Sunshine, palm trees, salty hair, and a carefree attitude that blends laid-back luxury with sunnier grunge. The California Girl style has evolved from the 2000s to today, but it maintains something essential: that air of freedom that makes you feel like you're about to escape to the beach at any moment . At Neare, we reinterpret it in our own way, between the nostalgia of The OC , walks along Venice Beach, and the Pinterest boards that keep resurfacing with bikini looks with jeans, varsity sweatshirts, XL glasses, and messy hair.
What exactly is California Girl style?
When we think of "California Girls," the first thing that comes to mind is a mix of references spanning the 2000s, surfing, indie music, the carefree luxury of Orange County mansions, and the effortless ease of a routine that includes beach, car, and smoothie. This style isn't just about clothes, it's about a way of experiencing summer, even when you're not in California.
In terms of fashion, we talk about:
- Bikinis with low-rise jeans .
- Mini denim skirts with strappy tops and oversized sunglasses.
- Skate or surf brand t-shirts combined with more flirtatious garments.
- Oversized college sweatshirts like you stole them from your ex's closet in Malibu.
- Retro sneakers , flip-flops.
This style blends the sweet, teeny side of Marissa Cooper with the cool, alternative edge of today's girls like Zoë Kravitz and Devon Lee Carlson . It's a mood that says, "I'm going to have breakfast at a gas station on the Pacific Coast Highway and then going to a concert in Silver Lake."
Key references: The OC , Venice Beach, and Pinterest boards
🧡 The OC : Marissa, Summer, and the Eternal Summers
There’s no California Girl style without mentioning The OC One of the series that defined the style of the 2000s. Marissa Cooper, played by Mischa Barton , became an icon of the Californian boho-deluxe style. She wore floaty mini dresses, halter tops, long necklaces and flat sandals like no one else. Summer Roberts ( Rachel Bilson ) also made her mark, with more cheerful, colorful and accessorized looks.
At Neare, you'll find pieces inspired by these looks: backless dresses, pastel-hued strappy tops, denim miniskirts, and vintage necklaces with shell or star pendants.
🛒 Neare Tip : Stop by the store to see our boho-style dresses.
🏄 Venice Beach: skateboarding, tattoos and attitude
The real Venice Beach (not the one in the movies) is a place where skaters, artists, modern hippies, and tourists mingle. This is where the most authentic and rebellious side of the California Girl style is born: baggy sweatshirts, vintage-cut sweatpants, band or skate brand t-shirts (like Vans, Santa Cruz, or Volcom), cargo pants, and trucker hats.
This style doesn't strive for perfection, but rather for energy and spontaneity. At Neare, we reinterpret this aesthetic with oversized garments, unique secondhand T-shirts, 2000s cargo pants, and accessories that look like they came from a beachside flea market.
🛒 Tip Neare : Ask about the vintage cargo pants that just arrived.
📌 Pinterest: The California Revival
If you search “California girl aesthetic” on Pinterest, you'll find a mix of the past and present. The algorithm serves you minimalist bikinis, rectangular sunglasses, warm-filtered photos, girls on roller skates and smoothies in hand. You'll also see plenty of references to TikToks of girls wearing vintage Levi's jeans and crochet tops at golden sunsets.
It's the most visual and aspirational version of the style, and at Neare, we love to use it as a starting point for creating our looks. We use these references to combine sporty, vintage, and bohemian pieces in a fluid and unconventional way.
Keys to achieving a California Girl look with Neare clothing
Here's a quick guide to creating your California look with what you can find at Neare:
1. Top: Tank tops, baby tees, bikini tops
- Pastel colors or white (we have a lot).
- Knitted or ribbed fabrics.
- Details such as bows, floral prints, stripes or glitter.
2. Bottom: denim, always denim
- Low-rise denim mini skirts.
- Vintage Levi's shorts.
- Wide-leg jeans with a straight cut and light wash.
3. Key layers: vintage sweatshirts, open shirts, sports jackets
- Add a college sweatshirt (great if it looks stolen).
- Overshirt-style shirts to wear open over a bikini.
- Vintage Nike or Adidas 90s style sports jackets.
4. Accessories: sunglasses, surfer necklaces and fun bags
- Sunglasses with a Y2K feel ( Paris Hilton style).
- Necklaces made of beads, shells or fake pearls.
- Small shoulder bags in vibrant or shiny colors.
5. Footwear: casual and retro
- White sneakers (Nike Cortez or Vans type).
- Flip-flops or sandals.
- UGG boots if you're looking for a more literal 2000s nod.
California Girls Today: Who's Wearing This Style in 2025?
Although the style was born with series like The OC or movies like Blue Crush , today we see it reinterpreted by many girls with a vintage-meets-tiktok aesthetic:
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Devon Lee Carlson mixes bikinis with jeans and vintage Dior sunglasses like no one else.
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Matilda Djerf represents the cleaner, more minimalist side of style.
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Emma Chamberlain brings a skater-grunge touch to the formula.
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Sabrina Carpenter is the new face of pop with a 2000s California aesthetic.
At Neare, many of our customers also inspire us with their way of reinterpreting this style: wearing our clothes with a fun and personal attitude.
How to incorporate the California Girl style if you live in Madrid or Barcelona
We know not everyone lives by the sea, but the California Girl style can easily be adapted to the city. Here are some ideas:
- Wear shorts with an oversized blazer and comfortable sandals.
- Pair a strappy top with wide-leg pants and an overshirt.
- Replace your bikini with a lace or crochet top.
- Add surfer accessories even to an urban look.
The key is not to take it too seriously. This style speaks of freedom, of breaking rules, of enjoying the sun, even if it's just on a bench in Malasaña or on the Rambla del Raval.
Do you want your California Girl look?
At Neare, we have a carefully curated selection of items that fit this style, from vintage t-shirts to sparkly bags, starfish-shaped glasses, and 2000s denim skirts.
Visit our stores in Madrid (Corredera Alta de San Pablo 21) or Barcelona (Carrer del Doctor Dou, 4) ,
Find out what you would wear if you were in Venice Beach right now with an iced coffee and a Lana del Rey playlist in the background.
