Ms. Emma Chamberlain has grown up online. We’ve watched her come into her own. From a shy and slightly awkward 16-year-old scrunchie-loving girl, to a now grounded and powerful 23-year-old woman, whose style impacts the internet with a single Instagram story post.
The Original “VSCO Girl”
VALLEY bets you haven’t heard that phrase since circa late 2019, maybe early 2020. Let us take you back: pre-global pandemic, YouTube is in its prime and everyone is wearing scrunchies and teddy bear jackets all thanks to Emma.
Her style during this phase was quintessential American teenage girl, which is exactly what Emma was, alongside with the majority of her viewers. Yet, it was also effortlessly herself, full of color, fun patterns and accessories.
So many of the fashion trends from the 2018-2020 era stemmed from Emma. Platform Doc Martens, mini sunglasses and chain belts could all have been spotted on her prior to their explosion in popularity.
Coachella Queen
Yes, Coachella may be one of the most popular music festivals with major artists performing every year but, let’s be real, the fashion has always been one of the most exciting parts of the weekend. Emma is no stranger to iconic Coachella outfits. In fact, there were years when her looks were the most anticipated of the whole festival.
Coachella 2019 happened during the peak of Emma’s online fame skyrocketing. She featured all of her outfits from this weekend in a vlog on her YouTube channel which has amassed millions of views.
The allure to Emma’s looks is that she was styling herself at 17 years old, just choosing to wear whatever felt the most appealing to her. There was no celebrity stylist or brands assisting behind the scenes. Emma wore what was fun and authentic to her and, what was fun and authentic to her, became desirable to everyone else.
That Time She Single-Handedly Brought Back Flared Leggings
In 2020, Emma took to her Instagram story in what she probably assumed would be any normal “OOTD” post. Her look featured a Nike crewneck, a thick white headband, her iconic mini sunglasses and yoga pants. Leggings with flared bottoms that were popular in the late 2000s.
For a decade until this point, the yoga pant or “flared leggings” were virtually extinct as a fashion trend. Leggings were thought of as being tight down to the ankle, suitable for your next spin class or trip to the grocery store.
This photo of Emma took the world by storm. All of a sudden videos upon videos surfaced of people trying out Emma’s look. Stores began selling more flared leggings than normal ones and almost five years later, they’re still immensely popular. This goes to show people trust Emma’s style choices, even allowing her to resurface old trends from a decade prior.
Emma’s Style Today
Emma has evolved past her playful teenage aesthetic into a more sophisticated and matured style. She can now be seen wearing looks that are more neutral, yet will still play into her love of color from time to time.
She is still a lover of her chunky shoes, trading in her hightop Doc Martens for pairs of loafers. Emma is now keen on involving layers, different fabrics and silhouettes into her looks. She plays into a more androgenous side, mixing both stereotypically feminine or masculine pieces such as button up shirts, oversized blazers or skirts.
Emma’s style evolution has been documented through her time on the internet. VALLEY guarantees it will continue to change as she does and we cannot wait to come along for the ride.
Let us know your favorite looks from Emma by tagging us @VALLEYmag on Instagram!
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