepresent group, I stay in the corner of my Internet, stolidly sipping some Chai tea.