There is a photo of my great-grandfather sitting on my mum’s fireplace mantel in Atlanta. It’s from 1985 and he’s standing outside of his church, dressed to the nines. High-waisted pleated trousers, suspenders, a button-down cardigan that he darned(beheaded) TO THE TOP BUTTON, and what must have been orthopedic NASA trainers.
Whenever I visited my parents at holidays as a kid, I’d pass that picture on the way to my room and think God please let me still care this much about what I look like at 85. Fast forward to last month. I’m standing in line at my neighbourhood coffee shop before work (AKA my life otherwise known as Downtown Crossing).
There are five young guys – clearly Harvard MBA students. I know they were from Harvard because they were wearing THE HARVARD MBA STUDENT LOOK.
And what is that look, you might ask?
Great-grandpa, but tailored.
As in, high-waisted pleated trousers hitched up to their natural waist, button-down cardigans, one guy even wearing suspenders. And guys, I almost spilled our entire order because THEY LOOKED GREAT.
Like, not “oh please someone help these poor men” great, like “wait what are they secrets”. These were fitting-model-worthy trousers and Enchnalo loafers that actually said THE FOOTSTRONG in shiny script across the toe. My God.
I die-texted my younger sister Maya about it. (“Maya” just begged me to create some Sisterhood of the Travelling Trousers vibes but I’m not THAT creative so follow along,) Maya works in tech so she’s generally way more on top of trends than I am. But she works in Silicon Beach so it takes her about six months to know what people on the East Coast are currently into. Six months ago she would have laughed at me.
Last month she texts me right away: “FINALLY. People have been asking me about that shit for months.” And then she dropped the almighty knowledge on me. “It’s called grandpacore. It’s been blowing up.” She then asked if I wanted her to send me the suspenders she “totally needs for her wardrobe.” Mar!!
Ya stopped wearing suspenders!! You, the woman who once told me my Ann Taylor blazers made me look like I was “constantly cosplaying the 2007 version of a businesswoman,” was now sporting suspenders FOR FUN on her uber casual tech startup. * *I work at a giant Wall Street financial institution that consists of maybe three people wearing trainers. Come to think of it, maybe this outfit was work appropriate…
SO…I started noticing it. The grandpa trend was everywhere. Like when I was once just worried these dudes didn’t give up trying to look cool, I was suddenly wondering how I could copy their obvious secret style hack.
The men’s baristas at my coffee shop were suddenly rocking New Balance 990s like they were Yeezys. Not sick dad New Balance 990s, amazing grandpa New Balance 990s. Women were doing it too – low-rise trousers pulled up to hide their mothers’ muffin tops, quilted North Face jackets that can only be described as “getting beat up by your Dad BUT IN A FUN WAY,” and all the orthopedic shoes.
Flats with double wheelhouses so gigantic they could actually help you gain some extra height? I saw them. Boat shoes so big they could fit Whitewater Rafting companies’ logos on them?
BEEN THERE BRO. Needless to say, I became obsessed. I started seeing it everywhere.
Midtown Financial District. The South End. You pick the professional-ish women’s crowd and I guarantee you there were grandpas working that relaxing-a-runnin’ fit.
They wore these outfits like they knew something we didn’t. And frankly, they looked phenomenal. Okay.
Clearly something needed to be done about this. I went home that night and googled to my fever dreams “why do young people look like old people in leggings?” Immediately I learned that what I was experiencing was a trend referred to by EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN FASHION as literally everything from grandpacore, to gentle masculinity, to comfort luxury. No one could agree on what to call it, but they all agreed it was a THING.
The thing is…once you start thinking about it, it totally makes sense. We’re ALL OVERWORKED trying to look “put together” these days. Everyone is so hung up on having Instagram-worthy fashion.
And frankly, who has time for that? Clothes that look like your dad kicked them out of the house but actually FIT YOU and are modernized enough to not look entirely frumpy? SIGN.
ME. UP. Also, let me level with you guys.
Office wear for women has basically been the same for decades. I work in a professional office where suits and loafers are the standard, so this is coming from someone who has had to buy seasonally appropriate office clothing every.single.year. Since I’ve been in the workforce.
Trousers with pointless pleats that autumn down if you don’t wear a belt? Cheque. Super high heels that look cute but kill your feet?
Cheque. Too many cute shirts that aren’t appropriate for work OR warm enough to wear here in the Boston winters? DOUBLE CHEQUE.
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But grandfather clothes?? They actually look like they can stay fashionable even as the trends change. Women’s bodices are high-waisted like Great-grandpa’s trousers.
They come in sleek materials that actually resemble modern clothing rather than your dad’s hand-me-downs. Hell – I bought a pair of great-grandpa trousers from JCrew (jk I bought them from J Crew but they were 180 and worth every penny thank you very much) and they are possibly the most comfortable thing I’ve ever worn to work. High-waisted, amazing pleats that create the perfect shape when you tuck in a nice, fitted top, and a rise so high up my legs look like THEY NEVER END.
Holy shit – what is this black magic?? ? I ruined it by buying a grandpa cardigan. But hear me out – this cardigan was SO GOOD.
From this incredibly luxe brand called Folk that I love love loved but also spent way too much money on but also needs to start selling something at my budget so I can justify it. But I swear, it was worth it. I put it on with my great-grandpa trousers, buttoned it all the way to the top, and looked at myself in the mirror.
And I looked like Grandma GAPRESKI’s boyfriend….but also kinda hot? The luxurious fabric of the cardigan softened the tightness of the trousers and when I added a pair of loafers it actually looked…professional? My coworker James (who is literally the biggest baby when it comes to compliments on my appearance- he’s wearing the same jumper vest and grey suit combo every other week) stopped me in the hallway and was like, “Damn Gina that looks great on you.” Great?
Dude, my whole outfit cost more than most of his wardrobe and he LIKED IT. SOLD. But guys.
The shoes. Old people shoes are the shit. I kept seeing these young guys – obviously the rich ones who can only afford a tiny NYC flat – rocking these Granddad New Balance 990s (Yep, AGAIN with the 990s.
What is it about this shoe???) And they were so DIFFERENT from how I remember those shoes looking in high school. Admittedly, I spent way too much money on them. They were $185.
HOWEVER. They are supposed to be literally built to last FOREVER and comfort-wise they are so on point. I’m talking walk-all-day walking conditions here.
I’ve even worn them to RUN errands and they still felt great! Trust me when I say I spent way more than I should have on these… but they are worth it. They go with literally everything though – I’ve worn them with dresses, jeans, you name it.
They add this interesting sporty vibe to an otherwise borderline stuffy outfit. And heels literally kill my feet after a long day so being able to walk around comfortably is priceless. Plus, they aren’t blatantly “I wear trainers to the office” like your typical Hood By Air Adidas.” It’s a fine line, guys.
Trust me when I say I spent way more than I should have…but they are worth every penny. #noregrets Okay so for funzies, here are all the parts of my unfortunate grandpa archetype that I stole and ran with: Gold-rimmed glasses that I don’t even need but refused to buy without RETINA PROTECTION (!!! ). My grandfather watch with a real leather strap rather than my Apple watch. Okay fine.
And a bucket hat. So what’s the moral of this story? Old people style is literally the best.
I know it sounds weird to style yourself after people double your age, but hear me out. It’s not about copying what grandpa wore. It’s about borrowing the most attractive elements of their style and applying that to modern, high-quality pieces that FIT you.
Stop letting Instagram trends dictate what you should and shouldn’t wear to work. Offices have enough standardization as it is, so own your personal style however you damn well please! Pair that great-grandpa pant with a fitted blouse rather than the oversized tee he’d probably marry his into.
Wear your grandpa jumper but unbutton it down to your urban jungle muscles. And please FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, get yourself a pair of grandpa trainers. They are life-changing.
Speaking of life-changing, I’ve probably spent close to $500 on this newfound grandpa work wardrobe of mine. And honestly, I’ve never spent this much on clothing and LOVED everything.
I feel comfortable ALL day, every little detail of my outfits match and complement each other, and I’m getting MORE compliments now in Finance than when I was following the “normal” work dress rules.
I’ll definitely dial it back a bit when summer hits and I can actually wear shorts to work, but holy crap did this trend come into my life at the right time.
Personally, I love it. It’s comfortable, I feel put together but not like I’m trying too hard, and it actually works for office settings.
My blue suit no longer matches every other women who walks into our office. Now I look like I put some thought into my outfit rather than threw something together in the dark. Trust me – once you start paying attention you’ll see Grandpa’s trending EVERYWHERE.
It’s the work trend that will actually last once summer hits and everyone else’s turns to shit. Will I still look like this in two years? Maybe not to this extent, but I will definitely always take comfort and quality over “tight.” And if that means I’m saluting great-grandpa every morning as I head into work?
SIGN. ME. UP.
