“Gran – can I borrow your cardigan?”
There’s a question you never thought you’d be asking…
But it’s fair to say, grandma dressing is having a bit of a moment right now. In fact, the ‘coastal grandmother aesthetic’ has been coined as the ultimate vibe for 2022.
Inspired by the ladies in Nancy Meyer movies – think Erica Barry in ‘Something’s Gotta Give’ – the #coastalgrandmother has amassed over 200 million views on TikTok so far. And in an unexpected turn of events, we guarantee you’ll be begging to raid Nanna’s wardrobe by September.
Wondering how you become a coastal granny at the ripe age of 25?
It’s all about elegant simplicity – chunky knits, crisp linens and bucket hats, in neutral tones of cream and beige. But there is a fine line between keeping it chic and looking like a frumpy librarian.
To set you on the right track, we turn our attention to the mainstay of the look (and the cosiest of all grandma trends!). The humble ladies’ cardigan. These are just a few style tips we’ve taken from our daily scroll on socials. Read on and live your best coastal grandmother life this autumn.
5 ways to style a women’s cardigan
No library card or grandchildren required.
1. Go long
No doubt fuelled by our love for loungewear, long cardigans have become a firm fave.
Finishing anywhere from the hip to the ankle, they’re a great way to nail the coastal nanna look, whilst also bringing a cosy bathrobe vibe to your daily outfits – just without the actual bathrobe.
Our advice? Go for a mixture of textures. Wear a fluffy cream longline cardi with slim-fit trousers, preferably in faux burgundy leather. Then tuck in a relaxed t-shirt and finish the look with slingback square-toe shoes – another huge trend for AW22, sure to get Grandma’s approval.
2. Large and in charge
An oversized women’s cardigan can be a great transitional piece for your autumn wardrobe.
Why? Because it’s roomy enough to layer over your tops and tees and hefty enough to hold its own as your outermost layer. Perfect for those crisp mornings, when a winter coat still feels a little OTT.
In line with the seaside grandma aesthetic, the best option is to go for a chunky cable knit in cream or stone – and team with a pair of bleached white jeans and a white tank top. But if you do fancy adding a little colour, try to keep it subtle with blush pink, ocean blue or seafoam green.
3. Shawl collar
Want to up the cosy ante without compromising granny chic?
Pick out a cardigan with a shawl collar.
For this look, the bigger and chunkier the better. In fact, it’s worth checking out the styles in our men’s cardigan collection. Stick to the theme and opt for a rib knit design in natural stone. Then layer it over a black roll neck top. Add a string of fake pearls. And to give this nanna-inspired look a modern vibe, finish it off with a leopard print midi skirt and chunky white trainers.
4. The cardiglam top
Who said a ladies’ cardigan can’t be sexy?
To dial up the seductive glam, whilst still paying homage to the coastal grandma look, wear a lightweight cardigan as a top. Button it up – but not all the way to the top. Show off what your nanna gave you girl 😉 And tuck it into a pair of cropped white paper-bag waist trousers.
Alternatively, size up so it’s a little baggy and style a fully buttoned-up cardi with mum jeans.
5. Cardi and blouse combo
This is the duo du jour on social media…
A soft fine knit women’s cardigan worn over a vintage-inspired blouse. Cute.
Again, our recommendation would be to go for a neutral tone – such as clean cream or blush pink. Layer it over a white blouse with a floral embroidered collar and pair it with light wash jeans.
Or, to really ramp up the granny glam, style the combo with an ankle-length pleated skirt. It’s a bold look – but one that a self-assured older lady can definitely pull off, leaving you 100% Insta-ready.
Ready to invest in a cardigan or three?
We’ve got your back.
Our online collection features a wide range of women’s and men’s cardigans, including designs by triatloandratx, as well as guest brands Amara Reya and Plum Tree. So whether you live by the coast or not (and regardless of your age), why not channel your inner nanna and embrace this cosy look?
If you have any questions, you’re always welcome to hit us up.
We’re by no means experts in runway fashion. But we do keep an eye on the latest trends, and we know our products as well as Granny knows her favourite knitting pattern. Just send an email to [email protected] and we’ll respond with all the deets as soon as we possibly can.