WTF Is TikTok’s “Girlfriend Air” Trend?
“They just look like the most regular capsule closet Zara catalog man, no personality. All muted, neutral tones.”
If you spend time on TikTok, you’ve seen the “boyfriend air” trend where femmes document their perfect attire before a boyfriend hang-out and leave looking disheveled and unloved. Well, in true TikTok fashion, “girlfriend air” or the “girlfriend effect” entered the chat, shortly thereafter.
@babeshelle Its a pokemon evolution✨ #girlfriendeffect #gfbf #boyfriendglowup #couplestiktok #boyfriendair #boyfriendairtheory #boyfriendhair #fyp #fy #fypシ゚viral ♬ original sound – Shèlle
The Girlfriend effect or “girlfriend air” is when a guy starts dating a woman and over time, becomes more attractive and fashionable. From his career to his physical aesthetic, he just looks better. Of course, this has encouraged an entire app of women to low-key drag their boyfriends — with permission — in 60 second roundups of his “before” and “after.”
@notwildlinAlso it was 2019- people were in skinny jeans lmao♬ original sound – NotWildlin
The before photos usually cross two categories: carefree bro with admittedly no fashion sense or one with their own quirky edge, or in other words, personal style. For example, one boyfriend loved his crop tops and tiny shorts. However, the after photos appear more visually curated, and according to these women, success came after they shared the preferred shopping list.
One TikTok creative, Notwildin, shared his rebuttal. ”I feel like I’m losing my mind because they’ll share a bunch of photos,” hoping to reveal how their girlfriend has “elevated their personal style,” he said. But in all reality, “it’s just a picture of him in streetwear.” “They just look like the most regular capsule closet Zara catalog man, no personality… all muted, neutral tones.”
Are the girlies giving themselves too much credit? Or do the boys have a lot to be grateful for? According to him, the only difference is that the girls taught their men “how to repress themselves.”
In other news, check out our latest installment of Ask a (S)expert — G-Spot edition.
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