Cottagecore

**Cottagecore**, also known as Farmcore and Countrycore, is inspired by a romanticized interpretation of western agricultural life. It is centered on ideas of simple living and harmony with nature. Other themes associated with Cottagecore include self-sufficiency, the romanticization of domestic labor, and caring for people.

## Visuals

Cottagecore has a naturalistic color palette with light green foliage, browns of natural stones and wood, straw, and flowers. Pastels are common in painting. Lighting is always natural, with sunlight being the de facto light source. Morning to late afternoon "golden hour" is the range of lighting.

Different motifs appear throughout Cottagecore in various ways; rather than limiting a photo subject to just pictures of its natural form, some items appear in various mediums, such as in illustration, printed fabric, novelty dishware, and other manners of home decor. The most common motifs are strawberries, mushrooms, and flowers.

Nature is one the main visuals of the aesthetic. One of the most common photographic subjects is wild fields of grass with small wildflowers dotted throughout.

Deciduous forest is also common, always in green during spring and summer, with autumnal colors and wintertime being rare. However, unlike more wild aesthetics such as Naturecore, there are almost always signs of human involvement in the rural space. Fences, bridges, clothes lines, picnicking, and controlled amounts of forestation are more often than not, elements of these images. In Cottagecore, humans have to have presence in the natural environment, shaping the landscape into home.

Gardens are of course a manifestation of this interaction between nature and human intervention. These gardens are always done in the English style, meaning that the land is cultivated to look more natural and with great variety, rather than geometric and controlled. Ponds are often included, as well as wheelbarrows, wooden benches, gazebos, and other garden paraphernalia. Often, large and ornate glass greenhouses are featured, which are more in line with a wealthy, English nobility aesthetic as opposed to modest and attainable rural life. More mundane and achievable gardens can be featured, and they largely focus on the crops grown there, such as frills of lettuce sprouting from the ground or strawberries in a white-washed planter box.

The other main visual, and the one that gives Cottagecore its namesake is the cottage, which is a fairly loose term that includes multiple types of homes. The most common Cottagecore house is the archetypical English thatch-roofed cottage with painted white or rusticated stone walls, chimneys, and shrubbery in the front. The second-most common is a miniature house or shed constructed from wood, with a gabled roof. Novel and twee decorations and painting is common in these miniature houses, and they are typically painted in pastel, feature decorative carvings, and window boxes filled with plants. English manors are also heavily featured in Cottagecore, and fit many aesthetics, such as Tudor, Cottage Orne, and even Neoclassical, among others. These mansions are typically more extravagant than what Cottagecore is claimed to be, which will be expanded upon in the Controversy section. Architecture that is incredibly fanciful and fairytale-esque is also common. They often look to be falling apart, sloping, or impossibly precarious. This fits into the fairy and witch influences.

Images of the interiors of these cottages are also common and the way how Cottagecore enthusiasts can express their love for the aesthetic without living in the countryside setting. These interiors show the farmhouse-style furniture, linens, and various knicknacks that would exist in the space. The objects are frequently cluttered and mismatched to create a cozy and carefree atmosphere and are frequently connotative of grandparents, such as quilts, tea sets, and vintage crockery. However, unlike other kitschy aesthetics, these items tend to be practical and have a united aesthetic with similar motifs and a limited color palette. Continuing with the nature motifs, plants are frequently featured in interiors, with flowers, potted plants, and floral and strawberry motifs on various mediums.

Labor and handicrafts associated with the cottage lifestyle, and the results from it, are incredibly popular. See activities for a list of full details.

Animals found within the setting are another photographic subject. The ones showcased are either domesticated animals such as cows, cats, dogs, ducks, rabbits, and sheep, or wild animals that would exist in the same field and forest setting such as frogs, mice, butterflies, and squirrels. These animals would be considered "cute" and are often in poses that carry across docility and relaxation. For example, cats sleeping on windowsills or frogs crossing their arms.

Food is another important visual of the aesthetic. The results of foraging: baskets full of mushrooms, berries, and other fresh fruits celebrate the Earth's bounty and the joy found in the activity. Baked goods, bread, and other sweet foods also contribute a cozy atmosphere to the aesthetic, as it carries across the warmth and romantic labor associated with making it. This is almost always traditional Western. Fruit pies, loaves of bread, jars of jam and honey, pancakes, Victoria sponges, and other rustic cakes are the most common.

Books, an outlet for fantasy and independent learning, are frequent. These are always vintage with a romantic storybook or classical feel with either antique leather and canvas or more approachable secondhand paperbacks. In connection with this, journals and letters are also considered part of the aesthetic as they convey the tenderness and intimacy associated with doing things with one's hands. Writing and reading will be expanded further in the activities section.

Another common medium of imagery of the aesthetic are illustrations. Botanical encyclopedias prior to the widespread use of colored photography are the most common. These watercolors provide detailed views of plants, typically flowers, in a way that evokes both the natural subject and the romanticization of naturalists' dedication to the subject matter during the era. Victorian to 1930s illustration, specifically of children's literature, is another important source of both inspiration and actual involvement in the aesthetic. Fairies and anthropomorphic animals (such as those of Beatrix potter's works) are the most common. These are done in a more detailed and naturalistic style in watercolor and ink. However, as Cottagecore became popular, artists who specialize in digital and more simplistic art introduced a flatter and more cute style.

## Fashion

There is a wide range of outfit styles that could fit into the Cottagecore aesthetic. Cottagecore fashion tends to fall into either a hyper-feminine, modernized interpretation of historical fashion or a more practical and cozier outfit that includes elements of whimsy.

The colors in Cottagecore tend to be naturally occurring or faded colors, including brown, baby pink, olive green, ivory, maroon, beige, ochre, dusty rose pink, light yellow, and baby blue. The fabrics are most often natural, such as in cotton, linens, knitted yarn, etc.

Many of these clothes are vintage and purchased secondhand, such as from thrift stores or vintage shops. This is in line with the appreciation for the environment and sustainability, as well as the fact that many Cottagecore pieces are highly sought-after because of their rarity in modern times and un-replicable unique design, such as in Gunne Sax dresses, Edwardian blouses, and antique aprons. However, as the aesthetic has become incredibly popular, it reached fast fashion, and many clothes found in mall brands have elements of Cottagecore motifs, especially with milkmaid tops.

Cottagecore fashion commonly involves:

* Longer, loose-fitting, flowy dresses and skirts often (but not always) reminiscent of housework wear from the 1900s-50s.
* Large, layered clothing (as stated above) big pockets, puffy sleeves, and button blouses.
* Patterns such as stripes, paisley, faded floral, and gingham.
* Embroidered plants, animals, and insects.
* Hand-crafted accessories such as simple jewelry and knitted hats, socks, and outerwear.
* Shortalls/overalls
* Lace
* Longer, loose-fitting clothing
* Laced corsets and bodices

## Media

### Movies

By year released

* *Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs (1937)*
* *Alice in Wonderland (1951)*
* *Sleeping Beauty (1959)*
* *The Sound of Music* (1965)
* *The Tales of Beatrix Potter (1971)*
* *Picnic at Hanging Rock* (1975)
* *Anne of Green Gables* (1985)
* *A Room with a View* (1985)
* *My Neighbour Totoro* (1988)
* *Kiki’s Delivery Service* (1989)
* *My Girl* (1991)
* *Only Yesterday* (1991)
* *Howard's End* (1992)
* *The Secret Garden* (1993)
* *Little Women* (1994)
* *Sense and Sensibility (1995)*
* *FairyTale: A True Story (1997)*
* *The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns (1999)*
* *Tuck Everlasting (2002)*
* *Howl's Moving Castle (2004)*
* *The Holiday (2006)*
* *Atonement (2007)*
* *Barbie and the Diamond Castle (2008)*
* *The Secret of Moonacre (2008)*
* *Tinker Bell (2008)*
* *The Velveteen Rabbit (2009)*
* *Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure (2009)*
* *Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)*
* *The Secret World of Arrietty (2010)*
* *Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue (2010)*
* *Tangled (2010)*
* *Moonrise Kingdom (2012)*
* *Secret of the Wings (2012)*
* *The Pirate Fairy (2014)*
* *Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast (2014)*
* *Call Me By Your Name (2017)*
* *God's Own Country (2017)*
* *The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales (2017)*
* *Paddington 2 (2017)*
* *Ophelia (2018)*
* *The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society (2018)*
* *Liz and the Blue Bird (2018)*
* *Midsommar (2019)*
* *"Burrow" by Pixar* (2020)

### TV Shows

* *Winnie the Pooh* (1924-present day)
* *The Golden Girls* (1985-1992)
* *Little House on The Prairie* (1974-1983)
* *The Moomins* (1990)
* *The Animals of Farthing Wood* (1993-1995)
* *Angelina Ballerina* (2002-2006)
* *When Calls the Heart* (2014-present day)
* *Anne with an E* (2017-2019)
* *Good Omens* (2019)
* *Little Bear* (1995-2003)
* *The Riddlers* (1989-1998)
* *Shaun the Sheep* (2007-present day)

### Literature

* The books of Beatrix Potter
* *Heidi* by Johanna Spyri
* *Pettson and Findus* by Sven Nordqvist
* *Pride and Prejudice* by Jane Austen
* The poetry of Ralph Waldo Emerson
* *The Secret Garden* by Frances Hodgson Burnett
* *1.1* by Tibellus
* *Little Women* by Louisa May Alcott
* *The Magic Faraway Tree* by Enid Blyton
* *The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady* by Edith Holden
* *Anne of Green Gables* books by Lucy Maud Montgomery
* *Little House on the Prairie* books by Laura Ingalls Wilder
* *Meet the Woodland Folk* by Antonio Lupatelli
* *The Country Girls Trilogy* by Edna O'Brien
* *Brambly Hedge* by Jill Barklem
* *Foxwood Tales* by Cynthia and Brian Paterson

### Video Games

* *Harvest Moon / Story of Seasons*
* *Animal Crossing*
* *Rune Factory*
* *Stardew Valley*
* *My Time at Portia*
* *Garden Paws*
* *Staxel*
* *Mail Time*
* *Ikonei Island: An Earthlock Adventure*

## Activities

The activities associated with Cottagecore are defined by the typical activities one can do within the cottage space.

* Picking flowers
* Sewing, knitting, crocheting, embroidery
* Gardening
* Writing a handwritten letter to family (or your lover)
* Writing poems
* Picking fruit from your garden
* Weaving flower crowns
* Picnics
* Baking
* Painting and drawing
* Building a birdhouse
* Reading
* Swimming
* Walking in the woods
* Making fruit preserves
* Catching bugs