Quote from an article about TikTok and the coquette aesthetic:
“Reaching more than 780 million views on TikTok and counting, the coquette aesthetic is on the rise. Just like its name, which is defined as “the woman who flirts,” coquette is known to embody all things idyllic and feminine, from lace blouses paired with pink mini skirts to chunky heels and knitted stockings. You can also expect to see an endless array of pearls and gold accessories, as well as everything heart-shaped and frills galore. Taking inspiration from other styles, like ballet clothes and royalcore, the coquette aesthetic is all about indulging in the very simple pleasures of both our beauty and wardrobes.”
Here’s a quote from an article talking about coquette and nymphet aesthetics in the context of being a fan of Lolita (the novel) on Tumblr, written in 2022:
“The ‘coquette aesthetic’ is everywhere on the app at the moment – the hashtag has racked up over three billion views – with countless videos of young women draping themselves in pearl necklaces and decorating their rooms with framed photos of Lana del Rey. More often than not a copy of Lolita will be lingering in the background of a shot, too – failing that, signifiers of Lolita, like heart-shaped glasses, cherries, or a bottle of Coke.
Kellen-Pippa, 17, is a self-professed coquette. She explains that she’s a fan of the “visuals and clothing” depicted in the 1997 adaptation of the novel [Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov]. “There’s this beautiful character in this beautiful setting,” she says. “The heart-shaped glasses, the summer setting, the vintage Americana vibe – I think that’s what captivates young girls.” Evidently, it would be a reach to say sharing a screenshot of Swain reading a magazine or guzzling an ice cream soda is inherently ‘glamorising abuse’ – the charge so often levelled at the Lolita fandom.”
“On Tumblr, meanwhile, the GIFs of Lolita dancing and blithely chewing bubblegum were juxtaposed against GIFs of Lolita getting hit in the face by Humbert. It was a perfect storm: the popularity of Lolita on Tumblr grew in tandem with the proliferation of images of aestheticised violence: bruises the colour of blackberries, razor blades and roses, beautiful women crying. Many now-adult women look back at their time on ‘nymphet Tumblr’ with disgust and regret, and accuse the community of encouraging them to romanticise self-destructive behaviours.”
