“Cottagecore” is a popularaesthetic on social media platforms, including Instagram, TikTok and Tumblr. This type of content romanticizes farm life and celebrates an old-fashioned, sustainable existence (think “Little House on the Prairie”).
Detailed Explanation
A cottagecore post could be a photo dump that includes tea in an antique teacup, a walk down an overgrown garden path, someone wearing a ruffled floral sundress and a hand-stitched embroidery project. Peasant-style dresses, fields of wildflowers and traditional skills like gardening typify the cottagecore style.
The aesthetic emerged online in the late 2010s, but it was during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns that cottagecore found a foothold with Gen Z. As people began to adopt timeless hobbies like knitting, baking and spending more time outdoors, the style took on a serene and whimsical shine on social media. Cottagecore appeals to those who desire a slow life in the countryside and a symbiotic relationship with nature.