How the Coast Shapes Our Style
May dip. Pier walks. Cold water swims. There's no doubt that St Andrews students make the most of being by the sea. And it’s no secret that their outfits do too.
During the warmer months, at the beginning and end of each academic year, I find myself wanting to dress ready for impromptu beach trips at all times. One of the biggest perks of living in a Fife coastal town is never being far from the sand and sea, something which I now realise has more of an impact on how students dress than I first thought. Humanities students, like myself, can understand the luxury of being able to pop to Castle Sands in between lectures, often instead of a well needed trip to the library. Having a versatile wardrobe can allow for a preppy ‘windswept’ look for class which transcends into a relaxed and comfortable outfit for the beach. But it isn't only in September and May that St Andrews' students reach for beach attire, the seaside style runs all throughout the year.
Even in the freezing Scottish winter, St Andrews students seem to look beach ready. From Boston clogs to Speltham striped trousers, ‘euro girl’ summer trends bleed well into the Autumn months. Despite the notorious northern wind, Toms Trunks linen trousers (the ones with a coloured stripe down the side) can be seen on one in five people on Market Street - if you don't believe me, test it out. As someone who has previously owned a pair and worn them in the snow, they fail to be as practical as they are stylish. So, you only have to walk down the streets of St Andrews to spot these items of clothing, but where else, apart from the environment itself, can they be traced back to? The answer is Social Media, more specifically Instagram and TikTok.
The coastal style trend is owed to the rise of the ‘coastal grandmother’ aesthetic on Pinterest and TikTok. In March 2022, Tiktoker Lex Nicoleta coined the term 'coastal grandmother'. Nicoleta was inspired by Southern Coastal American style and unknown to her, it blew up to be one of the most popular style and lifestyle trends of this year. This embodies not only white linen shirts, tortoise shell sunglasses and Birkenstocks but also farmers markets trips, mindful walks and preparing home grown vegetables. But it's important to remember that in order to become a part of this trend, there is no need to live by the sea, nor be an octogenarian. Matilda Djerf is another influencer who combines 'coastal grandmother' with 'scandi style'. Djerf has risen to fame through content creation and now is the founder of brand Djerf avenue which 'focuses on producing not only a brand but a community'. Her ‘community style’ encapsulates a variety of white, blue and neutral pieces which can be worn all year round, inspiring a practical yet put together way to dress.
Looking around, as British summer time comes to an end, ‘coastal grandmother’ and other TikTok style trends can still easily progress from summer into winter style. Arizonas swapped for Bostons, cotton boxers swapped for thicker linen trousers and quilted jackets replaced with puffas. Getting to grips with the coastal aesthetic has never been easier. A simple starter pack could include: white shirts, blue and white trousers and a large collection of Adanola shades.
As for me, my friends would say I only wear two colours: Blue and white. What can I say? I’ve been a coastal granddaughter from the start.
Photography by Charlotte El Hage