As the sculptor Louise Nevelson once said, true strength is delicate. It’s impossible to miss. From the most dedicated follower of fashion to the only mildly intrigued, casual observer, girlhood is more than a moment, more than a trend.
Ballet shoes and Mary Janes have lasted way longer than a mere season. Floaty dresses and bows and ribbons aren’t just for characters in Sofia Coppola movies. Former cult favorites Simone Rocha , Molly Goddard and Sandy Liang, vanguards of the ethereal girlish aesthetic, have now become established mainstream designers, as proven by Rocha’s blockbuster H&M collaboration, Goddard’s recent launch of a ready-to-wear bridal line, and Liang’s viral Monchhichi doll .
Speaking of dolls, women everywhere are madly amassing little toys to adorn their purses, their shelves, and dressing rooms. This proclaims the very real joy and delight they bring for those who unabashedly collect cuddly plushies and cute character figurines, some big enough to count as sculpture. What does it all mean? Why is it happening at precisely this moment in history? How long will it last? Once known as the “Material Girl,” Madonna first burst onto the scene in tulle skirts, big black hair bows, lace gloves, all archetypal girl motifs while having a name that translated to “My Lady.
” In one of her more critically acclaimed songs, she asked plaintively: “Do you know what it feels like for a girl, in this world?” In an interview, she revealed that she wrote.
