Around the time that January transitions to February, I always have the urge to do a proper wardrobe clean out. Maybe it’s me finally getting around to a fresh start for the new year—or just finding an excuse to buy all the cute Valentine’s Day-inspired clothing—but regardless, it’s never a bad idea to reorganize and make way for a new rotation of clothing items.
With love in the air, I want to find ways to show off my romantic side by incorporating feminine, pretty pieces—a style sometimes called romancecore—into my everyday wardrobe. I don’t know about you, but embracing feminine fashion always leaves me feeling confident and empowered in my own skin. With bows everywhere and the “coquette” (read: girly and flirty) aesthetic trending on TikTok, we can confidently say that romantic clothing and style is having a major moment right now.
Below, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about romancecore—including how to embrace it yourself. If this style sounds like something you’d like to incorporate into your wardrobe, we’ve also rounded up some must-have romantic clothing and accessories that can be worn all year long.
What is romancecore?
While romantic clothing isn’t a new phenomenon, the idea around this romancecore aesthetic has gone viral over the past couple of months. Lately, my TikTok For You Page has been filled with videos about romanticizing your everyday life. Think of the little things like: buying yourself flowers, lighting your favorite candle, using wine glasses for any beverage, treating yourself to a dessert… the list goes on. In a nutshell, romanticizing your life means embracing little luxuries that can make your day-to-day routine that much sweeter and more enjoyable.
Now, take that concept and make it specific to fashion. There’s something so special about tapping into that feminine side of fashion and being able to style pieces that make us feel confident and put-together. The best way to describe this fashion aesthetic is wearing items that encapsulate self-love—however that looks and feels to you.
Whether it’s putting on a silk robe, wearing a top that shows off your décolletage, or slipping on a pair of heels, romancecore is all about embracing your femininity and wearing pieces that make you and your body feel like a million bucks. So while romantic clothing and style is perfect for the month of February, romancecore deserves a spot in our lives year-round as well.
How to embrace romancecore in your wardrobe
When I envision romantic fashion, I immediately think of all things dreamy, flattering, sexy, dainty, and with lots of texture. These pieces have a mostly neutral color palette, with the exception of traditionally romantic colors like red and pink. The beauty of this trend is that it’s simple, subtle, and can be achieved with pieces you already own.
But what I love most about romantic clothing is that the style is specifically catered to what you know will look and feel great on your body. Then, you can have some fun by getting creative with patterns, colors, and fabrics that spice up your look even further.
The weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day are the perfect time to test out the romancecore aesthetic, whether it be for a special date night or everyday wear. If you’re not sure where to start, keep scrolling to shop our favorite romancecore clothing and accessories.
Shop our favorite romantic clothing pieces
Intimates
As women, nothing makes us feel more feminine and put-together than going to bed in a luxurious matching pajama set. Whether you want to opt for something sexy, cutesy, or classy, there’s an option here for you.
Tops & Sweaters
The best part about romantic fashion is that it can effortlessly be achieved through simple yet flattering garments. We recommend experimenting with different silhouettes and textures to see what fits your body best. Whichever top you choose will pair perfectly with leggings or jeans—and voilà, your ‘fit is romancecore-approved.
H&M
3 colors available
sizes XXS – XXL
J.Crew
3 styles available
sizes 00 – 24
Banana Republic
2 colors available
sizes XXS – XXL
H&M
3 colors available
sizes XS – XXL
Abercrombie & FItch
5 styles available
sizes XXS – XL
Madewell
7 styles available
sizes XXS – XXL
Abercrombie & Fitch
3 colors available
sizes XXS – XL
Dresses & Bottoms
Who says you need a special occasion to wear a flowy dress or rock some statement bottoms? Slipping on a dainty dress or pairing a top with a silk skirt is the easy fashion hack to looking chic with minimal effort.
DÔEN
2 styles available
sizes XXS – XXL
Madewell
4 styles available
sizes 00 – 16
Madewell
4 styles available
sizes 00 – 16
Quince
3 colors available
sizes XS – XL
Target | A New Day
2 colors available
sizes XS – 4X
Madewell
2 colors available
sizes 00 – 16
Anthropologie | Maeve
3 colors available
sizes 23 – 34
Madewell
3 colors available
sizes 00 – 16
Everlane
2 colors available
sizes 00 – 16
Shoes & Accessories
Sometimes all you need is a statement pair of shoes, piece of jewelry, or hair accessory to really pull together an outfit. Any of the picks below will serve as the perfect finishing touch to bring your romancecore vision to life.