Layout by: Heleena Aira
Date Published: October 12, 2024
Time Published: 3:33
In the current year of 2024, where everything from make-ups, dresses, and jewelry to home decorations is getting a “coquette” makeover—we could now all say that the coquettish aesthetic is almost everywhere.
The reason behind this phenomenon is simply because of the magic of the coquettish fashion style that is characterized by all things feminine.
If you spend most of your time scrolling on social media platforms such as TikTok and reels, there are high chances that your “For You” page is full of several romantic and whimsical contents, including bows, mini skirts, laces, ruffles, and florals, which represent the current fashion and social media trend that we have at the moment: the Coquette aesthetic.
Lana Del Rey, Sydney Sweeney, and Lily-Rose Depp—the latest coquettish style of these three insanely famous celebrities is a living and definite proof that the coquette aesthetic has escalated beyond the premise of social media and is now reaching a whole new level of people.
But why now? Why, in a period of time where flat, monotone, and muted palettes have often dominated several fashion runways, has Coquetry exploded into one of the internet’s most viral trends?
Well, even the professionals whose expertise is the global internet fashion trends aren’t so sure.
However, one thing is certain: the sudden revival of coquetry as both an aesthetic and self-expression for women has something to do with its magical and irresistible charm. Read on to learn more about its interesting meaning, origin, and how it became a popular fashion trend.
THE MEANING OF THE COQUETTE AESTHETIC
If you’ve been seeing an unhealthy number of posts containing pink bows, pink dresses, and pastel accessories, then you can thank the latest and prettiest new obsession of the internet: The Coquette Aesthetic.
From the malls and offices to even school grounds, pink and cute objects such as bows and clips are now appearing in the most unexpected places possible. This is mainly due to the fact that the coquette aesthetic has now become one of the favorite fashion styles of the most chronically online generation—the Gen Z. [2]
But what exactly is the fuss all about?
Well, the Coquette Aesthetic first became popular among Gen Z because of its use of extremely delicate details like bows, lace, and ruffles, which when combined together allude to a playful and beautiful yet empowering expression of femininity. In technical terms, The Oxford English Dictionary defined the word coquette as "an action of a woman who trifles with men's affections" or "a woman who is playful and flirtatious."
However, famous influencer and stylist Maree Ellard rejected this and claimed in an interview that the current “coquette aesthetic” that we have greatly deviates from this definition because the coquettish fashion now is more of a reclamation of femininity, particularly for its Gen-Z audience.
With this, the famous phrase that has been circling on the internet that goes, “We’re girls; of course, we’re going to put bows on everything.” finally makes sense.
THE ORIGIN OF THE COQUETTE AESTHETIC
The coquette aesthetic isn’t actually a new trend nor a recently invented fashion style. It’s just that the internet has its own interesting ways of rebranding fashion styles that most people think that it’s a new trend that was just recently discovered.
The origin of the coquette aesthetic can be traced back in the early 1950s, during the lavish rococo period, where the Victorian-era dressing styles ran prevalent. These were times when femininity was expressed through ornate details, delicate accessories, and romantic dresses with an undeniable sense of elegance.
In fact, the comeback of the well-decorated and detailed fashion style in the modern day is an unexpected twist because of what happened after the French Revolution. Back then, the fashion that people usually adhered to changed drastically.
Most people moved and shied away from the fancy and well-detailed styles of the aristocracy and started favoring simple and more practical clothing because of the war, which led to the diminishment of the well-detailed and ornate clothing.
Today, however, the Coquette fashion style reclaimed the previous distinctful and ornate elements of the Victorian era. The Coquette fashion style, which embraces beautiful details, playful decorations, and romantic accessories, became even more prevalent and relevant as compared to the style that people had in the early 1950s. Truthfully speaking, it’s a refreshing change and a good contrast from the minimalistic fashion that has been popular for the past two centuries.
Basically, the coquette aesthetic has existed since the early times, but with just different names. Though its recent online origins can be traced back around 2010 in Tumblr, where the term "coquette" was adopted to avoid using its counterpart term "Nymphet," which was banned on many social media platforms because of its offensive nature.
The Nymphet—the original word used to describe the coquette style—is a fictional character from Vladimir Nabokov's novel named Lolita, who is a sexually precocious young girl who seduces older men. [3]
Quite shocking, isn’t it? Yet, that’s the true origin of the term “coquette aesthetic.”
THE WAYS TO EMBODY THE COQUETTE AESTHETIC
Coquette aesthetics can be worn by people of any age, gender, and identity. It works for everyone as long as they have the confidence and interest to wear it.
The coquette trend, as its core, is a fantastic and romantic way to explore and express your femininity freely. According to a well-known fashion expert named Ledford, the key to getting started with this trend is by buying clothing pieces that feature bows, pearls, headbands, clips, laces, or pastel colors—which emphasizes one’s “cutesy” side, as the generation Z would like to call it.
"I’ve been adding ribbons to my hair and choosing satin or lace slip dresses, or pairing white mini skirts with denim shorts this summer to bring Coquette elements into my outfits." Ledford said in an interview.
It is indeed true that accessories such as ribbons and delicate jewelry are a simple yet effective way to perfectly embody the Coquette aesthetic. For example, famous celebrities like Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan have demonstrated how the simple integration of pearls and corsets can elevate the overall look of their stage outfits. [5]
From this, we can safely say that Coquette trend is a mainstream in fashion, and its expression of full femininity may be the secret to both its appeal and its longevity. A genuine coquette is devoid of any strict guidelines, preferred brands, or even price ranges. All it needs to do is conform to the wearer's preferences.
Inherently, the coquette aesthetic is all about embracing femininity in its full grace. It is a trend that is self-confident, flirty, magical, and expressive—all at once.
IMAGE SOURCE:
Gitana (2024) Sabrina at coachella. Pinterest.
https://pin.it/6Q9o5C9js
-`♡´-(2011) Lana del rey. Pinterest.
https://pin.it/7kbc9XPp2
Pink Lady(2024) Cardi B. Pinterest.
https://pin.it/e2rWt3YAo
REFERENCES:
[1] Santino, C. (2023, August 21). What Is the Coquette Aesthetic? A Guide to the Viral TikTok Fashion Trend. https://people.com/all-about-coquette-aesthetic-viral...
[2] Satenstein, L. (2024, April 25). The Coquette Aesthetic, Explained. https://www.vogue.com/article/coquette-aesthetic-explainer
[3] Shannae. K. (2024, September 2). What is the ‘’Coquette’’ Aesthetic and Why is it so Popular? https://medium.com/.../what-is-the-coquette-aesthetic-and...
[4] Chapman, K. (2024, January 17). Coquette aesthetic: What is it, and can you wear it at any age? https://abcnews.go.com/.../coquette-aesthetic.../story...
[5] Lapid, A. (2024, April 23). Sabrina Carpenter Was The Coquette Queen Of Coachella. https://www.bustle.com/.../sabrina-carpenter-coachella...
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