How it all started

The First Time I Heard Coastal Granmother

The first time I heard the term, “The Coastal Grandmother”, was on a Saturday morning in June. My daughtecr called and asked how I was. I said, “fine, but I hate all my clothes”! After assuring me that I always looked nice in my clothes, she said, “we are going shopping tomorrow and buy you some Coastal Grandmother outfits”. Of course, I said, “what is Coastal Grandmother?”.

She told me she wasn’t sure exactly and to ask Ellie, my granddaughter. I did, and Ellie said, “Oh, Nana it’s all over TikTok”. That certainly explained why I had never heard of it. We were all three going shopping the next day, so I did some research on The Coastal Grandmother. I found quite a bit on the internet, and they all mentioned the movie, “Something’s Gotta Give” with Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson, so I pulled it up on Netflix and watched it that night.

I started to get the idea that it is all about the classic New England woman who quietly and subtly exudes class and money. She doesn’t have to learn it, she just emulates what she absorbed from her mother and grandmother. It is a lifestyle that encompasses everything from the way she dresses to the way she furnishes her home and the way she entertains. It appears effortless and natural, and for her, it is!

Vineyard Vines

My daughter picked me up the next day, along with my granddaughter, and off we went to the outlets in Williamsburg to shop. The first store they picked was Vineyard Vines. My only thought when we walked in was, this is for the very young! Since I was getting ready to go to the beach for vacation, my granddaughter assured me they carried shorts in three different lengths, short for her, medium for my daughter and long for me. What a clever idea! I told the two of them they had better not let me go out looking like I was trying to be 20 again.

I went to the dressing room, and they brought me outfits to try on. The shorts indeed were nice quality and true to size. The longer length was perfect for me. My daughter found a really cute skort in pink seer sucker for me that I just loved! My granddaughter found the perfect tee shirt to go with it. I left with three outfits that mixed and matched. I not only felt younger, but I was much more excited about vacation. I even bought a pair of hot pink corduroy jeans on sale from last season! Remember, I said we have to have some pieces in our wardrobe that are just for fun!

We had such a fun day, and I couldn’t help but think, how rare, that three generations can shop together in one store and come away with outfits they love and are age appropriate.

Note: I love the story behind Vineyard Vines! It was founded by two brothers who spent every summer on Martha’s Vineyard. They joked they worked nine months for the three months they got to spend there. Their fall/winter line is out and has some great finds. As I mentioned before, we Coastal Grandmothers have to be selective, but it is a great place to buy a few fun pieces for your wardrobe.