I grew up living the real 'coastal grandmother' lifestyle. Here are 7 things TikTok got right and wrong about the trend.

Allison KenienAug 6, 2022, 19:05 IST

Diane Keaton in the Nancy Meyers movie "Something's Gotta Give" has become inspiration for TikTok's coastal grandmother trend.Warner Bros. Pictures/Columbia Pictures

On TikTok, an aesthetic called "coastal grandmother" has blown up over the summer.
Inspired by Diane Keaton, it features white clothing, big salads, outdoor meals, and hydrangeas.

The "coastal grandmother" trend has taken over TikTok this summer.

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I've been immersed in the real coastal grandmother lifestyle my whole life.

Allison Kenien with her mother and daughter.Allison Kenien

There's more to coastal grandmother fashion than TikTok realizes.

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The emphasis on gardening and flowers is spot on.

Hydrangeas are the most popular coastal grandmother flower on TikTok.Maryna Andriichenko/Getty

Coastal neighborhoods do tend to have the distinctive look TikTok has noticed.

American flags are common in traditional coastal towns.Grace Cary/Getty

A common decor item TikTok thinks of as a trend is more about practicality.

Lemons are very common in coastal kitchens.VICUSCHKA/Getty

The food TikTok thinks coastal grandmothers eat isn't entirely accurate.

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TikTok is right about the coastal grandmother love of tea parties and antique china.

Antique china is common in some coastal families.Bignai/Getty Images

My real coastal grandmother would not be impressed by the Spotify playlist attached to the trend.

Spotify's coastal grandmother playlist.Spotify

Overall TikTok has captured the spirit of my coastal-grandmother experience.

Writer Allison Kenien with her coastal grandmother.Allison Kenien

I spent the weekend in this LGBTQ-celebratory town just north of San Francisco, and it felt like a queer spin on small-town America

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I grew up living the real 'coastal grandmother' lifestyle. Here are 7 things TikTok got right and wrong about the trend.

The "coastal grandmother" trend has taken over TikTok this summer.

I've been immersed in the real coastal grandmother lifestyle my whole life.

There's more to coastal grandmother fashion than TikTok realizes.

The emphasis on gardening and flowers is spot on.

Coastal neighborhoods do tend to have the distinctive look TikTok has noticed.

A common decor item TikTok thinks of as a trend is more about practicality.

The food TikTok thinks coastal grandmothers eat isn't entirely accurate.

TikTok is right about the coastal grandmother love of tea parties and antique china.

My real coastal grandmother would not be impressed by the Spotify playlist attached to the trend.

Overall TikTok has captured the spirit of my coastal-grandmother experience.