Clothes My Husband Hates
Someone get the smelling salts for Ross, as I road test the 'eclectic grandpa' trend.
It’s one of those times when the mood has gripped me to talk fashion. Well, outfits. Because my hashtag, #clothesmyhusbandhates, is set to have all its Christmases come at once with the emergence of this new trend. According to Pinterest, the world is now bored with trying to look like a ‘coastal grandmother’ and 2024 is all about the ‘eclectic grandpa’ vibe.
What the firetruck are you going on about, I hear you ask? I will try to explain as best as I understand it. Basically it’s supposedly a mish mash of clothing items, fashioned together in a way that might be favoured by your cuddly old grandad. Think well worn knits, comfortable, but nicely cut trousers, shoes that have stood the test of time and unique accessories - maybe a really cool one of a kind belt that’s been holding your bottoms up since the 80s. The key, as far as I can tell, lies in a few guidelines.
The look exudes a knowingly old-fashioned charm. Think retro knits. Plaid shirts that look like they have a years old, tobacco smell baked in. Pocket squares. Visible socks with loafers. And fashion’s current hero piece, the knitted vest.
It’s about clothes that look like you’ve had, worn and loved them forever. A chic grandpa has spent decades collecting pieces that tell stories and all speak to his individuality.
It’s about putting together your outfits with a whiff of eccentricity or idiosyncrasy - mismatched prints, quirky colour combos, and mixing high and low, so.. a fancy jacket over your most battered workaday jeans.
The grandpa thing is a big nod to the fact that he’d wear what the hell he wants and wouldn’t give a shit if you liked it or if you laughed at him because he just knows his own style and he likes it so there.
These four tenets very much speak to me. So I decided to have a rummage through my wardrobe and see if I could capture the eclectic grandpa spirit with a specially themed #weekonawall. (If you follow me on Instagram you’ll know that I like to plan my working week’s outfits and show them on the grid). We can pretty much guarantee right now that poor Ross will not be aroused even once this week. But what do you think? Would you wear any of these?
Monday
Ross will ask me if I am off to play cricket, or if perhaps I have joined a 1930s jazz band. Which are both quite ‘grandpa’ pursuits? So I like this one. The jacket has a plaid print so is a print clash with the trousers, but still in the same colour family. The Converse are a bit of a silly finisher. I’ve had everything but the trousers - which I bought in the Net A Porter sale - for ages.
Tuesday
I don’t know why, but this one is giving me slight Harry Styles vibes? Never a bad thing. I really adore muddy 70s colour palettes and I find these trousers are a great foil for most other colours. My inner grandpa apparently likes a nice dopamine colour hit in all outfits.
Wednesday
We have to have some trad plaid in the mix, right? There’s a subtle strip of lavender in the trousers (half price in the Me and Em sale right now) that is the exact same colour as this old cardi. I might put a battered old denim jacket over the top too. The pearls add a bit of something old-school/eccentric? Maybe? Ross will be tipped over the edge by the ultra wide-legs, or sorry ‘big ol’ bell bottoms’.
Thursday
Oh no wait, sorry, THIS is what will tip Ross over the edge. A tie. The pic of Gigi Hadid at the top of this piece inspired me to dig one out. An eclectic grandpa would possibly wear one with his favourite jeans, I think? On Thursdays I tape Palace Confidential. I think this outfit will garner viewer complaints - they like pretty dresses. But we are channelling eclectic grandpas, remember, who don’t care if you like it. I might even add a sock to the loafer, possibly red.
Friday
A pretty safe dip of the toe into the eclectic grandpa aesthetic. I’m going to wear this to smoke my pipe in the favourite corner of my home library. No wait, that’s not right. I’ll just be in my library-free house and probably writing. This will still work for that. On this I like the textures, particularly mixing up the velvet jacket with the cashmere knit. The shirt breaks up the colour blocking nicely. The shoes are from Grenson which is the spiritual home of the eclectic grandpa if ever there was one.
Let’s face it, the grandpa vibes are pretty strong in my wardrobe anyway, so I enjoyed hunting out things to put together to deliberately attempt a theme. Let me know your thoughts and if you’ll be giving this one a go.
I think it’s an Annie Hall and Mary Tyler Moore redux, which is classic! Aside from the ties and loafers (not my personal aesthetic) I’d wear these outfits today and repel the bejesus out of my husband. Oh, and just to share that nothing makes a hubs run the opposite direction than Drop crotch pants (Nili Lotan Paris). You want quiet time at night, wear those during the day.
Lego also talking about Grandpa chic right now. Some more outfit inspo here? https://www.instagram.com/p/C0PNAiauOOz/?igsh=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng==