Have You Heard of Coquette Aesthetic? Here’s How To Wear It Without Looking Too Youthful

New trends emerge every season and we love covering them so you stay current and in the know! When you keep up with the trends you love and sprinkle new pieces into your wardrobe, your outfits look fresh, modern, and updated. Plus it’s exciting to try new things and take a few fashion risks here and there. Remember, clothing is a reflection of who you are and fashion is meant to be fun! One of the hottest trends that’s been popular for a few seasons now is the coquette aesthetic. We’ll share what it is, how to incorporate it into your looks, and how to style your outfits to suit the aesthetic…if it speaks to you! While this trend might initially seem like one geared toward a (much) younger generation, we say not so fast. We love it and we’ll show you how to embrace it at any age.

If you love following the trends, this post highlights some other popular fashion trends of 2023 that are attainable and wearable!

What Is Coquette Aesthetic

You might be asking yourself, what is coquette aesthetic? We asked ourselves the very same thing! Well, it just happens to be one of the most sought-after fashion trends of the year. The word “coquette” loosely translates to a woman who flirts….a playful version of femininity. It’s a French word referring to an attractive young woman. So, the trend is all about flirty and hyper-feminine fashion and makeup. Some speculate the trend became popular with the Barbie movie and with shows like Bridgerton with its ultra-feminine styles that are a nod to the Victorian Regency era. Others credit singer and songwriter Lana Del Rey for unearthing this trend with her vintage ladylike and graceful yet sexy style. Coquette aesthetic is all these things…soft, romantic, glamorous, and womanly! If this trend speaks to you, let’s talk about some attainable ways to introduce it into your own personal style.

Different Types of Coquette Aesthetic

Let’s start with a few examples of coquette aesthetic features, fabrics, styles, and details you’ll find in fashion.

• Lace
• Ruffles
• Puff shoulders
• Oversized collars
• Whimsical tops
• Mini skirts
• Covered buttons
• Pastel colors
• Shades of pink and red
• Floral applique and patterns
• Rosettes and bows
• Pleats
• Corset details
• Silk and airy romantic fabrics
• Tulle
• Fur and feathers
• Sheer details

Coquette Aesthetic Essentials

While the coquette trend may have initially emerged as a Gen Z fad fueled by social media, Erin has been loving and wearing feminine pieces for years. You can absolutely embrace this trend without looking or feeling like a teenager! In fact, one of her favorite ways to style uber-feminine pieces is to pair them with more masculine pieces for an edgy contrast. More on that in a bit…Here are some of the essential coquette pieces you can easily incorporate into your wardrobe.

Feminine Tops

This Ava lace cuff blouse by L’Agence that Erin is wearing above is a perfect example of a coquette piece. The light and airy ivory color along with the dainty lace cuffs and covered buttons are feminine and beautiful. It has a flattering v-neckline and a rounded shirttail hem so if you don’t want to tuck it in, it won’t look too boxy untucked. To create a cool contrast with your outfit, you can wear your feminine blouse with ripped denim, trousers, or combat boots. This would be one easy way to dip your toe into the water with the trend without going all in! There’s no shortage of beautiful tops and sweaters with lace, ruffles, puff shoulders, and exaggerated cuffs to establish a feminine and flirty vibe. We’ll link a few here…

Floral  Print Dress

All-over floral patterns or subtle rosettes and floral appliques are a very obvious nod to the coquette trend. In this look, Erin is wearing a beautiful rose print silk maxi dress by Zimmerman. The pattern has the most beautiful pink and burgundy shades, it has puff shoulders, a feminine gathered mock neck, a tiered hemline, and a self-tie bow. Each of these details adds that super feminine touch. This dress is stunning, but it is on the pricey side, so we linked a few budget-friendly options as well.

Tulle Skirt

Tulle is inherently feminine! You might remember this tulle skirt from when Erin traveled through Spain with her family a couple of years ago. It’s a perfect example of mixing styles and not wearing a head-to-toe coquette look, but still incorporating it into a wearable outfit. The flirty tulle skirt contrasted with the lug sole boots and the off-the-shoulder sweater is feminine, with a touch of masculine and sexy too. If a tulle skirt feels out of your comfort zone, you could try a tulle top instead.

For some expert tips on mixing styles, you’ll want to check out this post next.

Pearl Accessories

Pearls are elegant, timeless, and very on-trend. If you’re not sure you want to embrace a full coquette look, you can try incorporating some pearl accessories like a pearl clutch or necklace into your outfit. Above are a few examples of some of Erin’s favorite pearl pieces and we’ll link a few additional accessories as well.

For any of the Monica Vinader pearl jewelry linked above, you can use the code EBUSBEE20 for 20% off.

Embellished Tights

Especially as the weather gets colder, wearing a pair of tights under your skirt and dresses might be a necessity. Finding a pair with some feminine embellishments or patterns like polka dots, bows, pearls, tulle, gemstones, or rosettes would be such a cool way to turn up the coquette volume on your basic black LBD.

Coquette Aesthetic Outfits

Now that we know which elements and pieces you can wear to embrace that coquette trend, let’s pull it all together with some of Erin’s favorite coquette-inspired outfits!

Embellished Cardigan & Skirt

In this first look, Erin is wearing an ASTR The Label cropped cardigan and an LPA sweater skirt. The cardigan has gorgeous pearl buttons, statement-making pearl and rhinestone embellishments at the collar, and dramatic gathered puffed sleeves. The LPA cable-knit, curve-hugging midi skirt is in the same color family as the sweater. The two pieces complement each other even though they aren’t an exact matching set. This lighter color combo for fall/winter is super fresh and…very feminine! Both pieces fit true to size.

Embellished Jeans and Faux Fur Puffer

Here’s an example of an outfit that might not seem super coquette-ish…until you take a closer look. Erin is wearing a puffer coat by SAM., one of her absolute favorite brands when it comes to stylish and not-so-basic puffer coats and jackets. It has faux fur through the bodice which adds a feminine, soft, and cozy touch. Then, her jeans by 7 For All Mankind have crystal details down the front for a little bit of sparkle. They have a 27” inseam which is the perfect length for Erin at 5’4”. If you need a more casual holiday or NYE outfit idea, these jeans are a fun and subtle way to be festive. On her feet, Erin’s wearing a pair of Voile Blanche platform sneakers with fun metallic details and a shearling lining. This outfit is a great example of how feminine pieces can be styled in an edgier way!

Pink & Red Outfits

Now, if you want to embrace the full Barbiecore, head-to-toe pink look, we are huge fans! You can also wear all red or pair the two colors together like Erin did here. This is a perfect example of wearing pink and red in a feminine yet sexy and sophisticated way. You don’t have to wear the pieces together, but we happen to love the mix of shades and texture. We’ll link some fun pink and red pieces you can try to recreate this look or something similar!

Burgundy Monochromatic Look

Now if pink and red are not for you, their sultry sister, burgundy is a great alternative! Here Erin is wearing a full monochromatic burgundy look featuring several coquette details. The Cinq a Sept sweater has crystal buttons at the shoulder and slightly voluminous sleeves. It’s also cropped so it hits just right when paired with jeans, pants, or skirts. The Anine Bing silky slip skirt (try saying that 3x fast!) is light, airy, and has a flattering midi length. But the elasticized waistband is a nice bonus too!

You’ll find more of Erin’s favorite burgundy pieces in this post.

Lace Blouse & Red Pants

We know, we know…this blouse looks familiar, right? Erin + pretty much every Team Busbee member owns and loves it. The all-over lace isn’t itchy or stiff and it comes with a built-in cami underneath. It’s also at a great price point…$89! Erin is wearing it here with a pair of red A.L.C cropped pants that are made of a mid-weight non-stretch twill. You can see a better image of the pants on the right where she’s wearing a matching red A.L.C. cropped jacket with pretty padded shoulders and a unique wrap hem that you can leave open or buttoned up. If you aren’t sure about mixing two staples of the coquette trend (lace and red) together, then just wear the lace top with your favorite jeans.

Corset Dress

These next 2 looks feature coquette touches and details, but definitely bring on the sex appeal…proving you can embrace your femininity and be sexy too. First up is the brown corset dress by Staud. The top of the dress is poplin cotton and has almost a menswear-inspired button-down vibe. Then, the bottom of the dress is made from a ribbed knit material, with a fitted bustier bodice detail and thigh-high slit on the side. It runs true to size and Erin is wearing a small. On her feet, Erin’s wearing a pair of tall brown Schutz boots with a sexy stiletto heel. The boots have a strategic dip both in the front and back which is super flattering on your leg.

All Things Sheer

Our final look is a super sexy ruched mesh fabric top and skirt set by L’Academie. The soft color, draping, and all-over sheer material are the feminine details juxtaposed by that edgy asymmetrical chain down the front of the top. Erin finished the look with a pair of classic, simple nude pumps to let the sheer pieces bring all the drama. We get that this look might not necessarily fit into your everyday lifestyle, but you can take inspiration from this look with pieces that have sheer details and ruching. We’ll link a few below.

What do you think? Are you a fan of the coquette aesthetic? Which of these looks is your favorite? Please leave us a comment below. We love hearing from you!

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