Royalcore is the fantasy of living in a palace. Flowing gowns and corsets, pearls and brooches, velvet capes, embroidered gloves, a ribbon or tiara in your hair, and a backdrop of chandeliers, gilded mirrors and rose gardens. Its close cousin, regencycore, focuses on the lighter, early-nineteenth-century look of empire-line dresses and puff sleeves made famous again by Netflix’s Bridgerton. Together they turned period drama into one of the most romantic internet aesthetics of the 2020s.
What is royalcore?
Royalcore is an aesthetic built around the image of European royalty and aristocracy, borrowing freely from many centuries, from medieval queens to eighteenth-century France. It is less about historical accuracy than about mood: elegance, luxury, romance and a little drama. Regencycore is a more specific version, inspired by the British Regency era (roughly the 1810s) and the novels of Jane Austen.
Where it came from
Royalcore grew on Tumblr, Pinterest and TikTok around 2020, alongside cottagecore and dark academia, as young people stuck at home during lockdowns escaped into historical fantasies. Then, on Christmas Day 2020, Netflix released Bridgerton, a lavish Regency romance produced by Shondaland. Its pastel gowns, corsets, gloves and jewels became a phenomenon: retailers reported surging searches for corsets, puff-sleeved dresses and pearl accessories, and fashion editors named the trend “regencycore”. Later seasons and the spin-off Queen Charlotte (2023) kept it going.
Royalcore also draws on earlier pop culture: Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette (2006), with its candy-coloured eighteenth-century costumes; Disney princess films; Jane Austen adaptations such as Pride and Prejudice (2005); and real royal fashion, from Princess Diana’s wedding dress to the gowns of The Crown.
The codes
- Clothes: corsets and bustiers, empire-line dresses, puff and balloon sleeves, full skirts, lace and brocade, velvet capes, embroidered jackets.
- Accessories: pearls, brooches, cameos, tiaras and headbands, gloves, ribbons, fans, lace parasols.
- Shoes: embellished flats, satin heels, Mary Janes.
- Settings: palaces, ballrooms, chandeliers, gilded mirrors, formal gardens, tea parties.
- Colours: ivory, gold, powder blue, blush, lavender, emerald and royal purple.
See the mood
IMAGES: PINTEREST. TAP ANY IMAGE TO SEE IT ON PINTEREST AND ITS ORIGINAL SOURCE.
The references
Film and TV: Bridgerton, Queen Charlotte, Marie Antoinette (2006), Pride and Prejudice (2005), Emma (2020), The Great, The Crown, Ever After (1998).
Fashion: Simone Rocha’s pearls and puff sleeves, The Vampire’s Wife, Vivienne Westwood’s corsets, Dolce & Gabbana’s baroque collections and Alexander McQueen’s historical drama.
In India: the heirloom-inspired bridal and festive collections of designers such as Sabyasachi, and the palaces of Rajasthan, have their own royal fantasy that overlaps with royalcore’s love of jewels, velvet and gold.
Why it caught on
Royalcore offers pure escapism: beauty, romance and ceremony in a world that often feels chaotic. It also makes everyday dressing feel special. A pearl hairclip or a puff-sleeved blouse is an easy way to borrow a little fairytale. And Bridgerton‘s diverse cast helped many viewers who had never seen themselves in period dramas imagine themselves in that world.
The debate
Critics point out that royalcore romanticises monarchies and aristocracies built on huge inequality, and in many cases on empire and colonialism. Others argue that fantasy is fantasy, and that reimagining history, as Bridgerton does, can make it more inclusive. Historians also enjoy noting how inaccurate many royalcore looks are, mixing centuries freely. The corset revival raised a smaller debate about comfort and body image, though most modern corsets are fashion pieces rather than restrictive underwear.
How to wear it now
Pick one statement piece: a corset top over a white shirt, a puff-sleeved blouse, a velvet blazer or an empire-line dress. Add pearls, a ribbon or a jewelled hairband, and keep the rest simple. For an Indian twist, pair a brocade or velvet jacket with heirloom jewellery.
Where it is now
Royalcore’s details, from corsets to puff sleeves and pearls, have become regular parts of fashion. Its romantic, theatrical spirit lives on in Pinterest’s 2026 “opera aesthetic”, with its red drapes and vintage opulence, and in the continuing popularity of period dramas.
Related aesthetics
Coquette · Cottagecore · Dark Academia · Balletcore · Art Deco
Learn more: hear from more voices
An explainer on regencycore and Bridgerton, and a guide to royalcore and its related aesthetics.
Read more
- On Bridgerton and the regencycore fashion trend — Refinery29. How the show sparked a style moment.
- What is regencycore? How to wear the Bridgerton-inspired fashion trend — The National. A styling guide.
Sources: fashion and retail coverage of regencycore after Bridgerton (2020–2024); Pinterest Predicts 2026. Videos are embedded from YouTube and remain the work of their creators. Linked articles belong to their publishers.
Leave a Reply