Nanna's Clothes Are Still Hot

Ok, so maybe the thought of wrinkles, blue-rinse and lipstick-stained teeth isn’t synonymous with cutting edge fashion, but as Clare Drake investigates, Nanna’s clothes have always been stylish.

When QUT academic Kath Cattoni says “styles are age dependent, style is not”, she ignites hope in those of us who may have committed the odd fashion faux pas.

There is still time to get it right! And if the burgeoning Brisbane fashion scene is anything to go by, our chances are rapidly improving.

Katie Gannon, creator of fashion label Mother Maria, eagerly anticipated sending her designs down the MBFF catwalk. Her nostalgically simple current collection, “When the Earth Kissed the Sky”, is a reflection on summer and includes lightweight shift dresses, skirts and high-waisted shorts, punctuated by either hand embroidery or the brand’s distinctive vintage fabric.
According to the label’s website, Mother Maria was born from designer Katie Gannon’s “love for vintage fabrics, blending retro prints with bold new colours and timeless silhouettes of eras gone by… the name was born from Katie’s late Polish grandmother”. It is Mother Maria’s references to previous generations that help reinforce the importance of history in terms of style – the use of vintage fabric and trims throughout Gannon’s collection serve as a sartorial homage to history and bygone eras.

Admittedly there are many styles of decades past that we would rather forget (did someone say hot pants?). Yet as the national and international popularity of vintage fashion continues to grow, it is important to acknowledge the old ladies that are donating the clothing in the first place.

Brisbane’s inner-city suburb of Paddington is known for its vintage shopping and Edwina, from specialist vintage clothing store Adornments, has observed an increase in the number of younger customers in their 20s and early 30s visiting the store.

According to designer Katie Gannon, one of the central driving forces behind the popularity of vintage dressing is individuality. “By op-shopping, you can find yourself a ‘one off’ that you know no one else is going to be wearing… [you can find] something special that brings out your personality,” she said.

So how come the old ladies that donate these clothes just don’t seem to look as fashion-forward when they wear their old 50s day dresses with their ratty cardigans and Hush Puppies?

Why is it the younger fashionistas can pull off these outfits with what appears to be effortless style? Is pulling off vintage dressing and exuding true style really dependant on age?

When asked this question, Ms Gannon assertively replied, “absolutely not” – it is the nature in which old clothes appear fashionable on young bodies that contributes to this age versus style issue.

It is this elusive element known as ‘style’ that seems to continuously evade any particular age bracket, and instead settles within the recesses of the wearer’s personality.

Jemima Cattel, from the UK’s Channel 4 Program ‘10 Years Younger’ suggests “you can throw off the constraints of ageist pigeonholing and embrace fashion as a tool to express your personality”.

Gatton champions this message.
“There are a lot of the older generations that exude style. I was in a café recently and noticed a lady who must have been in her 80’s hobble in to sit down for a cup of tea. She was dressed immaculately, in a hand embroidered cardigan, perfectly tailored pants and short white gloves. She was so stylish I went home and sketched her outfit, and used her as inspiration for one of my designs!” Gannon said.

Evidently ‘the Nanna’ isn’t confined to ratty dresses and outdated pieces, just as ‘youngsters’ aren’t confined to current styles.

According to Gannon, it is possible to transform the so-called ‘bad styles’ of the past through adaptation and “wearing with confidence”.

The best hope for the future of age-friendly fashion is individuality and most importantly confidence. Allowing style to live on, even after Nanna and her clothes bite the dust.