Out of all the lifestyle aesthetics flooding the Tiktok and Pinterest feeds of girly girls everywhere, few are as immediately recognizable and heavily popularized as the Vanilla Girl aesthetic.
Characterized by neutral colours, cozy vibes, and vanilla scents, the Vanilla Girl aesthetic is simple yet sweet. The vanilla girl sleeps on white linen, drinks vanilla oat milk lattes, and wears plenty of cream-coloured knits. Now whether you religiously subscribe to this aesthetic or just loosely like the idea of it, you are sure to find some ideas for your holiday Wish List here. If you don't - you might find the perfect gift for the Vanilla girl in your life.
If you're still unsure as to what exactly this archetype is, here is a mood board to catch you up to speed:
White and Cream Knitwear
The absolute closest staple of any Vanilla Girl is a white or cream sweater. I personally have cream sweaters in multiple styles simply because they are super versatile. Whether it's a crew neck, a cardigan, or a collared sweater, it must be cozy. Bonus points if it's cable knit.
The best cozy sweaters are either cashmere or wool. These materials are the most expensive, however, better quality. If the majority of a sweater is made up of synthetic materials like acrylic or polyester, they're likely to be less comfortable and more likely to lack in quality. Wool can be a pain to wash but is usually worth it if you are looking for a sweater that will last for a long time in someone's wardrobe. Make sure to keep that in mind when shopping for knitwear.
Another thing to keep in mind is the style of the sweater. A solid safe bet is a crew neck cable knit. These look good with basically anything and can be worn either alone or layered with a white tee shirt underneath. Cardigans are also a great option if you know what kind the person you are buying for will prefer. A v-neck cardigan is a bit more relaxed and best suited for layering over tee shirts, tanks, jumpsuits or even overalls. A crew neck cardigan gives off a more preppy vibe and can even lean into a Chanel vibe if it has large gold buttons. If you know what she likes, either of these can be great gifts. Lastly, the most trendy style at the moment is a notch collar sweater. This is a great option for someone who likes to keep up with the trends, or maybe just already has the other styles I've mentioned.
Here are some of my picks for the perfect cream sweater to gift a Vanilla Girl this holiday season. Click the pic to find the link!
Aritzia
& Other Stories
LL Bean
Vanilla Scented Fragrance
Of all the gifts you could get a Vanilla Girl perhaps the most obvious is a vanilla scented fragrance. Vanilla perfume is classic and a crowd favourite. Its versatile and, given its popularity, it is available at various price points. I personally wear Vanilla Woods by the 7 Virtues and it is great for everyday wear. Here are some of my top picks for scents:
$119
Fragrance Family: Warm & Spicy
Scent Type: Warm & Sweet Gourmands
Key Notes: Pear, Rose, Vanilla
$48
Fragrance Family: Warm & Spicy
Scent Type: Warm & Sweet Gourmands
Key Notes: Sugar Crystals, Cashmere Wood, Vanilla
Victoria's Secret Bare Vanilla Body Mist
Type: Flora Gourmand Chypre
Notes: plush patchouli, vanilla orchid
Another great scent-related gift would be vanilla or vanilla bean scented candles. You can find these pretty much anywhere so pick one to your liking as long as the jar is neutral and classic. You may not think it matters but I'm telling you - they way it looks is almost more important than the way it smells.
Hair Care
When it comes to the Vanilla Girl aesthetic there is an emphasis on skincare, haircare, and minimal makeup. The point is to look effortless and natural - while we all know that achieving this look is far from effortless. A whole lot goes into looking like you barely need to try and when it comes to hair the best way to achieve that is great hair care. Here are some of the best hair care gifts for Vanilla Curls who want strong, shiny, lucious hair.
Ouai Shampoo and Conditioner
Olaplex Hair Kit
Ouai Leave-In Conditioning Spray
Ouai Matte Pomade
Philosophy Vanilla Birthday Cake Shampoo
Neutral Tone Water Bottles
A vanilla loves her self care almost as she likes flexing it. The perfect way to say 'I drink more water than you and look good doing with' is with a white, cream, or light brown ginormous water bottle. The current craze are Stanley cups, but they aren't so practical. They keep water cold but leek if they aren't perfectly upright. My favourite cult classic is a hydroflask. They come in all sizes, you can buy different lids depending on your preferece and they keep your water cold. Like - really cold. If she already has either of these in a different colour I'm willing to bet she woulnd't mind adding to her collection with another one. It will make washing them easier, plus, who wouldn't want to match their water bottle to their outfit?
Neutral Nail Polish
Essie nail polish in any of the following colours is a great stocking stuffer or add on for a gift.
Loungewear
As I said before although the vanilla girl loves looking effortlessly good, she also values being comfy and cozy. Thus, the ultimate shoe for a vanilla girl is a pair of UGGs. The most popular the the moment being mini UGGs or UGG tasmans.
Another lounge necessity for any vanilla girl is a matching lounge set. If she likes to be very warm and cozy, go for a neutral coloured matching sweatsuit. White, very light grey, or beige are safe bets. I would try Aritzia or her favourite activewear brand for these. For knit loungewear sets of the tank top and shorts variety, SKIMS is the place.
Lastly for loungewear, nothing says classy yet comfortable quite like a set of matching collared pyjamas. Anything white, cream, beige, oatmeal (are you sensing a trend here?), or white and pale blue stripes are great options. Places I suggest looking would be Victoria's Secret, LL Bean, and Djerf Avenue.
Bedding
Lazy Sunday mornings and earl nights are very important to our vanilla girls. That's why it is so important for vanilla girls to have a bed that is cozy, clean, and inviting. Getting her a luxurious set of white or cream sheets she may not have splurged on for herself or a silk pillow case can be a thoughtful gift that she will enjoy every night. Although some people may see bedding as a yawn-inducing fit, vanilla girls are likely to appreciate the gesture.
LL Bean Tote Bag
While any cream tote bag will do the trick, this Bote and Tote by LL Bean has been a classic everyday bag since the 90s (see 90s style icon Carolyn Bessette Kennedey using hers below). It can be used for overnight trips, everyday use, or a trip to campus. My favourite colour is the cream with the navy straps. If she doesn't already have one, she's probably seen it on her Pinterest.
Skincare
What matters most to the vanilla girl isn't makeup, although she does love it, but the skincare that goes under it. Every vanilla girl's dream is a 10 step skincare routine and glass skin. While for most this is unattainable, as such a regiment required a large investment in products, receiving such products as gifts will make her dreams come true.
White or pearlescent guashas and face rollers are also great skincare gifts for those who already have a very strict and specific skincare regiment.
Clear Glassware
Vanilla girls love their coffee and they love to drink it from aesthetic coffee cups. A simple search on Amazon can get you a set of fun clear coffee classes in bubble shapes etc. Another great coffee accessory could be glass reusable straws. Other places to look could be etsy or vintage shops.
Simple Gold Jewellery
Most vanilla girls prefer gold, but it is a good idea to double check before investing in jewellery. Keep it simple: simple hoops, single chains, nothing too flashy. Good places to look would be Mejuri, M jewllers, Cartier if you're able, or Everly.
That is the end of my vanilla girl wish list! Keep your eyes peeled for more wish lists based on specific aesthetics or vibes as I will be adding more. Comment requests if you have any. Until then...
Talk soon,
- Vanilla Darling Xx
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