A VSCO girl is an aesthetic identity named after the photo editing app VSCO, defined by a specific set of items, attitudes, and catchphrases that dominated internet culture in 2019. The starter pack: oversized t-shirts, Birkenstocks or Crocs, shell necklaces, scrunchies (lots of scrunchies), Hydro Flask water bottles covered in stickers, and the catchphrase “and I oop” followed by “sksksksk.” It was part genuine lifestyle, part meme, and entirely inescapable for about six months.
The VSCO girl starter pack
Must-have items
- Hydro Flask (with stickers) – “save the turtles”
- Scrunchies – worn on wrists, in hair, everywhere
- Oversized t-shirts or hoodies
- Shell necklaces (puka shells)
- Birkenstocks, Crocs, or white Vans
- Fjallraven Kanken backpack
- Mario Badescu facial spray
Must-know phrases
- “And I oop-” (surprise or shock)
- “Sksksksk” (keyboard smash excitement)
- “Save the turtles” (anti-plastic straw stance)
- “It’s the ___ for me”
Where the name comes from
VSCO is a photo editing app known for its soft, warm, slightly washed-out filters – the kind of editing that makes everything look like a dreamy California beach day. Girls who used VSCO filters heavily and adopted the associated beachy, laid-back aesthetic became known as “VSCO girls.”
The term started as a descriptor on TikTok and YouTube in mid-2019, then quickly became both a genuine identity and a meme. Some girls proudly claimed the label. Others used it to poke fun at the hyper-specific conformity of the aesthetic.
The environmental angle
One unexpected element of VSCO girl culture was its environmental consciousness – or at least the aesthetic of it. “Save the turtles” became a rallying cry because VSCO girls championed reusable water bottles (Hydro Flasks) and metal straws over plastic ones. Whether this translated to genuine environmental action varied, but it did normalize eco-friendly habits among teens.
VSCO girl as meme
The aesthetic became a massive meme format. TikTok was flooded with:
- VSCO girl transformation videos: People “becoming” a VSCO girl by putting on the full outfit
- Parodies: Exaggerated sksksksk-ing and aggressive Hydro Flask promotion
- Starter pack memes: Flat-lay images of every VSCO girl essential item
- “And I oop” compilations: The phrase becoming a universal reaction
Where are VSCO girls now?
The peak was summer through fall 2019. By 2020, the trend had faded as internet culture moved on to new aesthetics (cottagecore, dark academia, etc.). But the influence stuck around – Hydro Flasks are still everywhere, scrunchies never left, and the “save the turtles” ethos helped mainstream reusable products. VSCO girls did not vanish; they just stopped being called VSCO girls.