STYLE

In a pink-and-white world of lace, pearls and bows resides the internet's latest aesthetic fascination: coquette. While the dictionary definition of coquette is "a woman who flirts", the style associated with the word has given it an entirely new meaning. With influences from balletcore and cottagecore, the coquette life indulges in hyper-feminity with a touch of playfulness. We're here to help you coquette-ify your life (you'll be walking to school listening to Lana Del Rey while wearing a babydoll dress with a red lip in no time). 

Outfits

@romneyellen

When trying to break into any aesthetic, it's essential to start with the most fundamental aspect: clothing. For this style, find timeless, feminine pieces with fun textural elements; the more ruffles, ruching, lace and ribbon the better. Look for the following items in shades of pink, red, white and cream (don't forget the florals!). 

Bows
Heart accessories 
Babydoll tops
Lockets
Ballet flats
Pleated mini skirts
Lacy tanks
Flouncy dresses
Pearl accessories

Makeup

@f4irvvvv we’re getting out of hand💔 #coquette #coquettemakeup #vintagemakeup #f4irvv #vintagefashion ♬ lana del rey by young and beautiful - epiphany

A fit can't be a fit without a face to match! The coquette aesthetic fits a surprisingly wide range of makeup looks into its style (see above for an artistically dolled-up face). While there isn't a strict makeup regimen to stick to within this aesthetic, here are a few products essential to capturing the coquette vibe. 

Lots of pink blush
Sharp black winged liner
Mascara on lower lashes
Dark pink lipliner
Glittery pink eyeshadow
Highlight 

Music 

@k4teturner

Every main character needs her own soundtrack—and the coquette girls definitely have a niche of tunes to blast through their bow-bespeckled headphones. To start off, Lana Del Rey (a.k.a. Lizzy Grant) is the reigning goddess of any coquette playlist. Other artists with similar yet equally unique vibes which fit the style include MARINA or Melanie Martinez. Here are a few of our recs. 

"Sad Girl" by Lana Del Rey
"Fade Into You" by Mazzy Star
"Dollhouse" by Melanie Martinez 
"Pretty When You Cry" by Lana Del Rey
"Femme Fatale" by The Velvet Underground
"Me and My Husband" by Mitski
"Sweet" by Lana Del Rey

Pastimes

@wemobakes Heart shaped churros 🧸 RECIPE: it will be up tmr on my youtube, link in bio 🖤 #churros #heartshaped #coquette #coquettebaking #cottagecore #aestheticbaking #baketok #recipe #churrosrecipe ♬ Valentine by Laufey speed up - 🌘

As with any aesthetic, looking the part is not enough. Whether you wish to completely capture the coquette lifestyle or simply incorporate some of the vibes into your daily life, we have quite a few suggestions. 

Jewelry making
Reading classic romance novels
Incorporating French words into your vocabulary 
Baking sweet treats
Writing penpal letters
Journaling or scrapbooking 
Antiquing 

Decor

@evvajimenez

Finally, it's time to decorate! Head to the antique store, grab a roll of ribbon and take your childhood stuffed animals out of exile. Coquette style embraces all things vintage, soft and pastel (time to dig grandma's lace dollies out of the trunk). 

Candles in vintage holders
Poster collages
Antique mirrors
Floral bedsheets
Fresh/dried flowers
Old-fashioned teacups

More style inspo this way...
🎀4 jewelry trends to try this spring
🎀A pajama set for every Taylor Swift album
🎀Why it's totally OK to be overdressed

Tag us in your coquette-inspired looks on Insta @girlslifemag!

Slider image: @romneyellen
Top image: @k4teturner

by Madeline Morrow | 6/6/2023