Woven tote bags are the perfect accessory for anyone going for the granny chic look. Older women like to carry a lot of stuff every time they go out but they also don’t want to carry something too heavy around, which is where these kinds of bags come in. A woven tote bag is practical and screams “granny chic.”
The coastal grandma look is especially in this year and these woven bags definitely give off that coastal grandma vibe. Your bag can be as simplistic or as embellished as you like. It all depends on just what kind of grandma you want to be. You only live once, but you have a chance to be a grandma as much as you want.
Crystal earrings are another essential granny chic fashion item. Grandmas don’t often spend a ton of money on expensive jewelry for themselves as they have to worry about making that retirement money last as long as possible. So instead of diamonds, they buy crystal jewelry.
Sometimes you’ll just see grandmas with plastic jewelry, but that’s not necessarily the best in terms of fashion or your skin. So, opt for crystal jewelry which at least looks more elegant. From earrings to brooches, there are a lot of accessories you can use to elevate your chic granny look.
Checkered Blazers is essential for a formal, sleek granny chic look. Whether for a day of shopping for fancy clothes or heading to the workplace, a checkered blazer should serve you well. This is for the sophisticated but understated granny who wants to look sharp but doesn’t want to make a fuss.
Checkered Blazers can be purchased in a variety of colors, but you want to go for understated, muted colors to be sure. Stay away from bright colors like pink as they will not scream granny chic. Instead opt for greys and browns. Those are your best bets and should best pull the look together.
This accessory has been popular for quite some time. Big glasses are in. The squarish designs are a little trendier, however, and not as granny chic as the round designs. So, if you truly want a chic granny look, go for big and round – as big as possible.
You can still pull off your granny vibes if you wear squarish frames, so don’t feel like you need to go out and buy all new glasses, but the round will definitely go a long way in achieving the look you are going for. And the same goes for sunglasses too. You want to keep your eyes as covered as possible. It’s important for old eyes…and young people to try to dress more maturely.
Oversized coats are important because the elderly don’t like feeling restricted, and really who does? Oversized coats allow you to layer clothing more easily underneath when you need to, because it’s getting cold out there! The winter granny chic look would not be complete without an oversized coat.
The coat will also give you a touch of class and ensure you are comfortable and ready for anything. With your coat, you can go as colorful as you would like but it's best to choose pale colors, because making a big scene is not what grandma is all about.
Turtlenecks haven’t been in style in quite a while, but they are quickly making a comeback with younger people because of the granny chic vibes. Turtlenecks are decidedly comfortable, and they keep your neck warm. For the elderly, they can be a way to cover up signs of aging as well.
Regardless, a turtleneck is an easy way to achieve the granny chic look and look good doing it. And when it comes to wearing turtlenecks, they aren’t just for winter, with the granny chic look, you can wear them year-round if you like, but for the summer, maybe you’d be better off wearing a light scarf.
If you want to wear any kind of hat with your granny chic look, it’s got to be a bucket hat. This is the quintessential granny chic hat, and you will just look like a poser wearing anything else. The bucket hat is light, doesn’t get too warm, and, more importantly, protects you from the sun.
Every granny knows by the time they’ve reached a certain age, just how dangerous the sun can be. That’s called wisdom. Bucket hats should have wider brims rather than the 1920s short-brim look because the hat needs to be as functional as much as it is fashionable.
Straw hats give you the look that you are about to do some gardening and grannies love to do gardening. Mostly because they have homes and you don’t because you are a millennial and you can’t afford to own a home, but I digress.
Straw hats are available in a variety of styles but something with a wider brim will look best with your look. Something with a bow or ribbon wrapped around is even better yet. Straw hats are lightweight and don’t get too hot in the summer months as they allow your head a little more room to breathe.
Headwraps make wonderful granny chic accessories because you can wear them with almost any attire. Headwraps keep your hair out of your face and give you a cleaned-up look if you haven’t done anything with your hair that day. A silk scarf, a crochet bandana or even a turban are good granny chic options.
There’s a variety of headwrap styles to choose from, so you’ll want to find an option that works best for you. That will depend on just what you are wearing. You can look back at old family photos for some ideas or look at vintage photos from the ‘50s and ‘60s when headwraps were exceedingly popular.
Knit sweaters are another must. You can wear these under your blazer or overcoat, but you can also just wear them by yourself, at the home, at the office, or while out and about. Knit button-up cardigans are a more understated way to achieve the granny chic look, but you can also go the other way with it.
Growing up, my grandma always have a vibrant, colorful knit sweater wot wear at Christmas, often with very Christmas-y designs. With a knit sweater, you can really go as quirky as you want, and honestly, the quirkier the better when it comes to granny chic. So, don’t be afraid to let your granny flag fly!
Satin pants, blazers, shirts and the like are best for fancy grandma look. When granny hits the town and wants to be seen, nothing but the shiniest materials will do. Satin or even lace will really make a statement and give a pronounced granny chic vibe.
We’ve seen celebrities rocking a satin suit, and if they can, you can too. Just make sure whatever you are wearing, it has enough flow. You don’t want to wear anything too tight or uncomfortable because that’s not something grandma would wear. Like we said, grandma wants to be comfortable.
Wool scarves, particularly knitted scarves, have always been warm and comfortable but not always in style cause they were associated with grannies. But now that granny chic is in style, it’s now time to don that wool scarf your granny gave you oh so many years ago.
And if you didn’t end up keeping that scarf, you have to love the irony of you now buying one to replace it. A wool scarf that is plaid or has patchwork is even better, or you can always knit or crochet your own if you have the skills to do it.
Button-up dresses are another must-have when it comes to granny chic fashion items. If you are going to wear a dress, you want to be as covered up as possible, just like grandma would do. Grandma’s not going to be wandering around flaunting her dinner buckets, so button that dress up to the top too!
The button-up dress can work especially well for the spring. But be sure to purchase a maxi-length dress, because if granny is going to wear a dress, she’s not likely to be exposing much leg. Pants are really the best way to go, but button-up maxi dresses will work just as well in screaming granny chic.
Button-down shirts can be trendy for really any look but it's more about the kind of shirt you choose and how you wear it. Solid-colored flat shirts can give you a granny chic vibe but you can also pick something with plaid or a floral design. These kinds of designs will help you achieve a granny chic look, but the shirt alone will not be enough.
Tucking the button-down shirt in the pants is a sure-fire way to achieve the granny chic look, especially if you have some high-wasted pants. Again, the shirt should be someone loose, though, as comfort and mobility are essential with the look. If it looks too form fitting, it’s not granny enough.
Patchwork is almost a no-brainer when it comes to granny chic but keep in mind that this is definitely vintage granny chic and something more likely that your great-granny would wear. That also makes it much trendier as 1920s fashion items are definitely in this year.
Patchwork outfits give the look of something having been homemade, and if you have a grandma into knitting or sewing, she probably owns something patchwork to be sure. Think homemade quilt, and apply that to anything, and then you got the look of patchwork going on.
White denim is a must for any coastal granny chic look. Sure, white pants aren’t that practical when it comes to eating but they are essential for granny chic fashion, so just be smart and super careful when wearing them. And if you do spill, just use bleach when you clean them.
White denim has never really gone out of fashion and that’s why grandma buys them. Denim can last for years and grandma can wear them for years. So, even when the granny chic trend goes out of style, you can still rock your white denim jeans for years after until you are an actual granny and need them for sure.
Grandma’s balance isn’t quite what it used to be, and she’s much too tired to be dealing with impractical shoe options like high heels. So instead of leather heels, swap those out for some leather flats. You can wear leather flats with pretty much anything when it comes to granny chic.
Wear them with slacks for a formal look, or wear them with jeans for a semi-formal look. Leather loafers are classy and durable. There’s no sense risking a fall being uncomfortable in heels when you can look just as nice in a pair of flats, even if you don’t look as tall.
Wool coats add a granny chic touch as well. They are big and warm, but totally understated. You can easily wear them over a blazer or other formal attire, and they’ll keep you extra warm. There are few winter looks that are as fashionable and practical as a wool coat.
Wool coats are available in a variety of styles. There’s the overcoat look that is good for over a blazer or suit. There’s the peacoat look, which instantly gives you a formal look and you can wear it over any blouse. But those are just a couple options available.
Linen pants are a great option for granny chic fashion aficionados because they provide the perfect flowy look. They are exceedingly comfortable and lightweight. If you want the feeling of being in your bed all day, linen pants are the way to go. They might not be super stylish, but we can’t stress this enough, comfort is key.
Linen pants will give you that Diane Keaton vibe, a woman whose always been quite comfortable in her own skin. Linen pants might not work for the winter but for the summer or a day at the beach, they are just what the doctor ordered.
Whether on your shirt, your dress, or your pants, colorful floral patterns are always a go-to if you are looking to elevate your granny chic look. Nothing will scream granny chic quite like floral patterns. And that’s not to say that all floral patterns are granny chic, but a great many are.
It a floral pattern looks like something that might be on your grandma’s wallpaper, then you’ve definitely found something that is granny chic enough. When it comes to granny chic floral patterns, less is not more. More is more, and more is what you want. So, go granny or go home!
Nothing says old-fashioned and granny chic better than a brooch. Fix it to your coat, jacket, shirt, hat, or wherever else you want, and make the perfect granny chic statement without having to buy all-new clothing. You can also find one attuned to your personality. There are a ton of options!
Traditionally, brooches were used to fast pieces of clothing together, much like a button or buckle. However, now, people mostly wear them as pins which makes them extremely versatile but also expendable. So, don’t feel like you need a brooch. It just adds to your look.
Neckerchiefs are a great accessory for the chic granny look because you’ll certainly find a lot of chic grannies wearing them. The neckerchief provides protection against your neck from the sun, and for grannies, it also helps to hide signs of aging. (i.e., wrinkles).
Neckerchiefs are a type of scarf that is much like a bandana. It is tied around the neck, but not too tight. You just want to accessorize with it, not choke yourself. That being said, it’s best to go with something silk rather than like a cotton bandana, as that’s much more like what you’d find on a grandma.
Pearls really put the emphasis on the chic in granny chic. Sure, pearls look nice if you are Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, but unless you are wearing a costume based on that, typically, millennials don’t wear pearls. But with the granny chic look, you can really broaden your horizons.
Look like Audrey in no time with some real or fake pearl jewelry that will complete your look. For the ultimate granny chic look, be sure to have multiple strings of pearls. Having only one string of pearls is far too minimalist. When it comes to boomer fashion, it’s about going all out.
Gold necklaces are another perfect way to make a granny chic fashion statement. Boomers love gold, and so you’ll find most older women wearing gold jewelry, whether it's real or not. So, you won’t need to spend a ton of money to accessorize with gold jewelry.
Most people won’t be able to tell whether your jewelry is real or not anyway. White gold and rose gold are relatively new looks and decidedly not quite granny chic. Nevertheless, a gold necklace is best worn with like a turtleneck or something with a higher collar.
Gold bangles or bracelets are another chic granny must. They are easy to wear and accessorize with but make sure you are putting them directly over your wrists. They should not be worn over a sleeve or covered up by a sleeve, so make sure your arms are bare wherever you are wearing them.
Gold bracelets that boomers wear are typically not real gold but you can get them gold plated if you should so wish. Most people won’t have the money to spend on real gold bracelets so nobody really expects them to be real gold anyway.
As mentioned earlier, when it comes to accessorizing with the chic granny look, you want to throw the minimalist aspect right out the window. Large gaudy rings are a must because they provide a direct contrast against minimalist attire. Big jewelry will better draw attention to your look.
And that’s what the granny chic look is really all about. If you want, big stones, whether diamonds, garnets or sapphires will really elevate your look. Turquoise or jade jewelry in particular is popular with the grannies and is sure to complete your look.
Windbreakers in the granny chic style are certainly the way to go this season. Take off the chill this winter and early spring with a lightweight and vintage-style windbreaker that will scream granny chic. Anything that looks like hiking attire is sure to be a success.
Don’t go with anything too flashy however, or you’ll look more like a hip-hop star than a granny. You want something that your mom would have worn in the ‘80s or ‘90s rather than something trendy. In most cases, the jacket your grandma wears is something she’s had for many years, because after all – they don’t make them like they used to.
Granny is nothing if not practical, and rain boots are perfect for the rainy season. Rain boots aren’t particularly stylish, but they are appropriate, and granny just doesn’t care about anything too fancy. It’s all about being comfortable and staying dry.
There are tons of rainboots on the market, so you really want to pick something simple and easy to take off. Granny wouldn’t mess with anything that’s going to have her bending over for hours trying to tie. And in the end, simply looks much more elegant.
Aprons are almost the pinnacle of 1950s housewife fashion and, thus ideal for a granny chic look. You can really own the apron look anywhere with granny chic fashion trending, especially a retro-looking apron. The more vintage, the better but you can also elec for something simple.
Gray attire is perfect for the granny chic look, especially if you are going to accessorize with pearls or gold bracelets because it draws attention to those accessories. Gray is neutral and can be worn at any time of year. It also doesn’t get too hot like black and can basically go with anything.
A gray suit, blouse or jacket will complete a granny chic look effortlessly. And if you do more than one piece of gray clothing, you’ll really pull it together. Typically, grey pants are not something millennials wear, but that’s changing now with this new trend.
