How To Bring The Coquette Aesthetic Into Your Kitchen And Onto Your Table

If you’ve been online this year, you’ve likely seen the rise of the coquette aesthetic—and there’s a good chance you’ll see a lot more of it in 2024, from decor to food.

The coquette aesthetic is flirtatious, playful, and charming, rooted in a sense of femininity and allure, drawing inspiration from vintage fashion, romanticism, and whimsical details. Think of flirtatious details like ruffles, bows, and lace and soft colors like shades of blush pink, lavender, mint green, and baby blue.

Pinterest’s lifestyle creative management lead Jeremy Jankowski told Better Homes & Gardens in June that there’s been an increase in coquette-related searches.

“I think we can safely say bows would tie in nicely to these search results,” Jankowski said. “Which, again, plays into the notion that we believe trends start in fashion and take a little longer to make their way to the home, given the complexities of designing or ‘refreshing’ the aesthetic of your home compared to the time it takes to update an outfit in your wardrobe.”

As Jankowski said, trends hit the runway, then make their way to your home. But do they have enough influence to impact your meals? In this case, yes.

Coquette Cooking

You can easily infuse bows and the coquette aesthetic into food presentation and cooking—culinary creations are practically begging you to add a whimsical touch, especially during hosting season. One creator on TikTok achieved this by peeling a thin slice of zucchini, folding it into a bow, and placing it on top of her plate of hummus. 

Another posted a cute dish she made with pink and white stripe farfalle pasta—a literal full bowl of bows. Of course, you’ll also see a bit of the unconventional on TikTok, like chicken nuggets with pink bows on them or mac n cheese with a bow placed on top.

Using the internet as creative inspiration, there's an abundance of ways to integrate this feminine aesthetic into your food presentation and cooking. 

Start with dessert decoration—perhaps the meal that calls for a coquette feel out of any other. Decorate your desserts, cupcakes, and pastries with small, edible bows made from fondant, icing, or chocolate, or tie small, decorative bows around the stems of individual berries or chocolate-dipped fruits. And obviously, add pink sprinkles to everything.

And it all comes together with the table settings: Tie ribbon or fabric bows around sets of utensils, creating charming bundles for each place setting, or wrap napkin rings with delicate bows. You can tie tiny bows around the stems of wine glasses, champagne flutes, and straws or stirrers for cocktails. Opt for tablecloths, napkins, or placemats with embroidered bow patterns and lacy detailing. Choose serving platters with bow-shaped handles, or attach small bows to the corners of the platters already in your cabinets. 

You can also create edible designs on plates using sauces, coulis, or reductions. Use a squeeze bottle to draw patterns for sauces on your soups, drinks, or other dishes. And give edible flowers and herbs a twist into their own bow shapes on salads or main dishes.

For the full effect (and for fun), grab an apron or a chef hat with some bow details, or add some bow-shaped accessories like pins or lacy clips for a touch of coquette charm to your cooking attire.