the rise of the cottagecore aesthetic 

Although I'm not that into cottagecore, I have been teaching myself to sew and repair clothes so that when society collapses I can exchange that service for pain killers.

I loveeed this video, and I loooove watching cottagecore videos. Where there is something good, Capitalism will come and claim it. That intro though...I'd watch your cottagecore alt channel

My favourite joke of the month is "Cottagecore is just a fancy way to say that you want to be a hobbit".

I freely admit to adoring the cottagecore asethetic and light academy. It just it hits something inside of me that I love and I just love to see all the girls dress up and do their thing and find cute vintage style pieces.

I actually live in a British cottage and so I absolutely get why cottagecore is a thing. My life is so much more insular, which usually would be a bad thing, but right now with all the terrible things going on in the world, it's really nice. Covid has barely changed my life at all, I hope everyone else can experience this kind of peace at some point, at least just to see what it's like to not have to worry about things that are outside of their control and be absorbed in what surrounds them instead. And Jiji is queen

I think that people who aim to look cottagecore by buying from Shein and Amazon aren't thinking about the ideology behind it, and might not even be aware of it honestly

Pretty sure cottage core is on the rise because of modern overstimulation and the lack of "nature" around us, when none of us really, REALLY want to do any of the work associated with cottage core besides cooking, flower arranging, and maybe- just maybe- herb gardening. But, we're not the ones who started this trend- it was Marie Antoinette 😂

I love Kristen because she posts videos on topics that I have never seen anywhere else, rather than repeating everyone else's thoughts

y'all better like this video cause I haven't had a moment of rest for the past two weeks trying to make this

"i'm ovulating so my confidence is sky high" LMAOO KRISTEN SNDJKDNS

"An unconscious preparation for collapse" - That's it, that's totally it.

As someone who lives in an English cottage in the New Forest, cottagecore is a natural fit. However there are so many issues with it: the fashion is honestly so hard to thrift (now it's mainstream) and people put so much into the aesthetic and nothing into the lifestyle. For me cottagecore is growing as much as my own food as I can, altering thrifted finds to make them work and sewing what I can't thrift, foriging, buying from small businesses when I can afford it and not giving a shit when it goes out of fashion again.

wow interesting points. personally, what draws me to “cottage core” is coziness, beauty, coziness, gardening, sanctuary, coziness, coziness, homeyness, coziness, & coziness

Most of my "cottagecore" clothes are actually vintage from the 70s. Thanks for mentioning how this aesthetic is likely to appeal to neurodivegent people. I am neurodivergent and from the city. This aesthetic has always appealed to me. I've never stuck to one aesthetic with my clothes but when it comes to the lifestyle I want and the type of home I want to live in, it's always that peaceful and quiet cottage life I want. Also as an artist I find the idea of being able to live off the land and grow my own food to be very appealing.

Also how do you make the footage look like a movie from the 70's? it's so dreamy and ethereal

As much as I understand the appeal, I am someone who actually grew up in the countryside. I think most of cottagecore is just people glamorizing the lifestyle without wanting to do any of the work that goes along with it. How many "cottagecore" people actually grow their own food and cook from scratch and can for the winter and keep chickens at the very least? Also, where I grew up was not at all tolerant or open-minded. It's a very secluded lifestyle in reality which leads to ignorance.

It’s interesting how your race determines what you see on social media. As a black girl I’ve literally mostly seen black girls in cottage core. Good old algorithms separating us 😕

Cottagecore for me was about discovering slow living. Yes, the style finally put the name on the type of clothes I always loved, but what drew me in was making things with your own hands... making stuff from scratch, cooking, baking, taking care of others and yourself, not getting sucked into working so much I don't leave my house (which I still do, it's a process), reconnecting with my family... I grew up in a multigenerational home and living in a big city abroad in the middle of the Panini made me ACHE for making pasta with my grandma, picking elderflowers for cordial with my mum, the local milk we get from the lady with cows, homegrown produce... And when the internet offers it back and wraps it up in a progressive, accepting and inclusive society, what more could I possibly ask for?

Whenever in doubt just remember that capitalism is the reason for why everything is going to shit. Still love cottagecore tho ✌🏾

Loved the video Kristen! I'm from Scotland and in the last 10 years, we could really see the prices of cottage houses in the highlands and islands going through the roof. It is pretty much impossible for the younger generation to buy a house as we have people from England selling their properties to move up to Scotland. For the price of the London flat you can buy a mansion in the highlands. You can really see the difference on the islands like Islay, Harris, Skye etc. where communities simply cannot afford to buy a house and if you can't afford the house, you have no place to stay, if you have no place to stay you can't get a job. They just end up leaving and the island is replaced with pensioners and houses turned into very expensive Airbnb's. I think particularly last year, when the pandemic hit people realised that they could live slower life and the idea of living somewhere rural for a lot cheaper in Scotland became a legit idea (which I don't blame them for, as Scottish landscape is amazing!) but unfortunately it is already doing a real damage to Scottish communities.

As someone active on tumblr when cottage core as subculture started it is absolutely wild to see it become mainstream and commodified in real time

I absolutely love cottagecore . I have a vintage white cottage core wedding dress that I always wear . ❤️

Fun fact: in the Dominican Republic we say “take the mountains” all the time. “Coger la loma” ☀️

I personally think if you truly want to be cottage core you should only thrift or support ethical companies ❤️ depop , thredup etc . Don’t support the monster Jeffrey 😩 .

the Marie Antoinette part is a masterpiece! Fight me if you disagree

When I first heard about cottagecore I totally missed the fashion aspect of it idk I just thought it centered around gardening, cooking. Still when I think of cottagecore I see vegetable garden, dirty nails, big boots, lots of bugs and stuff like that 😅 that's what's in my fantasy

I've never heard of cottagecore, but I've always been obsessed with classic childrents cartoons of woodland creatures. little bears and bunnies in their tree dug out homes with their cute little wholesome families because it always gave me such warm fuzzies. I especially love beatrix potter, and keep the books just for the cozy aesthetic lol, is there a fan group for this?

It's ironic because the girls and women who used to already embody the cottagecore aesthetic a decade ago were labelled plain, basic and trying to look 'feminine'. I was and still am in my opinion a cottagecore girl without really trying because I enjoy dressing in cute feminine clothes, am very happy with basic flowers from my garden and love using eco-friendly materials like glass and jute. Lol I can't believe I've become 'trendy' after all these years. *It is my time to shine* ✨

this is exactly the topic that I want to focus on in my anthropology honours! such an interesting topic (:

I'm not disagreeing with your views and points on this topic. Just want to add another viewpoint to the multiple family and relatives household. In my south american upbringing I was able to be involved in both types. Having grandparents/cousins living with me as well as by myself with my nuclear family through different moments as well as seeing other close relatives do the same. And sadly, the risk of verbal, psychological, physical, sexual abuse and assault increases adding cousins, uncles and grandparents to the equation. In an ideal world ofc, a bigger family includes more care and love for kids but sadly it isn't the case. Hopefully we can find a happy medium someday

Hey Kristen Leo, I'm sorry about how your country of Greece is experiencing massive wildfires. I hope you and your family stay safe.

I'm from india and I related so hard when you said that people in your country throw away old things or don't really have an appreciation for vintage. india used to have huge communities where things would get reused over and over and everything was essentially zero waste but due to the competition from the west, mass production and mass consumption began gaining traction. now people are slowly going back to their roots and supporting the gazillion indeginius crafts that we had left behind for years and i have only the cottage core, vintage core, sustainability movement and the pandemic to thank for that.

Omg my mom was all about the “storybook” look and I didn’t know that was a thing. I thought she was so dorky 😂 sorry mom

This video is pure art, I can’t even imagine all the work there is behind, so beautiful and interesting as always! ♥️💐

"pre-pan-demi-lovato" I CANNOT

Hearing more creators mention neurodivergence and its definite impact on culture warms my heart, thanks for including

The cinematography on your videos is beautiful, looks so professionally done! 💜

I really love the cottagecore aesthetic but the aspect I love the most about it is the slow living aspect, just the sense of peace that it brings in your life💚 I really wish I could live like that💖💖

We've definitely had a mass migration here in Australia. So much so that the city folk who are moving to regional areas are pricing everyone out of the market that already live here. As much as i can understand wanting to live here, it sucks to be pushed out of your own home. plus they're now developing it here, so it will eventually just become like they places they escaped from.

This video was next level. Recreating cottage core scenes, Marie Antoinette, tying it in to pop culture, history, fashion, societal structures... Fantastic. Just... Chef's kiss 👩‍🍳💋

I’m almost 40 with three kids and you’re right: we can’t afford the dream on one income. I love your content. Wishing you the best!

I loved watching this beautiful video combined with the loud hard cold captitalsm analysis. Yay for the contrast! Only one thing: Introverts/Loners have always existed and have always retreated from their family groups whenever possible. My great-granddad admitted freely in the letters I have that he did not spend his childhood and youth in the woods due to love of nature, but due to disdain for his crammed and overwhelming home life...

A joyous day! Our Greek goddess has blessed us with another video that combines impeccable aesthetic visuals and sharp critical analysis. I'm so glad I found your channel

Loving the Contrapoints-style analysis of fascinating topics. Also, can I please get a screensaver of you having a picnic in the garden

I was legit just thinking a few days ago about the love of my life and when she was going to upload Of course, I do mean Jiji, the Iconic Queen

ma'am it is ILLEGAL for that opening montage to be that good 😭😭😭

THAT INTRO felt like the best movie preview ever! I'm in absolute awe even for someone who's into dark alt aesthetics and not cottagecore at all, that was a masterpiece 😍😍

That smooth ad transition 😂😁

I live in a country with a lot of untouched nature, but unfortunately we dont own a house. Our spacious apartment, though, is very cosy and light. Its not a house, but we filled it with plants so we could get closer to nature. I dont own the apartment and live with my parents, but I still feel like you can make anything cottagecore if you have enough space for plants, furniture and opportunity to own a pet

I am just floored by the quality of this content!

I lived in Washington state (The evergreen state), and like so many things in the cottagecore videos and eco-friendly things that rise out of it remind me of home. I lived in the mountains and near farmland. I never imagined a day when my rustic culture would become trendy. I think what I really like about this trend is the rise of eco-conscious. I hope we all grow to love our earth more.

It's SUPER hard to shop second hand clothes for plus size people, let alone finding things that fit an aesthetic you want. I'm all for shopping 2nd hand, but we also shouldn't "hate" people who don't buy second hand because you don't always know someone's situation.

Kristen’s videos are the only ones I watch on the big screen aka my laptop, because they are too aesthetically pleasing to be watched on the little screen

Loved this video!!!! i am actually writing a paper right now which kind of ties into this even though i didnt know it until now... basically another point to mention would be how the idealization of 'simpler times' has been a thing for basically all of human history and the idealisation of 'simpler times in the British countryside' has especially been a thing since the rise of industrialization which resulted in pollution and destruction of nature etc. etc. you can find this pastoral trope (which is reaaally similar to what we have now with the cottage core aesthetic) in victorian novels already. of course this idealisation has actually frequently erased class relations and inequalities as the aesthetic likes to pretend everything is cute and great and healthy,erasing the fact that there is actual LABOUR involved in living in the countryside that was HARD and NOT CUTE AT ALL. basically this pastoral fantasy was a product of bourgeois wealthy people who never actually had to live and work on the land themselves. this is probably not entirely applicable to cottagecore, as times have changed but at the same time, most of the audience probably has no experience of real life in the countryside. at the same time, when you say cottagecore is a return to colonial Britain's countryside.... that is only what rich people want you to believe british country side was like back then! (especially as the (19th century) British countryside has played and still plays a big part in the construction of British national identity... ok i could go on forever, i'll stop now)

Hm, I think there really must be something in terms of isolation leading to more consumption. When I was at home with my parents, I didn't feel the need to spend. Sure, one part was that at home parents tended to handle shopping for essentials, but even without that I didn't want to go shopping. When living on my own tho I did want to go out shopping and when the pandemic hit I did the most online shopping I ever did.

Kristen your videos recently have an aesthetic that gives me an eyeball fix like nothing else. I click on the video because the preview is enchanting and then i watch the video to the end (i have adhd it means a lot) because you make so much sense without giving a crazy opinion overload

OMG your production quality just keeps improving and loved this video. I've been accused of being very "cottage core" at times which I seem to recoil at as I'm just poor, non binary and live in a rural area. So I'm going to make my own clothes or alter cheap ones and go for a walk in the countryside slowly being destroyed by cheap housing estates... Where was I... Oh yes, great video & loving the production work you are putting in! It's being noticed!

I love your intros so much, their always creative and aesthetically pleasing

your channel is a dream to me, the mesh of aesthetics and social commentary is just *chefs kiss* 💋

This is my favorite video of yours! I just watched a great video about Pretty Privilege and Marie Antionette and have been really delving into these and how they relate to our culture now. Thanks for the amazing video.

It's like a celebration for me everytime Kristen posts a new video 💓

Just the music gave me all the nostalgia-feels. I feeling of something that never was.

The first shots of the video are so beautiful. Congrats Kristen! You are such a smart, magical, creative fairy. Always fun to watch your content

Yes the mass migration is a thing. Loads of people left the city of Bristol and came to my area. Buying a property is even more harder to local people now, then you add in Air bnbs and unemployment it's awful for the locals. I'm so glad I got on to the Property ladder before I did.

I get so excited when I see you’ve posted a video and am never disappointed

just wanna quickly say, thanks for the amazing videos you do! i periodically rewatch my favorites like cottagecore, cult-like fashion industry or defamation of witches and enjoy all your content very much :) please keep going

I have been waiting for this video, also the intro is just ✨✨✨✨

I feel like you make videos on whateve is on my mind and I absolutely love how you make videos to answer all the thoughts I have 🤧💛

This video is a gift to the word. Thank you Kristen for making these educational and aesthetically pleasing videos😍

I love gunne sax!!!! It’s such high quality! Also Kristen your videos are so aesthetically pleasing !

Beautiful visuals and wonderful content as always Kristen! ❤️

your videos keep getting better and better, you always make my whole week

this was brilliant and i love how you articulated everything. i've been obsessed with cottagecore since i started uni and this really helped me understand where that desire comes from

these visuals are everything .. OMG...

Kristen this is such a phenomenal video!!!

I loooove this video. It takes a whole diffeent look at cottage core and really goes in to detail about the history, the rise, and breaks it down to something more than just a trend. I just wanted to let you know this is really awesome.

i was literally about to buy one of their phone cases just before i started watching, now i get discount for nothing yay! thank you love. Also you look STUNNING xx

Never have I seen this type of outlook, analysis and depth of the cottagecore aesthetic, such masterpiece Love ya xx

Kristen, this has your best shot, most cinematic, comprehensive and nicely structured and argumented video yet! 😁

You are killing it in the visuals department 😍😍 I love the mood you create and I admire the amount of work you put into these videos🥰 btw can’t wait for averagecore to become a thing 😅

Amazing work! Thanks for putting this together.

Every one of your videos is my favorite, you outdo yourself everytime!

This video itself is the pure escapist art I need right now 😍✨ Brilliantly done!

The aesthetic of this video was emaculate! Beatifully done like always

Oh dear Jesus the video clips in the beginning are beautiful 😍

Ur videos r so thought provoking and unique I love it 😭💜💜and all the aesthetics and scenes changes aaahh

Kristen: "huge thank you to pela" portuguese people: 🤭

I love you incredibly good you are!! Everything from how easy you speak, to the aesthetics, directing, the humour and the content of what you're saying 🔥 amazing!

I love the topics you choose! A lot to think about, great video as always.

the cinematography, the colors and the factss . you did ittt once again....

The editing is so beautiful

always excited to watch your videos and loved the maria antoinette segment ✨✨

your videos giving me life once again 💖

I just rewatched this and I feel it so much! Kind of makes me smile and cry at the same time

Great video like always!

commenting for the algorithm because you deserve it!! this was gorgeous and really interesting and you brought up a lot of points i haven't heard in other analyses :)

Love this, love your channel

As always, so well delivered, throught through and thought provoking. Thank you Kristen.

Thank you for the amazing content once more Kristen! From 20 min on it was so on point

Wow Kristen, those videos are pure of art while being extra educational and informative.Thank youu!!