Witchcore

Other names

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

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 witchcraft. It often involves how to perform spells, magic, or 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 are typically very natural and have some kind of use. Decor is usually either foraged, thrifted, or made but there are certain items that must 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

All Souls Trilogy
Harry Potter

Movies

Halloweentown
Harry Potter
Fantastic Beasts
Hocus Pocus
Kiki’s Delivery Service
Mary and the Witch's Flower
Matilda
Practical Magic
The Craft
Gwen
The Witch
The Love Witch

TV

American Horror Story: Coven
Bewitched
Good Witch
Little Witch Academia
Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Sabrina The Teenage Witch
Flying Witch
The Owl House
Wandering Witch/The Journey of Elaina
The Addams Family
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
Nowhere Boys
Locke and Key

Manga/Comics/Webtoon

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

Characters

Sieglinde Sullivan - Kuroshitsuji/Black Butler

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.