Fashion Inspiration: What My Grandma Wore at 24

Hi, lovelies!! 💛 TGIF!! I hope you’re having a wonderful day! So, today’s post is very near and dear to my heart because it’s about my grandma (aka Nonna)! 🌻 Growing up, she was definitely my biggest role model. I used to follow her around the house everywhere and wanted to be just like her. At 24, I still look up to her just as much.

She has the biggest heart and always looks out for her loved ones. On top of that, she’s strong, beautiful, and tells the best stories. Seriously, I could listen to her talk for hours!

When I was a kid, I distinctly remember sneaking into my grandma’s room and trying on her clothes and shoes. She has this timeless elegance and it shows in her personal style (I’m talking about some serious Julie Andrews vibes)!

Since she’s helped me figure out my own style throughout the years, I thought it’d be a lot of fun to look back on what she wore in her 20s!

Last weekend, we sat together at the kitchen table, enjoyed freshly brewed coffee, and chatted about fashion. Afterwards, we picked out a few outfits so that I’d be able to recreate some of her most iconic looks!

Spoiler alert: it involved a trip to Marshalls and browsing my own closet for possible “Nonna approved” fashion staples.

Fashion Inspiration: What My Grandma Wore at 24

My Grandma’s Favorite Outfits

“When I was your age, I loved fashion. It was a lot of fun for me and still is! I might not be wearing the same clothes that I wore at 18 or 24, but I’m still the same person! Dressing up and getting ready will always be fun.”

Let’s be real, my grandma is a true fashionista! After going through a few photo albums, she found some pictures that perfectly represent her style: simplistic and feminine. Back then, some of her fashion must haves included mini skirts, heels, and blouses.

Although she enjoyed dressing up at 24, you’d probably never see her wearing cutesy bows or babydoll dresses. (Ariana Grande, circa 2012 anyone?) “I remember you used to wear those adorable bow ties for your hair. I didn’t wear things like that, but really liked casual sundresses and patterned skirts,” she told me.

Soak up the Sun — Mini Skirts and Sundresses!

“For going out during the summertime, I liked stylish mini skirts and casual sundresses. I remember always wearing a skirt with a little jacket on top or spaghetti strap dresses. [When it comes to shoes], I wore white sandals or heels.”

Aw, I can just imagine my grandma walking around town in her mini skirt and sandals! For the first look, we chose a white mini skirt from Marshalls and paired it with a pastel top I already had in my closet. “This is something that I would like back then. It’s casual but nice for going out during the day!” We still needed an extra outfit to top off my recreation, though!

“Nonna, what about this yellow sundress?” After telling her Alejandro picked it out for me a few months back, she giggled and said, “he has great taste!” These daytime looks are definitely outfits my grandma would gravitate towards in her early 20s because of their understated elegance and simplicity.

Interestingly enough, I even had white sandals that look almost identical to the ones in Nonna’s photo! Like grandma, like granddaughter?

Casual Day at Home — Blouses, Shorts, and Comfy Sandals

“When I was at home, I usually wore comfortable clothes like jeans and shorts.I had these cute blouses with different patterns on them, like flowers, stripes, or polka dots.”

Ahhh, this has to be by far my favorite look! There’s just something so pretty about a fitted blouse. During our shopping trip, my grandma picked out the first top, an adorable blue floral print blouse. I found the polka dot blouse but of course had to get my grandma’s seal of approval. “Perfect! We just need to find some shorts to match!”

We paired the blue blouse with black shorts from Kohl’s. For the second look, we decided that jeans would probably be the best fit and Nonna chose the same black sandals for both outfits.

At first, I wasn’t sure how either blouse would look on me, but ended up falling in love with both of them! It was such a cool experience dressing up like Nonna. I’ve always admired my grandma’s sophisticated style, and think I might have actually pulled this look off!

Trendy Gal — Bodycon, Floral Prints, and Kitten Heels!

“I always dressed in stylish clothes and kept up with [the trends]. Heels, floral dresses, bright colors.”

Since my grandma enjoys trendy clothing, we created a look that features some of this year’s biggest staples. When it comes to fashion this year, floral prints and vibrant colors are definitely making waves. Pink and red have been especially trendy (and paired together!).

Kitten heels are also making a comeback — thank goodness because they’re super comfortable and fun! For my trendy outfit, I picked out a bodycon floral dress that I got for my birthday. My grandma and I styled the outfit with bright red kitten heels and simple earrings.

“You look beautiful,” my grandma said when she saw me in the outfit for the first time. I don’t know why, but I started to tear up. 💓 She’s always supported my writing and we had such a fun time creating these looks together. I’m lucky to call her my Nonna!

I hope you liked this post, lovelies! 💛 Have a beautiful rest of your day and a great weekend! Talk soon! x

Who is your biggest style inspiration and why?