5 Essentials You Need For Your Cottagecore Outfits

Mushrooms, floral patterns, foraging, gardens, strawberries - are outfits with these motifs filling up your FYP on TikTok and Instagram? Well, that's because the internet is obsessed with the word 'Cottagecore'. 

From flowy off-shoulder dresses with poofy sleeves to lacy dark floral gowns, there's so much you can do with cottagecore fashion. But you're probably wondering - 'what is cottagecore?' Well, we've got all the answers, so keep reading! 

What Is A Cottagecore Aesthetic And Is It The Right One For Me?

The cottagecore aesthetic is heavily inspired by Taylor Swift's albums folklore and evermore. 

Just imagine the winter is slowly settling in, beams of golden light are peeking through the forest canopy, and you're in your comfy chair by the fireplace, reading a book and sipping coffee. 

That's what cottagecore is. 

Cottagecore outfits can be soft and light-coloured, inspired by fairies, or midnight sky and blue hour dark shades inspired by goblins. Think soft feminine looks inspired by nature, the countryside and fairytales. True cottagecore combines light and dark to create the perfect, soothing aesthetic. Honestly, there's no fixed answer to 'What is Cottagecore' because you personalise it to suit what looks the best on you. 

The Ultimate Dreamy Cottagecore Checklist

If you've done at least 3 of these things, you probably already have a cottagecore aesthetic!

1. You possibly had a horse-girl phase
2. The scent of freshly-baked food is always coming from your kitchen
3. Strolling in the woodlands or on the beach is your favourite thing to do
4. You love spending time doing mindful activities 
5. The slow-living lifestyle is something you want to explore 
6. You feel like you're a misfit, a soft spirit in a harsh world
7. Pets are something you want or have
8. You grew up in the countryside

Pick The Most Comforting Colours For Cottagecore Fashion 

The colours of this aesthetic make cottagecore what it really is. As a general rule of thumb, the cottagecore style usually includes muted and pastel shades of white, pink, yellow, green, brown and black. 

Whether you like the dark, night-witch aesthetic or the golden-hour fairy wardrobe, the colours of your cottagecore outfit can suit your style. You want your outfit to look like a serene woodland, like a breath of fresh air and the smell of petrichor right after the rain. 

You can pick soft golden glows that look stunning in earthy and sunny spring tones. But if there's another colour that perfectly defines what cottagecore is, it must be sage. Whether you have sage floral patterns on your dress or sage-coloured accessories, this colour will completely uplift your cottagecore outfits. The beige tones of sawgrass basket colours will add an earthy and woody touch to your wardrobe, so make sure you have many of those elements to achieve that dreamy cottagecore style. 

5 Essential Fashion Pieces To Nail Your Cottagecore Outfits

If you're new to cottagecore and have just started to learn about it, there's some good news for you! You don't need to discard your entire wardrobe to rock this look. All you need are these 5 essential fashion pieces that will instantly turn your regular outfits into cottagecore outfits. 

1. Cosy knitted pieces 

When you think of what cottagecore is, you think cosy with just a little bit of adventure. That's exactly why knitted pieces are key to slaying your cottagecore outfit. Soft and warm knitted pieces are wonderful for the winter, especially if you get them in night-fairy shades like midnight blue and luminous blue shades. Whether it's a sweater, cardigan or even gloves, adding knits to your wardrobe almost instantly gives you the comfort of a cottage and countryside life. 

2. Earthy corsets

You're probably thinking - isn't this literally the 21st Century? Why corsets? Well, corsets are super in right now. So it's great that your cottagecore outfits can easily incorporate them. Adding to the 'countryside girl' look, pair corsets with dresses, jumpsuits, a plain white t-shirt - you name it. An earthy brown or a delicate off-white corset is a must-have for your cottagecore wardrobe. They lift your chest and are a great way to add some nature-inspired patterns to your outfit. 

​​3. Flowy maxi dresses 

Maxi dresses are a must for anyone who wants to slay the cottagecore look. It's best if they're loose and flowy to add an element of comfort to your look. While searching for the perfect cottagecore outfit, add some vintage elements to it. One of the best ways to do that is by getting vintage-styled puff sleeve dresses. 

Cottagecore dresses with a square neckline will also go perfectly with your peasant blouse! Look for dresses that have elements of either lace, linen, cotton, or frills. Cottagecore wedding dresses are also an excellent option for a family event. 

4. Peasant blouse 

If someone ever asks you, "What's cottagecore?" and peasant blouses don't come into the conversation, there's something wrong. A classic full-sleeve blouse in a neutral tone, especially with puffy sleeves, is something you can look for. The best part about adding a peasant blouse to your collection is that they're so versatile! 

Pair with jeans and an off-shoulder top when you're not going for the cottagecore vibe or with a beautiful dress for when you want to spend your days foraging. It's that simple. 

5. Floral everything!

This one's a no-brainer. If you go on Pinterest and look for cottagecore outfits, your feed will be filled with beautiful fashion pieces that are covered in floral patterns. After all, cottagecore fashion is massively similar to other nature-inspired aesthetics. Whether it's bright and bold flowers set on an off-white material or minimal single-line floral patterns printed on a pastel shade, there's no way to wear floral clothes and not nail what cottagecore is. 

But it doesn't just have to be on your dress. A floral patterned scrunchie or floral hair accessories and earrings are also great for incorporating flowers in your cottagecore outfits. 

Ready To Rock Your Cottagecore Looks?

So, if you didn't know what cottagecore is, let's hope you've got all the information you need to start. And if you already knew cottagecore, did you get some inspo for the new looks you plan to style? For the perfect cottagecore look to indie outfit ideas or even dark academia fashion, you will find all the styles you like to wear at NA-KD. How you combine them is up to you. But there's no doubt that you'll look fabulous no matter what you wear!