There’s just something about summer that brings the earthy Black girls out in full force. You know the ones — dressed in flowing browns and greens, crystals wrapped into their locs, skin glowing in the sun like they’ve been kissed by their ancestors. It’s soft, it’s intentional, and it’s far from new.
While earthy Black girl might be the trending term, this look has deep roots. Before it was Pinterest-core or soft life-coded, it was known by another name: Neo Soul. In the early 2000s, this aesthetic was defined by women like Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, India.Arie, and Lisa Bonet — women who embraced headwraps, incense, soul-soaked lyrics, and natural beauty at a time when hyper-commercialized glam reigned supreme. These days, when people talk about Y2K style, it’s all low-rise jeans and Baby Phat tracksuits — but the Neo Soul girls? They barely get a mention.
Why is it rising again now?
Because it’s summer — and earthy Black girls are in their element. The warmer months invite softness, creativity, and rest. But more than that, we’re living in a time when many young Black women are gravitating toward slower living, spiritual grounding, and self-expression that resists the hustle culture grind. The earthy aesthetic isn’t just fashion — it’s a form of healing, a cultural memory, and for many, a full-blown lifestyle.
Maluna Li, a 26-year-old pole dance educator and content creator based in Atlanta, says her earthy awakening was sparked by personal transformation. “It was my last semester of college and there were a lot of new things occurring in my life,” she says. “I wanted to leave at least knowing who I am or discovering who I am even further.” Growing up, she struggled with confidence in her body and often felt disconnected from style. “I was always a midsize or thick girl so most of the time I wore stretchy clothes… I literally just threw on anything.” But once her mid-20s hit, something shifted. “You know how they say something clicks in your mind once you reach that 24 to 25 threshold of age? I feel like that’s what happened to me.”
For Li, fashion was just the beginning. “I purposely stated ‘fashion wise’ in the beginning because the earthy vibe or aesthetic is more than just those things. I think of earthiness as being a lifestyle. Very spiritual, in fact. I became a new age spiritualist in the year 2018.” Her outfits, guided by emotion and comfort, often reflect her sensory needs and spiritual identity. “I’m a Pisces so I’m very free flowing. On top of that I am on the spectrum so I have sensory issues,” she says. “I like to be cute but comfy at the same time.”
After launching her “Calling All Earthy Black Girls” series online, she received pushback from some who wanted her to accessorize more. But she remained grounded in her own definition of the look: “I get sensory overload when I wear too much jewelry… IN MY OPINION, dressing earthy is like new age spirituality in the sense that you take on the basics of it but you make it your own.” Her earthy aesthetic blends softness with alt, Y2K, and even “witchyness.” One outfit from her series — Part 6 — stands out as her favorite: “I remember letting my emotions and my feelings guide me in putting that outfit together.” For Maluna, this style is a reflection of her identity, culture, and spirit. “It is what resonates with me the most. It is a style that is very free flowing and effortless and you can make it your own,” she says. “My parents raised me on Neo-soul from Jill Scott to Lauryn Hill to Erykah Badu, D’Angelo, Alicia Keys, and more… From scarves [to protect our crown], to cowrie shells [for protection and abundance], to waist beads — all originated from African culture.”
For 20-year-old Remi, a childcare worker based in the DMV, the journey started in the most unexpected place: the plant section at Lowe’s. “I remember going to Lowe’s one day with my mom… and for some reason, I [ended up] in the plant section and thought a cactus would do,” she recalls. “I bought my very first plant at 15 and from then on, I was buying a plant almost weekly.” That early connection with nature began to shape her personal aesthetic. “When I was around 19, I decided, you know what, I should really start dressing like plants,” she says. “I love the color green and brown and that’s truly how I became [earthy]. It wasn’t just clothing. It was a lifestyle for me.”
Her love for nature flows directly into her wardrobe choices. “I love to be green like the leaves, brown like the dirt, orange like terra-cotta,” she says. “I love wearing crystals to balance me and to guide me. I love wearing wood to ground myself.” Through her earthy style, she’s found not only self-expression but also connection. “Everywhere I go, if not in person then online, I am able to connect with people even just based on fashion.” More importantly, it’s a cultural and ancestral tether. “Not just does it remind me of who I was and who I am, but it also connects me to my roots,” she says. “I love being Afrocentric. I love learning about symbols and signs. I love that everything has meaning down to colors and feathers. I wanna be more with my culture, and I think this lifestyle has helped me a lot.”
Detroit-based creative storyteller and community curator Mi’Ele Booker, 26, says the shift into earthiness was subtle — almost subconscious. “Between 2019–2020, I noticed myself gravitating to a few earth-toned outfits,” she says. “Around that time, I started creating digital art that incorporated Mother Nature in some way using plants and animals.” She didn’t even realize the connection at first. “Earth itself (or herself, I like to say) inspired me to lean into the earthy vibe,” she says. “Outside of that influence, I definitely was encouraged by different people along the way that I either saw in passing or in the media.”
For Booker, fashion is about more than just what looks good — it’s about energy and intention. “I find it very useful to associate my colors and outfits with energy, so I can be intentional with how I feel or what I want to honor throughout the day,” she shares. “There are days where I want to feel calm and collected so I lean towards cool earth tones… The days where I want to feel bold and loud with my confidence, I’m going for my warmer colors.” And on low-energy days? “I honor the fact that I’m not feeling super energetic… so I go for shades of black or gray. I call it my ‘incognito fits’ because it helps me feel invisible.”
Her aesthetic mirrors her art — and vice versa. “It’s kind of like I subconsciously decided to extend my art style into my fashion to embody what I was creating at the time,” she says. “I definitely feel like myself when I’m aligned with this aesthetic… but I also give myself the freedom to step outside of it.” Jewelry is also a cultural anchor. “Whenever I’m wearing my gold jewelry, I believe it’s tied to both my identity and my culture,” she says. “Gold hoops, necklaces, and rings have always been popular in the Black community, so when I wear those I feel that connection. Gold jewelry is definitely my staple piece.”
Whether it started with a cactus from Lowe’s or a playlist full of Jill Scott, this aesthetic isn’t just about looking good — it’s about feeling grounded. For many, it’s about finding rhythm in a world that keeps trying to speed us up. Earthy Black girls aren’t just chasing a vibe; they’re reclaiming a way of being that’s rooted in softness, slowness, and soul.
This might be the summer of the earthy Black girl — but really, they’ve been here all along. And they’re only getting more intentional with time.