The nostalgic aesthetic is resurfacing on the pop star’s mix of vintage femininity and rock-and-roll attitude, giving its sweet codes a little bit of edge.

Olivia Rodrigo is undeniably one of the most recognised pop artists around the world today — not only because of her chart-topping bops or her past as a Disney star, but because of her ability to build a distinct identity that extends beyond her music, particularly through her style. When ‘SOUR’ debuted in 2021, the public quickly got to see Rodrigo in a new light, as she switched from the sweetheart ingénue to the pop-rock darling that she is known today.&nbsp;

Photo from Getty Images

Photo from Instagram/ @oliviarodrigo

This transition was evident in her wardrobe, as the singer-songwriter traded her polished image for a mix of Y2K nostalgia, grunge, and punk-rock edge. Baby tees, corsets, plaid skirts, combat boots, and playful accessories soon became part of her signature style. Then, with the release of her sophomore album ‘GUTS’, these staples remained but got bolder and more angsty with the addition of sparkling sets, fishnet stockings, and leather pieces.&nbsp;

Now, with her latest album, ‘You Seem Pretty Sad for a girl so in love’, Rodrigo’s visual language has taken a softer, more romantic turn, embracing more of her vulnerable side. While keeping her trademark edge, her wardrobe is increasingly being filled with frills, babydoll silhouettes, Peter Pan collars, Mary Janes, and knee-high socks — elements that allude to twee. Could Olivia’s comeback spark renewed interest in twee?

<h4 style="text-align: center;">Defining Twee </h4>

For many, twee immediately brings to mind two style icons: Zooey Deschanel and Alexa Chung. As one of the quintessential It girls, Chung became a defining figure in indie-chic dressing, known for her mix of vintage silhouettes, preppy staples, and effortlessly cool styling. Meanwhile, Deschanel is regarded as the enduring queen of twee, with her charming and quirky style on and off screen — most notably through her characters in 500 Days of Summer and New Girl.

Their influence helped turn twee into a recognisable style, characterised by nostalgia, femininity, and a little bit of eccentricity, which later on became synonymous with Tumblr and indie-girl culture of the late 2000s and early 2010s. However, the term ‘twee’ dates back as early as 1905, originating as a child’s pronunciation of the word ‘sweet’ and initially used to describe things that are overly dainty or precious. But by the 1980s, it had entered the fashion lexicon as a descriptor for clothing that leaned into the same childlike and whimsical sensibility.&nbsp;

And true to fashion’s nature of coming back around, the style has seen another renaissance in 2022. Fueled by social media’s nostalgia-driven microtrends, it has prompted a new generation to rediscover twee and brought it back into conversations. Only this time around, it has moved away from some of its more dated associations — from its fixation with innocence and thinness to its lack of diversity. While the trend may have been short-lived, it left its mark, as ballet flats, Mary Janes, polka dot patterns, pastel colours, and statement jewellery came back into the everyday rotation. This is now noticeable in Olivia Rodrigo’s closet in this new era.

However, rather than simply labelling the pop star as a full ‘twee girl’, she’s giving the style’s familiar codes a fresh context, folding some of its most recognisable silhouettes’ sweetness with her signature rock-and-roll influences. It’s a combination that is becoming distinctly her: feminine and youthful, but grounded with a touch of edge.&nbsp;
Exemplifying this is her affinity for dresses that channel the aesthetic’s quirky and vintage sensibilities — from the babydoll silhouettes and mod-inspired cuts to A-line dresses finished with Peter Pan collars. She gives these youthful looks a more subversive flourish by pairing them with a subtle counterpoint, such as leather boots and heeled Mary Janes.

While the latter is a staple in a twee wardrobe, the added height lends the silhouettes an elevated and grown-up feel. At the pre-release party of ‘Drop Dead’, the artist put this balance into reality, as she donned a powdery pink Jane Doe babydoll dress with silver Mary Jane-like pumps from Miu Miu, whose metallic finish and sharp heels introduce an unexpected contrast to the otherwise saccharine ensemble.&nbsp;

Olivia brought the same approach to her performance at the Spotify Billion Club Live in Barcelona, where she styled a crystal-embellished Génération78 blouse-turned-dress with knee-high platforms from Dr. Martens. The dress’ delicate detailing — from the dainty floral print to the intricate lace trims — embraced the romanticism of twee, while the boots’ chunky silhouette added a tougher appeal, giving the look its signature girlish-meets-grungy appeal.&nbsp;

Another signature of the twee style is the Breton top, a classic shirt that originated as a French sailor’s uniform during the 19th century. Recognised for its boat-neck cut and nautical stripes, it has become a key piece of the aesthetic before eventually evolving into a mainstay of the modern-day wardrobe, thanks to its nostalgic, preppy, and French-girl appeal that the Noughties loved.&nbsp;
Giving the classic a new life, Rodrigo wore an agnès b. long-sleeve shirt with black-and-white stripes at her surprise set at Primavera Sound. Styling it with a purple ribbon brooch, high-waisted black disco shorts, fishnet stockings, and laced-up knee-high boots, the pairing fused the Breton’s refined character with a sense of irreverence.&nbsp;

From a twee staple to another, the boat-neck silhouette reappeared in Rodrigo’s wardrobe in her interview at ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’, where she wore an archival pink Saint Laurent Nappa mini dress from its Fall/Winter 2015 collection. Besides the neckline, the cheeky polka-dot pattern is another detail that is closely associated with the style, but its recent resurgence in the fashion limelight makes the choice feel especially timely. Paired with the dress’s sleek leather construction, the retro motif takes on a more contemporary feel.&nbsp;

<h4 style="text-align: center;">Is It Really Happening?</h4>

Now, going back to the question raised: is twee coming back? The answer is more complicated than a simple yes or no, as Rodrigo isn’t exactly adopting the whole aesthetic. Rather, she is pulling and reimagining some of its more recognisable elements — from the babydoll dresses, Mary Jane shoes, and Peter Pan collars to the knee-high socks, Breton stripes, and polka-dot patterns — and mixing it into her already established style. With this, twee has become more of a reference point that can be softened, toughed, and reworked to feel entirely your own.&nbsp;

Perhaps, this is where the style’s current relevance lies. Following years of&nbsp; Y2K revival and minimalist dressing, there’s a growing appetite for more playful, whimsical, and romantic forms of femininity. As its codes continue to resurface with new contexts, the aesthetic is proving that it can exist beyond the eras that defined it. After all, styles rarely return as it were — they are simply reinterpreted through the new sensibilities of the generations that succeed them. Now, with Olivia’s new era, whether it sparks the comeback of twee or not, it shows us that nostalgia is at its most compelling when it evolves rather than repeats itself.&nbsp;

Olivia Rodrigo Makes the Case for a Twee Revival

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