Lana Del Rey and Coquette-Core
SKIMS Valentine’s Day collection, Image credit: Rolling Stone
The 9th of July 2023 is a day that will be forever ingrained in every British Lana Del Rey fan’s memory. I remember standing in the beating sun in the middle of Hyde Park, surrounded by a sea of fans adorned in cherry print ensembles, hair bows and red heart shaped sunglasses as we waited impatiently for Lana to take the stage. Recent years have seen a surge in popularity of the ‘’coquette’’ aesthetic, with over 1.9 million videos posted under the hashtag on TikTok, and the fashion style has become synonymous with fans of Lana’s music. The traditional definition of coquette is of a ‘’woman who flirts,’’ however the aesthetic has become known for its bows, pastel colour palette and soft feminine details; think pearl jewellery, lace trims and pink mini skirts. At the centre of the coquette trend is Lana Del Rey herself, with many of the videos under the coquette hashtag featuring her music playing in the background. In an interview with Nylon magazine, coquette content creator Duckie describes the influence of Lana Del Rey on the coquette aesthetic, particularly during her 2010s vintage Americana era: “Outfits within the coquette aesthetic include pieces that have the ‘50s and ‘60s vintage flare, Mary Jane shoes paired with frilly or knee-high socks as well as outfits with patterns that have gingham, lace, or frills,” she says. “Accessories such as heart-shaped sunglasses and bows in your hair are also a staple to the coquette aesthetic, as well as very soft, natural styled makeup.”
SKIMS Valentine’s Day collection, Image credit: British Vogue
Lana Del Rey Hyde Park concert outfit
Beginning her career under the pseudonym May Jailer in 2005, and later producing music under her real name Lizzy Grant, Lana Del Rey first rose to fame in 2011 with the widespread success of her debut Born to Die album and has remained a pop culture icon ever since. Lana is known for themes of fatalism, romance and nostalgia present throughout her albums, as she touches on darker topics such as abusive relationships and substance abuse. ‘’The identity of each of [Lana’s] albums is created by cherry-picking material cues (beaches, peaches, cars, guns, wine) and cultural icons (James Dean, Vladimir Nabokov, Sylvia Plath, Iggy Pop) and arranging them into a mood board; the specific combinations often alluding to emotions and states of mind more emphatically than if they were spoken about directly,’’ says music and culture writer Emma Garland in Vice. Evoking imagery of old Hollywood glamour and vintage Americana, Lana’s music can be characterised by her romanticism of the mundane and celebration of femininity. It is perhaps these themes throughout her music that explain why the artist became the backdrop for a fashion aesthetic associated with softness and hyper-femininity.
SKIMS Valentine’s Day collection, Image credit: The Hollywood Reporter
Lana’s personal fashion style does not necessarily always fit into the typical coquette aesthetic, with the artist favouring comfortable sportswear in many of her sightings. However, a SKIMS collaboration for Valentine’s Day this year, featuring Lana in heart print ensembles and delicate pinks complete with a bow in her hair, was seen by many fans as the epitome of coquette. Furthermore, the singer’s recent Coachella performance in which she appeared in a custom made, Cinderella-blue Dolce and Gabbana dress, as well as her appearance at this year’s Met Gala, have left her being heralded as a fashion icon.
Lana Del Rey at Coachella 2024, Image credit: WWD
References:
Garland, E. (2019) The revolutionary pleasure of Lana Del Rey, VICE. Available at: https://www.vice.com/en/article/wjwdmz/lana-del-rey-norman-fucking-rockwell-review (Accessed: 07 June 2024).
Roby, I. (2022) Coquette is the new romantic aesthetic that’s all over TikTok, Nylon. Available at: https://www.nylon.com/fashion/coquette-aesthetic (Accessed: 07 June 2024).
@sherrysicle. (2023) 25 June. Available at: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGeqy7NCn/ (Accessed: 07 June 2024).