What Does It Mean To Be Coquette?
In the realm of social media, coquette is associated with hyperfemininity. Posts tagged as such often showcase thin pink ribbons and white dresses that make the viewer feel like a girly girl.
However, coquette was not always a celebration of femininity. The dictionary defines it as a young woman who is coy and flirtatious in a teasing manner. The word also has been associated with the infamous book and film, Lolita, as she is described as a seductive young girl. Certain coquette staples such as the red heart shaped sunglasses also originate from Lolita.
In fact, the coquette aesthetic that is trending on TikTok and Pinterest, seems to draw influences from the Tumblr “nymphet” aesthetic. The two are centered around things that are “girlish” and are influenced by the frills of vintage fashion. They also share a love of Lana Del Rey.
However, nymphet is more focused around Americana and 50s fashion, whereas coquette also incorporates Rococo and Victorian styles. Nymphet is also a direct reference to Lolita, while coquette takes influence from films such as The Virgin Suicides, Marie Antoinette, Girl, Interrupted and Emma.
The aesthetic somewhat juxtaposes itself, as the coquette community mocks the performative nature of the femininity it celebrates. Coquette memes such as middle fingers wrapped in bows and adding bows to food showcase a sort of irony in the coquette girl.
That does not mean the aesthetic is free of controversy. Its waifish youthful look has raised eyebrows as some have wondered if it promotes eating disorders. Films deemed coquette such as Lolita and Girl Interrupted, with heavy subject matter like grooming and mental illness, have made critics of the aesthetic wonder if it romanticizes those issues.
Since social media aesthetics are driven by millions of users each posting their own perspective of a trend, it’s impossible to define a trend and its intentions.
However, it seems like the aesthetic is determined to reclaim the word. The coquette community appears to be taking the sexual connotation out of the word and using it as a way to have fun with objects associated with girlhood. Posts under coquette tags have shown women wearing pigtails and bows in everyday outfits without fear of looking too girly to be taken seriously.
This is not the first time social media has used aesthetic trends to reclaim a word. “Bimbocore” puts a spin on the word once used to degrade women as stupid by showcasing girls being intelligent while wearing hot pink and telling viewers to channel their inner “Elle Woods.”
The once epitome of male gaze is shifting toward the female gaze, as social media users take back the style one pink ribbon at a time.
