Charlotte Brook
You’d be forgiven for being confused by the name of TikTok’s latest aesthetic trend. Contrary to what you may initially think, being a ‘tomato girl’ has little to do with the fruit itself.
Last summer, it was all about the Coastal Grandmother. Meanwhile, in 2023, we’ve already jumped on the Vanilla Girl, Coquette, and Cowgirl aesthetics. But now it is the summer of the Tomato Girl.
What is a Tomato Girl?
You can find Tomato Girls walking down cobblestone streets in sandals, or barefoot on sandy beaches. They drink Aperol Spritz, eat alfresco, and buy their accessories at European street markets. Sounds idyllic, right?
Inspired by the hot Mediterranean regions that grow tomatoes – we’re talking Spain and Italy – European summer holidays are central to the Tomato Girl aesthetic. Preferably these holidays are solo or with a few close friends.
Tomato Girls romanticise the simple things in life. As long as the ‘simple’ life includes a vacation on the Amalfi Coast and an entirely new wardrobe!
So, how do you achieve the aesthetic?
The Tomato Girl trend encapsulates loose summer clothes, effortless beauty, and a carefree, blissful mindset. Think linen dresses, basket bags, and vintage jewellery. Bonus points if you can work a chic tomato print into your look!
Your makeup needs to be sun-kissed and natural. Glossy skin, pink cheeks, drawn on freckles (unless you’re lucky enough to have them) and, of course, a tomato-red lip. Your hair should be tousled and beachy, still slightly damp from a dip in the ocean.
“a stone balcony, Italian cliffs, and clear blue sky”
When searching for inspiration, look no further than Hailey Bieber. In a recent Instagram post, she sports a red tee, denim mini skirt, and chunky gold earrings.
From the same boat trip, Hailey also uploaded a video dancing with a glass in hand, laughing with her girlfriends. She truly encapsulates the carefree, glass-half-full Tomato Girl vibe.
While the trend came from TikTok, Tomato Girls are making their way onto Instagram feeds.
The famous Tomato Girl
Cinzia Baylis-Zullo, influencer and podcast host, is truly embracing the Tomato Girl look while she holidays in Sorrento and Amalfi, Italy. In one photo, she wears a white lace and ruffled mini dress with gold heart-shaped earrings and a signature red lip. In the nicest way possible, it’s giving tomato.
Another post captures Cinzia clad in a Dolce & Gabbana minidress decorated with red roses. She poses against a backdrop of a stone balcony, Italian cliffs, and clear blue sky.
https://www.tiktok.com/@cinziazullo/video/7254121578739387674
Brands are also jumping on the trend.
Elizabeth Arden recently hosted a press trip to promote the Eight Hour Cream Collection. Influencers, including Louise Thompson, Chessie King, and Tammi Clarke, were whisked away for a tour of Rome in red, vintage Fiat 500s. A weekend of pasta making and wine drinking – it looks a Tomato Girl’s dream.
https://www.tiktok.com/@chessiekingcarter/video/7255365843976998171?q=chessie%20king&t=1689782855932
The Tomato Girl aesthetic is the embodiment of a picture-perfect European summer. It oozes good vibes, which we can’t deny is a good thing after the last few Covid-sabotaged summers.
Keeping up with the TikTokers
As with any trend, we must remember it’s important to tread with caution and not get too caught up in yet another romanticised aesthetic, even if it is taking over our social media feeds. We shouldn’t feel pressure to pour energy and money into copying the latest beauty and travel trends we see on TikTok.
“there’s no sustainable way of keeping up with the influencers”
Don’t get me wrong, a carefree holiday in the Tuscan sun sounds like exactly what I need. But, as I make a new Pinterest board of inspiration, I can’t help but wonder: why are we so obsessed with always achieving the latest aesthetic lifestyle?
Social media is packed with more aspirational content than ever before. It often feels like we’re stuck in a constant cycle, trying to achieve the latest aesthetic but never quite emulating it right. With trends in constant motion, there’s no sustainable way of keeping up with the influencers and celebrities we admire.
It’s easy to worry about needing the perfect skin or figure if we want to look like the trailblazers of these fads. Subsequently, the carefree fun of dressing up and trying out new hobbies can easily become a societal chore.
“make it your own”
There’s no doubt that the next new TikTok aesthetic is just around the corner. Until then, pick and choose the aspects of the Tomato Girl lifestyle you love and make it your own.
I’ll be taking the Aperols, a red lip, and making memories with my best friends regardless of what TikTok moves onto next.
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Featured image courtesy of Pawel Czerwinski on Unsplash. No changes were made to this image. Image license found here.
