Gen-X Soft Club

Here's my second attempt at a style LoRA. Keeping the aesthetic theme this time it's Gen X Soft Club. I handpicked the images from several distinct categories in an attempt to get a more of the style rather than subject.

The images used were taken from this image board curated by Evan Collins

'Gen X Soft Club' term was coined by Sloane Angel Hilton.

Gen X Soft Club (GXSC) is a late 1990s and early 2000s aesthetic blending urban minimalism with futuristic optimism. Unlike the bright, bubblegum visuals of Y2K Futurism, GXSC embraces a more grounded, natural approach, featuring muted colors like greens, blues, beiges, tans, greys, and black. This style captures the understated elegance of urban life through minimalist design, cool tones, and a balance of organic and industrial elements.

Emerging during a period of economic recovery, GXSC reflected the entrepreneurial spirit of Gen X, embracing understated futurism and nostalgia for 1960s and 1970s aesthetics. Key visual elements include cityscapes, subway signage, and industrial spaces softened by natural textures and neutral colors. The photography often uses analog techniques like bleach bypass, cross-processing, and the Lomo effect, creating a high-contrast, soft, and dreamy quality.

In fashion, GXSC features nude makeup, middle-parted or textured hair, natural leathers, knee-high boots, and duster jackets, bridging alternative streetwear with soft club culture. Musically, the aesthetic aligns with trip-hop, downtempo, French house, and electronic music, creating an ambiance that resonates with late-night city life.

As styles like Y2K Futurism and Frutiger Aero see a revival in the 2020s, GXSC is also experiencing a resurgence, appreciated for its subtle yet sophisticated take on retro-futurism, urban aesthetics, and soft minimalism.