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The Hamptons Aesthetic: When Coastal Grandma Gets a Trust Fund

Woman in a blue long-sleeve shirt, white wide-leg trousers, and a brown belt. She walks on a sandy beach holding a white and brown mini bucket bag.

Instagram/@ralphlauren

Okay, so picture this: your beloved Coastal Grandma? She just inherited a beachfront estate in East Hampton. Suddenly she's trading her thrifted linen blazer for Loro Piana and hiring someone to document her morning beach walks. Welcome to the Hamptons aesthetic—and honestly, it's taking over TikTok faster than you can say "summer share house."

See, if Coastal Grandma was all about that accessible seaside living and Coastal Granddaughter brought some youthful energy to nautical style, the Hamptons aesthetic is like... their impossibly chic relative. The one who summers in Gwyneth Paltrow's zip code. It's this whole style evolution that I didn't know I needed, but here I am, scrolling through it at 2 AM.

The Family Tree of Coastal Aesthetics

Woman on a boat wearing a white quarter-zip sweatshirt with an American flag patch and

Soft, simple, seaside-easy—Coastal Grandma in its best (don't let the name mislead you: you can wear this aesthetic even at 16). Instagram/@ellandemm_co

So let's trace this genealogy, shall we?

Coastal Grandma (2022): This was pure Nancy Meyers movies meets practical beach living. We're talking chunky knits, wide-leg khakis, and just this general vibe of "I make excellent clam chowder and have strong opinions about hydrangeas."

Coastal Granddaughter (2023): The younger, slightly edgier version showed up next. Those striped shirts? Cropped. The khakis? Now they're mini skirts. And suddenly there's gold jewelry everywhere. She's the one reading Sally Rooney on the beach instead of Elin Hilderbrand.

Hamptons Aesthetic (2024-2025): And here we have the trust fund baby of the family. This is what happens when coastal style meets old money aesthetics and gets filtered through that whole "quiet luxury" thing that dominated since 2023. It's still coastal, but now it's expensive.

Decoding the Hamptons Look: A Field Guide

Woman in navy polo, white eyelet skirt, navy sweater tied at waist, carrying a white and navy tote bag. She wears white sneakers and sunglasses.

Tennis core always works great in any luxury-inspired aesthetics. TNUCK SPORT (Tuckernuck sport line) at tnuck.com

The Color Palette: Neutrals on Steroids

So Coastal Grandma loved her soft blues and sandy beiges, right? Well, the Hamptons aesthetic said "hold my champagne" and went full neutral maximalist:

  • Crisp whites (but never stark—think cream, ivory, oyster)
  • Navy so deep it's almost black
  • Camel and cognac leather accents
  • The occasional pop of Kelly green or coral (for the golf club)
  • Metallics limited to aged brass and white gold

The key? Everything looks expensive because it probably is—or at least gives that impression.

The Textures: Luxury You Can Touch

Woman in a light beige crewneck sweater, white wide-leg cropped jeans, and a black belt. She wears a chunky gold necklace and bracelet.

Cashmere elevates everything. Always. J.Crew at jcrew.com

This is where Hamptons really separates itself from its coastal predecessors:

  • Cashmere knits replace cotton cable-knits
  • Silk scarves (worn as headbands, belt alternatives, or bag accessories)
  • Buttery leather in unexpected places (baseball caps, beach totes)
  • Belgian linen that somehow never wrinkles
  • Rope details but make them yacht-worthy

The Silhouettes: Relaxed Refinement

Woman sitting on a boat, wearing a cream and dark brown striped short-sleeve knit top, white shorts, and oval sunglasses.

Tailored? Yes. Intentional? Definitely. Relaxed? Better be. Instagram/@brunellocucinelli_brand

The shapes borrow from both grandma and granddaughter but elevate everything:

  1. Oversized but Intentional: Blazers are boxy but impeccably tailored. And those shirts? They're loose, sure, but someone pressed them like their life depended on it.
  2. The High-Low Hemline Game: You'll see midi skirts with cropped cashmere sweaters. Or my personal favorite: floor-length sundresses paired with tennis shoes. (Except they're Brunello Cucinelli sneakers, because of course they are.)
  3. Proportion Play: Wide-leg trousers with fitted polos. Or those tiny shorts with oversized button-downs—you know, sleeves rolled just so.

The Hamptons Wardrobe: Essential Pieces

Woman in a navy midi shirt dress with balloon sleeves, blue paisley bandana sash, brown knee-high boots, and a small brown shoulder bag.

Classic shirtdress can be a great addition to Hamptons wardrobe—and it transitions from summer to fall seamlessly. Tuckernuck at tnuck.com

The Non-Negotiables:

The White Shirt Reimagined: Listen, this isn't just any white shirt. We're talking mother-of-pearl buttons, French seams, maybe a monogram on the cuff that whispers rather than shouts.

The Tennis Skirt That Never Sees a Court: Pleated, pristine, probably Sporty & Rich or some vintage Lacoste find. The thing is, you wear it with loafers to lunch, never sneakers to actually play tennis.

The Cashmere Sweater Collection: Here's the thing about these sweaters—they're draped over shoulders, tied around waists, sometimes actually worn. But they always exist in that perfect state between "I just threw this on" and "This cost more than your car payment."

The Investment Bag: A Bottega Veneta Jodie, a Celine bucket bag, or (for the truly initiated) a vintage Hermès canvas tote. There's not a logo in sight, but if you know, you know.

The Perfect Trouser: These are high-waisted, wide-legged, and in some neutral that mysteriously goes with everything. Pressed with a crease that could cut glass.

The Surprising Additions:

Woman in a navy blue trench coat, dark wash denim baseball cap embroidered with 'Daughter', and brown and white sneakers.

Baseball cap is a perfect accessory to make any luxurious outfit cooler and edgier. Favorite Daughter at shopfavoritedaughter.com

  • Baseball caps (but leather or suede)
  • Vintage band tees (worn under blazers)
  • Men's watches (inherited, preferably)
  • Wellies (for those Hampton Classics horse shows)
  • Caftans (but structured, architectural ones)

Making It Actually Accessible

Alright, let's get real for a second. Most of us aren't summering anywhere fancy or casually shopping on Madison Avenue. But here's what I love about this aesthetic—it's really more about curation than accumulation.

The High-Low Strategy:

Woman in a white knit top with an American flag graphic and navy shorts. She sits on a blue patterned towel with 'Riebe' printed on it.

Less 'most expensive,' more 'effortless, relaxed, quietly luxurious'—that's Hamptons. Instagram/@sailtosable

Invest in:

  • One perfect white shirt (COS or Everlane do gorgeous ones without requiring a trust fund)
  • A genuine leather accessory—could be a bag, belt, or shoes
  • Quality sunglasses (because let's be honest, they're in every photo)
  • Real gold or silver jewelry (even if it's just simple hoops)

Save on:

  • Basic tees and tanks (Uniqlo's Airism line is perfect)
  • Linen pants (Old Navy does surprisingly good ones)
  • Striped shirts (literally everywhere sells these)
  • And those canvas totes? L.L.Bean makes them for a fraction of designer prices

The Mindset Shift:

Woman in a cream belted safari jacket, white wide-leg trousers, brown sunglasses, and dangling earrings. She holds a brown top-handle tote bag.

Born of old-money style and coastal-prep ease, the Hamptons aesthetic takes the best of both. Instagram/@ralphlauren

Here's the thing about the Hamptons aesthetic—it's not actually about having money. It's about looking like money isn't even something that crosses your mind. Which basically means:

  1. Quality over quantity: Three perfect pieces beat thirty mediocre ones every time
  2. Impeccable maintenance: Steam everything, polish those shoes, actually care for your clothes
  3. Understated confidence: No logos screaming for attention
  4. Timelessness: Choose pieces your theoretical granddaughter would want to steal

The TikTok Effect: Why Now?

Woman in a light brown and white striped oversized shirt, light wash straight-leg jeans, and dark brown loafers. She sits on a white stool.

All summer long it was Hamptons-inspired everything—and the vibe isn't slowing down for fall. Favorite Daughter at shopfavoritedaughter.com

So why is the Hamptons aesthetic suddenly everywhere on TikTok? I have theories:

The "Old Money" Evolution: After months of quiet luxury content, people were craving something with actual personality—but still with that aspirational quality.

The Escapism Factor: Look, times are weird. There's something really appealing about a style that suggests generational stability and, like, endless summer afternoons.

The Achievable Aspiration: Unlike some luxury trends, you can actually approximate this one on a budget if you know what you're doing.

The Content Gold Mine: Between "Hamptons summer house tours" and "pack with me for the Hamptons" videos, it's basically made for TikTok.

Putting It All Together: Your Hamptons Starter Pack

Woman in a studio, wearing a short dark grey corduroy button-up dress, black and white striped sweater, and tan knee-high boots.

Shop your closet first; the Hamptons essentials might already be there. Boden at boden.com

So you want to try this out? Here's your beginner's formula:

The Weekend Uniform:

Woman wearing a cream and navy striped knit button-up top, cream pants, a gold layered necklace, and a green ring.

Go for nautical classic—stripes, white/blue color scheme—and elevate it with jewelry. Sezane at sezane.com

  • Those high-waisted white jeans (or linen trousers if it's still hot)
  • A striped boatneck top or just a really good white shirt
  • Leather slides or pristine white sneakers
  • Structured straw or leather bag
  • Some gold jewelry—hoops are good, maybe a watch, possibly a signet ring if you're feeling it
  • And obviously, oversized sunglasses

The Evening Elevation:

Woman by a white fence, wearing an oversized navy double-breasted blazer, light blue shirt, white trousers, and carrying a tan tote bag.

Take your daytime outfit into night: keep the base, add a third piece, switch accessories. Instagram/@ralphlauren

  • Swap slides for espadrilles
  • Add a lightweight blazer or cashmere wrap
  • Switch to a leather clutch or bag
  • Maybe add a silk scarf as a belt

The Beach Version:

Woman in a garden, wearing a dusky blue one-piece swimsuit with a deep V-neck and a white sheer open button-up shirt.

Of all Hamptons-inspired outfits, beach looks should be the breeziest. Summersalt at summersalt.com

  • One-piece swimsuit in shades of blue or black
  • Oversized white shirt as cover-up
  • Wide-brim hat (not floppy—structured)
  • Turkish towel (not a regular beach towel)
  • Canvas and leather tote

The Reality Check

Woman in a studio, wearing a cream cable-knit sweater, cream pleated maxi skirt, white flats, and carrying a brown tote bag.

At its core, the Hamptons aesthetic is minimalist, clean, and coastal—so creating the look isn't hard. Jenni Kayne at jennikayne.com

Let's be honest: the Hamptons aesthetic is basically cosplaying generational wealth. And you know what? That's exactly what makes it fascinating as a TikTok trend. It's this whole thing where aspiration gets dressed up as accessibility, where privilege gets repackaged as minimalism.

But here's how you pull it off without looking like you're trying too hard—you embrace the parts that actually resonate with your real life. Sure, maybe you're not helicopter-commuting to your beach house. But you can still appreciate a perfectly pressed white shirt and some well-chosen accessories, right?

Your Hamptons Homework

Woman wearing black sunglasses, a navy blazer, white collared shirt, white mini skirt, and white flip-flops. A bag says

Captain's blazer? Fantastic for a Hamptons wardrobe. Tennis skirt? Same. White button-down? Works with everything. Put them together—instant Hamptons, quiet-luxury, trust-fund vibes. Kule at kule.com

  1. The Closet Edit: Channel your inner Marie Kondo but ask "Does this spark expensive joy?" Keep only pieces that feel elevated.
  2. The Quality Hunt: Find one vintage or secondhand designer piece that captures the aesthetic. Patience pays off here.
  3. The Maintenance Routine: Invest in a steamer, leather conditioner, and good hangers. Taking care of what you have is very Hamptons.
  4. The Confidence Practice: Wear your simplest outfit but act like it cost thousands. The attitude is half the aesthetic.
  5. The Documentation: If you're going to participate in the TikTok trend, lean into the fantasy. Morning light, architectural backgrounds, carefully casual positioning.

One More Thing You Should Know

Woman in a studio, wearing a navy short-sleeved midi dress with gold buttons down the front and black T-strap kitten heels.

It's not just the pieces; it's the vibe: relaxed confidence is peak Hamptons. Boden at boden.com

The Hamptons aesthetic is Coastal Grandma's evolution—not better, just different. Where Grandma was approachable and Granddaughter was playful, Hamptons is polished. It's the coastal style that went to Swiss finishing school and came back unable to shop at Target.

But you want to know the secret? Like all the best trends, it's not actually about the clothes. Not really. It's about that feeling—you know, that sense of ease when you know you look put-together. The confidence that comes from quality over quantity. That specific joy of having a perfectly curated wardrobe.

Whether you're actually headed to the Hamptons or just to your local beach (or let's be real, just to get coffee), this aesthetic is a reminder. Sometimes? The best luxury is looking like you're not trying at all.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go practice my "casually draping cashmere over my shoulders" technique. East End, here I come—even if it's just in spirit.

The Shopping List: Hamptons on Every Budget

Woman wearing a cream and navy striped knit polo sweater over a light blue denim shirt, cream shorts, and brown leather loafers.

No need to break the bank—the beauty of basics is you can find them almost anywhere. Faherty at fahertybrand.com

Under $50:

  • White cotton poplin shirt (Uniqlo, COS)
  • Striped boatneck tee (Armor Lux, Saint James on sale)
  • Canvas tote (L.L.Bean Boat and Tote)
  • Leather slides (Sam Edelman sales)

Under $150:

  • Linen trousers (Reformation, Everlane)
  • Cashmere sweater (Quince, Naadam)
  • That structured straw bag everyone has (check Mango or & Other Stories)
  • Gold hoops (Mejuri or Jenny Bird do beautiful ones)

Investment Pieces:

Woman in black jacket, striped top, cream shorts, and man in black shirt, sunglasses, in a vintage car by a beach.

Instagram/@armorluxofficiel

  • The perfect blazer (Theory, Vince)
  • Leather bag (Polene, Mansur Gavriel)
  • Designer sunglasses—Celine or Bottega if you're going for it
  • And if you're really lucky? A vintage Cartier Tank watch

The Thrift Store Goldmine:

  • Vintage Ralph Lauren anything
  • Silk scarves (Hermès if you're blessed by the thrift gods)
  • Men's watches
  • Leather accessories
  • Cable knit sweaters (the oversized ones are perfect)

Look, it's not about having everything. Never was. It's about having the right things and wearing them like you've always had them. That, my friends, is the true Hamptons way.

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