Lovecore

Lovecore
"You make it difficult to not overthink / And when I'm with you I turn all shades of pink / I wanna touch you but don't wanna be weird / It's such a rush, I'm thinking wish you were here" -Tessa Violet, "Crush"
Other names	Heartcore, Crushcore, Cupidcore, Valentinecore
Decade of origin	1960s, 2010s
Key motifs	Hearts, love letters, kisses, bouquets, cherubs
Key colours	Red, pink, white
Key values	Romantic love, obsession
Related aesthetics	Angelcore Anime Yandere Girl-Next-Door Hatecore Devilcore Larme Kei Romantic Academia

Lovecore is based on the visual culture of manufactured romance and affection. 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 Valentines Day cards written in the 1950s and 60s. There is sometimes overlap with anime in the form of pink manga edits and images of anime characters with hearts in their eyes.

As the aesthetic became more intense and anime-centric, a subcategory of lovecore called Yandere appeared. Lovecore tends to focus on the commercialization of love through Valentine's Day and marketing as well as wholesome celebration of love rather than the dark, macabre or erotic.

Lovecore originated on Tumblr.

Visuals

• Anime characters who are blushing or have hearts around them
• Anything shaped like a heart and in the lovecore colors
• Bouquets of flowers
• 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 dogs
• Lipstick
• Paper Valentines Day cards
• Stuffed animals
• Typography expressing quotes about love

Fashion

Lovecore fashion hints at a mix of 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 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 with puffed sleeves, shirring, and other feminine details
• Heart-patterned garments and accessories
• Slip dresses with satin and lace
• Turtlenecks with a tighter fit

Activities

• Writing/decorating love letters
• Baking
• Thinking about your crush/partner
• Kissing
• Holding hands
• Cuddling
• Going on dates

Subgenres

Pagano-Lovecore

Painting of Goddess Aphrodite and her lover Adonis

Pagano-Lovecore focuses on the iconography of love in Greco-Roman mythology and the Italian Renaissance, rather than the Christian tradition. Fixated on Greco-Roman gods and goddesses, beautiful statues, doves, old jewelry, ancient love poetry, and other antique things in Rome or ancient Greece. Figures include Aphrodite, Eros, Adonis, and other love deities. Easy overlap with Dark Academia. More deities and visuals can be found at Hellenic.

Visual Boards

• Pagano Lovecore Academia by Bella
• Pagano Lovecore Academia by Ashleigh Judson
• pagano lovecore aesthetic by Meg
• aphrodite aesthetic by Laura Di Girolamo Gallardo
  

Shakespearean Lovecore

Shakespearean Lovecore has a heavy focus on the element of romance as depicted in the works of famed playwright William Shakespeare (a popular figure of this particular aesthetic being Juliet Capulet of the play Romeo & Juliet). Due to the common portrayal of romance in Shakespeare's works, there is often a somberness and an element of tragedy to this particular brand of Lovecore. Common motifs and values in Shakespearean Lovecore include poetry, antique furniture, dresses, literature, forbidden/tragic love, and art/architecture often depicted in the time period of his plays (Italian architecture in particular being quite popular due to Romeo & Juliet taking place in Verona, Italy and it being among Shakespeare's most well-known work).

Visual Boards

• shaksepearean lovecore by vibingmess

Victorian Lovecore

Victorian Lovecore focuses on the often-macabre romantic aesthetic of the Victorian era.

Boards

• Lovecore by Lady Hydra
• LOVECORE by space cowboy
• lovecore ✧ by faeriesope
• lovecore by 𝔰𝔬𝔭𝔥𝔦𝔞
• Retro Lovecore by Alexandra Tinsley
• lovecore by francesca <3
• aes ; lovecore by sophie
• valentine by S
• <3 by mercy
• aphrodite aesthetic by yukikookie (more general lovecore than pagano)
  

Music

• ♡ (lovecore) by miraya ☁️
• lovecore Spotify playlist by constellacoding
• Lovecore Spotify playlist by kylerclodfelter
• Lovecore Spotify playlist by Nicole
• Lovecore 💋 Spotify playlist by lotspot-nl
• lovecore💘 Spotify playlist by sparklinggoth
• lovecore Spotify playlist by Allan
• 💖❣️💕 LOVECORE 💕❣️💖 Spotify playlist by archieonthetree
• mwah<3 Spotify playlist by 🍓

Gallery

Anime and Lovecore

Cartooncore Lovecore image

Another example of Cartooncore lovecore

Sweetheart from OMORI. A villain who will go to any extreme to find her one true love.

Perfectheart from OMORI. Designed to be the "perfect" suitor for Sweetheart.

Modern Aphrodite Moodboard

Juliet Capulet; the Patron Saint of Shakespearean Lovecore

Pagano-Lovecore: Aphrodite and Adonis

Cupid and Psyche