Forget hot girl summer, this year I’m all about the ‘coastal grandmother’ aesthetic

Comfort, for me, is key and any trend that strives for this is one I can get behind, writes Laura Hampson

For coastal grandmother inspiration, think: Oprah, Martha Stewart or Ina Garten (Instagram/@oprah)

Chances are you’ve probably heard of “hot girl summer”. You know, the trend that took off on TikTok in 2019, encouraging women to feel confident in their body – whatever it looks like – during the warmer months of the year.

You’ve probably even heard of “short king spring”, the phenomenon that took place this past season where “short kings” such as Tom Holland and Joe Jonas were being fawned over. But have you heard of “coastal grandmother”?

Almost the antithesis of hot girl summer, the coastal grandmother lifestyle is all about living your best aspirational lifestyle. Living by the coast is optional but requirements include owning at least one white linen shirt, embracing home cooking and generally living a rather lavish lifestyle.

For coastal grandmother inspiration, think: Oprah, Martha Stewart or Ina Garten. Cultural references could be Nancy Meyers characters, like Diane Keaton in Something’s Gotta Give and Meryl Streep in It’s Complicated.

While it may sound a little too lavish for those of us feeling the pinch during the cost of living crisis, the aesthetic is not just for the 1 per cent. As TikTok user, and the person who coined the term, Lex Nicoleta explained: “It’s about taking elements of an aspirational lifestyle, and bringing them into your everyday life. It’s a come one, come all situation.”

She added: “Hobbies include, but aren’t limited to, cooking, hosting, gardening, spending time at the beach, visiting the farmer’s market, and decorating your home to perfection. Essentially making your own life feel luxurious.”

I, for one, am here for it. As much as a hot girl summer sounds appealing, so do long days spent by the beach (sandy Whitstable over pebbly Brighton, of course) attending to a patch in the community garden, and wearing white linen everything. Comfort, for me, is key and any trend that strives for this is one I can get behind.

Yours,

Laura Hampson

Deputy lifestyle editor