Are we captivated by the fashion or the allure of the lifestyle it represents?
Coquette”(noun). Definition: a woman who flirts.
The Britannica Dictionary defines coquette as, “a woman who likes to win the attention or
admiration of men but does not have serious feelings for them.” TikTok defines “Coquette” as a
$30 hairbow from Urban Outfitters, $975 ballet flats from Miu Miu, and a manicure that looks
like your natural nails for $80 (and no, I’m not being sarcastic).
When we become so infatuated with a sense of style, we are essentially obsessing over the
person that we envision owning and wearing all of these items. Quite materialistic, but
temporarily fulfilling.
Two pioneers in the world of the coquette aesthetic are artists Lana Del Rey and Fiona Apple, as well as film director Sophia Coppola. Rey and Apple’s music is a take on ultra-feminine rage, and Coppola has gained popularity in the world of coquette due to her hyper-feminine takes in
her films Marie Antionette, The Virgin Suicides, and Lost in Translation (Anwer, 2024). For
some, falling into the coquette aesthetic is adhering to the male gaze, where age-gap
relationships are idolized, and fantasizing about mental illness is the main goal. Coquette means
to flaunt and flirt for men, whereas others use this trend to symbolize their angst toward the
definition of the word.
So what does this mean for our society? Is the coquette aesthetic
harming women, or creating a new outlet for feminine rage?
The coquette trend is heavily inspired by the Japanese lolita
aesthetic, which first gained popularity in the 1990s and early
2000s; and incorporates Victorian and Rococo-era fashion
(Santino, 2023).
Historically, fashion trends often depict not only current societal
shifts but also the desired future of the people wearing the
clothes. An example is in the 1950s when women began
wearing and overall normalizing jeans. Although it may appear
to be merely a passing fashion trend, it actually originates from
women's aspiration for equal treatment and respect, mirroring the ideals of the Women's Rights
Movement.
So what does the rise of the coquette aesthetic say about our current society? The aesthetic has
taken the darkest aspects of women's suffrage. For example, the infantilization of women.
Another downfall of the aesthetic is its inclusivity, as this trend is historically led by ultra-thin
white women, therefore pushing society back in terms of diversity and body positivity.
This trend, to the normal eye, looks like a new way to try out aspects of fashion such as bows,
pink tights, and babydoll tops. But when it comes down to it, the aesthetic promotes being petite
and having an overall innocent look, therefore romanticizing being obedient and helpless to fit
into a subculture (Marshall, 2023).
So, what will be next in fashion trends? Will we see a rise in feminine rage against the coquette
aesthetic, or is society going backward regarding women's rights, body positivity, and
inclusivity?
Sources:
Anwer, S. (2024, January 12). The rise of the coquette style. The Gallery.
Santino, C. (2023, August 21). What is the coquette aesthetic? A guide to the viral TikTok
fashion trend. Peoplemag.
Marshall, N. (2023, October 24). Don’t sweat over being “Coquette” - aesthetic should be fun,
not restrictive. The Daily Targum.
-not-restrictive#google_vignette
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