How To Make Coastal Grandmother Work This Autumn
Over the course of this summer, the coastal grandmother trend took social media by storm, and understandably so!
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Perfectly oversized button-ups, creamy lightweight knits, and the dreamiest cool summer tones - you simply can’t go wrong. Beyond the clothes, moreover, it became a lifestyle. A summer filled with fresh-squeezed lemonade, gardening, and long morning walks on the beach. Learning the beauty of simplicity in your outfits as well as in life.
It’s funny to think of an entire young generation looking to Nancy Meyers, an American filmmaker, for their summer inspiration, and yet, here we are. Meyers sort of coined this aesthetic in the early 2000s through a few well-known films, the most notable of these being Diane Keaton’s role as Erica Barry in Meyers’ Something’s Gotta Give (2003). She is what we are all aspiring for. Her style is simple and classic, and she masters the art of mixing whites and creams to the backdrop of the rich blue ocean of the Hamptons. If you haven’t seen the film yet, make it your next feel-good girls’ night film (and take notes for style inspo while you’re at it)!
Diana Keaton in Something’s Gotta Give, 2003
After you have enjoyed Something’s Gotta Give, head over to Instagram to gain further inspiration from my personal coastal grandmother icon, @annawpage (she mastered the trend before TikTok decided it was cool). Her Instagram page and blog, The Page Edit, are the perfect inspo for breezy summer dresses and the best ways to style a pinstripe button-up - her collection is to die for! Anna is also incredibly reliable at providing links for all of the pieces she styles so you’ll be able to build your CG wardrobe in no time.
Despite it being vastly trendy at the moment, the style has really been around for decades. It pulls from vintage preppy looks that took you from tennis to afternoon tea and the same cool neutrals and coastal blues that have always pertained to the seaside colour palette. Curating the CG look is practical and renders a certain level of sustainability with items you, or your grandmother if she’s willing to pass on a few hand-me-downs, most likely already own.
As the days begin to shorten in length and the temperature starts dropping, how do we transition this effortlessly classic style into our fall wardrobes? Given the emphasis on knits and layering, the transition shouldn’t be too difficult. Having spent the summer in the heat of the Tuscan sun, I genuinely believe it’s almost better suited for our transitional wardrobes.
Here are my top three recommendations for keeping the CG style consistent year-round:
Layers, layers, & more layers: Add a creamy turtleneck under your favourite printed maxi dress, opt for a thicker-knitted cardigan to toss over your shoulders, and switch to knee-high boots to warm up the look a bit.
Loup Newman Cardigan by Madewell.
Shop here.
It’s all about material: Linen pants are lovely, but they are meant to be airy and breathable. Instead, try
a true khaki pant or cotton slacks that give the allusion of being as breezy as your summer favourties.
Straight Suit Pants by Mango.
Shop here.
Darken your colours: Rather than sticking to a pallet of cream, white, and beige, add in richer colours like navy blue and forest green. This keeps the classic essence of the style whilst transitioning it into a cooler season.
Breton Stripe Midi Dress by & Other Stories.
Shop here.
