Lovecore

Lovecore is an aesthetic based on the visual culture of romantic love and infatuation, sharing the visuals and ethos of Saint Valentine's Day. It focuses on affectionate and "gushy" forms of love, involving both requited and unrequited relationships. The aesthetic often depicts crushes, dating rituals, and both new and long-term relationships.

Lovecore typically avoids mature, seductive, or erotic themes, as well as the potentially sad or heartbreaking aspects of love. People who enjoy the aesthetic may not necessarily be actively involved in a romantic relationship. It often represents love and romance in a theoretical sense, appealing to those who enjoy romance fiction, celebrate love, or wish for romantic experiences.

Visually, Lovecore focuses on the commercialization of love through Valentine's Day decorations and romantic rituals. It has substyles that emphasize vintage, anime, or Cottagecore visuals. Lovecore originated on Tumblr and later spread to platforms like TikTok and Pinterest.

Visuals[]

Popular motifs include hearts, boxes of chocolate, lipstick, love letters, cupid, angels, and the colours red and pink. There are also at times vintage elements present in the form of scans of Valentine's Day cards from the 1950s and 60s. There is sometimes overlap with Animecore in the form of pink manga edits and images of anime characters with hearts in their eyes. There may be Rococo artwork/inspired visuals as well. Most visuals tend to be very girly.

Anime characters who are blushing or have hearts around them
Anything shaped like a heart and in pink or red
Bouquets of flowers especially roses
Cakes with pink frosting and cherries
Candy such as lollipops or chocolates that are heart-shaped and pink or red
Cupid imagery such as angel wings and arrows
Cute animals such as kittens or puppies
Lipstick
Paper Valentine's Day cards
Stuffed animals
Typography expressing quotes about love
"Tunnel of Love" amusement park rides
Swans, especially with their heads put together to form a heart shape
Doves

Pinterest Boards[]

Fashion[]

Lovecore fashion is a mix of not too overly erotic lingerie, angel wings, satin dresses, and just general formal date wear, though sometimes people who identify with the aesthetic adopt a Softie look or opt for graphic t-shirts with the aforementioned themes. Larme-styled and Coquette outfits are also popular. Colors like pink, red, and white, as well as motifs such as hearts and lipstick marks, are also fairly common. Some garments include:

Crop tops or blouses with puffed sleeves, shirring, and other feminine details
Heart-patterned garments and accessories
Slip dresses with satin and lace
Pink lacy lingerie
Angel/cupid wings or wing imagery on clothing
Heart shaped sunglasses
Pink or red ribbons and bows

Activities[]

Writing/decorating love letters or valentines
Baking
Thinking about your crush/partner
Kissing
Holding hands
Cuddling
Going on dates
Making paper hearts

Subgenres[]

Pagano-Lovecore[]

Aphrodite-adonis-painting — Painting of Goddess Aphrodite and her lover Adonis

Pagano-Lovecore interprets the iconography of love through the lens of Greco-Roman mythology and the Italian Renaissance, emphasizing classical deities, statues, doves, antique jewelry, ancient love poetry, and philosophical concepts of love. Key figures include Aphrodite/Venus, Eros/Cupid (in his pre-infant form), and Adonis. This aesthetic draws upon neo-pagan and witchcraft themes, and shares visual and thematic elements with Hellenic.