These Prairie Dresses at Target Take Fashion Nostalgia to a Whole New Level

Hey Target… are you OK? 🤔

Just kidding. You know we love ya Target, and we get it – 2020 has been a very confusing time for fashion. It was a sweatsuit/tie-dye/pants-optional/anything goes kind of year, so it would be completely understandable if you, upon hearing that 90s fashions are back, may have mistakenly gone for the 1890s instead. It could happen to anyone.

When we discovered these pioneer-inspired dresses on our most recent Target run, we couldn’t look away. They’re part prairie dress, part Grandma’s nightgown, and 100% Laura Ingalls-approved – a total showstopper for sure! But are we really supposed to like, purchase and wear these? Seriously – what is going on here?! 🤔

It turns out, this look is part of a growing lifestyle trend called Cottagecore. You may have seen #cottagecore trending on social media over the past year along with throwback activities like sewing, knitting, crocheting, gardening, baking, and yes – prairie dressing. It’s totally a thing, and it’s easy to see how this trend gained popularity in 2020 when we were all tending our windowsill gardens, baking sourdough bread, and wishing for simpler times.

If you want to carry these cozy Cottagecore vibes with you into 2021, now you can dress the part in one of these Universal Thread prairie dresses, priced at $29.99! Featuring calico prints, roomy balloon sleeves, and ruffles galore, this modest line of dresses is perfect for quilting by candlelight, milking the cows, or even boldly wearing in public if you’re feeling brave.

Actually, these #TargetStyle influencers are totally pulling off this look, and we are loving what a belt or a chic pair of boots can do for the whole pioneer aesthetic. Will you be grabbing one of these prairie dresses from Target, or leaving the Cottagecore trend behind in 2020?

This Peanut Butter bread recipe from 1932 is throwback baking at its best!