Next, are the wannabe mall-goths of the 2000s. Self-proclaimed “e-girls” and “e-boys” sporting chain link chokers and belts, big black bell bottoms, outfits plastered with images of roses, and “emo” accessories and makeup that strives for a look that breaks society’s conventions, but falls short.
2019, Annaliese Olivo, "E-girl fashion develops into lifestyle from online jokes", The Eagle's Eye (W. Charles Akins High School), 20 May 2019, page 21:
Instagram is one main social media platform where e-girls post pictures or videos of themselves showing off their outfits and modeling them.
2019, Gina Gwardosz, "E-girl investigation", The Observer (University of Notre Dame), 27 September 2019, page 6:
TikTok has countless videos of these e-girls who are defined by the fact that they dress, look and act in the same girlish way.
2019, Claire Clements, "Claire's Corner: The VSCO Phenomenon", The Sidekick, October 2019, page 9:
Let the e-girls put hearts on their faces and dye their hair.
2019, Katrina White, "TikTok Takeover", The Eagle Eye (Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School), Volume 5, Number 1, Quarter 1 2019, page 21:
These e-boys and e-girls have grown in exposure and popularity tremendously after the launch of TikTok.
2019, Gemma Robotham, "E-girl and E-boy culture", The Hype, November 2019, page 13:
Typically, the e-girl will have heavy winged eyeliner, blush and clips in their dyed colourful or black hair.
The popular 2019 #softgirlchallenge, in which teens edited their videos so they appeared to spontaneously transform from grungy e-girl to glimmering soft girl particularly conveys how lightly Gen Z wears its group affiliations.
2020, Grace Tucker, "E-boys and E-girls: a new, nonchalant counterculture", The Michigan Daily (University of Michigan), 20 February 2020, page 6:
The e-girl puts the style into being sad; she is misunderstood in the coolest way.
2020, Meera Mathur, "Being an e-boy/e-girl", 1870 Magazine, March 2020, page 52:
If you're looking to transform into an e-girl, go to your nearest Target and purchase some cute hair clips, pink eyeshadow, blush, and some chains.
2020, Kezia Rogers, "How TikTok is Changing the Fashion Game", TheLOOK, March 2020, page 7:
On the flipside, TikTok has also influenced the development of styles, such as the e-girl and the VSCO girl.
2020, Rhea Singh, "Post-exam summer playlist", The Eyeopener (Ryerson University), 1 April 2020, page 9:
[…] or sit on a fire escape looking into the distance wondering when your e-boy/e-girl in shining black eyeliner will come save you from isolation.
2020, Francesca Ionescu, "E Girl And E Boy Phenomena", Q3 (Cardiff University), Issue 9, 29 April 2020, page 2:
Whilst the dress is not vastly different between e-girls and e-boys, the content they put out seems to be.
