Do you have a pair of Issey Miyake Pleats Please?
Are you ignoring the trend for skinny sunglasses in favor of oversized frames?
If so, you may have more in common with the fashion of your grandparents' day than you think
Naomi Shimada, author, model and all-powerful and influential thinker: "I am and will be a fan of Pleats Please. Growing up in Japan, I've seen quite a few older women wear Pleats Please over the years. In fact, they're my favorite style icon right now."
Shimada is not alone in her passion for retirement style.
This youth-driven, comfort-centric trend has made Patagonia wool clothes and ergonomic Velcro sandals trendy. Let's face it, we're entering a fashion space that's usually dominated by the over-65s.
Let's deconstruct the qualities of retirement styling, shall we?
The retro trend first appeared on Instagram in 2017, and retirement style fans are not so keen on the mini sunglasses of the 90s as they prefer to wear large rimmed shades, such as a pair of colored plexiglass glasses by Scandinavian stylist SophiaRoe.
On a daily basis, the "retiree" likes to wear a crisp pressed white or pastel, unisex T-shirt, stretchy, ankle-length straight leg pants (without zippers), revealing a pair of striped aerobics socks and New Balance 608 sneakers.
You can also wear a zip-up mountaineering sweater, but we recommend British designer Ashley Williams' "Retirement collection," especially the "Retired and LovingIt' slogan sweater or vest."
Why is it suddenly fashionable to dress like a retired employee?
According to the CapitalOne report, "Today's retirees have the most enviable life: better health, more wealth and more time to enjoy life without the constraints of work."
But does the same idea apply to millennials? Those born between 1981 and 1996 have a self-motivated entrepreneurial spirit, and the unconventional career planning they have walked through, coupled with the rise of the "Self Care" culture, has revolutionized the work dress code for a new generation.
Unsurprisingly, the emergence of the retirement-wear trend has a lot to do with comfort - the most overlooked trait of haute couture.
For millennials, who move around more, comfort is a priority.
They pull out their smartphones in Prada crossbody bags and deal with their work and social lives on the go. Actress Juliette Telabelle echoed Shimada's praise for Pleats Please's high level of storage: "It doesn't take up any space in your bag, and it's incredibly light."
Labelle and her friend, Canadian artist Chloe Wise, are often spotted wearing Issey Miyake basics.
Comfort is also the sentiment behind Copenhagen-based label Saks Potts - arguably a fashion poster child for millennials (and Generation Z), with North West and rapper Cardi B among its loyal followers.
The brand is also teaming up with Danish brand Ecco to launch footwear, including cowboy boots and knee-high boots with the "SP" logo, which are - you guessed it - just the extra points a new generation needs.
"We always focus on materials, but comfort is the most important thing for us," explains Barbara Potts, founder of SaksPotts. "The Danes, in particular, like comfort," adds co-founder Catherine Saks.
The designer, who favours hot pink and glossy fabrics, is candid about the benefits of working with a brand that is particularly well-regarded for its expertise in designing for the elderly: innovation.
"Ecco has developed high-tech fabrics for Apple and Louis Vuitton."
"Their technology means that if we want to make leather that glows in the dark, it can be done," she explains, hinting at the under-explored possibilities of retirement style.
In an era when millennials are harnessed to a sustainable fashion future, our seniors' tried-and-true wardrobes offer more than just aesthetics.
Today, millennials are leading a fashion future built on sustainability, and the tried-and-tested style of their elders may be bringing a whole new way of thinking about this fashion revolution.
