The Art of “Being a Coastal Grandmother…Among Others!”

I’ve been reading a lot about the Coastal Grandmother right now and thought I was identified… and yet, I don’t know about you, but I’m a bit too eclectic to be pigeonholed. 🤦‍♀️ I got to thinking about we grandmothers or younger women who just love the look, and before I knew it…I was coming up with my own descriptions for just me. One of the looks isn’t even an official “look” but I did it anyway!

So here are a few of my grandmother descriptions…and don’t worry, I will add Coastal last! But here is the disclaimer…I didn’t copy a magazine or any online article to get this info which is pretty much just standard looks that I wrote my personal reflections on them…there is one that I named and if it is out there…I have not seen it! I think you will know which one!

*The BoHo Grandmother…

On these days I actually roll out of bed and put my clothes on whether they are on the floor or hopefully the hanger… don’t judge because that’s the season I may be throwing the covers over my head while still in the bed. Daughter @derylkathrynart does a terribly perfect skit of me doing just that, complete with me telling Billy why I just can’t manage much today in my weak, confused voice. (It doesn’t fool them so I am usually up and at ‘em pretty darn quick!

The above picture which I will refer to as “vintage”,because it is actually a small jpeg, is a very favorite look of mine. We are talking long, usually white, flowing, linen blouses with bottoms that are, let’s say, usually my favorite colors either yellow ochre, tan, army green or washed out blue. This outfit can be worn multiple days if I at least hang it on a peg. These are the days I feel most like “I am woman, hear me roar any way I want to!”

BoHo is a definite style that I truly think has a lot of suppressed attitude. I will generally wear more bangles on this day and actually probably slept in them the night before…which horrifies our younger daughter @mekhubbard who carefully puts her jewelry to bed before she herself retires. I, myself, like to save the time and Billy doesn’t complain that I have injured him during the night!

To me, BoHo says I’m on vacation or I ought to be. I became influenced by this casual, free flowing look when my dad was in Vietnam during the 60’s. The type of fabrics, shapeless jackets, huaraches I saw later became my style and a permanent part of my wardrobe in the late 70’s, much to my mother’s chagrin.This is a favorite style for me to wear when I want to talk art…because it makes me feel like I know what I am talking about!

I think a BoHo grandmother is unforgettable and at the right moments both daunting and inspiring…so for sure you better believe it will be a permanent go to…I am actually looking for the perfect kimono paired with a few more bangles to go with my white jeans!

*The Maverick’s Choice…

I had not planned to actually name this look but it flew to my mind…It’s the look Jennifer Connelly had in Top Gun’s “Maverick”…and I have to admit this look has always been an influence on me that is about to gear up big time. I adore the minimalist look she wore both clothing and the makeup…plus she confirmed that it’s definitely okay for me to keep growing my hair!

Perhaps one of the things I liked best about the movie was an after comment from one of the girls…”Mom, this might be the right time for that leather jacket”…YES! I had many white t shirts in my closet way before Top Gun came out as well as a lot of jeans…this look is, clean, cotton, the kind of “masculine” like wearing your husband’s button down in the garden or painting.This is effortless dressing and if the attitude is right, you always look good. I think the jeans, the T’s, the leather and the military edge, which I grew up with so I love, is honest and open. This is me and the colors are not far from BoHo. I think women who like this look also get along with men very well in general…enjoying many of the same movies, books and conversations. I did not grow up with brothers so perhaps that is why I like to talk about masculine subjects and wear Bill’s shirts and cinch up his pants to work in the garden!

Now I don’t have aviators but they are probably going to be in a shopping cart soon,( though my hair keeps getting caught in the ones I have borrowed). I think a short scarf tied as a headband or at the neck would be a nice feminine touch to the overall look…my last thought is there will probably be a LOT more Mavericks out there once you have seen the movie!

*The Charleston Dress

There is no such category as the Charleston Dress so obviously I made it up and there will never be a need to quote me! Here is why it became a category to me. Bill and I had the best time in Charleston in 2021 and it so happened it was a trip where we saw tons of beautiful fun dresses both long, midi and short. This look was accompanied by adorable purses, many straw, and for sure lots of tennis shoes…I especially liked the clean white ones.

On that trip and since then I have purchased a few…and have put them to very good use. I also added a white pair of cute tennis shoes and a straw purse. My favorites of these dresses are the ones that are blue…they make me happy and they also are a BIG crossover to being, in my opinion, a Coastal Grandmother.

This category has so many companies producing lovely, fun and especially comfortable dresses. I really enjoy them even though if I had to choose one category to wear, most of the time it would not necessarily be this one. I find myself going simpler than this and unless I stick with the very simple lines, I don’t over the top love the very fru-fru feminine styles

Having said this I do wear the simple dresses QUITE A BIT! I enjoy how comfortable they are. I love the , easy to wear look they have. Wearing tennis shoes or simple sandals with these breezy dresses is waaaay easy and they become a uniform that is hard to beat…usually no zippers or buttons so throw it over your head and run. I pair a pretty headband (especially if my hair isn’t “done”) with a cute purse (the straw one) and fun sunglasses and I. Am. Done.

*The “Y” Athletic Grandmother

I do this TOO MUCH because it is an excuse to wear black “spandex” all. day. long. and feel that I am dressed (I’m not.) and that I look pretty good (but if I look in the “mirror” of the other grandmothers at the grocery store…meh, maybe not! Honesty hurts…but don’t throw shame if you see me at Whole Foods or Publix. Usually it’s LuLu Lemon which forgives all the clothing sins…(it does not.)

Too often if I see a put together grandmother who first went home to shower and put on the “Maverick” look, I find my slinking out of the grocery store…that alone tells me that this look must not be for me…either that or the weights just haven’t done their job yet!

*The Coastal Grandmother

I think this one came from too many Diane Keaton movies…the ones with Jack Nicholson make me cringe a little but I do love the look…Nancy Meyers always has beautiful styling and so this look is high on my list. I actually garden quite a bit and flowers are always scattered in vases around our home. I adore Serena and Lily because of the fresh, once again “clean” crisp coastal style and blues… I LOVE white to abstraction whether it’s the blouses or the jeans…it is such a confident/comfortable look and you can’t help but feel happy wearing them. The beach has always been important to me and our family…although we do not seek the wealthy lifestyle shown in several of the movies…ours is more comfortable and the beach will always be where we go… FULL STOP!

The simplicity of this look makes a grandmother look good and it is casually very nice…I will even say “rich”…not necessarily money though. To me this grandmother just looks like she takes care of herself AND her family. Years ago in my 30’s I think a trip we made to Hilton Head for the first time, I was coastal grandmother and didn’t know it. I chose our clothing with enough blue and white that a Harley biker asked us what “gang” we were part of!

Coastal really does look like you are ready to grab the bucket hat, the big straw purse (which can also be an overnight bag/carryall), the neutral or white tennis shoes and big sunglasses and hopefully grab hands with your grandchildren to hit the beach. I also love the look of any ocean shade of blue with white jeans and strolling through Harbor Town with family to see the boats or sit in the red rocking chairs!

But the basics of sandles, tennis shoes, jeans, button downs, grabbing your sunglasses, hat and purse are perfect for any woman of a certain wonderful age and soooo easy!

One very nice aspect of this look is you can fully enjoy it with fewer wardrobe pieces…which is exactly what I would like to do…pare down my side of the closet and wear the pieces over and over…and you would always look nice.

So these are probably my favorite looks and if you’re like me, you are eclectic and combine these throughout any given week.

Have you analyzed your look? Where would you place yourself? Chances are you have created your own style/brand so be sure to name it and claim it!

If you enjoyed reading through my favorite looks, be sure to email and tell me about your own!

Kim Kreis graduated with a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education and taught the most delightful fourth graders in a blue collar, farming community outside Dothan, Alabama for 10 years. Following her marriage in 1986, she moved to Birmingham where she began a new career as a stay at home mom and a fine stationery entrepreneur for 25+ years. Once she and her business partner passed on their company, Sweet Pea Designs, the next step became obvious…to be an artist with a purpose…