Gen-Z is experiencing a revival of one of the most notable creative movements in history, Rococo. In the 18th century, Rococo artists were responsible for a cultural shift away from the dark, raw tonality of the Baroque period towards a softer, more opulent future. The change in visual aesthetics reflected the social inclination to pursue happiness and personal amusement. Despite the contemporary shortfalls of society, the 2020s have witnessed a similar social embrace of luxury, femininity, and fulfillment. With a similar social shift, it is no surprise that our current trends are also heavily influenced by modern creatives and the Rococo era itself.

Following the aftermath of the pandemic, we have become increasingly invested in our own pursuit of fulfillment through personal style, material possessions, and social status. It only makes sense that modern youth have begun to resonate with Rococo. This is most easily seen in the rapid adaptation of aesthetic micro-trends of the early 2020s such as “coquette”, “clean girl”, and “old money”. These microtrends shared visual elements with Rococo fashion and emphasized traditional femininity, displayed
luxury, and understanding of the arts. The overconsumption tied to the accelerated cycle of these modern trends strongly mirrors the excess that Rococo was often criticized for flaunting.

Interestingly enough, these trends coincide with the popularization of modern adaptations of Rococo history, fashion, and art. Screencaps of Sofia Coppola’s “Marie Antoinette” populate Pinterest boards alongside Simone Rocha’s elegant SS24 gowns and ornate collections of gold trinkets. Popular posts on social media often reflect Rococo’s core themes of love, leisure, and luxury. Despite the evident relationship between Rococo and 2020s Gen-Z media, it is still clear that Gen-Z is not attempting to replicate the era, but reviving it with a modern twist. With tendencies to mix-and-match media, clothing, and trends, Gen-Z has undoubtedly put its own spin on Rococo. As trends change and we shift into the late 2020s, we can ask ourselves if this resurgence of interest in Rococo will meet the same fate as the original movement.