The Cottagecore aesthetic is one of my absolute favourites in terms of fashion; It is light, airy, and delicate which an earthly base which creates a dreamy quality to your outfits. However, the larger question remains: what is cottagecore fashion and how do I create the perfect cottagecore outfits?

It can be difficult to start building your wardrobe and figuring out which staples you need. Luckily this style guide will cover all things needed to help you create the perfect cottagecore wardrobe; covering everything like styles, fabrics, colours and patterns.

General Cottagecore Oufits to Try

When considering what is cottagecore fashion, this section will cover the basic pieces you will want to start looking out. These create the main elements of your cottagecore outfits, so you should try all styles to figure out which you prefer before building your wardrobe.

Milkmaid Dresses

It wouldn’t be a cottagecore fashion guide without mentioning the darling of this aesthetic: the milkmaid dress. These dresses are brilliantly feminine; the flowy skirt and fitted corset pair wonderfully with the comfortable square neck and airy materials. They are the perfect match between practical and flattering.

Milkmaid dresses can be midi or mini, however I believe that midi dresses are more reminiscent of the Cottagecore aesthetic. This dress is a good examples, it including all the perfect elements like the ruched bust and long A-line skirt.

Cottagecore outfits often incorporate the rural aspect of the aesthetic and it’s closeness with nature. So, any elements which nod to that -like floral print, plain colours, and breathable fabric- will enhance the overall outfit. This aesthetic doesn’t take itself too seriously, so add more whimsical or playful elements like ruching and frills.

Bat-wing button blouses

Here, Batwing refers to a style of sleeve which is loose and gets larger as it flows down the arm. These shirts are great for creating a soft and feminine silhouette compared to full sleeve shits. They soften the shoulder and draw attention away from the torso. This is useful for softening the cottagecore outfits and adding a sweeter less striking element to an outfit, which is essential to the cottagecore aesthetic.

If you still want to create a silhouette, you can tuck the blouse in to maintain shape along the waist. This Bat-wing sleeve blouse would be perfect if paired with shorts or a long A-line skirt. This creates a more traditionally feminine outfit, accentuating the waist whilst softening the shoulders and hips. This makes a flattering yet modest outfit, helping you feel cute yet comfortable when going about your day.

Cottagecore style Tiered Maxi Skirt

A necessary item for your cottagecore wardrobe, the maxi skirt is both useful and fashionable. Skirts provide a lot more flexibility than trousers, which is useful when spending your time outdoors and especially in nature. Skirts are also more airy, making them a delightfully stylish way to keep cool during warm summer months. For skirts I would recommend cotton as it is breathable and more comfortable to wear throughout the day. Another practical element of maxi skirts is the fact that they guard your legs against nettles and brambles, helping you avoid issues during woodland walks.

When building your wardrobe, I would recommend a white skirt like this one since it can be paired with many other colours. It can also be paired with multiple types of tops depending on the season and style of your cottagecore outfits. Adding a camisole top can make a perfect, youthful outfit for the summer. However, you could also add a thick, cable-knit sweater for a cosy, autumn look. Similarly, A white skirt is so flexible for different types of foot wear, giving it the opportunity to be cute and practical

Scarves and Hats

For the Cottagecore aesthetic, accessories are really important in completing outfits and making them feel soft and homely. Scarfs are one of my favourite accessories because of how versatile and comfortable they are. You can have scarves of different materials depending on the season: chiffon for summer, and wool for winter. You can also use them in various ways depending on your outfits. I personally like to tie them around my head, wear them like a shawl around my shoulders or tie it loosely around my hips.

Hats are less versatile but still a perfectly cottagecore fashion accessory, with woven sunhats being quite common. You can pair these hats with a bow for an added feminine flair. You can buy a simple sunhat here, but you can easily find many styles of scarf in charity shops. However, this scarf is good inspiration for the sorts of items you can try to incorporate into your wardrobe.

Cardigans

Cardigans are a useful item to have in your wardrobe, they act as a thin layer which can be used for light coverage in the summer to give a sweet element to an outfit. You can also get different lengths of cardigan. Long cardigans are brilliant over maxi skirts for a soft librarian-esque look whereas cropped cardigans give off a more playful and youthful vibe. I would recommend a wool cardigan as it is soft and will keep you warm, particularly in colder months. Cotton is also a good choice as its breathable nature makes it more versatile for the warmer months, but can also be used as another layer in the winter.

Gingham and Lace

The gingham pattern is very cutesy and popular within the cottagecore aesthetic, it’s perfect for adding a youthful and fun tone to your outfit. You can incorporate it in several ways such as a head scarf or a cardigan. It’s a great, subtle pattern which really ties an outfit together.

Lace is another way to enhance an outfit, the soft and delicate detail is perfect for the cottagecore aesthetic. It can be added in clothing, through lace trimming, or can be added as a completely separate accessory such as a hair band or lacy ankle socks. Lace is a very typical part of cottagecore fashion due to it’s quaint style but it can be used sparingly to still keep a modern element to your outfits.

Cottagecore Outfits- Shoes

Shoes can be difficult because the most practical shoes tend not to be the prettiest. Moreover, certain shoes may not be compatible with certain clothes leading to clunky or awkward outfits. To avoid this I will recommend 3 types of shoes which I think will cover all areas of cottagecore fashion.

Ankle boots

These will be the most practical shoes that I recommend and also the most clunky. However, I think that a larger shoe can actually suit some outfits. For example, a loosely fitting pinafore dress would work lovely with books as the loose silhouette will draw attention to the boots and give the outfit a focal point, making it feel cohesive and complete.

Boots are also necessary from a practical sense, as cottagecore extends much further than appearances. This aesthetic stems from a love of nature and wanting to live closer to it. Thus, outfits within this aesthetic must not stray so far that they become uncomfortable to wear when out in nature. A pair of solid boots will help this, offering the perfect footwear for a walk or hike.

You can still retain some femininity through the detailing of the boots such as these, and choosing lace up over zipper will make the boots more comfy for walking.

Mary-Janes

These classic heels are perfect for cottagecore outfits and pair wonderfully with skirts and dresses. Admittedly, they are less practical for going for a walk but in personal experience I still find them quite comfortable to wear for everyday. You can also pair them with frilly ankle socks for a soft, younger appearance. These shoes will best suit an obvious silhouette such as a sundress, as the detailing of the dress work best with a simple and dainty shoe.

Mary Janes are versatile, you can get them in a range of colours to suit your preferences, however for the cottagecore style I would recommend brown or black. These can be paired with a lacy ankle sock or tights to harmonise the shoe with the rest of the outfit.

Ballet Flats

These shoes are the more practical version of the Mary Janes, with the lack of heel making them easier to wear for long walks or cobbled streets. Also, their simple design allows them to work for all types of cottagecore outfits, such as jeans or pinafores. These can be more colourful than boots or Mary-Janes, and you can customise them to fit the outfit’s colours. I would recommend looking for a pair which has a buckle detail such as this one, as this provides extra support. This makes them more comfortable for wearing day to day, and an absolute essential piece of cottagecore fashion.

Cottagecore Outfits- Colours

Another important part of answering the question ‘what is cottagecore fashion?’ is the colour palette of the outfits. Certain colours can quickly muddy your cottagecore outfits and, likewise, others can turn an otherwise normal outfit more cottagecore. This section will talk about the specific colours and hues you could try.

Earth Tone Colours

Earth tones – like greens, browns, and creams – are at the core of cottagecore fashion. This colour scheme often incorporates muted hues of these colours as opposed to neon or overly bright hues as these are more similar natural colours. This colour are perfect for dressing cottagecore, since the aesthetic focuses on being around nature. These colours are incredibly easy to incorporate into your outfits, since brown and cream are popular neutral colours. Greens can be difficult if you don’t typically wear it, but you can add it into subtle elements of the outfit like scarfs or cardigans.

Jewel Tone Colours

Another popular cottagecore colour scheme is jewel tones. These are colours with deep yet rich hues, like emerald green, mustard yellow, and burnt orange. This allows you to add lots of colour to an outfit whilst avoiding clothes which are too bright or which could be considered garish. Since these colours are more vibrant than earth tones, they should be used more sparingly within an outfit. I would recommend adding small elements like a green cardigan or red ballet flats to make your cottagecore outfits a bit more fun. A large part of the cottagecore aesthetic is appreciating the whimsical parts of life, and your outfits should reflect that.

I hope you found this guide to be a useful tool in creating your cottagecore outfits. Once you have these basic elements down creating unique and cute outfits will be much easier.

If you are new to the cottagecore aesthetic, I’d recommend you try other elements, like gardening, to truly get into the aesthetic. If you need a place to start, I have written some articles on how to grow both strawberries and your own herb garden. Thank you for reading and have a wonderful day!