With the 'eclectic grandpa' aesthetic, fashion has an unexpected trendsetter

With the "eclectic grandpa" trend, younger generations are drawing inspiration from their grandfather's wardrobe. Photo: AFP

Younger generations are constantly drawing on the trends of the past to create ever more inventive looks.

We've been seeing this for several months now, with the major comeback of the 1990s, and even more so for the 2000s.

Now, however, it seems that people are turning their backs – at least temporarily – on these two decades, and focusing their attention on their grandparents' wardrobes.

After looking to grandma for inspiration – whether through the "coastal grandmother" aesthetic or renewed interest in handicrafts like knitting and crochet – it's now in grandpa's closet that young people intend to delve into for fashion finds.

This trend is being called the "eclectic grandpa" aesthetic, and it's already attracting a huge following in the early days of 2024.

Read more: Feeling jelly? Jelly sandals and bags from the 1990s are making a comeback

Ten million views

Contrary to what you might think, this is not just another fad among Gen Z and Millennials, but rather a real fashion phenomenon.

Not only has the hashtag associated with the trend already scored nearly 10 million views on TikTok, but some of the key pieces of the "eclectic grandpa" style have already made their way onto the runways.

These two indicators reflect the growing interest in our grandfather's closet, or at least in some of his style staples.

According to the latest Pinterest Predicts report, global searches for "grandpa style" have already risen by 60%.

This is also the case for the many garments associated with the trend, such as berets, cardigans and corduroys, notably spotted on the catwalks of major fashion houses such as Dior, Loewe, Givenchy and Fendi.

Read more: Looking for a new fashion trend to get into? Try the ‘coquette aesthetic’

Now it's the global fashion search engine Stylight that's confirming the craze. The platform reports that searches for "eclectic grandpa" increased by 442% on Google in the last quarter of 2023.

An impressive rise that has seen certain items return to the forefront of fashion. This is particularly true of oversized sweaters (+146% of clicks on Stylight), corduroy jackets (+29% of clicks), and chunky knit cardigans (+25% of clicks).

It now remains to be seen whether this trend can be sustained over time. Given the renewed interest in vintage fashion in recent months, the aesthetic's staying power looks promising.

So move over, fashion whippersnappers, because your grandfather is shaping up to be the hottest style influencer of the moment. – AFP Relaxnews