It’s finally fall. Spirit Halloween stores exist again, Trader Joe’s is finally stocking pumpkin-flavored treats, and my wallet gets a little lighter each time I drive past a Starbucks — so weird?? But fall is about more than just losing all your money to huge corporations; it’s also about being aesthetic. While there are many to choose from this fall — Cottage Core, Downtown Girl, Tim Burton film, Dark Academia, etc. — one of the most iconic is what you could call “Frazzled English Woman (FEW).”
FEW is exactly what you think it is: a mix of “warmth and messy class,” according to @roeliti on Instagram. She personally subscribes to this style and has an enviably aesthetic page. Achieving this look is partly about striking the right balance between simple and accessorized, but it’s also about lifestyle. There are many ways to shift your style in this direction, but I’m going to focus on clothing, hair and makeup, media, and activities.
Clothing
The FEW look really works best in fall and winter because one of its key aspects is coats and sweaters. This can often be the statement piece to your outfit, the thing that really gives it flair. Think of a long black peacoat, a brown leather jacket, or a striped wool sweater. These are great items to look for at vintage stores because it’s much easier to find unique items. “The key to incorporating old and new aesthetics is to use accessories as a buffer,” says the handle @caffeinationn on Instagram. “If you’re wearing something that’s really ‘out there’ and not your usual style, then pair it with a neutral purse or some hoop earrings.” Accessories are also an important step in making a style your own. They can really personalize an outfit and help highlight your own unique look.
Jeans, boots, and scarves are all going to be staples in the FEW wardrobe, and in terms of colors, you’ll want to gravitate towards green, navy blue, darker reds, neutrals, and any earth tone. This is all well and good, but other than thrifting, where can you find these clothes? @roelity recommends “H&M” and “Urban Outfitters,” while @caffeinationn mentions “Primark,” “Mango,” and especially “local boutiques.” Around Franklin, you can check out Artifact Creative Recycle or Village Merchants on Division. Just a few blocks away, Hawthorne has what seems like a thrift store on every block. The FEW aesthetic emphasizes messiness and is an opportunity to relax a bit. Wear the cute shirt with the stain or the wrinkled skirt; it all fits.
Hair +Makeup
Claw clips, claw clips, claw clips!! If you take one thing away from this section, let it be that claw clips are the ultimate FEW hair accessories. They work with any hair type and are versatile accessories that can really enhance your overall look. Messy buns and simply leaving your hair down are also great. Generally, you want to emphasize a style that looks almost effortlessly nice.
Makeup is one place where I think it’s good to experiment and really let your individual style shine. The classic FEW makeup is going to lean more minimal with natural colors, maybe a classic red lip, but I think the look works in whichever way you want to do your makeup, especially if it’s not perfect.
Media
Inspiration is an important part of style; some of the best FEW inspiration can be found in films. British rom-coms are generally a good place to start; think “anything with Hugh Grant” according to @roelity. “Love Actually” and “Bridget Jones’s Diary” also work well, but it doesn’t only need to be British movies. Just as anyone can embrace this style, anyone can be an icon for it. Anne Hathaway’s character in “The Devil Wears Prada” and pretty much every 90s Meg Ryan movie fit this aesthetic, at least in spirit, if not in style. Additionally, although the majority of creators participating in this trend are white, it’s centered around letting loose and being yourself. Anyone can dress this way, and despite the name, you don’t actually have to be English.
If you aren’t sure where to start, Pinterest is truly the ultimate inspiration source for FEW looks, and I strongly recommend you start there. If you need music to get ready with or to get you in the FEW headspace, @Roelity recommends “Wet Leg” and “Soho Dolls” to start. In terms of celebrity icons, @Roelity says that Helena Bonham Carter “just gets it so right,” while @caffinationn brings up Tanya Burr, though she does admit Burr is “not as frazzled and more put together.”
Activities
Because of the “frazzled” aspect of the FEW aesthetic, it really means that if you’re doing it right, you are accepting of imperfections in your own life. You can be chaotic and messy in the pursuit of fun and living life to the fullest. If you really want to live in this aesthetic, consider going on walks, reading, journaling, getting coffee, taking spontaneous outings, stopping to pet every stray cat you come across, and generally doing what brings you joy. As @roelity says, “Sometimes it’s about just finding your version of the Frazzled English Woman and owning it as an individual.”
With the weather getting colder, the frazzled English woman aesthetic is something fun to try out. In high school, it can feel hard to transition between a younger and more mature look, and FEW is a timeless, cute aesthetic that you can pull off with well-styled basics. If you need more inspiration, feel free to check out this FEW Pinterest Board I made on @ellagrimes7.
