IS COTTAGE CORE DEAD?

                               

Is Cottage Core dead 💀 ? ... 

Before diving in, we should learn what exactly is cottage core? According to the Urban Dictionary, Cottagecore is an aesthetic and fashion style inspired by romanticized rural and farm lifestyles interpretations.

Imagine the countryside scenery, nostalgic peasant dresses, and artisanal creations in fashion and homeware.

Cottage core is deeper than aesthetics. It's this beautiful world of living slower and more sustainable with an appreciation for nature, easy dressing, and country living from my own interpretation. 

Last year and the one before, we saw the resurgence of cottage core taking over which was fitting for the times we were experiencing. With more people moving to the suburbs/countryside due to the imminent pandemic, our style of dressing had shifted to more comfort. During the first lockdown, most of us spent our lives in sweats and pajamas since nothing could have prepared us for what was looming.

Fast forward to a few months, we were tired of living in our sweats and pajamas, we wanted to dress up a little and cottage core/prairie dresses were exactly what the doctor ordered. A lot of us took interest in gardening, baking and wanted to wear things that were more freeing. And of course with shows like Bridgerton taking us back to Regencycore, cottage core was stronger than ever. Cottage core was a beautiful world to get lost in to forget the emotional turmoil we were facing with the pandemic. It was a dreamy world, felt like stepping into a Georges Seurat : A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte (1884) painting.  It's one of my favorite paintings and always imagine myself living the scene and lockdown allowed us to live that dream. I remember never having time for a picnic before 2020. Since the park was our only destination, cottage core fashion invited itself as perfect guest.

IS COTTAGE CORE DEAD?

                                        

I picniked everyday in beautiful floaty dresses as la cottage core and living my Sunday afternoon on the island of la grande jatte dreams but in Central Park. It felt like I could be young and a kid again especially for someone who grew up a tomboy and never actually wore dresses in my teens, it felt like the perfect opportunity to redo that era. I am so glad I did. I got to feel what it's like to be have been a girly girl and it was so fun.

Some of my friends on social finally got to finally immersed themselves fully into this dreamy world they so longed for. I am excited to see how they will navigate the new world of getting back to the real world we're finding ourselves in again.

Now to answer the the question, is cottage core dead? It should be more is cottage core fashion dead. It's hard to say. With Bridgerton's second that just aired last month, I am still seeing a lot of these style dresses coming out. But at the same time, I think most of us are ready to get back to real dressing with outside being more open and events are happening in real live again. I am finding it more difficult putting a floaty dress on and run outside.  Of course there are some, it's their style naturally so that won't change. I also believe your environment makes a big difference on how you dress.  The way I'd dress in the countryside is not how I'd dress in NYC. Although the lockdowns made easy for new yorkers to have fun with cottage core fashion. My dream is still to one day live in the English countryside and floating around in these style dresses a la Paula Sutton. Until then, it's time I get back to the real world of fashion.

Personally for me, I am leaning towards yes. After two years of only wearing cute, flowy dresses I want to have fun with fashion again. Do I miss that easy lifestyle? Absolutely 

I would love to hear your thoughts on the subject.  Do you think cottage core is here to stay or is it the end? 

I will cherish my Hill house dresses & others. I will keep them in the hopes to still be able to fit in them when I do make it to the English countryside eventually.(Hope to come back to this post someday and think wow I can't believe it came true. Now I'm just waiting on my Englishman if he could just hurry up lol)

Thank you for reading,

Xoxo, Rose