My Grandmother Taught Me the Joys of Slow Fashion.
Photo Credit: Mary Anderson
My grandmother’s style taught me what slow fashion truly is.
With global warming and environmental concerns, slow-fashion is in the spotlight now more than ever. Rather than constantly purchasing new items, keepsakes and nostalgic pieces can be passed down instead of being thrown out after one season. For myself, seeing the women in my family, especially my grandmother, take great care of her accessories showed me the importance of slow fashion and buying quality items.
Growing up, I had very fond memories of attending church with my grandmother. Whether it was sneaking plastic-wrapped candies or showing me how to follow along in the hymnals, she was always patient with me. While swinging my feet I would look up and see her bold, colorful hats, encircling her like a radiant halo. She never shied away from striking hues with her suits. Head-to-toe reds, blues, and yellows would carry from the beautiful flowers adorning her hats to sometimes the footwear. She has always been the emblem of class and confidence, and her style was just one of the many ways she expressed it.
However, it was before church that I looked forward to the most. Each accessory carried meaning, and was carefully selected each Sunday as the sun rose. On her armoire sat several bejeweled earrings and brooches, that she would adorn the bright suits and dresses with. She wasn’t afraid of bold jewelry, and cared for each piece no matter if it was $50 or $500. Some were clear crystals that she had purchased years earlier, while others might’ve been gifts from my grandfather. It taught me that caring for your items are even more important than the price tag.
Her Yves Saint Laurent glasses showed me that fashion and function were possible, if not a necessity. The frames were gold with tortoise shell pattern covering them, and were the classic oversized style that has had a resurgence in recent years. Since I’d worn glasses since the second grade, my grandma represented someone who used her glasses as a form of luxury and an investment piece that people will instantly see whenever they look you in the eyes. Also, knowing the remarkable quality of Yves Saint Laurent items, it’s not a surprise that they’ve lasted so long.
My grandma’s hats rest in a separate room with an assortment of hat boxes. Although it may have been due to their sheer size why they needed to be in a separate room, I always thought of it as a sacred space. Wearing a hat meant that she was going somewhere important, and the finishing touch to her many looks. Once, when I was younger, my grandma, my aunt, and I went to the mall after church, all wearing our hats. We were routinely complimented and I instantly felt like I was part of a historic legacy of fabulous hat-wearing women (even if we were just walking around the food court).
Photo Credit: Mary Anderson
Her white Oscar de la Renta wrap is another piece that has lots of meaning. She would sometimes wear it on the first Sundays at church, which often meant head-to-toe white suits, dresses, and the like. She would sit with the Mothers of the church near the front. From the balcony, they were a sea of white across the pews as their decorated hats and fascinators looked like a field of fresh flowers. Being able to sit in those seats reserved for the elders was a revered position, and when she let me sit next to her as a child I felt truly honored.
Although I may not yet have the places or occasion to wear such special items, my grandmother has shown me that you can make the occasion. You don’t have to wait for permission to live the life you want, and her long-lasting pieces have represented that. She has embraced slow-fashion before it became a trend, and it’s one that today’s generations can embrace again. Her items have lasted decades not due to their cost, but most importantly the heart and care that she puts into each one of them. The craftsmanship extends into the quality, hence why they’ve lasted so long and why slow-fashion is truly the future. Hopefully, one day I’ll be able to carry her it pieces with the same amount of confidence, knowing that I’m continuing the legacy of an amazing woman.
Mary Anderson Slowfashion maven
Mary Anderson is a freelance fashion/beauty reporter, stylist, and brand consultant based in New York City, who has written for InStyle, Fashionista, Harper’s Bazaar, and Revelist. While at the Millennial women’s lifestyle site Revelist, she managed the brand’s fashion-focused Facebook page and produced many photoshoots and video shoots, in addition to reporting news and long-form industry coverage.
Twitter: @AlanaMaryGrace | Instagram: @WhatMattersToMary | whatmatterstomary.com
Recent publications include:
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