What is Cottagecore?
Cottagecore is an aesthetic and lifestyle trend inspired by simple countryside living, traditional handcrafts and a romanticised rural past. It celebrates nature, comfort, slowness and homeliness - often expressed through flowing dresses, natural fabrics, baking, gardening, knitting, and time spent outdoors rather than chasing fast-paced modern life.
The style became especially popular online during the pandemic as people rediscovered the appeal of slower, more mindful living. In fashion, cottagecore often means soft silhouettes, vintage prints, second-hand fabrics and clothes that look timeless rather than trendy - making it a natural fit within more sustainable fashion movements.
Cottagecore Meaning
Cottagecore means a romantic aesthetic inspired by simple rural living, nature, handmade crafts and slower, gentler lifestyles.
How Cottagecore Shows Up in Fashion
Cottagecore fashion often includes:
Floaty dresses and skirts in natural fibres
Vintage or second-hand clothing
Floral prints, lace, puff sleeves and knits
Aprons, pinafores and prairie-inspired silhouettes
Handmade, repaired or upcycled pieces
Many people adopt cottagecore as an approach, not just a look - choosing to shop second-hand, mend clothes, and support small makers instead of buying mass-produced fast fashion.
Why Cottagecore Connects With Sustainable Fashion
While cottagecore began as an aesthetic, it overlaps with slow fashion and circular living values:
Encourages buying fewer, longer-lasting garments
Embraces second-hand, vintage, thrifted and heirloom clothing
Values craftsmanship, hand-making and mending
Pushes against fast fashion trends and constant newness
Makes romantic, timeless pieces - so they stay wearable for years
Not everyone who loves cottagecore is a sustainability activist, but the movement naturally supports reuse, repair and low-impact wardrobes.