Beginning his fashion career in 2008, Jonathan Anderson has gone on to make a name for himself with his contemporary twist on classics and lack of gender-specific clothing. The JW Anderson label was first pioneered through a collection of avant-garde accessories, swiftly moving into men and womenswear shortly thereafter. Nowadays, Anderson is also creative director at Italian fashion house Loewe, after securing both Menswear and Womenswear Designer of the Year wins under his belt—the first brand to ever do this.

It would be impossible for any designer to ignore fashion’s obsession with the past. The recycling of past trends has saturated most commercial markets, thanks to the likes of TikTok and Instagram. ‘Reliving’ has become a tool to help deal with the present moment. For Fall/Winter 2024, the Northern Irish designer stayed true to his roots with his version of the grandma trend: models wore silver curly wigs, had red lips and shuffled in shearling slippers. 

Anderson’s inspiration for the collection came from the renowned 1970’s British sitcom, Last of the Summer Wine, where working-class retirees wander about wearing woollen ensembles. Fast-forward, and many will be surprised that this working-class uniform might actually be ‘in’.

Anderson presented cream and navy lace lingerie sets reminiscent of six-pack knickers in thick plastic packets that were shocking in their refreshing normality. Oversized bubble dresses (looks 1 and 4) gave homemade knitwear a modern upgrade and looked striking against slicked-back ponytails and dewy skin. The mature woman was glamourised with a boxy, oversized grey trench (look 11) that embraced practicality and the solace of a timeless wardrobe staple. A sleek beige purse perfectly contrasted with an electric blue set (look 9) that served as a remembrance of the once-so-influential fuzzy angora.

Anderson’s ode to women over the years reminds us that nostalgic clothing doesn’t have to mean miniskirts and Y2K-esque glamour. He points wry fun with his caricatures but doesn’t hesitate to assure us that it's cool to age—there’s beauty in the routine of life.