The Coquette Aesthetic Is Feminine, French and All About Bows

Unapologetically feminine and delightfully exaggerated, the coquette trend flounced from the runway to the driveway and has made itself at home in the interior design world. A little bit French country and a little bit rock 'n' roll (by way of Sofia Coppola’s teen-queen take on Marie Antoinette), it’s demure and assertive all at once. And introducing its sensual silhouettes, opulent materials and bows (topped with bows, topped with more bows) to your spaces could be a meet-cute for the ages. Consider these characteristically coquettish elements, then follow your heart to a personal version of this aesthetic’s je ne sais quoi.

Think Pink

Experiment with insouciance (read: lightheartedness, unconcern) by blending a bit (or broad strokes) of blush into your space’s existing palette. Starting with a minimalist, organic space? Imagine morning sun coming into the room and tinting the textiles a pale pink. Fancy more of a color-blocked, come-hither sizzle? Get bolder with more saturated tones.

This layered bedroom from HGTV Magazine showcases pink’s many moods beautifully: It’s sweet on the upholstered bed and mixed linens, then saucier in the splashes of fuchsia on the armchair and toss pillow. The room’s ruffled ottoman and curvaceous furniture are also quintessentially coquettish, but we’ll get to that in a moment.

Mimic Marie's Maximalism

Nevermind the whole “let them eat cake” business — there’s no proof Marie Antoinette said it in the first place, and her disregard for her subjects was not a good look.

Revisit the more-is-more Rococo grandeur of her chambers at Versailles, where gilding and chintz reigned supreme. Behold one of the Queen Consort of France’s chambers at her beloved Trianon, an estate on the palace grounds she received as a gift from her husband, Louis XVI; this was intimate by the royal family’s standards.

Trianon was by no means a purely pastel paradise, as you can see: The principal bedchamber was majestically magenta. Our point? Your home is your estate; don’t be afraid to go overboard there. (But do treat your neighbors better than the French aristocracy treated theirs.)

Paris or Bust

HGTV Handmade host Rajiv Surendra channels a bit of the historic coquette in this corner of his impossibly chic, craft-and-antique-filled New York City apartment, where fantastically floral cotton lace frames a feminine bust.

Put a Bow on It

Much as Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein’s Portlandia characters put a bird on everything in sight, it’s your mission (if you really want to commit to this coquette business) to deploy bows wherever you can. True believers practice bow stacking, which highlights existing decor and accessories with flourishes in ribbon. Think bows on mirrors and picture frames, bows on cabinet pulls and door knobs, bows on candlesticks and sconces, and so on. The key to results that read as "thoughtful and indulgent" rather than "twee vandals broke into your house and left a hastily tied mess" is the quality of the ribbon. Look for rich materials like velvet and satin, the wider the better. Keep your eyes peeled for ribbon remnants at fabric and craft stores, as well as overlooked spools at antique malls and flea markets — and feel free to repurpose bows on barrettes, since bows don't discriminate between bobs and bookcases.

Then, Tie in Ribbon Motifs

But wait, there’s more! Get coquettish by layering your design with prints and accessories that depict bows; these are a bit more of a commitment than splashing velvet ribbon across a gallery wall or sprucing up a dining chair, to be sure, but you can rest assured that the motif isn’t going anywhere. Bows influenced jewelry design in 17th-century France, and we’re confident cyborg civilizations of the future won’t be immune from wanting to feel fancy.

Try an Over-the-Top Ottoman

If the coquette aesthetic inspires you to make a full-fledged furniture purchase, we suggest putting your feet up in high style. Since an ottoman’s primary function is decorative (get-togethers where seating is in short supply notwithstanding), it can absolutely drip with feminine finishes in a way that might feel cloying if you were to invest in a coquettish sectional (though we fully support that commitment, to be clear). If an ottoman looks like you could sit on or eat it at a tea party, its vibe is on point.

Decorate Like a Girl

It's no accident that some of the loveliest pieces in this roundup turn up via sources focused on decor for kids and teens: The coquette aesthetic's appeal is unapologetically girlish. To make the most of its elemental joys, broaden your brainstorming to include spaces and pieces intended for all ages. If they speak to you (like this beautiful bedroom, designed to delight and grow with its 9-year-old occupant), they're just right.

Floral Feature Wall + Tufted Headboard + Curves = Coquette Aesthetic

We suspect the girl who lives in the previous bedroom would find this one pretty excellent as well — and that the adults living here would appreciate the look of hers, too.