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The Downtown Girl Aesthetic: How to Get the Look

Leather jackets, band tees and combat boots. Learn about the Downtown Girl aesthetic, see top player looks, and style your own outfit.

The Closet Clash Team

2 min read

A collage of Downtown Girl pieces: a brown leather jacket, graphic baby tees, a denim mini skirt, faded jeans, a striped sweater, Converse sneakers, headphones, and a New York tote bag

She's always running late to something cool. A gallery opening, the restaurant with no sign out front, her local coffee shop where the barista knows her order. The Downtown Girl dresses like she threw it on in five minutes, yet you can't quite understand how she always manages to look so cool.

It's a city uniform built on dark colors, leather and a little grunge. Here's how to style it.

What Is the Downtown Girl Aesthetic?

The Downtown Girl aesthetic pulls from the indie sleaze era, 90s New York style, and vintage finds. Think worn-in graphic tees, faded denim, platform boots, thrifted sweaters, leather jackets, and the perfect accessories and little details to pull the looks together. It's all about the sunglasses, jewelry, purses, headphones, coffee cups, and books that bring together not just the outfits, but the overall vibe.

Key Pieces

  • Leather jacket: the anchor of every Downtown Girl closet, ideally vintage and oversized
  • Baby tees and band tees: fitted or slightly cropped
  • Low-rise or straight-leg jeans: faded black or washed-out blue
  • Mini skirts: denim, leather or plaid, worn with tights
  • Platform boots or loafers: the go-to footwear for city days
  • Vintage knitwear: the type of sweaters you borrow from your grandpa's closet
  • Converse sneakers: the essential sneaker for the Downtown Girl
  • Silver jewelry: layered chains, chunky rings, small hoops
  • Shoulder bag: big enough for your headphones and a book

Colors, Fabrics and Details

Stick to black, charcoal gray, washed denim, and brown. A pop of deep red or olive works if you want one accent. Fabrics should look lived-in: worn leather, ribbed knits, faded cotton.

Three Outfit Formulas

  1. The classic: band tee + leather jacket + bootcut jeans + Converse
  2. The night out: sheer black top + black mini skirt + sheer tights + knee-high boots
  3. The coffee run: oversized blazer + baby tee + baggy jeans + loafers + shoulder bag

Top Closet Clash Downtown Girl Looks

Our players took on the Downtown Girl challenge and these were some of our favorite looks.

  1. Outfit with a brown leather bomber jacket, white graphic tee, gray straight-leg jeans, wedge sneakers, a brown leather tote, gold hoops, and an iPod
    Styled by@m241390
  2. Outfit with a black leather jacket, white London baby tee, gray wide-leg jeans, black Converse high-tops, silver hoops, and oval sunglasses
    Styled by@matildelima
  3. Outfit with an oversized black leather jacket, navy button-up blouse, white maxi skirt, black buckled boots, a black leather bag, and tortoiseshell glasses
    Styled by@tanvithebestie
  4. Outfit with a black leather moto jacket, burgundy henley, faded flared jeans, black skate shoes, silver headphones, and a Vogue magazine
    Styled by@femmefatale
  5. Outfit with an olive jacket, navy Tokyo sweatshirt, navy track pants, brown suede sneakers, a black shoulder bag, gold hoops, and black sunglasses
    Styled by@anikaax
  6. Outfit with a fur-trimmed brown leather jacket, olive lace-trim top, denim mini shorts, black Converse high-tops, tortoiseshell glasses, and a coffee cup
    Styled by@julppuuuu

Style Your Own Downtown Girl Outfit

Think you've got what it takes to master the Downtown Girl look? Pick your pieces from a curated closet of real clothing and style your own outfit here.

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