Coquette Fashion 101: What it is & Where to Shop

The most useful way to approach Coquette is through detail rather than a head-to-toe costume. A ribbon in your hair or a lace-trimmed top can bring the look into an otherwise simple wardrobe. What makes an outfit Coquette? The aesthetic combines familiar romantic dress details under a contemporary style label.

Vogue’s coverage of Coquette dressing identifies bows, lace and florals among its recurring features. That does not give every ribbon or lace garment a single origin: these details have appeared in fashion across many periods. Bows and ribbons: at the neckline, on straps, in the hair or attached to accessories.

Decorative fabric: lace, embroidered cotton, fine florals and softly gathered material. Romantic shaping: puff sleeves, sweetheart necklines, fitted bodices and full or ruffled skirts. Small-scale accessories: a bow barrette, a delicate necklace or ribbon-trimmed socks can finish the outfit.

Soft colour—or deliberate contrast: pastels offer one route; cream lace against black denim offers another. LoveShackFancy’s Lovelace dress shows how lace and bow details can carry the aesthetic without an all-pink palette. Image credit: LoveShackFancy. Coquette versus Balletcore…