The biggest 2025 homecoming mum trend? Say “Oui” to “Coquette”

Jun 9

If you follow fashion trends, especially on TikTok, you’ve been seeing an abundance of lace, blush pink, pearls, hair accessories, ribbons, flounces, and bows. SO MANY BOWS.

This is the essence of coquette, a Gen Z aesthetic that is now one of the hottest trends in homecoming mums. Let’s take a stroll through the history and resurgence of coquette, plus how it’s being interpreted in the design of homecoming mums in Texas and beyond.

A brief history of Coquette

The term coquette comes from the French word coquet, meaning “little rooster.” The implication here is that a rooster is known for strutting its stuff! In the 17th century, the term became slang for a woman who flirted playfully. To me, the ultimate archetype of coquette is Kirsten Dunst’s portrayal of Marie Antoinette in the 2006 movie of the same name.

When coquette entered English usage in the mid-1600s, it was often used in literature to describe women who wielded charm as a form of social capital. Coquettes were figures of fascination, not to mention a little dangerous.

Coquette: 21st Century Edition

The 21st century version of coquette gained popularity on Tumblr in the early 2010s and TikTok around 2021. The aesthetic borrows from the Victorian period as well as style trends from the 1950s, 1960s, and Japanese Lolita fashion.

Today, coquette is as much vibe and mindset as style. According to Seventeen, the aesthetic is “ultimately about unapologetically embracing beauty, love, and grace in your aesthetic and lifestyle choices.”

Style writers like Rachel Tashjian of Harper’s Bazaar say coquettecore goes even deeper as a Gen Z movement that combines maximalist femininity with nostalgia, romanticism, and a touch of melancholia. In a world that often equates power with masculinity or hardness, today’s coquette asks: What if softness is its own kind of strength? The flirtation is still there but it’s complicated, with hidden messages ranging from tongue-in-cheek to quiet rebellion.

Trend Watch 2025: Coquette homecoming mums

This super simple illustration I created demonstrates a coquette aesthetic applied to a homecoming mum.

Of all high school students, seniors are the most likely to break away from traditions when envisioning their mum or garter. This year, mum makers from across the state report high demand for custom upperclassman mums with coquette sensibilities.

“Bows are H.O.T.!” said Heather McCoy, owner of Boerne Homecoming Mums. “Pink is extremely popular, as are elements like satin ribbons, roses, pearls, ruffles, and lace. This stems from the popularity of brands like LoveShackFancy. The style is similar to what we used to call Victorian or shabby chic.”

“Coquette and Bridgerton vibes are in this family of ideas,” explained Shakisha Clark, owner of DK Florals Inc. and founder of Mums Inc.

Sabrina Rosser agrees. She is the co-founder of RG Mums.

“We are seeing pink, pink and more pink!” said Sabrina. “Our seniors are loving combining two or more shades of pink to create their dream mum. Blues—and blue and pink combos—are coming in a close second and third to all-pink senior mums. Florals, pearls and pastels are all part of the coquette theme.”

Quick Take: Mum evolution

Mums have been around since the dawn of homecoming football games in the 1910s. The OG homecoming mum was a corsage made from a single, live chrysanthemum flower. Since then, mums in Texas have been evolving from one generation to the next so that now, they are so wildly varied in size, shape, color, design, and local customs that it is nearly impossible to describe a “typical” mum.

But there is one thing that today’s mums have in common: mums and garters worn by high school students in their last year of school tend to be much bigger and more flamboyant than those worn by underclassmen. Why? First, because the senior year is the last chance to have a mum. Second, much like a quinceañera, bar mitzvah, cotillion, or similar rite of passage, a senior mum symbolizes the transition from childhood to young adulthood unlike any other mum.

So why not make the most of it?