by  Nola Clavine, Fash Diva Contributor

The cottagecore fashion trend is booming in 2020!  Let’s narrow in on what cottagecore ladies are wearing right now.

The cottagecore aesthetic fashion trend is booming in 2020! Also known as prairie dressing or farmcore, the aesthetic has taken off during the COVID-19 as a sort of “safe form of escape,” according to Teen Vogue. But, it’s been on the rise on Instagram since 2019, and now taking off thanks to TikTok in 2020. Thing is, the aesthetic has become popular recently so it sometimes can be hard to track down exactly what fits into cottagecore fashion when shopping online.

But, it’s important to understand that cottagecore is even more of an idealized lifestyle than just a fashion trend. It’s not just quilted jackets, puffy sleeves, and sweeping prairie gowns. Along with it goes actually taking part in a simple lifestyle based on idealized Western farm culture. This includes being involved with activities like baking, crocheting, and sewing. 

Here’s the Urban Dictionary’s definition of cottagecore:

“A niche aesthetic based around the visual culture of an idealized life on a Western farm. Common themes include sustainability, gardens, farm animals, rural living, and nature.”

Honestly, it sounds pretty neat, huh? Of course, you’re probably not here for a lesson in farmcore aesthetic. You likely are here for our 3 cottagecore aesthetic fashion finds to wear for summer. While many of the most popular farmcore clothes are actually vintage, there are some new options to create cottagecore outfits. Without further ado, let’s narrow in on what cottagecore women are wearing right now.

Bohemian Style Maxi Dresses

One great cottagecore pick for summer is a Bohemian Style Maxi Dress, like this Milumia Floral Maxi Dress. There are three dozen different styles of this dress, but we’d suggest leaning towards anything with flowers on it. This dress may be a bit long and better suited for spring, but it's worth having for a cooler  summer morning or evening stroll through the garden!

Pinafore Dresses & Skirts 

This summer fashion pick is more cottagecore inspired than true farmcore clothing. But, it stays with the spirit and theme of the aesthetic. Allegra K has pinafore dresses and skirts, along with other clothes, that definitely fit in with the vibe. We really like the light blue on white, but there are many other color options.

Button Front Pinafore Overall Dresses

Our last cottagecore pick that definitely fits the vibe is this button front pinafore overall dress from Verdusa. We really like the rust orange color against the black. But, you can also choose army green (like grass). This dress is also available in blue, black, or navy, but those don’t seem like the right colors to fit the aesthetic.

Feel free to share your cottagecore fashion finds with us!

Disclosure:  LifeSuccessfully.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

So you've come back for another lesson in shoe talk, eh? You must be getting good at shoe lingo by now. You may even be able to stump the shoe salesman with your shoe encyclopedia knowledge. Aw, c'mon, you know you are eager to try it out at least once -- or twice. Shoe parts, shoe-making processes, specialty collections and more have been discussed. In this week's lesson, you will be following that trend with a medical foot condition, a type of shoe measurement, a synthetic material and a style of shoe with safety in mind.

Safety Shoe

Safety first, right? The safety shoe is one designed specifically with the consumer's safety in mind. Most safety shoes have steel toes. Safety shoes can also include other safety features, such as waterproofing and oil-resistant fabrics and materials. Designed for the professional, the Timberland Pro collection of work boots and shoes is an example of safety coupled with comfort and style. The Timberland brand is well known among the pros for its safety and durability.

Polyurethane (PU)

Polyurethane, or simply PU, is a chemical-based synthetic material. It is commonly used to create faux leather. Hey now, when I said "PU," that was not a reference to a foul odor. Although, if you've got an odor problem, you may wish try some odor-fighting polyurethane shoes.

Shaft Height

The shaft height is the inside measurement of the boot's shaft from bottom to top, starting at the arch. If you were at thinking of a mine shaft instead, you may want to pick up a set of climbing shoes before you head off to explore.

Neuroma

Neuroma is a foot condition that a person could be born with due to a defect. It can also be caused by wearing shoes too narrow for the foot, wearing high-heeled shoes, or injuries. If you have neuroma, this means that the two metatarsals on your feet have pinched the nerve located between them. The pinching action causes a tissue mass to form on this nerve. That mass is known as a neuroma.


*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network.

Let us undertake another fun session of shoe encyclopedia. If you've been following along, you've already learned so much. You should be proud of yourself. You may have already discovered that shoe talk can be, not only fun, but very useful. Let us continue on with this fifth installment of the shoe encyclopedia. You'll learn about the approach shoe, exactly what supination is, and the definition for blucher.

Approach Shoe

The approach shoe is not going to walk up to you by itself. Rather, an approach shoe is one that will help you approach that mountain top with greater ease. It is actually a shoe designed with a special grip on the sole that is meant to aid rock climbers on the trail back and forth from the climbing area.

Supination

Supination is not a shoe or a shoe feature. Instead it's an action that can be done by the foot. It is when, during walking or running, the outermost part of the heel touches the ground as it's supposed to, but instead of rolling inward, like in a normal walking pattern, the pressure stays on that outside part of the heel. This causes pressure on the smaller toes and the lateral side of the foot. To help with this problem, supinators (those who walk or run with supination) can try neutral running shoes.

Blucher

A blucher is a shoe that features two side flaps of fabric or other material. These two materials feature lacing to hold them together. For instance, many tennis shoes feature the blucher style, as can dress shoes and even boots. In other words, many, or even most, shoes that contain laces display this style.


*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network

If you've been keeping up, you've already learned quite an array of shoe terms to keep you up to date. If not, don't despair. You can easily take a few moments to catch up by reading the previous installments of the shoe encyclopedia. At this point in the game, you should be really starting to impress your shoe-savvy friends while shoe shopping and gossiping. In fact, you're becoming quite the shoe connoisseur yourself.

Mule

This mule won't be carrying your baggage, but it could get you around with both style and comfort. In shoe talk, a mule is a slip-on shoe with a closed toe and an open heel. They are available in an array of choices, such as slippers, casuals or dress shoes. Mule shoes can come in a variety of styles for both women and men.

Hammertoe

Hammertoe is pretty much what it sounds like. It's a medical condition where a toe is bent in a shape that resembles a claw or the end of a hammer. Most of the time, hammertoes develop due to an imbalance of the muscles. However, they can also be caused by arthritis or even by ill-fitting shoes. So, be sure you pick the right size when you are shoe shopping.

Last

A last is a form used to make a shoe. The form can come in metal, wood, or plastic. The shoe is pulled and shaped around the form. That process is called lasting. Some shoes are hand lasted, while others are made using a shoe lasting machine. Since the use of a hand last is more time-consuming, hand-lasted shoes can sometimes have a higher price tag than machine-lasted shoes.

Lug Sole

A lug sole, when talking shoes, is a sole that is heavily treaded and made of rubber. Ever need some shoes strong enough to get you up a mountainside and also weather a storm? Maybe you're not quite that brave. How about some cute boots to get you around town during the winter season? Footwear with a lug sole can do either and more.


*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network

Lesson two ranged from comfort to tannage, and even a bit of gore. If you missed it, be sure to catch up. In this third lesson, learn how to impress your fellow shoe connoisseurs with a bit more knowledge on shoe speak. From toes to laces, get to know the ins and outs of those those fancy (or not so fancy) things on your feet, most commonly referred to as shoes.

Aglet

Is this a farming reference? Well, you can certainly try making a planter out of a shoe if you want to, but I don't think crops will harvest too well that way. I could be wrong. Back to the shoe language, an aglet is that piece of plastic at the tip of shoelaces. It keeps them from fraying so you can keep those kicks looking nice and neat.

Cap Toe

At first glance this sounds like some illness or toe condition, like corns or blisters or something. But, no worries. A cap toe is actually what the toe or tip of the shoe is called when there is an extra strip of leather covering it. The cap toe can exist in sneakers, dress shoes, boots, and more.

Slingback

No, this is not some sort of device for back injuries. Hopefully, you know how to walk in your shoes well enough to avoid one of those. If not, that lesson's for another instructor, not this one. LOL When speaking shoe, a slingback is any shoe with a strap at the back of the heel or ankle to hold the foot inside. These can be sandals, heels, or various styles, such as crocs. Slingbacks can be worn by women or men, depending on the shoe.


*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network

Do you know shoe talk? If you've been paying attention, you caught lesson one on the language of shoe. If not, it's easy enough to catch up. Learning this lingo could be pretty useful, so what are you waiting for? Grab a friend and read on. Then, when you're done, you could test your knowledge with another friend who is more shoe-savvy than the pair of you. Better yet, use it to grab that pair of whatever those saucy things were in the mall window. Who knows? With these four extra words from the shoe encyclopedia, you may even know what you're talking about this time.

After Hours

Well, normally when you think after hours, you are probably thinking of a hot exclusive party after your favorite band's concert, right? Well, in the case of shoe talk, you'd be off just a little. Okay, maybe a lot. After Hours shoes are comfy shoes that you would not be caught chilling in at any party, but would definitely want to wear while chilling at the house. These would be slippers, moccasins, booties and other casuals.

Gore

Usually, you might associate gore with movies, not shoes. However, there is another definition besides the one used in horror flicks. When referring to shoes, a gore is actually a piece of material, generally elastic, fitted into both sides of the shoe vamp to make it easier to slip and off. It can also make the shoes more comfortable.

Tannage

This type of tannage doesn't involve your swimsuit or a beach. Tannage is actually the process that raw hides and skins go through to get turned into leather. There are actually a number of steps in the process. Leather footwear is made of material that has gone through this process.

Spectator

Spectators are a type of shoe. No, they won't be watching you. However, you might be eyeing and admiring them. Spectators are made of two materials, with one material being more dominant. The dominant material will have a pinking edge and the toe of the shoe will have a perforated design.


*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network

An avid shoe lover simply must speak the language of shoes. How are you going to be able to snag a pair of all your faves if you don't even know their name or what you're looking for? Besides, learning shoe speak can help you find some cute shoes you may have never known about before. Plus, it's a great way to fit in with all your shoe-savvy friends. So, here's four words from the shoe encyclopedia to get you started. Be sure to watch for more.

Ghillie

No fish stories here. The ghillie is actually a shoe in which fabric or shoelaces are laced through fabric eyelets. A ghillie can be worn by men or women and can be found in a boot, high heel, or even a sneaker. It just depends on each individual shoe and how it's made.

Saddle

Ride 'em cowboy! Okay, maybe not. When talking shoes, a saddle is not something you strap to the back of a horse. It's a style of shoe with a different color of leather strapped over the instep. Not exactly horseback riding. When it comes to saddle shoes, you could be doing a number of things, including golfing, bowling, or attending a formal occasion.

Kiltie

A kiltie? What's that, a skirt for shoes? No, no, no. Well, it kind of looks like one sometimes. A kiltie is actually a fringed shoe tongue. The fringed part hangs over the front of the shoe. Generally, these would be somewhat dressy shoes. You can even get a kiltie with a wing tip, which brings us to the next term in our shoe encyclopedia.

Wing Tip

No, we're not switching to bird chatter here. We're still talking shoes. A wing tip is when the part sewn over the toe is shaped like a wing. This can be done on many different types of footwear. For instance, you could see it in a women's heel, a men's dress shoe, or even in a stylish boot.


*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network

by Dennis Townsend, Contributing Writer

Sneakers, when I was growing up, I never gave much thought to style or cost, and during my time the best sneakers on the market was Converse. The only choices you had were whether you wanted them in black, or white, low tops or high tops. Simple enough back then, but now, it’s a very big business with some shoes costing in excess of $200 dollars. And it seems like every basketball player has designed their own exclusive shoe that their fans just has to have making the marketing for these shoes a slam dunk. When I was writing this article, I was trying to decide if I should categorize it as a sports blog or a fashion blog. I come to the conclusion that if a pair of sneakers cost more than $100 dollars, it must be for the sake of fashion.

You could say that Michael Jordan was the pioneer in this new enterprise of basketball wear, and now with each superstar comes a new brand of shoe. Just this year in New York, there was the SoleXchange where vendors and buyers haggled over prices, and if you didn’t know any better, you’d thought that you were on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Everywhere you looked, there were young boys with expensive shoes around their necks, and pockets stuffed full of cash ready to make the “deal” that could make them the envy of their neighborhood. A 13 year old boy was on the floor making transactions so fast that a Wall Street broker would have had a hard time keeping up with him. When all was said and done, he had exchanged, bought, and sold 20 pairs of designer sneakers, and walked away with 7 pairs. That’s 4 more than he started with, and his collection’s retail value climbed from $340 dollars to $1,155 dollars.

With social media, learning about these weekend conventions is pretty easy, and there is always somebody ready to sell or trade their pair of limited edition basketball shoes in a quest to obtain a new prize worth even more money. One youngster had 81 pairs in his collection and he spent an estimated $11,000 dollars to purchase these coveted shoes, and he stated that he could get $20,000 dollars if he sold them right now. And to think 30 years ago, the NBA told Michael Jordan that he couldn’t wear his “Nike Air Jordan 1’s” on the court because it didn’t meet the dress code. Today, there is not another basketball shoe that’s more popular than Nike’s Jordan branded shoe which last year brought in $2.5 billion dollars in sales.

At these “sneaker conventions”, you pay a $25.00 dollar entry fee, and that allows you to bring in a maximum of 5 pairs of shoes to start with in which, at the right venue, could earn you $300 to $800 dollars a pair. Just how big is this business, well I will say that one vendor turned down $98.000 dollars for a pair of “Nike Air Yeezy 2 “Red October” sneakers designed by Kanye West that was signed by the singer himself on stage while performing in Nassau. The vendor who refused the offer was 18 years old, and that will tell you how expensive these conventions can get. So when you go shopping for sneakers, you’ll have to decide if it’s an investment, or just something to wear on the court.

It puts you in a tough spot when your tween wants to be stylish, but you're trying to live on a budget. Like most tween girls, mine want to look their best. One likes to design her own fashions and be creative with existing clothing. I'm one of those parents who likes to stick to a strict budget for each household responsibility. Believe it or not, a stylish wardrobe is possible for your tween, even when you have limited funds to work with.

Accessories go a long way

Scarves, hats, belts, buckles, and jewelry can be used to accent any outfit and can be mixed and matched to create hundreds if unique looks. Check end-of-season sales at department stores for bargains on these items. Sometimes you can even find cute ones at dollar or discount stores. Our area dollar stores and mall shops usually have these items at a very low cost. Give your tween several styles of each item and in varied colors so she can accessorize accordingly. Consignment shops and thrift stores are another great place to find these items at a low cost.

Add some style to used items

Just because your tween has grown out of something or it's a little worn out doesn't mean its time is up. Alter the item for a better fit. Many pieces of clothing can be let out to expand the size. You can also lengthen pants by taking down the seams and adding similar fabric or fun embellishments to the bottom. Patch up holes with colorful or lacy fabrics. Long pants can also be turned into shorter capri-style pants. Fix up shirts by adding embellishments at the bottom and in stained or holey sections. My daughter likes to slice the bottom half from all her shirts and sew different bottoms on each.

Teach your tween how to mix and match

If your tween's wardrobe is limited, show her how to create different outfits from a small amount of pieces. For instance, scarves and belt buckles can be worn in different ways with various clothing items. It's also better to have more tops than bottoms, as they can be paired with various skirts, pants, and shorts to create different looks. Solid colors are more flexible, but allow your daughter to choose some prints as well.

Give your tween lessons in being creative

Show her how she can create her own designs or make new ones from existing clothing. One of my daughters is always cutting up a piece of fabric or clothing to create something new. Sewing skills can really come in handy when it comes to tween fashion. If you're not skilled enough to teach her yourself, suggest home economics class at school or get her involved in a community class. If sewing just isn't her thing, try interesting ways to tie the clothing.

Watch for bargains all the time

Many department stores offer continuous bargains on simple t-shirts and jeans. End-of-season can be the best time to stock up on low-priced items. With clothing, when the sales season ends, it could still be the appropriate temperature to wear the items. My girls and I have actually found new skirts, dresses, jeans, shirts, shoes, and more for under five bucks each during these sales. Beyond sales, look at consignment shops, thrift stores, and even yard sales. Some people make the mistake of buying an item just because it's on sale. If you are not sure if the item will be used, it's probably not a good deal for you. Stick to items that will actually have a purpose. Otherwise, it isn't really a bargain.

*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

Oct 10, 2008 | On Friday, October 10, Soy Joy and Gen Art combined fashion and natural living in the All Natural Fashion Show hosted by Maggie Gyllenhaal. The point of the show was to inform people that fashion can also be green. Pictures of Maggie Gyllenhaal and others at the All Natural Fashion Show can be found at ICYDK.com.

Maggie Gyllenhaal has won much recognition for her seemingly natural talent as an actress. Her most recent movie to date is The Dark Knight, which she starred in with Christian Bale. Other awards include a Sundance Award in 2002 for Secretary, a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress, both a Chicago Critics' Award and a Boston Critics' Award, and more.

Four natural fashion designers put in their efforts at the Soy Joy and Gen Art fashion show, striving to represent the innovation of natural organic materials, sustainable materials, recycled vintage fabrics, and raw textiles in the fashion industry. Natural fashion, like what Soy Joy and Gen Art are promoting could be a fast-growing market, as Americans gain more of an interest in the economy and more healthy, natural, green living.

The Battalion is a natural couture collection that is eco-friendly, as well as edgy. The Battalion uses natural fabrics such as comfort-fit knits, cruelty-free silk, bamboo blends, and cotton blends. All fabrics and materials used are organic. Their design can be described as both erotic and romantic at the same time, drawing inspiration from Anais Nin, as well as rock and roll.

Popomomo is the picture of simplicity with unique touches. Popomomo stands for "post-post-modern-movement." This eco-friendly contemporary collection uses only sustainable fabrics. The dresses are designed with unique shapes, cuts, and patterns.

Velvet Leaf uses only 100% certified organic cotton to manufacture their eco-friendly modernized second-hand chic style. Manufacturing is done with low-wastage dyes, fair labor, and sustainable packaging. This '60s-style clothing represents the natural, green, "hippie-chic" style.

Brigid Catiis makes their clothing from excess materials, calling the process "upcycling." The goal of this company is to spread the word about sustainable living. Dubbed as "Eco-Chic," the pieces of clothing in this fashion collection use only reconditioned and recycled vintage materials. Each individual item created is unique and environmentally responsible.

Soy Joy is a company that manufactures all natural snack products made from soy. Soy Joy bars come in six different flavors and are packed with nutrition. Soy Joy bars can be found at many major retailers. For more information on Soy Joy, consumers can visit the Soy Joy website at www.soyjoy.com.

*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network