The Coastal Grandmother Lifestyle And Why I'm Living For This New Trend

If you’re on TikTok regularly, you’ve probably heard of the Coastal Grandmother trend that is currently sweeping the nation. The founding (grand)mother of this trend isn’t a grandmother at all. It’s 26 year old Californian Lex Nicoleta.

I first discovered Lex when she came across my For You page on TikTok. At first, this trend reminded me of the East Coast preppy style that I love so much- BUT when I asked Lex about it in one of her lives, she advised that Coastal Grandmother isn’t just an aesthetic, it’s a lifestyle. A feeling.

What is coastal grandmother Lifestyle?

Think of the lead female role in any Nancy Meyers movie, and that’s basically it. It’s a successful woman who has created a wonderful life for herself (she does not have to be an actual grandmother, that’s just the vibe). She has a beautiful home with coastal elements and neutral colours. She enjoys simple luxuries in life such as fresh flowers on her table, a bowl of lemons on the counter, and quality glassware. She has beautiful cook books that she actually uses, and drinks white wine with dinner. She’s the classy friend that owns the house at the beach surrounded by tall grass or hydrangeas (although you don’t need a beach house to pull off this style!) She’s warm and inviting, and always ready to whip up a signiture dessert in her KitchenAid mixer when unexpected company drops by.

What does a coastal grandmother wear?

The coastal grandmother has a wardrobe full of classic styles that she can wear for years to come. She wears white button downs (or really any neutral button down), and gardens with a sunhat on. She walks down the beach in a white sweater and bucket hat (Think Diane Keaton in Something’s Gotta Give”). She might carry a wicker market bag, or linen tote. She loves quality fabrics and matching pj sets. She loves understated luxury, without flashy logos or large prints.

Coastal gran picks from my own wardrobe

If you want to embody the coastal gran look, start with pieces you already own! Here are a few of mine:

I LOVE striped button downs, and have a few of them that I wear regularly. Old Navy has been amazing for finding good button downs lately. The daisy bucket hat is a new addition to my Summer wardrobe and I am OBSESSED with it. It’s kind of a cross between a bucket had and a sun hat, and it can tie under your chin for those windy days at the beach. The wicker purse is a vintage find from an antique shop we visited last Summer, and it’s 100% coastal gran.

These shoes are from Frock Box, and they are perfect for this aesthetic!

I had to include my LL Bean Tote because it’s just a classic beach day bag.

What do you think of the coastal grandmother lifestyle?