Just as your mothers thought they were safe from you raiding their stuff for clothes and jewellery that they've kept from the eighties, now their mothers are at risk of having their valuables nicked by their granddaughters all in the name of fashion.
Our love of vintage fashion has pushed us so far that over-sized knits, tweed skirts, orthopaedic shoes and old lady hangbags are the hottest things this season.
And it doesn't stop at pensioner-style clothes.
While our mothers' worst nightmare is to wake up one morning and discover that they have one grey hair, celebrities in their twenties such as Lady Gaga, Kelly Osbourne and Pixie Geldof have been proudly sporting their silver-dyed locks.
"What's going on?!" I hear you ask frantically.
I like to think of "granny chic" as a nostalgiac trend for fifties and sixties fashion. It's more Joan from Mad Men than the Queen of England.
So that means no frumpy cardis, no nude-coloured pantyhose, and no giant granny panties.
How to do granny chic
- If, like me, you're living in the Gulf, wearing thick, oversized knits really is not a good idea, even in winter. Stick to cotton and light fabrics unless you want a bulging abaya, and, even worse, heatstroke.
- Long skirts have never been more fashionable since the maxi skirt came out. Choose tailored pencil skirts in blacks, greys, purples and browns, preferrably in tweed.
- Stay cool under your abaya by wearing tie-neck blouses in sheer fabrics.
- Keep an eye out for interesting 60s and 70s inspired prints-bubbles, geometric shapes, dots and flowers. Keep dotted and floral prints small.
- Accessorize with anything that looks like Coco Chanel would have worn it.
- Look cute in cat eye and perfectly round sunglasses.
- Swap skyscraper heels for dainty kitten heels and flats.
- If going granny head-to-toe sounds too traumatizing, stick to one or two granny pieces-add a pair of cat eye sunglasses or a Hermes scarf or kitten heels or a clasp purse-style handbag to your outfit.
My Picks
