Finding My Coastal Grandmother Style: A Gender-Neutral Journey Through Kakobuy
I'll never forget the moment my partner borrowed my linen shirt for a beach walk last summer. It was an oversized cream piece I'd found through the Kakobuy spreadsheet, originally listed under women's categories. But as we stood there, both wearing flowing linen, canvas sneakers, and that effortlessly relaxed coastal grandmother aesthetic, something clicke the best style doesn't have a gender.
The Accidental Discovery of Gender-Neutral Elegance
My journey into gender-neutral coastal grandmother fashion started with a mistake. I was browsing through Kakobuy's spreadsheet late one night, searching for summer pieces, when I accidentally clicked into what I thought was a men's section. The oversized linen blazer I found was listed ambiguously, with measurements but no specific gender designation. I ordered it anyway, and whend I'd stumbled onto something special: clothing that simply existed beyond traditional categories.
The coastal grandmother trend, with its emphasis on relaxed silhouettes, natural fabrics, and timeless elegance, is inher Nancy Meyers movie characters: flowing button-downs, wide-leg trousers, chunky knit sweaters, and that perpetually windswept look that suggests you just returned from a morning walk along the shore. These pieces don't care who wears them, they just care about comfort and understated sophistication.
Navigating the Kakobuy Spreadsheet for Unisex Finds
The Kakobuy spreadsheet isn't organized by gender- categories, which initially frustrated me. But I learned to see this as an advantage. Without rigid categorization, I started looking at every section through a new lens. oversized cashmere sweater in the women's section? The measurements showed it would fit anyone. Those tailored linen trousers in men's? The relaxed cut worked beau of body type.
Here's my approach: I ignore the category labels entirely and focus on three things. First, measurements are everything. Coastal grandmother style thrives on oversized, relaxed fits, so I look for pieces with generous proportions. A shirt withcm bust measurement and dropped shoulders works for most body types when you're going for that effortlessly draped look. Second, I prioritize natural fabrics. Linen, cotton, cashmere, and wool are the foundations of this aesthetic and they photograph well in spreadsheet listings. Third, I search for neutral colors and classic patterns: cream, navy, soft gray, olive, and the occasional stripe or check.
My Essential Gender-Neutral Coastal Grandmother Pieces
Over the past year, I've built a small collection that my partner and I share freely. The star piece is an oversized white linen shirt from a seller I found through Kakobuy. It cost about $18, and we've both worn it dozens of times, styled differently each time. I tuck it into high-waisted tr my partner wears it open over a white tee with rolled chinos. Same shirt, completely different energy, equally coastal grandmother.
Then there's the navy cable-knit sweater that started arguments in our household, not about who wore it better, but about who got day. I found it listed with measurements that suggested a relaxed, slightly oversized fit. The chunky knit and boat neck design epitomize that New England coastal elegance. At $32, it's been worth every penny of clossharing negotiation.
The wide-leg linen trousers were another revelation. Listed in what appeared to be a men's section, they had an elastic waist and flowing silhouette that defied gender. In soft oatmeal color, they've become our go-to for everything from farmers market mornings to casual dinners. The beauty of coastal grandmother style is that these pieces work with sneakers, loafers, or even barefoot on actual beaches.
The Real-Life Test: A Weekend in Cape Cod
Last September, we took our gender-neutral coastal grandmother wardrobe on its ultimate test: a long weekend in Cape Cod. We packed light, sharing most pieces between us. My partner wore the cream linen shirt with navy shorts and canvas sneakers for a gallery opening. I wore the same shirt the next day, half-tucked into the wide-leg trousers with leather sandals for a seafood lunch.
What struck me most was how invisible we felt, in the best way possible. In a sea of tourists wearing obvious vacation clothes, we blended seamlessly with the locals in their timeless, unfussy elegance. An older woman at a bookop complimented my partner's outfit, asking where the linen shirt was from. When we explained our Kakobuy spreadsheet sourcing method, she laughed and said it reminded her of how she and her late husband used to shareaters in the seventies.
That moment crystallized something for me: coastal grandmother isn't about age or gender. It's about embracing a relaxed, confident approach to dressing that prioritizes comfort, quality, and timness over trends and labels.
Practical Tips for Building Your Shared Wardrobe
If you're interested in exploring gender-neutral coastal grandmother pieces through Kakobuy, start with the basics. Look for oversized button-down shirts in l The spreadsheet often has these listed between $15-25, and the relaxed fit means they work for various body types. Pay attention to shoulder width and length measurements rather than bust waist numbers.
Knitwear is your friend. Chunky sweaters, especially in neutral colors, are inherently unisex. I've found excellent options in the $25-40 range that rival much more expensive brands. Look for natural fiber content, even if it's a blend. The drape and feel makeFor bottoms, wide-leg trousers and relaxed-fit chinos are goldmines. The coastal grandmother aesthetic favors flowing silhouettes over fitted styles, which naturally lends itself to gender-neutral dressing. I've had anywhere from $20-35, focusing on elastic waists or drawstring closures for flexibility.
Don't overlook outerwear. A classic trench coat, barn jacket, or oversized blazer in a neutral color becomes wardrobe workhorse. These pieces often have the best cost-to-wear ratio because they work across seasons and with countless outfits. I found a beautiful olive barn jacket through the $45 that we both reach for constantly.
The Unexpected Joy of Shared Style
There's something deeply satisfying about building a wardrobe that isn't divided by arbitrary gender lines closet has become more streamlined, more intentional, and honestly, more interesting. We're not buying duplicate items in men's and women's versions. Instead, we're investing in fewer pieces that we both love and wear.
The financial aspect isn't insignificant either. By sharing a coastal grandmother wardrobe sourced through Kakobuy, we've probably cut our clothing expenses by forty percent while actually improving quality and cohesiveness of what we own. Every piece works with every other piece, creating endless combinations from a relatively small collection.
Beyond the Spreadsheet: Styling Gender-Neutral Coastal Grandmother
The beauty of this aesthetic is in the styling. The same oversized linen shirt transforms completely depending on how you wear it. Fully buttoned with the collar up and sleeves rolled gives a crisp, preppy vibe. Worn open over a tank top with loose linen pants creates an effortless beach-house elegance. Half-tucked into high-waisted trousers with loafers channels that Nancy Meyers protagonist energy.
Accessories make the difference too, and this is where personal style shines through. My partner gravitates toward simple leather watches and canvas belts. I prefer delicate gold jewelry and woven straw bags. But we're both wearing that same cream linen shirt, and it works perfectly for both aesthetics.
Footwear in the coastal grandmother world is refreshingly practical and gender-neutral. Canvas sneakers, leather loafers, simple sandals, and boat shoes all fit the aesthetic. I've found that investing slightly more in shoes, even outside the Kakobuy spreadsheet, makes sense because they ground the entire look.
The Bigger Picture: Fashion Beyond Labels
What started as a happy accident, clicking the wrong category in a spreadsheet, has genuinely changed how I think about clothing. The coastal grandmother aesthetic, with its emphasis on timeless elegance and comfort, naturally resists the rigid gender categories that dominate most fashion retail.
Shopping through Kakobuy's spreadsheet, where organization is loose and categories blur, has forced me to look at clothing more objectively. Does it fit? Is it well-made? Does it match the aesthetic I'm building? Will it work with what I already own? These questions matter so much more than whether something is marketed to men or women.
My partner and I joke that we've become those people who wear matching outfits, but it's not really matching. It's more like we're both drawing from the same carefully curated palette of relaxed, elegant, timeless pieces. Some days we coordinate accidentally because we're both reaching for the same aesthetic language.
Looking Forward: Building on the Foundation
As I continue exploring the Kakobuy spreadsheet, I'm always looking for pieces that fit this gender-neutral coastal grandmother vision. Recently, I've been eyeing oversized denim shirts, chunky cardigans, and wide-brim straw hats. The spreadsheet's ever-changing inventory means there's always something new to discover, some seller offering that perfect piece at an unexpectedly reasonable price.
The key is patience and knowing what you're looking for. I keep a running list of measurements that work well for both of us, along with notes about which sellers have provided quality pieces in the past. This makes browsing the spreadsheet more efficient and reduces the disappointment of items that don't work out.
What I love most about this approach is how it's made fashion feel less like consumption and more like curation. We're not chasing trends or buying things because they're marketed to us. We're building a shared wardrobe of pieces we genuinely love, that work for our lifestyle, and that happen to transcend traditional gender categories. That feels revolutionary in its own quiet, coastal grandmother way.