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.

Ana Escalante is an award-winning journalist and Gen Z editor known for her sharp takes on fashion and culture. She’s covered everything from Copenhagen Fashion Week to Roe v. Wade protests as the Editorial Assistant at Glamour after earning her journalism degree at the University of Florida in 2021. At Who What Wear, Ana mixes wit with unapologetic commentary in long-form fashion and beauty content, creating pieces that resonate with a digital-first generation. If it’s smart, snarky, and unexpected, chances are her name’s on it.
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