I’m going to create a new series on the blog titled, ‘What I’ve Been Into,’ solely because it seems like each month I get fascinated by something new and I always want to broadcast it someway somehow; so why not speak on my new obsession on the likes of She Is So Bougie? In this blog post, we’re going to talk about a fashion aesthetic I’ve been obsessing over for quite some time now; the 2010s’ bombshell. Who she is, what she embodies, and how to establish yourself as a bombshell in your own right.

Section I: Who Is the 2010s’ Bombshell?

If you’ve been following me since my peak Tumblr days in 2018, you’ll know I've always had an obsession with Y2K urban fashion. When the Y2K phenomenon was taking over in 2020, my obsession with this era began to fade. It felt like a “been there, done that” moment for me. Despite the era having its fashion moments, I was ready to draw inspiration from different eras. One aesthetic that caught my eye on Pinterest most recently was the 2010s (2010 - 2014) era. As a teenager in the 2010s, I remember this fashion vividly. While there were some questionable trends during this era, the 2010s was all about stepping out of the box and embracing your own unique style.

Let's talk about a specific niche from the 2010s: the bombshell. In a time when 'quiet luxury' is all the rage, the bombshell is the complete opposite. Even if you weren’t interested in this particular look, we all knew the bombshell. Whether we saw her on a Tumblr blog in 2013 or when Instagram first began gaining mainstream attention, the bombshell was somewhere on your social media feed. She epitomized glamour, always wearing a full face of makeup—even in activewear. Every time you saw pictures of her, you were oftentimes envious of her voluminous hair extensions and she never failed to take a picture wearing her favorite six-inch Louboutin pumps. Unlike the Instagram baddie often associated with this style, the bombshell has a more refined style and wouldn’t be caught dead in fast fashion brands.

The 2010s era was a time when more is more; less is more went out the window. More accessorizing, more clip-in hair extensions and, most importantly, more makeup. Personally, I loved this era of embracing ultra-femininity in every way, shape, and form. It was not only the peak of Instagram, a time when influencers didn’t even exist and people were simply posting their outfits and lifestyle out of wanting to, but it was also all about experimenting with your look. I’m not sure who sucked the fun out of being glamorous with this minimalist, understated nonsense, but I’m here to shed some light on this era and teach you all how to embody the 2010s bombshell in 2024.

Section II: How to Be Pretty Like Her.

When It Comes to Hair...

Two words: long layers. The bombshell couldn’t go without her twenty-six-inch clip-in hair extensions and a layered cut that framed her face perfectly. When I imagine a bombshell, I envision five bundles of hair extensions with perfectly styled pin curls. It’s thick, it’s voluminous, it’s long - it’s glamorous in every way. The hair can never be too flat, and an extra spray of hairspray is essential to achieve the right amount of volume.

When it comes to makeup…

Unfortunately, clean girl makeup wasn’t the norm and heavy girl makeup was in. The biggest makeup influence of this era was Kim Kardashian. She was the bombshell's ultimate muse, and her makeup set the standard. In short, it was all about more bronzer, more blush, and most importantly, the perfect nude lip gloss. Eye makeup may seem like a thing of the past now, but the smokey-eye look needs to make a comeback.

Section II: How to Dress Like Her.

Christian Louboutins or Nothing.

Christian Louboutins, or 'red bottoms' as they are famously known, had a weird cult following during this era. To embody the bombshell, owning a pair of Louboutins was a badge of honor in a sense. Without a doubt, you felt like that girl with a pair of six-inch Christian Louboutin pumps despite them being painfully uncomfortable to walk in. Considering fashion trends tend to make a comeback sooner rather than later, I’m looking forward to a possible return of Christian Louboutins. I do miss the era when these were the only shoes that everyone wanted to include in their wardrobe. Heck, people even had collections of Christian Louboutin heels.

When it came to heels in the 2010s, the higher, the better, the girlies did not compromise wearing heels any lower than six inches. Heeled sandals weren't the norm, and everyone was searching for that perfect stripper-esq six-inch pump. I have no idea how they managed to wear these heels so frequently. But I will say that heels like these elongate your legs, and I can see them being hot shoes if you know how to walk in them.

Pro tip: To get an authentic pair of 2010s-era Loubs, I recommend buying them secondhand, as the brand’s modern pumps aren’t as dramatic or fun as they used to be.

If You’re Going for Comfort, Don’t Be Too Boring.

I hate today’s definition of leisure outfits. It’s the same mundane Lululemon sets with a pair of sneakers. While that can be cute, where’s the glamour of it all? Just because you’re opting for comfort doesn’t mean you should not embody a bombshell. And news flash, comfortable outfits don’t always have to equate to workout clothes.

I don’t know about you all, but I vividly remember the 2010s having a plethora of cute leisurewear outfits. Victoria’s Secret was in its prime with cute, rhinestone-embellished sweatsuits. In addition, Juicy Couture wasn’t as huge as it was in the 2000s, but blinged-out Juicy sets were still on the horizon. There’s something about a velour set that can instantly glamify a look, and I can certainly see the bombshell wearing these on her casual days.

Large Bags for the Win.

As noted, the 2010s bombshell was all about flamboyance, so sporting monogrammed bags was kind of her thing. During this era, spacious bags were in, and the micro bags we see today weren’t even a thought. The iconic Louis Vuitton Neverfull or Speedy were two of the staple bags the bombshell would wear daily. Similarly, and what has to be my favorite, the Celine luggage bag was also a bombshell staple.

I'm not exactly sure why larger bags aren't as popular as once, but I remember the 2010s as the era when YouTube began. One of my favorite types of content was "What's In My Bag" videos. I loved the authenticity of those videos, where creators would throw a bunch of miscellaneous items in their bags and show their viewers, in contrast to the perfectly curated "What's In My Bag" content today. I'm sure the bombshell needed the spaciousness of a larger bag to fit all her beauty essentials.

Bandage Dresses to the Club.

I miss the era when women wore a Hervé Léger bandage dress and a pair of six-inch pumps to the club. It was extra, but it was unapologetically the bombshell. The goal is to find a dress that perfectly accentuates your frame—opt for skin-tight silhouettes rather than flowy or boxy dresses that don’t cinch you in. The bombshell wants her body frame to be on display in every outfit, especially in a dress.

Midi dresses are not a part of the bombshell’s wardrobe, anything above the knee is the standard. On occasion, wearing a form-fitted maxi dress is fine but for the most part, seek for bodycon silhouettes to accomplish this look.

Chunky Jewelry Only.

The bombshell was all about statement jewelry pieces. When I think of 2010s accessories, I remember how everyone used to have neon-colored chunky bracelets from Charlotte Russe. Of course, the bombshell wouldn’t be caught dead wearing anything from Charlotte Russe, but you get the vision. Studs, spikes, and gold tones were also popular jewelry trends during this era.

The chunkier the better, but your accessories shouldn’t be too gaudy. A bold statement watch, name-plated necklaces, studded bracelets, and gold-toned rings will do the trick. And since we’re on the topic of accessories; ditch the cat-eye sunglasses and stick to oversized.

Business Casual Supreme.

Just like the current generation often wears athleisure even when they’re not going to the gym, 2010s fashion was all about wearing business casual daily. People would quite literally wear a full blazer-coordinated set to the club. It was the norm back then, especially for the bombshell.

The difference with the bombshell’s definition of business casual is that, true to her nature, she didn’t want to look too corporate and still wanted to represent the hot woman she was. It’s business casual but not too business casual, as her outfit would often be way too inappropriate for a work environment. The only midi-length item she would wear is a skirt. Additionally, a cute, flattering blouse with a bit of cleavage does the trick.

In Conclusion…

Writing this blog post seriously took me down memory lane! I look forward to creating more guide-like content such as this, especially fashion-related content that’s similar to what I created on the previous blog. Your feedback is appreciated.