Haute Mess: Messy Girl Chic

Across various runways, including Prada Fall/Winter 2025/2026 and Dior Fall RTW 2025 there was emphasis on asymmetrical silhouettes, messy hair, and varying textures. As Natasha Zinko and Sinead Gorey collections dabbled in disarray, it’s safe to say that 2026 marks the disappearance of the Clean Girl and welcomes back Messy Girl Chic. 

Fall 2025 runways saw a rise in the Messy Hair Trend, but it’s worth noting that this phenomenon is not new. Miu Miu Ready to Wear Fall/Winter 2023-2024’s runway hinted towards this reappearance in the bed-head-esque hair. Furthermore, for Miuccia Prada’s Miu Miu SS 2024 collection, her intentions were to "echo the complexity of our times:"  As complexity is mirrored, it forces consumers to appreciate the good, the bad, and the ugly. 

The "Frazzled English Woman” trend saw the normalization of the Messy Girl in its early stages. Bridget Jones is a prime example of this, with her chaotic love, home, and work life. Her undone hair and running out into the snow in a swimsuit for her love interest, Mark Darcy, signals how disorderly she is. Yet it works for her. At its best, trends like the Messy Girl and Frazzled English Woman emphasize authenticity and spontaneity. 

It goes without saying that the Messy Girl and Clean Girl contradict one another and present themselves as an all or nothing “trend.” The Messy Girl rejects the idea of perfection and the Clean Girl thrives off of it. The contrast in the two can be found in the iconic fictional friendship of Gossip Girl’s Blair Waldorf and Serena Van Der Woodsen, or Sex and the City’s Charlotte and Carrie.

Off the runway and TV screens, on Pinterest, “Messy Chic” is defined by carefree clutter. Think: unfolded clothes, unapologetic lip stick left on martini glasses, and mix-matched prints. 

do you see the fall of the clean girl?

• yes. we are making the best out of this mess.
• no. clean girl is still in for sure.

Throughout history, uncertainty produces curated chaotic aesthetics. For example, The Financial Crisis in 2008 led to the creation and rise of Indie Sleaze, which has also become a largely sought after trend.

The typical age demographic for those searching Indie Sleaze may not remember the 2008 financial crisis, yet the appeal of the visual aspect of Indie Sleaze is ever present on social media and Pinterest. From board to post, it would appear that the visual aspect of Indie Sleaze is a local club, cigarette smoke, and empty glasses. On the runway, the Celine Fall/Winter 2023-2024 Show officially revived the style. 

In a time where perfection can be easily replicated on digital artificial intelligence platforms, overconsumption has ruled, and uncertainty is ever present, the "messy girl" opposes by outfit repeating with age being the latest accessory. Here, stains and slip ups are styled purposefully, (as evident in Prada’s men’s show, Balenciaga's $1800 pre-damaged sneakers, and ACNE Studios' pilled knits). 

Being a Haute Mess is more than a trend, it is a tool that reveals how organized chaos has become desirable. While Fashion as an art form has long been debated and the Met Gala featured diverse interpretations on the statement “Fashion is Art”, The Barbican’s [now closed] exhibit “Dirty Looks” reminds fashion and consumers that adornment shapes how we view concepts such as glamour within fashion. For now, there's perfection within the imperfect.

WRITTEN BY EMILY GLASS

Imagery & Editing by Rebecca Doyle