Enter nonnamaxxing. Named after the Italian nonna – grandmother – the trend has gone viral among Gen Z, who are turning to the habits of Italian grandmothers as an antidote to burnout and the relentless pace of modern life. Think homemade pasta, leisurely walks, afternoons spent tending tomatoes, crisp cotton nightdresses, embroidered tablecloths and long lunches. The appeal lies in a way of life that is slower, simpler and more nourishing. After all, who doesn’t want a house infused with the smell of perennially bubbling pots of tomato sauce?
There is, of course, more to it than aesthetics. Italy boasts one of the highest life expectancies in Europe, while Sardinia is home to one of the world's famed Blue Zones, where people routinely live into their nineties and beyond. Researchers point to many of the very habits now being romanticised online: strong community ties, home-cooked Mediterranean food, daily movement and a healthy appreciation for what Italians call dolce far niente – the sweetness of doing nothing.
It also feels like a rebellion against our hyper-connected world – one of which we heartily approve. Rather than striving to do more, nonnamaxxing encourages us to pause, tarry over coffee with friends, throw the windows wide, dress with care even when staying at home and make time for the people around us. Sure, we know we’re not actually about to morph into an Italian grandmother – but we might just imbibe some of her wisdom, which can only be a good thing.
If that happens to involve a linen apron, a beautiful olive oil bottle and a basket for the morning market, so much the better. Of course, the irony of shopping for an anti-consumption lifestyle is not entirely lost on us. But if you are going to embrace your inner nonna, you may as well do it properly, all woven baskets, striped linens, hand-painted ceramics, cotton nightdresses, embroidered napkins and the sort of kitchen equipment designed to last several generations. Just add tomatoes and strong coffee.
