This Summer, If You Want to Dress Like a 'Chic Grandma'

In 2018 designer Kiko Kostadinov visited Korea and went to the Dongmyo flea market. He uploaded a photo of an unnamed grandfather with the short caption "Best Street in the world." Two summers ago, when I interviewed the duo Stefan and Jake of Stefan Cooke, I heard a similar story — they said that seeing the way people at Dongmyo dressed reminded them of Raf Simons' runway.

Miu Miu, which for several seasons has been putting clothes on the runway that look as if they were stolen from a grandmother's wardrobe. Miu Miu 2026 F/W RTW

Were Kiko, Stefan and Jake prophetic? Right now fashion people are endlessly taking cues from grandfather and grandmother styles — dressing however they like without worrying about trends, the mood of the clothes, or their original purpose. You can see this in the popularity of various retro-mood items like grandma slippers and grandma skirts. Here are three items that can instantly transform you into a "chic grandma" this summer.

Pajama Dress

This is an item we recently featured in Vogue. Just throw on a white mini dress with puff sleeves that evokes pajamas and you're done. Lace details at the sleeve cuffs or hem are welcome. Tying a bandana — which is on-trend right now — on your head will give an even more retro vibe.

Miu Miu Slub Poplin and Eyelet Lace Mini Dress

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Faithfull Seraphina Puff-Sleeve Mini Dress

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Grandma Slippers

We can't leave out slippers with wooden soles and a buckle across the instep. I'm talking about the kind of slippers that would sit neatly in a grandmother's shoe cabinet — designs shown by brands like Scholl or Boris Hofer. Styling them isn't difficult: they've long been a perfect match for dresses and skirts, and you can also pair them with trousers to create an intentional mismatch.

Boris Hofer 251 Slip-On Sandal

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Scholl One-Strap Comfort High-Heel Sandal

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Retro Bag

Recently the Wimbledon Championships finals were held in London. Sitting next to Anna Wintour to watch the match, Sienna Miller looked like a "chic grandma" who, after decades of trial and error, has found the style that suits her best. The key was a retro-mood flap bag with a short gold strap that stood out. You can achieve a similar effect by choosing a polka-dot bag or a monogram logo bag that's so obvious it's almost amusing.

Gucci Madison Web Stripe Medium Shoulder Bag

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Ganni Bu Polka Dot Mini Tote Bag

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Published: July 22, 2026

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