We are mere days into 2024, and we already have our first major aesthetic. 'Eclectic grandpa' has started to integrate into the new year of fashion. We have seen trends like this, like 'coastal grandma,' and looks based on Princess Diana and her street style. This look is mainly aimed at encapsulating a literal grandpa's style. Still, people may need to realize that this style is aesthetically pleasing because it took so long to curate, and along with time, it includes high-quality and well-made pieces.
The Early Works
This trend has been in the books since late 2023, with Pinterest coining it as the new year's best style- statistics showing an increase in 'grandpa' related searches. One brand that has popped up for this latest trend a few times has been Loewe, who is fearless in showing bold new pieces but has managed to keep this trend wearable on and off the runway. While most of their collections have presented us with seas of fabric and innovative silhouettes, this year, they included high-waisted slacks paired with dimensional knitwear, polo shirts, and generally masculine wear in their pieces.
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LAUNCHMETRICS/LOEWE
Miu Miu is another brand experimenting with the concept of the 'eclectic grandpa.' While we know they have been leaning heavily into preppy early 2000s fashion, we have also seen them play with more classic and timeless pieces, experimenting with distressed leather pieces and handbags- even featuring the Hermès Birkin, which has always been a classic accessory... that is, if you can afford it.
Brands such as Bode and collections like those of Grace Wales Bonner have also embraced 'eclectic grandpa.’ Bode has always attracted a more eclectic audience, with their clothing often being made out of more unconventional fabrics and textiles. On the other hand, Bonner has kept her momentum with dapper suits, track pants, and older-style sneakers.
Our Expectations
The 'eclectic grandpa' trend is something you can only curate after a period of time, unlike other micro trends often achieved by cheaper clothing and fast fashion. The point is to mimic people who have had decades to curate their style, and appreciate the clothing they have owned for those decades. These people have spent a lifetime curating clothing and accessories that speak to their individuality. The problem is that those looking to adopt the style are expected to acquire it practically overnight if they want to keep up with it.
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GUEST IN RESIDENCE
Is it the consumer's fault that this wardrobe is so hard to acquire properly? Not necessarily. Product quality, even in high-end pieces such as knitwear, has declined significantly over the years. Not only this, but the pressure to achieve a personal style while seemingly fitting into every trend has been a conflict since the beginning of trend culture and social media. Unrelenting media, especially in the fashion industry, has prevented us from being able to explore styles that aren't directly spoon-fed to us. Even those who aren't directly consuming that type of media are still influenced, especially by celebrities and the film industry.
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LAUNCHMETRICS/MIU MIU
Instead of continuing to try and fill the mold for yet another microtrend, we attempt to create our authenticity. Changing our shopping habits and refraining from falling victim to trends we know will almost immediately go out of style will help us with what we are all trying to achieve long term: our personal and most authentic selves. We want to pass our clothing onto our children, not our landfills, which will come when we switch from low-quality pieces to those that will last us a lifetime.
So perhaps there's more than just fun patterns and colors to be taken from the 'eclectic grandpa-' but an emphasis on heirlooms and an ode to the importance of personal style that might soon push us towards more individuality.
By Ani Grigsby
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