Analysis in brief: Gen Z influencers and pop stars revive the twee aesthetic with babydoll dresses and polka dots

By Caroline Edwards - 28 May 2026
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Posted by Caroline Edwards in Analysis

2 weeks ago

Gen Z’s version of twee is slowly taking over fashion, offering a new take on the aesthetic. It’s a shift led by pop stars like Laufey, Holly Humberstone and Olivia Rodrigo.

The new style is restyling key twee pieces – babydoll dresses, high necklines, knee-high socks and with ballet flats or Mary Janes, button details, polka dots, cardigans and collars – while combining boho and maximalism. This is being championed by creators such as Tatum Van Dam, Bella Adina, Ellie May Loveridge, Sara Brown, Martina Calvi, Harmony Youngs, Lizzi (Sushirollangel) and Cécile (Cecile_ihp).

Brands such as My Mum Made It and Damson Madder are providing key twee pieces. Rodrigo often wears My Mum Made It – its couquette babydoll dresses are also popular with Ariana Greenblatt, Sadie Sink and Addison Rae. Meanwhile, Miu Miu has been leaning into twee with apron dresses, mixing socks and kitten heels, and baby doll dresses, as styled on Rodrigo.

CORQ’s trends editor Caroline Edwards breaks down the twee revival.

@corq.studio

The twee revival is here, but maybe not as you know it. Gen Z has their own spin on the aesethic that was popular in the 2010s thanks to Alexa Chung and Zooey Deschanel. Now the new pop stars like Laufey and Olivia Rodrigo, and creators like Martina Calvi, Harmony Youngs and Bella Adina, are being back twee and wearing @Miu Miu and My Mum Made It’s baby doll dresses with ballet flats, Mary Jane shoes and colorful tights #twee #tweeaesthetic #2010sfashion #fashiontrends

♬ original sound – CORQ

Picture credit: Harmony Youngs and Olivia Rodrigo via Instagram.

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