13 Ways to Copy Anne Hathaway's 'Cool Mom' Aesthetic from 'The Idea of You'
As always, Anne Hathaway is cosmically gorgeous in her new movie, and we are head over heels for our wardrobe.
Her character in The Idea of You, Soléne, perfectly embodies the “cool mom” vibe, finding the balance between mature and hot. No matter your age, you can curate this effortlessly stylish aesthetic with the right mindset.
To help you look as dazzling and elegant as Anne, we have some advice for tapping into your inner cool mom. From selecting the right colors to striking the right level of luxury, this is your guide to looking like a fabulously cool mom.
Parisian Meets Boho
The costume designer for The Idea of You, Jacqueline Demeterio, talked to Elle about her inspiration for Anne Hathaway’s wardrobe. One thing that she said that we think captures the cool mom aesthetic well is that she blended Parisian fashion with boho vibes.
Parisian fashion is sophisticated and stylish without being flashy. Boho has a casual and natural aura, and using it as inspiration can create effortless looks. This is the essence of the cool mom: look fabulous but not too* fabulous.
Effortless Basics
First, make sure you have an excellent collection of basics. This means jeans, plain white and black T-shirts, neutral tank tops, simple slacks, etc. These won’t be the stars of the show, but they’re the foundation of a smart wardrobe.
In her interview with Elle, Demeterio specifically mentions how useful a pair of vintage jeans was in curating Hathaway’s outfits. The cool mom should never look like she’s trying to be cool, and basics create that casual and easygoing vibe.
Between Shy and Sensual
Of course, The Idea of You is a romance at its core. Therefore, Hathaway had a few moments of sensual appeal. However, the cool mom would never wear something raunchy or super revealing.
The key here is finding the balance between modesty and sexiness. You shouldn’t look like you’re heading to a nightclub — or worse, working at a nightclub. You can curate attractive and saucy looks without plunging necklines, short hems, cropped tops, or backless clothes.
The Perfect Fit
Any designer or stylist will tell you that the best way to look good and feel confident is to buy clothes that genuinely fit you and your body type. If you try something on and it’s almost* the perfect fit, it should be a no-go. Things should feel natural on you and complement your particular figure.
Clothes that are even a little too big make you look frumpy, while clothes that are too small look trashy. We highly recommend taking your measurements to better understand your ideal sizing. Furthermore, you can have clothes professionally tailored.
Luxurious and Laidback
We need to find a happy medium between sexy and shy, but we also need a balance between luxury and laidback. In the film, Hathaway’s character wears designer labels like Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci, and Alaïa.
However, she’s not decked in designer items from head to toe. She might have one or two designer pieces mixed with more casual items. Add some high-end, luxury pieces to your wardrobe, but don’t be afraid to shop the discount bins, thrift shops, and department stores.
Don’t Be Loud
We don’t mean vocally loud, although screaming obnoxiously wouldn’t be very cool-mom of you. Your outfits need to feel effortless and chic, not flamboyant and audacious. Avoid dramatic or conceptual pieces that resist elegance.
For example, metal-studded platform boots are a bit much. A dress with dramatic ruffles will look over the top. A good rule of thumb is to have no more than one statement piece or daring item on at once.
Modish but Mature
Cool moms don’t wear outdated styles. Cool moms are in the loop. You don’t need to completely avoid all trends and fads; in fact, we encourage you to embrace them when appropriate.
That means avoiding the trends that are not fitting for a mature and put-together mom. That might include things like neon tie-dye shirts, bras instead of shirts, butterfly-shaped sunglasses, and extra baggy jeans.
Interesting Textures
In The Idea of You, you’ll notice that Anne Hathaway wears many interesting and distinct textures. Materials like velvet, silk, satin, and corduroy are great examples of compelling textures that make outfits more sophisticated.
Crochets, knits, sheer fabrics, ribbed items, and denim are also memorable textures you can experiment with. Ideally, you should wear at least two textures in every outfit, but don’t go overboard. You might end up with a disjointed, messy outfit.
Rich Colors
Throughout the film, Hathaway wears some truly captivating colors, like plum purple, scarlet red, and midnight blue. These hues have a mature and upscale aura to them, immediately making any outfit feel polished.
Thoughtful color choices are one of the best ways to nail the cool mom aesthetic, as you can use lush colors with basic silhouettes to keep it effortless. Avoid neon colors and too much black. Also, don’t go overboard with the pastels.
Know Your Season
A huge reason Anne Hathaway looks so stunning in the movie is that Demeterio dressed her according to her season, which is deep winter. You might need to enlist the help of a professional color analyst to determine your season.
Your season decides what colors and tones work best for you. Color analysis is broken into four seasons (winter, summer, fall, and spring), and those are broken into subcategories (deep, light, clear, bright, dark, soft, warm, and cool). Find your season, and you’ll find what colors make you look fashionable and refined.
Quality Is Everything
As mentioned, your clothes need to fit properly and be of decent quality. As we said, thrifting and discount bins are 100% on the menu. However, we recommend avoiding fast fashion, where the materials and construction are lazy or sloppy.
You don’t have to break the bank to buy high-quality clothes. Frankly, the most expensive clothes are not always the highest quality. Find brands you can trust, like Madewell, Banana Republic, and Talbots.
Layers and Patterns
Okay, it’s important not to go crazy here. A wild pattern or excessive layering can destroy the cool mom aesthetic in a heartbeat. However, we don’t want you to completely avoid these fashion choices.
In the film, Hathaway wears some fabulous layers, like the trench coat she wears at the hotel. She also has that unbelievably awesome red power suit at the end. Consider incorporating timeless patterns, like plaid or stripes, into your looks, along with thoughtful layering.
Thoughtful Accessories
For us, the difference between an “outfit” and a “look” is the accessories. A few rings and a pair of fancy earrings can be what pushes you over the edge to create that wow factor. Ideally, you should never leave the house without some classy accessories.
Jewelry is an easy option, but don’t forget about accessories like hats, sunglasses, scarves, tights, and bags. Of course, your shoe choice is also incredibly important. Selecting these items is just as important as choosing your pants and blouse.
