Waves of Influence: Fashion, Aesthetics and Influence

Photo by Porapak Apichodilok via Pexels.

Fashion trends come and go like ocean waves, but some are inspired by the waves themselves.

The fashion world has been swept up by the evolving aesthetic that first washed ashore in 2022, originating with the “coastal grandma” trend. This is a dreamy ode to timeless elegance, evoking an image of an older, affluent woman who spends her days basking in the sun at her seaside home. 

Grandma’s wardrobe? A carefully curated closet filled with breezy button-downs, neutral tones, and linen pants, all of which whisper old money.

But with any other trend, it didn’t stay anchored for too long.  

“Fashion is very fluid and is always subject to change,” Cassandra Williams, ‘27, a fashion merchandising and fashion design double major, commented. Soon, the coastal grandma look transformed into the “coastal granddaughter” aesthetic, which was “made popular, largely among Gen Z, building off of old money styles. This referenced a more coastal style with light blues, nudes and whites.”

Granddaughter’s wardrobe? Of course, you will still find the flowy button-downs and linens. But now, there is a youthful touch of blues and light pinks, a casual sneaker and stacks of silver or gold jewelry. 

This playful twist on the original trend was a fan favorite. When you embrace this look, you feel like you've popped out of the 2008 film Mamma Mia.

“I think the entire coastal grandma and coastal granddaughter trend stemmed from people being inspired by Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. People associate the style with a feeling of home for them,” Chloe Dunne, ‘27, a fashion merchandising minor, explained. “As far as coastal granddaughter, which is my favorite, it’s something that feels almost nostalgic.”

Yet again, the tides shifted the trend, bringing us to “coastal cowgirl.”

“I love seeing people make bolder choices through their clothing and accessories. Certain staple items like cowboy boots and statement belts have become more and more popular with the coastal cowgirl look,” Williams continued. “Fashion is one of the biggest forms of self-expression, and trends like these are a testament to that.”

Cowgirl’s wardrobe? The commonality of linen and neutral colors, paired with blues and pink, remains the same. But now, her closet adds cowgirl boots, straw hats and denim. Some cowgirl hats will have a band of seashells around the rim, tying in the coastal feel. This look fuses beachy ease with western flair.

“I like the aesthetic of coastal granddaughter, but when it evolved to coastal cowgirl, it became overdone,” Natalie Spina, ‘26, a fashion merchandising minor, said. “People took the idea and ran with it so heavily. That's what happens on social media, thought.”

Fueled by social media’s constant churn of fashion trends, the coastal cowgirl look took center stage at this year’s Coachella festival. Boots, denim, cowgirl hats, seashells–and increasingly, feathers woven in hair and suede moccasins–dominated the festival grounds.

But while the look is trendy and eye-catching, it also raises important questions about where fashion ends and cultural appropriation begins.

“Many ‘cowboy’ inspired outfits often include references or characteristics of Native American culture. While it is important to pay tribute to other cultures, we have to be self-aware to ensure that we respect the clothing and styles that come from cultures outside of our own,” Williams said. “As consumers, we need to educate ourselves on what we are buying and what it means, as we live in a society where businesses are not always cognisant of this.”

As summer approaches and festival season continues, the fashion world is likely to embrace a new iteration of the coastal trend. But as we scroll, shop and style ourselves, it’s worth pausing to ask not just “what’s in,” but “what it means.” There is room to embrace the breeze and the boot with intention—just be sure your fashion statement doesn’t wash away another’s story.