Our Moms and Grandmothers Taught Us Everything We Know About Style

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Contents

Brooke Bobb, Fashion News Director Jaclyn Alexandra Cohen, Senior Fashion and Accessories Editor Lynette Nylander, Executive Digital Director Olivia Alchek, Senior Designer Bianca Betancourt, Culture Editor Faith Brown, Senior Social Media Editor Tiffany Dodson Davis, Beauty Commerce Editor Rosa Sanchez, Senior News Editor Julie Tong, Senior Commerce Content Lead Chelsey Sanchez, Editor Kristina Ang, Social Video Coordinater Daisy Maldonado, Editor Jil Derryberry, Research Chief

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but often, the look starts the conversation. Flipping through dusty family albums or scrolling through a particular year and month on your phone can bring up critical sartorial touchpoints—a black and white photo of your aunt in a divine skirt suit and hat, a disposable camera snap of a family friend in a blouse poufed up with ridiculous shoulder pads, a Facebook photo of a high school friend wearing a Y2K-era scarf top. These snapshots can be tiny glimpses into our own personal style choices, the people and pieces of clothing that have informed, even accidentally, our approaches to fashion. And few are more important or impactful than those belonging to the matriarchs in our lives—the mothers, grandmothers, and aunts (biological or chosen, gender conforming or not) who taught us how to dress.

Coincidentally, there were many instances of matriarchal style on the Fall 2025 runways. Those like Miuccia Prada and Silvia Fendi subverted ideas of classically feminine, ladylike dress, while designers like Diotima’s Rachel Scott and Simone Rocha offered a complex and contemporary version. The style of the sciuras—painfully chic Italian women of a certain age—has also been reigning supreme in the collections and on the streets. Whatever the range of classic matriarch style is, the throughline is the “mother” figure as fashion inspiration.

Here at Harper’s Bazaar, we see our own mothers and grandmothers as style North Stars, women who have taught us how to love clothes, how to wear them, and how to treasure them forever. We have our own priceless photos that we return to time and again to get the look, those that show a fabulous belt, a perfect Sunday hat, or a brilliantly curated collection of bags. Below, these are the matriarchs in our lives whose fashion choices spoke or continue to speak volumes, for them, and now, for us.

Brooke Bobb, Fashion News Director

brooke mom — My grandmother, Marguriet Bobb. Courtesy of Brooke Bobb

So much of my love of fashion comes from my incredibly stylish Mom, but I have to say that the first woman who really taught me what it means to be truly chic was my grandmother, Mimi. She was someone who adored clothes–perfectly tailored cropped jackets, candy-colored blouses, giant belts with sculptural clasps, and her signature door knocker earrings that left her lobes permanently stretched. Though she was something of a sartorial peacock, I have always loved the simplicity of this particular look (not entirely sure of the date or place but likely in the 1950s), with her long tunic dress and matching trousers, the minimalist hoops, and elegant opera gloves decorated with a little bangle. She grew up in a small house on the South Side of Chicago, then raised her family there, and she never had anything expensive or ostentatious. She didn’t pay any mind to trends. To her, getting dressed wasn’t about that. It was a sacred ritual, a way to express strength and grace and creativity. “Elegant” was a word Mimi used to describe everything–decor, dinner, a dress, a day, or a mood–and it’s a word I come back to over and over again when I think about her style. I hold on to her elegance every day, imbuing her flair and love of fashion into my own wardrobe as much as I can, including those statement belts I was lucky enough to inherit.

Jaclyn Alexandra Cohen, Senior Fashion and Accessories Editor

jaclyn mom and grandma — On left: my mother, Joan Cohen. Middle: My mom at her high school graduation with my grandmother, Dorothy Grayson. On right: my grandma. Courtesy of Jaclyn Alexandra Cohen

For as long as I can remember, my mother has had a love for style and personal touches. When I was little, my sisters, Samantha and Marley, and I never left the house without hairbows, Mary-Jane shoes, and socks with lace trim folded over. So much of my love for fashion and curation (the hunt of finding something special), comes from my mom. She was a working mom (still is!) and early on in her career, she practiced both law and philanthropic work, so I always remember her wardrobe being balanced. She has the chicest tailored daywear separates but also loves to get dressed up, especially when it comes to jewelry. She’s extremely modest and will cringe at me sharing this, but it’s truly a dream collection of the most glamorous pieces that include diamonds and gemstones. They’re like incredible works of art. My mom always taught me that you don’t need to wear everything you own at once or be too showy. While so much of what I wear today is inspired by my mom, the inspiration for my style comes from my Nanny, who lived until 91, had a manicure during her last breath. She was full of life when it came to fashion, which I can describe in one word: fabulous! She wore hats, prints, and furs, and never had a flat shoe on—even her house slippers were satin wedge slippers from Paris. She was so graceful, but also unapologetically glamorous, and she taught me to lean into the joy of dressing.

Lynette Nylander, Executive Digital Director

lynette mom — My mother, Vivat Nylander. courtesy lynette nylander

This is a picture of my Mom when she was young. I am pretty sure it was the ’60s, and it completely encompasses everything about her and the decade. Kind of mod, feminine, and was tailored perfectly for her slight frame. My mother’s style really informs my love of fashion now. An appreciation of the bespoke, a freak about fit, and a lover of hats! She really understood that every day is an excuse for a major style moment, and I like to think I inherited that spirit.

Olivia Alchek, Senior Designer

nancy — On left: My mother, Nancy Sloan Alchek in a Ralph Lauren dress, with my grandmother in 1983. On right: My mom and dad (Elliot Alchek) in 2025. Courtesy of Olivia Alchek

A couple of weeks ago, I received a FaceTime call from my mom. She wanted to show me the outfit she was wearing to a rehearsal dinner that evening. “You’re going to be the most fashionable guest there!” I squealed to her. It was a ruffled, polka dot printed Celine dress, paired with a pair of sequin-embellished Chanel slingbacks. This has always been one of our favorite pastimes—talking about fashion, asking for outfit advice, gushing over style. I attribute my love of fashion and art (and my career at Harper’s Bazaar) to my mother, the chicest person I know. She has taught me so much about personal style, the best pieces to invest in, what makes an outfit great, and the importance of really good tailoring. “I’m not in the design business, I’m in the re-design business!” She always says. I’m 29 years old, and I still text her selfies from the dressing room asking for advice. My mother has always been incredibly chic, and this recent outfit embodies her personal style perfectly—classic pieces, fun and playful details, and all around FABULOUS! I’m so lucky to have learned from the best (and occasionally, borrow from her closet).

Bianca Betancourt, Culture Editor

My mother has been obsessed with the concept of personal style for as long as I can remember, and she also insisted on picking out my school outfits until I was about 12. I love these two photos because they were both of my mom (and dad!) before they left the DMV (DC/Maryland/Virginia) area and moved out west to Arizona. There was a big difference between how my mom dressed on the East coast versus the West—she always says no one in Arizona likes to dress up, and that’s one of the only things she misses about being back East. The first photo is very much the Betancourt version of “Sunday Best,” with my mom in a power pantsuit and me in a lavender dress (she was always obsessed with putting me in purple!). The second photo of my parents I love because decades later, I wore a modern version of this black lace number for my rehearsal dinner during my wedding weekend, and subconsciously channeled a bit of my mom for the evening.

faith grandma — My grandmother, Marta Gabre-Tsadick. Courtesy of Faith Brown

This is my grandmother at 90 years old. For as long as I can remember, she had this coat. Her wardrobe was minimal but very fabulous. More than anyone I knew, she cared very little about labels, but appreciated fine tailoring and even finer fabrics. Among all of the great lessons I learned from her, quality over quantity—not just in clothes but also in life—was surely chief among them.

Tiffany Dodson Davis, Beauty Commerce Editor

tiffany mom — On left: Me with my mother, Gail Young Howerton. On right: My mother (middle) with family members, Gertrude Keller (left) and Juanita Cooper (right). Courtesy of Tiffany Dodson Davis

My mom has been my ultimate fashion and beauty muse for as long as I can remember, and has always been unapologetic about expressing her personal style. Whether she’s wearing a baseball cap, printed bomber jacket with a matching clutch, and pair of oversized eyeglasses (an accessory of hers I’ve always coveted) to a football game, or a pair of diamond earrings and a silk pussybow blouse to a bridal shower, it’s clear she’s never been a trend follower but rather, a trend setter. My mom’s authenticity throughout my life, in all ways, has made it easier for me to be the most authentic version of myself, too.

Rosa Sanchez, Senior News Editor

rosa mom — My mother, Rosa Elena Peniche. courtesy of rosa sanchez

My mother has always instilled in me the trust to be myself. While she’s not someone who follows all the trends, or the latest who’s who in fashion, I’ve always appreciated the comfort and ease that she brought to her own wardrobe—a quality that she’s instilled in me to this day. Hence, I’m not a high-heels or mini-dress type of woman: if I’m not comfortable, you won’t find me wearing it. Thank you, Mom, for being the best type of style icon: Someone who is just yourself.

Julie Tong, Senior Commerce Content Lead

julie mom — My mother, Yenphi Le. Courtesy of Julie Tong

Chelsey Sanchez, Editor

chelsey mom — On left: My mother, Shirley Nayoan with a friend. On right: Me with my mom. courtesy of chelsey sanchez

There are three things that always come to mind when I think about my mother’s style. Her devotion to white gold jewelry is one, and the diamond-encrusted butterfly pendant necklace she has worn for my entire life is another. Thirdly, whatever trends come and go (and she’s not afraid to try them all, if her recent inclination towards Gen Z-approved baggy jeans suggests anything), by far her most enduring constant is her passion for designer bags. Her collection—Fendi, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Chanel—has been carefully and intentionally curated over the years, starting when she was a single working mom to now, as a flourishing businesswoman. She’s proof that true personal style is merely a test of patience and commitment. From her, I inherited a taste for signature statement jewelry and my love of a good deal.

kristina grandma — My grandmother, Ya Mei Shen. courtesy of kristina ang

These images of my grandma—and honestly, any images I have of her—live rent-free in my head every day. Even though my grandma’s no longer with us, her impeccable style and taste have continued to influence the choices I make in my own style. As you can see from these photos, my grandma loved to accessorize. I was very lucky to inherit a lot of her personal jewelry and accessories—you can only imagine the fights that broke out between my twin sister and I about who would get what. Since both my grandma and my mom wore glasses, it made me more confident in wearing my glasses–a pair of rose gold aviators–for every and any occasion.

Daisy Maldonado, Editor

daisy mom — My mother, Ericka Morales. courtesy of daisy maldonado

I took this photo of my mom in Crete, Greece. It’s one of my favorites because of how seamlessly she and her outfit seem to match the vibrant beauty around her. My mom has always had an unapologetic love for anything bold and colorful. She likes making an entrance and has never been shy about it. In the photo, she’s wearing this stunning vintage blue mini dress with a plunging neckline, paired with her trusty Gucci belt—definitely past its trend peak, but still one of her most-loved accessories. Mind you, we were just headed to the beach that day, hence the strappy sandals. I think that’s what I admire most about my mom: she lives life in full color, no matter the situation. I remember teasing her for being so dressed up on our “chill day,” she just shrugged it off with a laugh and said, “This is me on vacation.”

Jil Derryberry, Research Chief

jill mom grandma — Left image: My grandmother, Jean Elna Derryberry (at right), circa 1925. Right image: “Mommy Bird” Diane Derryberry. courtesy of jil derryberry

Left Image: My Grandmother Jean Elna Derryberry (at right), circa 1925 was always perfectly accessorized from head to toe. Remember, if your shoes don’t match your handbag, or your parure isn’t quite right, there is time to change. Right Image: “Mommy Bird” Diane Derryberry. Five decades of style for every season, as well as the most incredible hand-crafted costumes for any occasion.

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