Witchcore

Other names

Witches of Instagram, Hexcore, Magicore, Teen Witch, Witch Tok, Witchblr, Strega, Wiccacore

Key motifs

Frogs, owls, bats, tarot cards, magic, brooms, crystal balls, potions, old houses/architecture, cats, wands, halloween, woods/outdoors, nature, Occult imagery, media references

Key colours

Black, Green, Orange, Purple, dark/dull colours

Key values

The occult, the unknown, energy, self-growth

Related media

Rookie Magazine, the Virgin Suicides, Hole, photography by Petra Collins

Witchcore is an aesthetic centered around the themes of modern witchcraft. It often involves magic, herbs, and gem collecting. It has some elements of Cottagecore or Naturecore since some of the aesthetic revolves around the outdoor setting.

Visuals[]

Witchcore visuals vary by type of witchcraft; however, there are patterns of objects and places frequently involved in witchcraft and witchcore as an aesthetic. Here is a general list of such items:

Glass bottles
- Smaller potion bottles
Plants, especially flowers
- Succulents
- Bouquets
- Herbs
- Dried plants
Mushrooms
Moss
Forests
Fields of flowers
Seashells
Candles
Lanterns
Tarot cards
Wands
Books, especially aged, leather-bound, and/or related to witchcraft
Crystals
Crystal balls
Potions
Smoke
Tea
Butterflies
Cats
Owls
Frogs
Skulls, human and animal
Moon, sun, and planet imagery
Bread, especially homemade and freshly-baked
Old buildings and architecture

Fashion[]

Witchy fashion is pretty noticeable upon seeing it, though there is not one uniform witches must follow. Witchy fashion utilizes a variety of darker hued, natural colors and black. Vintage wear from thrift stores or hand-me-downs are often seen in this aesthetic, as well as some gothic/goth/nu-goth themes and hippie/boho themes. When in doubt, google Stevie Nicks. Keep in mind that searching for witchy clothing on Google is not reflective of the true aesthetic, search tags on social media for more relevant examples or see the Pinterest boards and photos on this page. Examples of witchy fashion are below:

Vintage white wedding dresses and nightgowns
Cloaks (usually for formal rituals)
Black laced camisoles
Shawls
Maxi dresses and skirts
Wide brim hats
Homemade flower crowns (see Rookie tutorial) that are often adorned with leftover craft materials such as pipe cleaners, alphabet beads, googly eyes, etc.
Comfy shoes
Barefeet
Creepers and laced boots

Interior Design[]

Decor for witches is typically very natural and have some kind of use. Decor is usually foraged, thrifted, or made, but there are certain items that are strongly suggested be bought from small metaphysical shops. Some things like crystals, flowers, and incense can have a purpose for the craft while others can be for the aesthetic and for happiness. Key items include:

Crystals
Fresh or dried flowers
Grimoires/notebooks
Books relating to the craft
Stones
Mason jars
Plants
Sticks
- Wands, drying racks, etc.
Trinkets you like
- Found items in the wild, from thrift shops, or anything that has personal, spiritual, or symbolic meaning
Altar clothes and tapestries
Meditation corners
- Canopies, floor pillows, etc
Incense and candles
Art

Media[]

Books[]

Suspiria de Profundis
Harry Potter books
All Souls Trilogy

Movies[]

Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)
Teen Witch (1989)
The Witches (1990)
Hocus Pocus (1993)
Matilda (1996)
The Craft (1996)
Halloweentown films (1998-2006)
Practical Magic (1998)
Harry Potter films
Mother of Tears (2007)
The Witch (2015)
The Love Witch (2016)
Fantastic Beasts films
Mary and the Witch's Flower (2017)
Gwen (2018)
Earwig and the Witch (2020)
The Witches (2020)
Suspiria
Inferno

TV[]

American Horror Story: Coven
Bewitched
Charmed
Good Witch
Legacies
Little Witch Academia
Motherland: Fort Salem
Puella Magi Madoka Magica
W.I.T.C.H.
Sabrina The Teenage Witch
Salem
Flying Witch
Fate: Winx Saga
The Originals
The Owl House
Wandering Witch/The Journey of Elaina
Witches of East End
Wizards of Waverly Place
The Addams Family
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
Nowhere Boys
Locke and Key
High Guardian Spice

Manga/Comics/Webtoon[]

Aerial Magic
Hooky
Lumine
Little Witch Academia
Ran's Grey World
Muted
Witch Hat Atelier

Characters[]

Sieglinde Sullivan (Kuroshitsuji/Black Butler)
Kyle (Fanboy and ChumChum)

Games[]

Nancy Drew: Midnight In Salem
The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood
Academagia: The Making of Mages
Witchy Life Story
Little Witch in the Woods
The Witch of Fern Island
Wylde Flowers
Wytchwood
Magical Delicacy

Subgenres[]

Teen Witch[]

Teen Witch was an aesthetic pioneered in the early 2010s and popularised by the online magazine, Rookie.

The aesthetic revolved around a mixture of alternative media popular with teenage girls and the iconography of Catholics and Pagans. This includes shrines, crosses, inverted crosses, Ouija boards, and white dresses. The imagery referenced in this aesthetic often sat closely with the interests of Tavi Gevinson (teenage editor of Rookie Magazine) and Petra Collins, a photographer who produced many editorials for the publication.