Grandmacore and Grandpacore Aesthetic
If you find yourself longing for the smell of freshly-baked cookies and old potpourri, be prepared to fall in love with the grandmacore and grandpacore aesthetic. While it shares many similarities with cottagecore– a love of nature, escaping to a simpler time, handmade goods– it sets itself apart as distinctly more “tacky” and vintage, specifically emphasizing a set-in-your-ways nostalgia over whimsy and romance.
Much of the community prides itself on presenting with unconditional kindness and over-the-top generosity, much like a typical grandparent. They enjoy being a source of comfort and wisdom to those they love, though many who identify with the grandpacore aesthetic tend to be of few words compared to those who lean towards grandmacore.
You may hear discussion of who within a friend group is the “grandma” or “grandpa” friend, and it’s usually someone who prefers early nights, staying at home, or has a very particular hobby centered around a traditional skill.
Grandmacore Design Motifs and Themes
- Vintage florals
- Nostalgia and sentimentality
- Kitschy knick-knacks and cluttered bookshelves
- Baking as an act of love
- Handmade home decor
- “Ugly,” well-worn furniture, often with wood accents
- Cat-themed decor and pet cats
- Puzzles and crosswords
- Rocking chairs covered in homemade quilts
- Needlework
- Trinkets centered around a tacky theme like dolphins or horses
- Craft rooms, sewing machines, and fabric
- Gardening, plants, and farm animal-themed decorations
- Serving hot cups of tea with plenty of honey
- Reading cozy mysteries
- Lace, doilies, and airy curtains
- Scrapbooks and family photos
- Making bread or preserves
- Cozy, familiar comforts
Grandpacore Design Motifs and Themes
- An old, threadbare recliner
- Cluttered hobby spaces, such as garages or tool sheds
- Tinkering and woodwork
- Historical books, movies, and memorabilia
- Outdoor activities like fishing and birdwatching
- Favoring older technology over modern, i.e. carrying a pocketwatch instead of wearing a smartwatch
- Dull earth tones
- Sports, particularly golf or football
- Vintage cars
- Following the same routine every day
- Decorating around a single, central interest
- A sense of longing for “the good old days”
- Exaggerated storytelling and embellished memories
- Plaid and flannel patterns
- Gentle grouchiness
- Disregard for trendiness or how cool something is
Grandmacore Fashion
Grandmacore fashion is all about homemade comfort. It favors function over fashion by a wide margin, with loose silhouettes and extra-soft textures. Often, those in the grandmacore community will add embroidery or lace accents to thrift store finds, particularly oversized sweaters.
The grandmacore aesthetic is all about making “tacky” cool again, and more modern iterations pair vintage tops with mini skirts or high-waisted corduroys with crop tops. Color plays a vital role in making these trendier pairings appear more within the bounds of the aesthetic, with muted, dusty tones dominating most outfits.
- Vintage jewelry, broaches, and cameos
- Well-worn robes
- High-waisted jeans
- Knitted cardigans
- Embroidered details
- Aprons
- Hand-knit socks and scarves
- Fuzzy slippers
- Mary Janes, chunky sneakers, and two-strap Birkenstocks
- Nightgowns
- Leather handbags
- Neatly combed hair with natural makeup
- Eyeglass chains
Grandpacore Fashion
Grandpacore fashion is incredibly versatile, ranging from a tattered robe with socks and slippers to classic menswear with leather details. There are many subsets within the aesthetic’s fashion choices, though most fall into one of three categories: classic grandad, professor grandfather, or Florida-retirement grandpa.
- Sweaters with elbow patches
- Newsboy caps and baseball hats
- Crew-cut socks
- White sneakers
- Loafers
- Plaid or flannel button-downs
- Suspenders
- Cardigans
- High-waisted slacks
- Leather belts or watch straps
- Hawaiian shirts
- Wide-leg linen pants
- Above-the-knee shorts
- Bowties
- Canes and glasses
Grandmacore & Grandpacore Aesthetic Influential Media
Books
- Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson
“When retired Major Pettigrew strikes up an unlikely friendship with Mrs. Ali, the Pakistani village shopkeeper, he is drawn out of his regimented world and forced to confront the realities of life in the twenty-first century.”
- A Man Called Ove by Frederick Backman
“Meet Ove. He’s a curmudgeon—the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him ‘the bitter neighbor from hell.’ But must Ove be bitter just because he doesn’t walk around with a smile plastered to his face all the time?”
- Granny Chic: Crafty Recipes and Inspiration for the Handmade Home by Tif Fussell and Rachelle Blondel
“More than just a “how to” guide, Granny Chic inspires keen crafters hoping to breathe new life into vintage fabrics and second-hand objects. From handmade notebooks to lace lampshades and pinnies made from tea towels, each of the craft “recipes” brings the granny chic look to life whilst allowing you to give them your own personal twist.”
- The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules by Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg
“Martha Andersson may be seventy-nine years old and live in a retirement home, but that doesn’t mean she’s ready to stop enjoying life. So when the new management of Diamond House starts cutting corners to save money, Martha and her four closest friends—Brains, The Rake, Christina, and Anna-Gretta (a.k.a. The League of Pensioners)—won’t stand for it.”
- The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
“In the quiet village of Carriveau, Vianne Mauriac says goodbye to her husband, Antoine, as he heads for the Front. She doesn’t believe that the Nazis will invade France … but invade they do, in droves of marching soldiers, in caravans of trucks and tanks, in planes that fill the skies and drop bombs upon the innocent.”
- North American Bird Watching for Beginners by Sharon Stiteler
“From the tiny ruby-throated hummingbird to the powerful bald eagle, there’s a fascinating variety of unique and beautiful birds that call North America home. This compact field guide is the perfect introduction to birding. ”
- The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
“It is the summer of 1950–and at the once-grand mansion of Buckshaw, young Flavia de Luce, an aspiring chemist with a passion for poison, is intrigued by a series of inexplicable events: A dead bird is found on the doorstep, a postage stamp bizarrely pinned to its beak. Then, hours later, Flavia finds a man lying in the cucumber patch and watches him as he takes his dying breath.”
- Handmade Hugs: 55 Giftable Crochet Patterns by Daisy Farm Crafts
“Handmade Hugs is the latest pattern book from Daisy Farm Crafts! This book contains 55 achievable crochet patterns from the Daisy Farm Crafts website that are perfect for gifting.”
- History: From the Dawn of Civilization to the Present Day by Smithsonian Institute
“This comprehensive and compelling visual encyclopedia tells the story of our world in true depth and detail, from the origins of life on Earth right up until the 21st century. Human endeavor and achievement are charted and celebrated from every angle, alongside key events, groundbreaking ideas, political forces, and technological advances that have shaped our planet’s progress.”
Shows
“After her husband leaves her, young mother of two Miriam “Midge” Maisel discovers that she has a talent for stand-up comedy. Could this be her calling?”
“Professional writer and amateur sleuth Jessica Fletcher uses her intellect, charm, and persistence to get to the bottom of every crime she encounters.”
“Chronicles the lives of a group of midwives living in East London in the late 1950s to late 1960s.”
“Hotel owner Basil Fawlty’s incompetence, short fuse, and arrogance form a combination that ensures accidents and trouble are never far away.”
“Bakers attempt three challenges each week trying to impress the judges enough to go through to the next round and eventually are crowned Britain’s best amateur baker.”
“The minds behind history’s most iconic toy franchises discuss the rise (and sometimes fall) of their billion-dollar creations.”
Movies
“Julia Child’s story of her start in the cooking profession is intertwined with blogger Julie Powell’s 2002 challenge to cook all the recipes in Child’s first book.”
“Wyoming, early 1900s. Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid are the leaders of a band of outlaws. After a train robbery goes wrong they find themselves on the run with a posse hard on their heels. Their solution – escape to Bolivia.”
“Six tales of life and violence in the Old West, following a singing gunslinger, a bank robber, a traveling impresario, an elderly prospector, a wagon train, and a perverse pair of bounty hunters.”
“A single mother and waitress, a misanthropic author, and a gay artist form an unlikely friendship after the artist is assaulted in a robbery.”
“A silent film star falls for a chorus girl just as he and his delusionally jealous screen partner are trying to make the difficult transition to talking pictures in 1920s Hollywood.”
“A writer impulsively buys a villa in Tuscany in order to change her life.”
“Stella is a highly successful, forty-something San Francisco stock broker who is persuaded by her colorful New York girlfriend Delilah to take a well deserved, first-class vacation to Jamaica.”
Grandmacore & Grandpacore Aesthetic Resources and References
Internet Personalities and Social Media
- Kevin and Lill’s YouTube Channel
- Grand Illusions YouTube Channel
- Postmodern Jukebox YouTube Channel
- Grandma & Grandpa Griffiths YouTube Channel
Spotify Playlists
- Grandma-Core by joshlikesquash
- Grandpacore by karolinesnesrud
- Grandma’s Home by Spotify
- Grandparents Are in the Car by Tanner Jordan Kelly
Subreddits and Tumblr Blogs
Pinterest Boards
- —♡ grandmacore by suzy
- grandparentcore by JamesTheFlowerBoy
- Grandpa’s Cabin by hrplo
Podcasts
- Stories from Grandparents hosted by Robin MacEwan and Stephanie Poirier
- The Cool Grandpa Podcast hosted by Greg Payne
- From Grandma’s Bookshelf hosted by Amy Zook