Senior Moment: The Eclectic Grandpa Trend
Harry Styles Eclectic Grandpa via Vogue.com.au
Move over youngins, there’s a new style icon in town- your grandpa!
This latest trend, dubbed “eclectic grandpa” by Pinterest, comes on the heels of the popular coastal grandmother aesthetic. Pinterest has also noted an uptick in related search terms like grandpa core (+65%), grandad style (+60%). Fashion enthusiasts of all ages have added old-timer staples like colorful cardigans, sweater vests, and tweed blazers into their wardrobes.
Kendall Jenner Gigi Hadid Eclectic Grandpa via Vogue.com
The exact origins of the trend are unclear, but Tyler the Creator is often credited with popularizing the aesthetic.
Tyler the Creator by SMXRF/Star Max via Vogue.fr
Eclectic Grandpa reflects fashion’s eternal obsession with the past but subverts its traditional fixation on youth and youth culture. The trend feeds our nostalgia for the comfort and familiarity of the past. Given the popularity of thrift and vintage clothing, it makes sense that the clothing often worn by our grandparents is now being reinterpreted in fun, kitschy new ways.
Bode Eclectic Grandpa by Launchmetrics/Bode via Whowhatwear.com
Despite the name, Eclectic Grandpa is gender-neutral with everyone getting in on the fun.
Eclectic Grandpa by Getty Images via Stylight.com
To embody the eclectic grandpa aesthetic, it’s all about that quirky, retro look. Go for slouchy sweaters, contrasting prints, as well as quilted or patchwork elements. The weirder, the better!
Emma Chamberlain Eclectic Grandpa via Silkpastelle.com
This elder-centric aesthetic has been all over the runways for major brands like Loewe, Miu Miu, and Bode.
Givenchy & Loewe via Prestigeonline.com
Many of today’s fashion trends, especially those fueled by TikTok and other social media platforms, seem to reveal a desire for authenticity in a virtual world where so much is faked and falsified. Who What Wear’s Yusra Siddiqui notes that the eclectic grandpa trend intends to reflect the personal style of an actual grandfather, and that what makes grandpa so stylish is he has “collected high-quality, special, and well-loved pieces over time, which isn't something you can exactly curate overnight.” This trend can (and should) signal that a thoughtfully selected and sustainable wardrobe is the ultimate fashion flex.
Article by Ren Wilson, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
Tearsheets by Chenglin Qu, Graphic Design Intern, PhotoBook Magazine
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