Coastal Grandmother

“The term Coastal Grandmother originated on TikTok by Lex Nicoleta, herself a decidedly un-grandmotherly twenty-six year old. It refers to a woman of confidence and comfortable means, who chooses exactly what she wants in her life, unswayed by trends or glitz. She cares more about how she spends her time and attention than her money, and she is highly selective.”

“The Coastal Grandmother’s aesthetic is based in elementals: clean air, fresh flowers, comfortable and considered choices. She likes real—fabrics, wood, natural tones. She, like, Oscar Wilde, is always satisfied with the very best, but she is not elitist. She is as likely to have her bedside water in a swing-top bottle filled from her Sodastream as to stock up on San Pellegrino, she prefers flowers from her garden to shop-bought. Long ago she donated everything she doesn’t need or doesn’t like. (Coastal Grandmother doesn’t ‘love’ things, she saves love for living creatures.)”

“If Coastal Grandmother is an aspirational term, it is only in terms of maturity. She has winnowed the wheat from the chaff, she suits herself. You have probably seen her at a farmers’ market, in linen pants and shirt, a straw hat, and flattering, amusing glasses, carrying a woven bag she picked up on vacation, wearing ridiculously expensive sandals because they are comfortable. She favors texture and natural tones, but has a soft spot for bright color too, maybe her table napkins (always linen), and in flowers.”