Summer 2020 was unlike any other and if there’s one trend that defined it, it’s cottagecore. And what better way to close out the season than with a whimsical, billowy, cottage dress to embrace the trend that swept the internet.
While the “Cottagecore” trend centers around the romanticization of a simpler time and life, whether that life entails gardening, baking, engaging in handmade DIY crafts, or just spending time outdoors picnicking, it definitely takes prairie dressing to an entirely new, but more relaxed, level in 2020. As Isabel Slone wrote for the New York Times,“Take modern escapist fantasies like tiny homes, voluntary simplicity, forest bathing and screen-free childhoods, then place them inside a delicate, moss-filled terrarium, and the result will look a lot like cottagecore.” It’s not surprising cottagecore reached new heights during the pandemic, when many sought ways to practice self-care and self-soothe at a time of unprecedented uncertainty. We’ve turned to soothing TV shows and instagrams accounts showcasing adorable baby farm animals in an idyllic countryside. Is it also any surprise Taylor Swift’s album Folklore has a song called “Cardigan”and a guest spot by Bon Iver? Then, there’s also the “Strawberry dress” that took over Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. We’ve all been longing for something cozy and simple in a myriad of ways, including our clothing.
A cottagecore dress can take many shapes, but it’s most often identified by its midi length, 3/4 cut sleeves, and loose waist in a vintage floral print, pastel shade, or a timeless classic, crisp white. Even though summer is coming to an end and fall is around the corner, you can still easily transition your summer cottage dress, in all its puff-sleeves and smocked bodice glory, for fall by adding a pair of knee-high boots, a chunky knit sweater, and tights underneath just in time for leaf-peeping season. For now, embrace the last few days of summer with a dreamy cottagecore dress whether your plans this long weekend includes a low-key staycation or a socially-distant road trip getaway.
