The true mark of what makes a trend great isn’t how it dominates the runway, or even if it goes viral on TikTok, but if you can spot being worn by women of all different nationalities, ethnicities, ages, and sizes. Sure, as an editor, I’ll admit to getting caught up in the hype of it all—I’m constantly searching for the next big thing and can get into really impractical and often “ugly” trends. But at the end of the day, if you can’t find that both Gen Z and baby boomers have backed a trend, is it really worth it? For me, the answer is no. And while I’ll never prescribe to the idea that you should buy into something just because everyone else is—in fact, you should always invest in what makes you feel your best no matter what age you are. When it comes to keeping up with the trend cycle, even sometimes I need a little guidance and wisdom to weed through the noise—which is where my 71-year-old grandmother comes in.
Long before I was an editor, I spent countless hours at the mall with my grandmother in my preteen days. Our weekly ritual was to sift through the racks together in search of the best things on sale. And while we no longer live in the same state, and we have very different personal styles, she’s still the one I’ll call when I’m debating splurging on a pair of designer sandals. So, it only seemed natural then to have her weigh in on which summer 2022 fashion trends have her stamp of approval. With years of shopping and trend watching under her belt, she’s got a perspective that can help younger generations (like myself) shift through which trends are truly going to age well but also work for all ages. So, without further ado, let’s get into it.
