What do you envision when you hear the term "cottagecore"? Perhaps its lush country gardens, fresh baked bread, and dreamy cotton clothes. Or maybe just a simple back-to-nature aesthetic that is wistful and romantic. Here are three takes from three library staff on Cottagecore to fuel your inspiration.
Wild Beauty by Anna-Marie McLemore has lush estate gardens that the Nomeolvides women take care of. But when one of them meets a mysterious man who knows nothing more than his first name, all are placed in danger as they work to uncover who he is. With crumbling estates and wonderful garden imagery, This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron follows Briseis who can use magic to turn seeds into flowers. But how will that help her on a newly inherited estate that hides dark secrets? The new adaptation of All Creatures Great and Small is a soothing show about a vet's slice of life in the 1930s that follows James Herriot, his family and friends, and the many animals they take care of with simplicity and a beautiful set. The Secret World of Arrietty by beloved director Hayao Miyazaki uses beautiful artwork to bring to life the self-sufficiency of the tiny Borrowers. When Arrietty, a young Borrower, is discovered by a human boy, their lives are forever changed. As a fan of Studio Ghibli, I must add A Symphonic Celebration: Music from the Studio Ghibli films of Hayao Miyazaki. The music is whimsical and lush as done by Joe Hisaishi and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Finally, let me recommend The Road Back Home, the newest album by Loreena McKennitt, which returns to her roots of Celtic and folk music that feels comforting and warm.
~posted by Meranda T.
Simplicity, the joy of slowing down, and connecting with nature are what speak to me most about Cottagecore. Japanese haiku beautifully incorporates all these aspects, and The Essential Haiku features three Japanese masters of the craft. Fox and I: An Uncommon Friendship is a true story of the bond of animal companionship where and when we least expect it. Get cottage crafty and learn all about the process of natural dyeing, with project ideas included, in The Wild Dyer.
For a pastoral soundtrack while tending your seedlings, give Vashti Bunyan's 1970 English folk-pop album Just Another Diamond Day a try. Mostly written while travelling by horse and wagon through Scotland, her delicate vocals charm and transport. Devendra Banhart's new folk album Rejoicing in the Hands is simple, poetic, jolly, subdued, and sometimes silly – it invites you to pause and see joy in the everyday.
In Recipes for Love and Murder, a TV series set in South Africa, Tannie Maria, along with her pet chicken, enjoys a simple life of cooking and gardening….until murder strikes! Based on the cozy mystery books by Sally Andrews.
~posted by Chelsea M.
My Instagram feed might be crawling with pretty cotton dresses, wicker baskets filled with just-picked wildflowers, and wide-open meadows at the golden hour, but that's neither accessible to me nor what I think of when I hear the term "cottagecore" (with the exception of the 2020 movie version of Emma, which has all of these things). What springs to my mind is the soft opening notes of Cinematic Orchestra's gorgeous 2007 Album Ma Fleur, or the bright, sweeping notes of Balmorhea. Cottagecore is a state of mind or a way of being, as much as it is an aesthetic. It's about comfortable clothing, cared for and creatively mended. It's about spending time with nature, whether that means observing the city crows in your backyard or planting a country cottage-style garden. To me, cottagecore is about seeking joy in the simple things in life and taking those little moments to pause, look around and see beauty wherever you are.
~posted by V.
Cottagecore is what you make it. Now that you've seen our takes on cottagecore, feel free to share yours in the comments. We'd love to see it!
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