The Brief: Cottagecore is a social media aesthetic and lifestyle that embraces nature, cute things, domesticity, and femininity.
DEEP DIVE
Cottagecore Aesthetic
On social media and IRL, cottagecore aesthetics include imagery that is peaceful, idyllic, and whimsical. Visuals and themes associated with the aesthetic include gingham, lace, farms, florals, insects, fairies, mushrooms, strawberries, frogs, foliage, and, of course, actual cottages. Similar to the softgirl/soft szn style, cottagecore focuses on softness and cutesy, pleasant aesthetics while embracing things that are traditionally considered “girly.”
Check out our cottagecore-themed style and gift guide for more on how to bring some of this aesthetic into your everyday life.
For some, cottagecore is not just aesthetic but a lifestyle, dream, or identity focused on a slow-moving and simple lifestyle that embraces domesticity and allows participants to focus on activities such as cooking, gardening, sewing, pressing flowers, and pickling.
While cottagecore appears to embody some nostalgia from a past era, many followers of the trend consciously consider how pure nostalgia for an earlier time can recreate racism, sexism, homophobia, etc. of the past (as seen with the tradwife archetype). Some cottagecore lovers intentionally build communities that are more inclusive and socially conscious than a mere reflection of the past.
LGBTQ+
Online cottagecore communities are largely populated by girls and women, many of whom identify as lesbian, bisexual, or queer, as well as non-binary and trans folks. The relationship between cottagecore and queerness is often attributed to how it allows people to create calming, accepting, and positive spaces (real or virtual) away from anti-LGBT sentiments and politics.
miss honey was the blueprint for cottagecore lesbian culture pic.twitter.com/Ff0QQN3uy3
— joy (@dykeangst) April 14, 2020
COVID-19 Escapism
While actually moving to a picturesque cottage in the country may be inaccessible for most, cottagecore on social media allows people to escape into a picturesque, calming virtual world. During a global pandemic, cottagecore provides an outlet for fantasy that can be experienced through imagery, social media, and at-home activities for people in lockdown and quarantine.
On Instagram, over 197,000 posts have been tagged with #Cottagecore and entire accounts are dedicated to the aesthetic and lifestyle.
TikTok
Videos associated with the hashtag #Cottagecore have been viewed over 134 million times on TikTok, which is a major hub for the trend.
@jesca.herOnce upon a dream 🌙 Take a peek into my bedroom ✨ ##lifeathome ##cottage ##aesthetic ##cottagecore ##fyp ##xyzbca♬ original sound – leafydraws
@feminist_fataleLet’s make sweet violet syrup! 👒💜 ##cottagecore##fairycore##sapphic##wlw##femmelesbian##lesbian##lgbt##foryou##fyp##foryoupage##pinup##violetsyrup##violets##1950s♬ La vie en rose – Michele Garruti
Tumblr
Accounts and posts related to cottagecore can be found on Tumblr, marked with similar hashtags such as #FarmCore, #NatureCore, #GrandmaCore, #GoblinCore, #CozyCore, #DarkAcademia, and #CottageAesthetic.
r/Cottagecore
The subreddit r/Cottagecore, which aptly describes itself as “your grandma, but like, hip,” has over 11,000 members.
yeah i wanna spend my life in an isolated house somewhere in a mystical forest eating heart shaped strawberries and waving at every animal passing by from cottagecore