Thought it first seeped onto moodboards in 2020, five years later and cottagecore is still floating gently through our feeds in 2025. It’s evolved, of course — as trends do — but at its heart, cottagecore still offers the same thing it always did: a romantic escape into softness, slowness, and beauty. And it’s not just a TikTok aesthetic anymore. It’s a fashion language, a mood, and for many, a way of living.
So what exactly is cottagecore for the unacquainted?
It's a trend centred around a dream of a quiet, idyllic life in the country-side. Think a cosy fire, homemade jam, freshly-baked tarts, hand-knitted sweaters and fields of daisies. In other words, it's less material and more a feeling. It's a style, it's a mood, it's a decor aesthetic, it's a hobby theme - it's a lifestyle.
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This feeling has shaped some of the most soothing, aesthetically rich corners of the internet. Search “cottagecore” on TikTok, Pinterest or Instagram and you’ll find tutorials for rosewater tonics, linen dresses drifting through golden fields, and playlists full of birdsong and soft piano. It’s a retreat into nature, even if you’re watching it from an apartment.
Fashion has followed suit. Prairie collars, smocked dresses, scalloped hems, puffed sleeves and ruffled knits are now staples not just in cottagecore’s visual identity, but in seasonal collections from big and small designers alike. Gingham, one of cottagecore’s most recognisable prints, has made a soft return, showing up in designs by the likes of Ganni, Staud, and Reformation.
Similarly, the rise of “doily dressing” — lace trims, broderie anglaise, and delicate crochet details — continues to echo throughout collections. Designers like Doên, Cecilie Bahnsen, and Batsheva have embraced this softer, hand-crafted aesthetic, creating pieces that feel more like heirlooms than trends.
Beyond fashion, some within the cottagecore community have changed their entire lives, moving out to a farm and slowing down. Others will simply relish in the opportunity to get creative in their spare time, experimenting with making candied fruit or hand-sewn books as a means to relax.
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Whether you only want to dip your toes into the trend by adding a few florals to your weekly rotation, or are plunging headfirst into the trend with a whole new wardrobe, we're rounding up the best cottagecore-inspired pieces online, below.
Lounge x Sophia and Cinzia Posey Corset
Doên Daphne Mini Dress
Loewe Asymmetric floral-print silk maxi dress
My Mum Made It Morning Mini Dress
For Love and Lemons London Cardigan and Knit Panty
Ganni Black & White Stripe Shirt Minidress
Faithfull Astra Midi Dress Soft Blue Stripe
With Jean Ryder Top
Feature image: cottagemagic and smiley.sunflower_
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