HOW TO NAIL THE COQUETTE AESTHETIC
One of the overarching trends at Women’s Fashion Weeks was the burgeoning coquette aesthetic, which melds classic girliness with flirtatious exuberance.
The trend cycle moves perilously fast, and in 2024, trying to keep up with the pace can be the downfall of a wardrobe. One key to staying on trend without experiencing legitimate burnout is to notice which trends have staying power. One such trend is the burgeoning coquette aesthetic that left its bow-shaped imprint all over Women’s Fashion Weeks last year. Not to mention the millions of views and daily searches for the term on TikTok, which has been instrumental in spreading the viral coquette aesthetic.
What does coquette mean?
Beyond the general pastels, bows, and textures that typify the trend, there’s a concrete philosophy to understand. In French, the word coquette means “flirtatious,” which is as good a place as any to begin to understand the trend. A wider view of the term can be found in the Merriam-Webster dictionary, where the definition of coquette is a woman who endeavors without sincere affection to gain the attention and admiration of men.
How to get the coquette aesthetic
Translating those definitions into garments is quite an easy task and a fun one at that. Sticking to a handful of core details can make the job even more simple: Features like bows, corsets, ballet flats, floral details, ruffles, and exuberant textures like faux-fur play pivotal roles in executing the coquette trend to full effect. These devices go a long way to communicating the essential girly look with a sense of old English tradition and a heavy dose of pretend-unintentional flirtatiousness.
Featured In This Image: Jacquemus cardigan
Jacquemus has been expertly delivering classy sexiness since the very beginning. Bold colors and summery fabrics give the label’s creations a distinctive South of France nuance that departs from the coquette trend’s overarching English aesthetic, but not so much that it’s not still clearly within the realms of the look. This cardigan-adjacent piece treads the line of skimpy sexiness and prim-and-proper innocence with finesse.
Featured In This Image: GUIZIO cardigan
Revolving around striking florals, pastel palettes, and faux-fur embellishments, New York label GUIZIO is a hotbed for coquette clothing. This multicolor cardigan clings tight to the arms, making the faux-fur trims to the cuffs and collar even more dramatic. The exuberance of the design nods to old-English sophistication while the bolero cut offers a less innocent finish.
Featured In This Image: Yuhan Wang tank top
One of the main visual building blocks of the coquette aesthetic is lace. Yuhan Wang’s creative explorations into the ways that lace fabric can be distorted, gathered, and twisted give the traditional fabric new life. It’s what puts Yuhan Wang well within the orbit of the coquette trend.
Featured In This Image: Marni tote
From the suggestive sheer of lace to the maximalism of faux-fur, texture plays a crucial role in mastering the trend. Accessories present a great opportunity to introduce texture with attitude. This blue Marni Tropicalia Micro Tote is a showstopper with its furry personality, which is tempered by a cute baby-blue palette.
Featured In This Image: Sandy Liang blouse
Ruffles, floral appliqués, and lace come together to make this Sandy Liang blouse. A coquette masterclass combining three of the trend’s defining features, the Torino Blouse shows that elegance and sexiness walk hand in hand.
Featured In This Image: Loulou Studio flats
Ballet flats have been a roaring trend over the last few seasons, coming to a peak as they assert themselves as an essential aspect of the coquette aesthetic. Parisian label Loulou Studio looks to a soft satin build and avoids all detailing to suggest that sometimes simplicity is key.
Featured In This Image: GUIZIO skirt
GUIZIO’s Bellamar Midi Skirt features a wrap construction that aligns with the nonchalance intrinsic to the coquette trend. It’s at once suggestive and elegant, with delicate crochet ruffle detailing on the outseam to round out the aesthetic.
Featured In This Image: La Manso ring
Much like bags, jewelry can double down on coquette style in a few swift moves. A statement piece like the La Manso ‘Bodas de Papel’ ring contextualizes the garments that surround it. It shows that every decision has been made with intention while adding to the floral language of the look.
Featured In This Image: MSGM tank top
There’s no way to overlook the importance of bows in the coquette trend. Bows are having a moment and their alignment with the viral aesthetic is a major contributing factor. The girlycore staple details each strap of this MSGM camisole, which features a slightly cropped body to show a flash of skin.
Featured In This Image: Bode flats
All ballet flats fall into the coquette category, but few do so as clearly as the Bode Musette Ballerina Flat in baby pink. Featuring soft suede uppers and a self-tie satin strap fastening—which can and should be finished with a bow—they tick every box.
- Date: January 5, 2024
