For many people, the cottagecore aesthetic is a response to the rapid urbanization of our modern world. As our time seems to move quicker with each scroll, double tap, and swipe on social media, there's an increasing desire to just slow down at least a little bit and return to things that are a little… more tangible.

Still, cottagecore isn't just a nostalgic retreat into the past; in fact, it's a rather good reminder of what we've lost in our pursuit of convenience and efficiency. While the current generations have gained much in our fast-paced environments — including instant access to world information on a global scale — many feel a disconnect from the very Earth that sustains us. The images of softly billowing curtains in a rustic kitchen and sunflowers bending towards the morning sun all tell a story of much simpler and calm times.

To be honest, there’s a unique universality to the appeal of the cottagecore lifestyle. Across many cultures and continents, the romanticization of this lifestyle and nature transcends boundaries. Whether it's the quiet Japanese countryside with its Zen-inspired wabi-sabi aesthetic or the French provincial homes surrounded by lavender fields, there's a shared human craving for simplicity and calmness.

In the age of TikTok micro trends, the resurgence of the 2000s cottagecore aesthetic serves as a gentle reminder that sometimes, the answers we seek aren't ahead but rather just behind us. We think that this encourages us to embrace the quiet joys, and to find beauty in imperfection.