Eclectic Grandpa Is the Controversial Trend That's Already Defining 2024

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(Image credit: Getty Images; Launchmetrics; Courtesy of Gucci and Net-a-Porter)

For those not chronically online, terms like "coquette," "coastal grandma," and "quiet luxury" may leave you a bit puzzled. For those whose screen time runs higher than you'd like, you might have already conjured up an image in your head for each packaged-up style interest. Quiet luxury will have you envisioning the whispered effortlessness of The Row and anything worn by Logan Roy in Succession. Coquette will transport you into Sandy Liang's world filled with bows, ruffles, and the innate feeling of healing one's inner child. And 2024's first buzzy aesthetic, "eclectic grandpa," coined by Pinterest, which predicted the trend to grow in virality this year (it cited an increase in searches for the terms "grandpa core" and "grandpa style" in December), is composed of kitschy knitwear, loafers, baseball caps, wrist watches, and anything retro or vintage adjacent. With this in mind, my mind immediately jumps to anything designed by Emily Bode, the street style of Princess Diana, and the top contenders of GQ's best-dressed list—particularly Pedro Pascal.

While this style can technically be achieved with a purchase of a few pieces, a part of the conversation surrounding this new trend is heading in a different direction: The look is meant to encapsulate the personal style of an actual grandpa, though people are starting to realise that they only look that stylish because they have collected high-quality, special, and well-loved pieces over time, which isn't something you can exactly curate overnight. 

It's created a new conversation on how Gen Z is viewing their style. Some might consider aesthetics to be the antithesis of personal style (I think experimentation is key), but this one's proving to the next-gen (me included) that patience is a virtue. While I may not be copying the grandpa 'fits I see on my Pinterest feed to a T, it's certainly been shifting the way I shop and dress. Since I, too, want to be a grandparent one day with a closet filled with special and long-lasting pieces, I've been having more fun with the way I dress and putting a lot more thought into what I purchase and how they'll fit into my wardrobe—current and future.

Even if you're not embodying the exact outfits of celebrities like Gigi Hadid or Tyler the Creator, their style presence among the aesthetic will still inevitably make an impact on the trend cycle. Pinterest expects an uptick in demand for sweater vests, loafers, and "grandpa knits"—all worn by the style stars mentioned above. If you want to be inspired by the eclectic styling off and on the runway or want to incorporate a piece or two from the grandpa look into your wardrobe, simply keep scrolling. 

In 2024 Collections

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(Image credit: Launchmetrics/Loewe)

Loewe is not one to shy away from an avant-garde runway moment, yet Jonathan Anderson somehow still managed to fit in "wearable" clothing that didn't break away from his well-loved vision for the brand. Amongst a sea of draped dresses and sculptural silhouettes were ultra high-waisted trousers, three-dimensional knitwear, and sheer polo shirts. It's classic menswear pieces but with an added subversiveness that stays true to Anderson's design direction. 

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(Image credit: Launchmetrics/Miu Miu)

Miu Miu's S/S 24 collection caused quite a divisive response, and although it leans a bit more 2000s prep with its flip-flops and swim shorts, it still features those worn-in elements like distressed leather and stuffed handbags à la Jane Birkin that are fascinating to the fashion set right now. Miuccia Prada is no doubt a mastermind at designing clothing, but will always manage to fill her collections with character and life.

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(Image credit: Launchmetrics/Bode)

Brands like Bode, whose pieces are inspired by and made from heritage textiles like quilts, textiles, or tablecloths have catered to an eclectic audience long before TikTok even existed. It's no surprise that menswear brands have been leaders in this space, and it's slowly starting to trickle into womenswear. 

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(Image credit: Launchmetrics/Wales Bonner)

From her in-demand Adidas collab to designing jerseys for Jamaica's national soccer team, Grace Wales Bonner is one of the most exciting things to happen to menswear right now. Her runway collections consist of dapper suits, fuzzy knits paired with track pants, and eye-catching sneakers to top it all off. 

On Celebrities

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Guest in Residence)

Gigi Hadid founded her cashmere line Guest in Residence to honor past heirlooms and give life to new ones spanning generations. She wants each cashmere piece to be cherished for a lifetime, inspired by her parent's hand-me-downs that brought her comfort while traveling for modeling jobs. One could say her brand embodies the exact essence of what's so special about "grandpa" style.

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(Image credit: Getty Images)

Tyler the Creator is certainly not one of those men who will bore you with yet another black suit. He has a special appreciation for the art of clothing, and his solidified sense of personal style often precedes modern trends. (GQ even went so far as to say that he wears things first, and then they're seen on the runways.) His outfits offer a mix of skater-boy accessories, preppy tailoring, and granny silhouettes to top it all off.

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(Image credit: @alexachung)

Staying true to her iconic style, Alexa Chung pairs a chunky knit vest and trench coat with a quintessential A.C. dress. Many fashion influencers might want to pair their Miu Miu bag with a coordinating runway-inspired look, but Chung leans into the eclecticness of her wardrobe instead. It's been years since Chung's Twee or Indie Sleaze days that took Tumblr by storm, but she never fails to inspire the masses.

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(Image credit: Getty Images)

Kendall Jenner isn't exactly someone I'd describe fitting in within "Eclectic Grandpa" genre, but this outfit is proof that you can take inspiration from any aesthetic and sprinkly it within your everyday wardrobe. This layered sweater-vest formula is one she reaches for quite often, but the striped knit offers a little bit more playfulness than her past choices.

Shop "Grandpa" Fashion

If you're looking to start your collection of fun and high-quality pieces, have a look below. They'll be loved in your wardrobe for a long time. 

Associate Fashion Editor
Yusra Siddiqui is an editor who resides in New Jersey but bounces between the suburbs and NYC. (She's a Jersey girl at heart.) After interning atBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing in 2019, she found her way to the team after graduating from LIM College in 2022 with a fashion media degree. She's also spent time writing and working for publications such as Fashionista, Coveteur, and Nylon, but she always knew thatBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing was where she was meant to be. When she's on the job, she's perusing runway shows, analyzing Wholesale Replica Bag thing fellow Gen Zers are up to on the internet, and sharing what she can about the modest-fashion market. You can also catch her dabbling in entertainment, talking about the costume choices of Wholesale Replica Bag Netflix series or diving deeper into how the plotline affects the viewers in a myriad of ways. Lastly, she likes to create content forBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing 's TikTok. Her personal time is spent doing similar but also different things—deep diving into almost every new TV show (Bridgerton, Gilmore Girls, and Stranger Things are favorites), planning her next local getaway (whenever that may be), and reading Wholesale Replica Bag Emily Henry or Sally Rooney novel in one sitting.