Gen Whatever

It started with an innocuous TikTok, a casual observation of how to tell Gen Z and Millennials apart, the answer was the length of their socks, with Millennial tellingly obvious due to our funny little hidden trainer socks that make it look as though you aren’t wearing any socks, while Gen Z are proud sock wearers, frequently opting for white crew socks pulled proudly up to their shin, over leggings, with every type of shoe. 

The amusing annotation was click bait, the original clip has been viewed over 3million times, but the temptation for the internet to take the quip and drag it out until its no longer fit in the smart observational comedy category was too much and up sprung the lists, mocking the clothes that help identify millennials via their fashion choices, they included Breton tops, skinny jeans,“matchy matchy” clothes, high waisted trousers and the french tuck, all of which are now apparently (adopt moany teenage voice and extended vowels) so uncool. 

I am a Millennial (by the skin of my teeth) the original video creator was herself a hidden trainer sock wearing millennial but I initially took offence, I don’t wear trainer socks, have never been partial to a Breton top and I gave up skinny jeans a decade ago due to them doing nothing for my shape, but high waisted trousers and French tucks still feature heavily in my style and I didn’t like the idea of being deemed a fashion dinosaur, I am not ready to be put out to pasture. 

After sitting in the thought for a while, I pulled on my big girl (high waisted) pants dismissed the idea of being judged and reminded myself that Gen Z are not the arbiters of style, its more than ok if teenagers think my style is uncool, I’m not dressing for them, nor would I want to dress like them to win their approval. 

Having worn all the trends, grunge, boho, low-rise, cowboy boots, platforms, 90s, loungewear, along the way I have cherry picked anything that works for me, if yours happens to be a Breton top, so be it. 

I am more than happy with the 2024 version of style for the over 40s, women have never looked better, case in point, The cast of the Sex and the City reboot are the same age as the main characters in Golden Girls. 

Oh and Gen Z, skinny jeans were on the Miu Miu catwalk for autumn winter, just saying.