I'm 25, and My Mom Is 60—32 Mango Items We Both Bought in Spain This Summer
For most fashion people, the arrival of vacation season means figuring out how to pack 20 outfits into one measly suitcase. Although I'm no stranger to packing efficiently, I always leave some room in my suitcase when visiting my parents abroad in Europe. I have to note the shopping—both new and vintage—is impeccable, with easily some of the best fashion deals you can find.
Naturally, with nearly 24/7 access to stores in an up-and-coming fashion capital like Madrid, my mom's style has started to give me (someone who quite literally shops for a living) a run for her money.
This year's retailer for my chic European mom? Mango, thanks to its effortlessly easy, elevated basics and affordable trend-forward pieces. Although I didn't consider my mom "cool" back when I was discovering my style at 14, she's certainly one of my style icons now, and thankfully, her style is easy to replicate (and, of course, sneakily steal out of her closet when I see her over the summer).
While the Spanish-founded brand has a solid footing in the United States, its American influence is nothing compared to the shopping experience in Mango's flagship store in Barcelona. During a three-hour shopping trip, my mom and I decided to challenge ourselves and find some of the best pieces both she and I could pull off despite a 35-year age difference and a chaotic mash-up of personal style. The result? A zero-disappointment Mango haul for the ages.
Below are all the stylish and trendy Mango pieces that trumped our generational divide.
Although the internet may be divided on the capri-pant trend, one thing is for sure: My mom and I love 'em.
This easy, breezy pair of white culottes is sure to never go out of style.
All chic European women I know love wide-leg jeans, including my mom!
These look so much like my Celine sunglasses at the fraction of a price, so you better believe I snatched them up when I saw them in person.
My mom and I lugged around these bags to every single beach in Mallorca with zero complaints, so believe me when I say it's worth your hard-earned dollars.
There's no time like the present than to order a pair of striped pants for the summer.
The viral Mango shoes everyone wants (and my mom and I are now the proud owners of!)
Ana Escalante is an award-winning journalist and Gen Z editor whose work ranges from dissecting size inclusivity at fashion week to discussing how American Girl Doll meme accounts are the the answer to society's collective spiral. She's covered it all: Copenhagen Fashion Week, Roe v. Wade frontline protests, and the re-branding of jorts, or, jean shorts for the uninitiated. At Who What Wear, Ana crafts sharp, irreverent features that speak to a digital-first generation, bringing her signature wit and unapologetic tone to long-form fashion and beauty content. If it’s smart, snarky, and a little unexpected, you'll probably find her name on it.
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