# Coquette Fashion

The word Coquette (/kə(ʊ)ˈkɛt/) originates from France, and has various meanings throughout history; “A woman who trifles with men's affections; a woman given to flirting or coquetry. Also figurative” or Coket; “A person of either gender who is given to flirting or coquetry. Chiefly with modifying word specifying the gender of the person, as in male coquette.” Which is rooted in the 16th century in the early evidence in English literature. The first meaning becomes the current and well-known.
The term “Coquette aesthetic” is used to describe a trending aesthetic and fashion, characterized by the prominent use of pink hues and bows in clothing. This culture evolved into a notable meme trend in late 2023. The Coquette has various varieties such as Dollette, Winter Fairy Coquette, Bubblegum Coquette, etc. Each variant brings a distinctive element to the overall Coquette style.

## Description

The iconic element of the Coquette style is the pink bow that attaches to the clothes and accessories. Still, the coquette fashion style is only needed to achieve attractive flirty young women through what can be perceived as girly pieces such as the hairbow, lace, ribbon, flat shoe, and corset. The other elements that will complete the aesthetic are candles, diaries, dolls and stuffed animals, flowers and gardens, perfume, curls, fruits(especially strawberries), and everything with a heart shape.

## Popularization

The Coquette aesthetic originated in the mid-2010s on the blogger platform, Tumblr. The community used the “Coquette” term to replace the original term “Nymphet” which was misinterpreted from the original source by the internet. The term Nymphet was created by the Russian-American author Vladimir Nabokov from the book Lolita (1955), which is used to describe a sexually attractive young girl in preteen. Although his work became controversial in society, his terms about “Lolita” and “Nymphet” have influenced the aesthetics and fashion of many cultures. The term becomes the symbol of a desirable young girl through the many presentations in films, advertisements, etc. When the age of the internet occurred and invited people to create an online community. The term Nymphet referred to many aspects other than aesthetics and fashion such as the problem of the age gap, and the daddy issue. The term became more negative and so was banned from many online platforms, resulting in using the word “Coquette” to represent the aesthetics and fashion part.
Since the mid-2010s the term Coquette has been lived to this day, becoming the representation of being playful and embracing femininity to be confident in self. The character of Coquette fashion became viral again in 2022 and in late 2023, due to the characteristic of pink and bow and adopting the attitude of “Me if you care”. Becoming a meme with the influence of the hyperfeminine.

## The sub-aesthetic of the Coquette aesthetic

There are many sub-styles of the Coquette aesthetic, which have similar elements to the Coquette but with different contexts and styles.

### Nymph or Nymphet

The aesthetic was one of the roots of the coquette aesthetic back in the 2010s which was inspired by Dolores's looks and appearances from the book Lolita (1955), the style is also known as the Vintage Americana coquette.
The characteristic of this aesthetic is the whimsical and youthful innocence of the burgeoning sexuality and femininity. The appeal of this aesthetic is represented as the teenage schoolgirl and the romanticism of growing up quickly, with the mix of pop culture in the content. Because of the influence of the book Lolita, the Nymph (Nymphet) aesthetic pursues the looks of the school girl in the 1950s which is a similar setting of the book. The heart-shaped sunglasses are one of the iconic symbols of nymphet.
The fashion of Nymphet. The looks of the Nymphet style is the cheerful innocent girl with clean and dewy skin, then make-up with the red tone of the rosy cheek, red lipstick, shear of glittery in red and peach tone, with soft pastel eyeshadow, and long eyelashes. The braided hair (such as milkmaid braid and donut/ looped braid), and pigtails are represented in the Nymphet style, or just have the soft waves, curls, and long natural hair. For the clothing, The visible plaid/ floral and fruit (especially cherry) patterns on sundresses, rompers, and Tennis skirts in red and blue can create an image of the girls in the 1950s. The style also has High-waisted shorts, thigh-high and knee-high socks with sandals, and Maryjane shoes. The laced clothes, preppy clothes, and bralettes are also represented in this style. To add the final touch to the aesthetic are the accessories and visuals, obviously, the iconic heart-shaped sunglasses, lollipops, candy, bubble gum, or cherry and strawberry-related elements are strongly embedded in this style. The head accessories such as a cute bow, ribbon, or headband, small earrings, a soft necklace or delicate choker, and cute stockings and socks can complete the Nymphet aesthetic.

### Dark coquette or Gloomy coquette

The elements of the coquette are noticeable in the dark coquette but with a different tone and mood from the black and darker color palette. The aesthetic represents a more edgy and negative atmosphere. Adopting vintage fashion pieces into the style creates more mysterious and gloomy looks. The dark coquette represents the pretty young women who are mysterious, dangerous, and rebellious.
The fashion of the dark coquette The style is similar to a coquette with an overall dark and black color. The makeup can range from soft or dark smokey tones or even messy looks with messy or curled hairstyles. Clothing with dark lace dresses, lingerie tops, lace trim camisoles, empire waist tops, tie front blouses, ruche tops, square neckline corsets, ribbon corset tops, and cardigans is present in the style or adding the contrast element of bold and strong like leather jacket and combat boots. The accessories include a choker, messenger bag, locket jewelry, and pearl elements such as the pearl necklace.

### Dollette

The style represents a more delicate, soft, and hyperfeminine coquette aesthetic. The term used to be under coquette, but with its popularity in the 2020s and the appearance of the style that looks more doll-like, the term changed to “Dollette”. The reminiscence of the light pastel pink and white fluffy lace is the icon of this style, creating the presence of cheerful, sweet, and polite adorable young women with the additional visual of ballet and floral elements. The nostalgia of the bygone era is what elevates the coquette aesthetic to the Dollete aesthetic.
The fashion of Dollette The style presents the soft and feminine through both color and material such as silk, chiffon, and satin fabric. Puffy and ruffle lace appear on the dress and blouse. The pleated skirt is also common for this style, to keep the image of youth.

## Motives

The motive behind the Coquette fashion style is all about redefining femininity with confidence and playfulness. It started as a response to the negative ideas about women’s attractiveness, moving towards a more empowered and expressive look. This style encourages individuals to embrace their femininity on their own terms, incorporating elements like pink tones, bows, and a carefree attitude that resonates with modern trends of feeling self-assurance and enjoyment with fashion.

## Social Media Influence

The Coquette trend took off in social media in 2023, becoming hugely popular on platforms like TikTok in particular, it became a hub for viral videos putting ribbons and laces on random objects, turning Coquette into a source of internet humor. One iconic influencer who contributed significantly to this trend is the singer and artist Lana Del Rey. Her image and song lyrics often perceive a “woman flirting and playing with men” that aligns closely with the coquette concept. Social Media users shared their perspectives highlighting how the coquette trend enabled women to infuse a sense of childhood and femininity into their adult lives.

## Controversy of Coquette

Coquette has been praised for its charming and playful elements, but has also faced criticism for various reasons. One major concern is that it might continue traditional gender roles for women by emphasizing flirtatiousness and femininity in a narrow way, which can keep outdated stereotypes alive. Another issue is its potential appeal to the male perspective, focusing on a delicate and innocent image that may cater more to male fantasies rather than empowering women in their own right. This raises questions about whether the aesthetic truly allows women to express themselves authentically or if it enforces external expectations of how they should look and behave. Additionally, there are concerns about the lack of diversity in the Coquette aesthetic's representation, often showcasing thin, light-skinned women and excluding those who don't fit into these narrow beauty standards. This can lead to feelings of exclusion among individuals who don't fit the idealized image promoted by the aesthetic.