Dark Cottagecore Aesthetic (Cottagegoth) Inspo
If regular cottagecore is too sweet and ditsy for you, you’re not alone. But if the ditsiness is all that you dislike about the aesthetic, then I might have good news for you.
There’s a darker sister of cottagecore, called sometimes cottagegoth or simply dark cottagecore. We’ve made a new lookbook in 2024, but let’s carry on with the basics here.
The gothic, dark feel of dark cottagecore is a far better fit for those who enjoy a little bit more drama in their life. The motifs still, in principle, include baking and country living, but they have an edge.
And, as it happens, dark cottagecore dresses are in season.
So, cottagecore is the fashion and decor aesthetic that was created as an escapism for those who are not enjoying the hustle and bustle of city life. It is a countermovement in that it makes you live and dress for a simpler way of living, which hopefully will get you touch grass more than once a year.
But not everyone is into baby blue frills and floral prints, and well, why should they? Just pick an indie aesthetic that’s closer to your mood.
Dark cottagecore outfits have a distinct vibe. They are supposed to make you feel like an actor cast as a village witch in a 19th century drama.
There are two ways to go about that vibe: It could be an eerie feel about exploring forests, more of taking part on some secret society mission than having a picnic on your wealthy brother-in-law’s estate. Or it could be the vibe of the modest village girl who falls into a tragic, demonic trap.
In the first case, you might see quite a lot of embellishments on your dark cottagecore outfits and there will be an important overlap with witchy aesthetics.
In the second case, plain and very modest linen dresses will fit the mood better. The overlap there will be closer to dark academia.
Dark cottagecore is not grandmacore, it’s not the down-to-earth fashion aesthetic that works with the idea that “Oh my God, it sometimes rains in English countryside, doesn’t it?”
Dark cottagecore, much like dark academia, takes the dark from darkcore. It has to have some horror element.
But at the same time, it is still cottagecore - an aesthetic inspired by 19th century. There is an overlap with witchy aesthetics but you probably wouldn’t go too heavy with the makeup, and the clothes are usually quite modest.
The colour palette for dark cottagecore is quite different from the original Jane Austen cottagecore. The dark version has plenty of black, brown and dark grey.
Here is some more of your black and brown cottagecore dress inspo. The shoes that go with dark cottagecore will be quite the same as any cottagecore shoes, just choose them in brown or black.
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