Are you turning into one of your parents?

Organgrinder

Had an interesting discussion recently about the sorts of clothes my parents wore eg shirt with a neatly pressed jumper, trousers and slippers.

In my middle to late 50s I'm still very much a jeans and t shirt person. Still enjoy the things I've done for years. Eg. I still snowboard (counting down the days already), still race my bike (though I'm no Eddy Merckx).

Just wondering which camp people are in? Are we growing old disgracefully, or are we readying ourselves for the next bus tour?

Honestly, I dread the day when my knees tell me no more!

dreaming

I'm 69 and my knees definitely know it but I can't remember the last time I ironed anything and most  summer days can be found in leggings and tee-shirts and either bare feet or my Birkenstocks. Obviously I add layers according to the season, and definitely love my thermal tee-shirts in the winter but at heart I am still just an old hippie (although the hips are also feeling the years ).

Brie

I remember a few years back seeing a card that I thought was very funny - it had a picture of an older woman and a younger woman both dressed the same and had something in the card about growing up to look like one's mother.

It stopped being funny when I looked down and realised I was wearing black jeans, white top, black cardy, colourful scarf around my neck.  Exactly what my mom has worn for years.  I have since tried to rebel a bit and have bought some florescent orange jeans and some very floral patterned trousers but I still slip back into mom mode quite easily.

Meanwhile - the OH is the epitome of his dad and so when he's off to Tescos he's got his good nicely ironed trousers, good shirt, tweedy jacket, polished shoes and nice hat (pork pie or fedora as opposed to baseball cap).  He sometimes even puts on a tie.

TadleyBaggie

Jeans and T shirt for me and into my 70's. Definitely not shirt and jumper like my dad wore.

Pollycat

I've been wearing Doc Marts for over 50 years and I don't intend to stop.
I've just decided that I quite fancy wearing dungarees.

basketcase

Turn into my mother?  Good grief NO! 😲

Even my mother didn't turn into my mother- or, for that matter, either her mother or grandmother!  She was always dressed in what used to be called an "age appropriate manner", but never dowdy.  (In that case, maybe I am turning into her! 🤣)  I default to trousers and shirts with jumpers/jackets if working, jean-type trousers with t-shirt/smock-top etc or longer skirts in summer for casual and sweat or yoga pants for housework or lounging around.

My mother did say, when I turned 30 that maybe I should consider slowing down a bit.  My response was "You didn't say that last week when I was 29!  Anyway, you obviously didn't."  (She was 41 when I was born)  "Huh.  It does sound daft, doesn't it?"

My 16 years older sister did, especially her attitudes, which were more like someone else's maiden aunt  She was appalled by the miniskirt and refused to walk down the street with my mother and me when I first wore one (made my good old mum!).  Mum: "Oh don't be ridiculous, she's 11!"  Mum also told my sister to bring all my niece's dresses round so she could shorten them, when Sis kept them long and nobody else did.  "And I'm cutting the extra material off so you can't let them down again.  You're making the poor child a laughing stock!"

OTOH, my hips have definitely turned into my mother! 🙃

Glad

still dressing as I did 30 years ago and no plans to change

swingaloo

I'm 70 plus and still happy in my jeans and t-shirts. Times change. I wouldn't be seen dead in a pinny. I have the habit of looking through old family photos and making comments, my gran looked years older than I do now when she was 50. 

I look at my wedding photos and my mum looks ancient in her choice of outfit and she was only 39 at the time.
I think its all in the mind as well though, I volunteer and the ages of the ladies are all between 65 and 85 and there is a huge difference in the styles. One of our younger ladies wears knee high tights rolled down to her ankles, flat shoes  and flared skirts whilst the eldest is always in trousers or jeans and trainers and she looks 10 years younger than she is.

I dont feel my age, my hips and knees might but I still enjoy going to concerts and still have either Elbow or Morrisey  in the car when I'm driving.  Most of my friends are younger than me apart from 3 or 4 lifelong friends and I think this makes a difference. 

I have found my style around the house has changed a lot though, I've gone very 'vintage' and find myself buying things in charity shops that are 'just like my grandma had'. 

uralmaid

@Organgrinder I am definitely growing old disgracefully. Currently my hair is a deep purple but another week - who knows!  My current favourite tshirt has a picture of Patsy from Abfab with a fag in her mouth with the slogan "In a world full of Kardashians - be a Patsy"  I have numerous pairs of Doc Marten's, some dungarees too. I still occasionally sing with a band and ride on the back of the motorcycle. Most of the furniture in my house is either antique or vintage as I dislike modern furniture. My daughter loves how I look and dress now but when she was at school - every time there was a parents evening she would say to me "why can't you dress like the other Mum's?" My reply was - "because I am an individual".  Forgot to add - Shane MacGowan of the Pogues was and still is my hero along with David Bowie. I have just had my 68th birthday!! Our mortgage was  paid off at 52, we have savings and enjoy life. I also have a penchant for a diamond or emerald ring or two - but that's what my pension is for.

Pollycat

swingaloo said:

I'm 70 plus and still happy in my jeans and t-shirts. Times change. I wouldn't be seen dead in a pinny. 

I have lots of pinnies.
I cook a lot and am pretty messy so it works for me.

swingaloo said:

I still enjoy going to concerts and still have either Elbow or Morrisey  in the car when I'm driving.  

My guilty pleasure is Backstreet Boys. I've seen them in concert 3 times. OH isn't interested so I go alone and stay overnight. I love it.

UKX69

In my 70’s and still wear what is basically my ‘uniform’ . Mostly jeans (the Levi’s now gone - grossly overpriced), shirt - patten depends on what takes my fancy, pullover - plain colour and Clark’s loafers. In the summer, polo top, but no gaudy colours! Somewhat on the conservative side, but then I am an introvert. I remember buying my first pair of Levi’s in the middle 60’s - think they were 17/6d from a local boutique, the only place that sold them. Can’t say that my dad would have approved as I was from a single parent family - just me and my mum until I got married.