If cottagecore was a quest for quaint pastoralism, then royalcore is about permissible indulgence. It’s luxurious and opulent – think crowns, chandeliers, and corsets. At over 244 million views on TikTok, royalcorists share their version of aristocratic life, with people cosplaying having high tea, making flower crowns, and playing a classical instrument. “People are adopting this trend as a way to add a touch of elegance to life – which has been made increasingly unrefined as a result of the pandemic,” says Shakalia Forbes-Bell, consumer fashion psychologist at Afterpay. Despite royalcore being anchored in European monarchies, it’s become a space for people of colour to reclaim their identity by performing their fantasies through dopamine dressing.

Royalcore is also resonating among netizens in China, where Gen Zers have reframed Disney’s princesses as symbols of feminine strength, while others have found joy in imperial court-era food. Royalcore has come to signify an alternative to monotonous living, and brands that are able to inject elements of extravagance and regal fantasy into their offerings will be met with enthusiasm from young people. And considering the global success of Bridgerton and The Queen’s Gambit, period content that’s able to whisk people away to a different time and place is another way to resonate with the pandemic-weary.