When I was in middle school, I was an emo/scene kid; I know, please hold your gasps of horror for the picture below.

There are a lot of people that I know who would never in a million years admit they were a scene kid in middle school, let alone post one of their old pictures up on social media. However, I like to keep my old pictures up because it reminds me of where I’ve been. It also proves that I was an e-girl long before being an e-girl was cool.

With the increase in popularity of the e-girl aesthetic in the recent years, there has been a resurgence in ex-emo/scene kids fuming with outrage. I’m sorry, it’s cool to wear all black, excessive makeup, and like anime now? Why was I made fun of for it in middle school then? Riddle me that!

Despite the makeup being different (and only a little different might I add), the clothing choices are pretty much the same. Both aesthetics call for black clothing, vibrant pops of color, chains, platform boots, heavy makeup, and band tee-shirts. So just for the satisfaction of all us grownup middle school emo kids; here is a list of a few things that the e-girls stole from the early 2000 emo and scene kids.

Chains

Black Clothing

Daily Fishnets

Facial Piercings

Harnesses Over Clothing

Thigh High Socks

Crazy Colored Hair

Animal Ears

Beanies

Occult Iconography

In all seriousness, I think it is fantastic that we are living in a time now where people can wear whatever they want and not feel weird about it and no shade to the e-girls, I think it’s awesome that we are bringing back some of these OG trends. Just next time you put on your thigh high socks and cat headband, say a prayer and pour one out for the emo and scene kids who came before you. Us with our poor, misguided inability to do makeup effectively and being fun of for going all out getting dressed everyday for school.

We who walked so you could run. XD Rawr!