My daughter has reached that age (9) when she’s suddenly all about the “aesthetic” and the “fits.” Gen Z is the undisputed master of aesthetics, and the internet (especially TikTok, Pinterest, and Tumblr) has spawned an ever-expanding galaxy of them. Each one is like a tiny self-contained world—with its own colors, vibes, fashion, music, and emotional palette.
For instance, to me Y2K was yet another instance of “hoomans be crzy” but to my daughter it is a look. (I had no fashion sense in 2000, or in any decade, so sadly I missed this look even as it was happening.)
Then there is Igari. My daughter wanted to wear this aesthetic to school, and I found it was a make-up style that is supposed to imitate that look you have when you’re hung-over and your boyfriend just broke up with you. Or when you’re tipsy and your boyfriend just made up with you.
Ok, this was not exactly how I wanted my 9 year old be dressing, but since she has neither a hangover nor a boyfriend, it’s all imaginary for now. In her generation, she spends more time putting make-up on her online avatars than on herself.
All of this a a long, roundabout way of explaining how I found out about CottageCore.
If you’ve ever dreamed of living in a little moss-covered cottage, baking sourdough while a breeze rustles the lace curtains, or picking wildflowers in a meadow while wearing a vintage dress with puffed sleeves—you might be experiencing a cottagecore fantasy. And I say “fantasy” very deliberately, because that’s what it is: a cozy kind of fantasy.
If the fantastic and sexy Cosplay get-ups of cons embody the fashion of High Fantasy and Manga, with the vibe of epic battles and glittering armor, the CottageCore makes me think about sweet Romantasy and Fairytale Retellings.
There is also magic in tending the garden, summoning butterflies, writing poetry in your journal while sipping tea out of a chipped mug given to you by the kobold librarian.
It’s also a little rebellious in a quiet, floral kind of way. You don’t need to be polished or perfect. Cottagecore says: it’s okay to slow down. To take joy in the simple. To be romantic, nostalgic, and just a little whimsical without needing to “perform” for anyone.
Maybe I need to have a few more flouncy dresses and a straw hat as I tend my garden this summer. Although chances are, like my daughter, I’m more likely to dress up my characters than I am myself!