The Cottagecore Corner

Autumn special edition

Good morning lovelies!

I hope everyone is enjoying the fall weather, wherever you are. Even out here in hot and sweaty Texas, the air is starting to get crisp in the mornings leading up to a chilly nightfall for all, even in my stuffy little apartment.

Autumn is by far my favorite season. Between the impending sweater weather, pumpkin patches, fall gardening, all the baking and crafting opportunities, and of course Halloween, Fall is the perfect time for us all to live out our cottagecore dreams. 

We’re going to check out some of the fun things that other folks are trying out this spooky season and explore some seasonal ways to have fun with cottagecore at home as the days get shorter and the nights get cozier.

Let’s get cooking!

It’s the perfect time to gather your loved ones together and try out some new recipes. We’ve got recipes here for those looking for something sweet, savory, or soupy.

Beth from Budget Bytes is the only reason that I have consumed a single real meal since I moved out of my mom’s house. This delicious brown butter sage pasta recipe is great for a comfortable night in with a friend or partner. It’s super filling and takes 20 minutes or less to prepare. I highly recommend getting some seasonal pumpkin or butternut squash ravioli to cook with this simple and savory brown butter sauce.

Listen friends, life is too short to not live it up with the pumpkin recipes during Fall. These cinnamon rolls will get you in the perfect domestic and autumnal mood. Can you imagine anything better than waking up and getting to eat some tasty pumpkin-cinnamon flavored goodness with your coffee or tea first thing in the morning? I definitely can’t.

This French Onion soup is so good that it will leave you pleasantly comatose afterward and makes enough to feed a big group of friends. This recipe also does away with the need to put your whole bowl of soup in the oven to get the crispy cheesy crouton on top just right. Trust me when I tell you that becoming the person in your friend group who can magically produce French Onion soup will immediately put you on the path to world domination.

Costume Corner 

Emily Robinson’s adorable ’70s aesthetic meets the quintessential cottagecore fungus. While Emily posts several Halloween costumes every year, her various takes on a mushroom maiden never fail to wow her devoted followers (read: me).

This Howl's Moving Castle couple's costume is disgustingly adorable. TikTok princess AJ Clemintine is not only living my pastel cottagecore fantasy but also has the audacity to be inhumanly stunning. . It just kills me to see other people living my dream. 

If you’re not quite feeling all the frills and dresses this Halloween, TikTok user phatsocks' Ash from "Fantastic Mr. Fox" might be a little bit more your style. This costume allows you to go completely cottagecore for your costume while still allowing you to wear pants. It’s also a great way to channel your inner teen fox angst too.

My Fall Soundtrack 

Taylor Swift’s iconic pivot from the punchy pop of Lover to the thoughtful indie lyricism of folklore was one of the only redeeming moments of 2020. These studio sessions are perfect for a quiet afternoon and will leave you ready to be the most interesting and mysterious person in your small town’s coffee shop. For peak cottagecore vibes, make sure to check out “the lakes” and “cardigan”. 

While one could argue that Hozier’s self-titled album is a little less cottagecore and a little more “ancient fairy prince luring you into the woods-core”, I think this album is an absolute fall must. It covers all of the bases of cottagecore, from romantic domestic bliss to a soundtrack of rhythm and blues, to slowly decomposing in a field with your girlfriend. Fun stuff! Get the most out of this album by listening to “Jackie and Wilson” and “In a Week”.

While this can be the happiest time of year for my cottagecore queens, sometimes you just have to lean into melancholy girl fall. Nobody makes a better soundtrack for wandering around your neighborhood and wistfully reminiscing about Autumns passed than the one and only Miss Phoebe Bridgers. My top sad girl picks for the season are “Garden Song” and “Graceland Too” from her album Punisher.

For more music for fall, here’s my official autumn playlist!

Happy Fall y’all!