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| A Snippet Of My 85-Year-Old Mother's Current Wardrobe. |
When I was younger, I saw many "old" people and their habits, for better and for worse.
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| I took this picture of these "old people" (from my younger vantage in the mid-'80s) from Hingham and Darien at their Watch Hill cottage enjoying cocktails (round one), before we all went inside to"enjoy" chipped beef on toast (oh, the horror, the horror), after which we all headed out to Ocean House for round two. And three. |
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| Old people were the ones driving the big cars, slowly, which were kept cleaner than the floors of St. Jame's Palace. I spent many miles as a happy passenger. (Maine, 1980s) |
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| Old people hung out a lot with fraternity brothers, recounting past good times while experiencing better times. (We were heading out to an island house off of Boothbay, late 80s.) |
As I quickly approach (and sometimes pass) those fixed ages I used to think of as old, my mother increasingly provides a suitable benchmark, having the admirable quality that she ages at roughly the same rate that I do. While our delta my reduce asymptotically as a percentage, she can't chip away at either the objective difference between us nor my subjective labeling of her, always, as old.
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| My mother has always liked to move , and her wardrobe reflected that. (Early 1950s) |
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| My Mother On the Ferry to Block Island (Early 1960s) |
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| On Block Island (Mid 1960s) |
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| At a Family Farm in Massachusetts (Late 1960s) |
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| My Parents (Mid-coast Maine, mid 1980s) |
My mother is about to turn 86 years old. And the role of picking out and procuring her wardrobe has fallen to me. (This role is not completely dependent on her age, I should add. For some reason I end up advising many of the people around me on sartorial issues. And some of them even ask for it.)
She is in exceptionally good health, walks each day and exercises three times a week with "the old ladies", as she calls them, at the senior center. So as well as picking out bright and practical clothes for her, I always try to get her clothes that most importantly allow her to move.
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| She never leaves the house without a headband and bracelet. These often get the attention of, and even match those of, five-year-olds. |
54 comments:
I would take your mother's wardrobe anyday--and the headbands are lovely, makes me wish I hadn't chopped my hair off. All the fun colors!
Your Mom ROCKS! Chipped beef on toast? Wow, does THAT ever take me back! It appears you've inherited your mother's taste--as I have from my Mom, who taught me the "vice" (?) of being relentlessly "matchy-matchy." I would love to know the source of that sky-blue birdseye sweater which I now covet just madly. One might pray to grow "old" as gracefully as your Mom!
This is a great example of why the classics are just that. Any woman of any age would do well with your mother's wardrobe.
@Greenfield - Back in the fall of 2007 L.L. Bean offered it, along with the two pictured above it, as a "store only" item at their Freeport store. They are made of 80% cotton, 20% nylon and were made in the US by Alps, for $45.00. I bought them in all three colors for both of us.
Thank you for sharing this. It reminds me of my own
Mother's beautiful taste in clothing. I have the dearest
photograph of her -mid 1940s. Page-boy hair,yellow crew-
neck sweater over light blue shirt, navy skirt, yellow
crew socks and penny loafers.
Her favorite summer dresses were always blue and white
and pink and white seersucker dresses and pearls.
Beautiful then and beautiful now.
My mother no longer has the mobility your mother enjoys, but she loves her classic look all the same. Cheers to timeless apparel!
What a beautiful wardrobe! Wish I lived closer and your mom and I could be bffs.
I love speaking to older people. They are fountains of information. Your mother's headband collection is marvelous.
Muffy, I just loved this post! Your mother was an adventuress, I glean from the photos. Her wardrobe is timeless and practical. Thank you for these photos. They are some of my favorites on your site.
Lovely post. All of the clothes, including those in the vintage photos, are things I would enjoy wearing.
Such a wonderful post...where to begin? First of all, what a touching tribute. Secondly, such delightful images--the OCBD and madras skirt are priceless. Third, it's easy to see where your style and values come from--your mother couldn't have a better person to choose and find things for her! She must be a truly delightful lady. Thank you for sharing her with us!
I laughed at your chipped beef and toast comment - that brought me back to my own childhood.
As I get older, I'm appreciating the classics more and more - which I learned from my own mother.
I love your mother's headbands and bracelets. Although today we are told it's alright to not match I can't bring myself to do it. I have to be matchy matchy. I must be getting "Old". LOL!!
(I like to match Rachel, I think it's fun.)
Ah, beautiful pictures. Classic clothes make it easier for women and men to age gracefully. The vanity in me always notices these wonderfully dressed people in a crowd. I happily glean inspiration from them.
Hmmm, chipped beef...did not like, still don't like! LOL! ; )
Usually, period pieces or elegant documentaries are accompanied with quality background music. I just played Schubert: Serenade, Rachmaninoff: Prelude #5 in G Minor, Op 23/5, Wagner: Tannhauser, Billy Holiday: Come Rain or Come Shine, Harry Connick, Jr.: Stardust and the main theme for "Cider House Rules".
They all seem to work well your exquisite photos.
Love the duds your mom still wears, a version of my own still goes for at 68. Re photo #2, it's my grandparents and great aunts and uncles all over again. WHo knew?
Best Regards,
Heinz-Ulrich von B.
TropicalSunbird...I love hearing that you like to match too. One young woman told my friend that matching was what older women do and that her Vera Bradley purse was also for older women. That got me to thinking. Thirty years from now looking back on pictures of ourselves would we look bad? I don't think so. Thirty years from now this young woman who dismissed my friends outfit will see her photos and see a very dated look. I loved the picture of Muffy's parents because it looks as if it were taken yesterday. Classic clothes will always be timeless and in some ways make the wearer timeless and ageless.
There might have been an interesting post in here somewhere, but I've been blinded by that Benz wagon.
Okay, I've recovered: I work with many "old people" and I am constantly learning from them, sartorially and otherwise. It seems from this post that you have similarly learned a lot from your elders.My greatest aspiration might be to live like my parents' 80-something next door neighbor: he maintains his own sailboat, which he takes out every decent day in the summer (in Reds, no less!). He and his wife can be found most evenings on their grandfathered-in (pun intended) deck built out on the water, overlooking their dock and boat.
I love chipped beef and still eat it for dinner sometimes. However, someone once said there is a fine line between WASP and redneck food and in this case they may be right!
Your mother has some very pretty pink tops. Lilly used to make nice pink cotton tshirts and polos but no more. Have you found a source recently?
Unfortunately the elegance & courtliness of your mother's generation is something we'll never see again and it will be missed.
I'm curious about something...how do you store your clothes? Everything always seems to be (beautifully) folded; is that just for the pictures or do you not have much closet space?
The source of the braided ribbon headbands please?
Your Mother was, and probably still is, beautiful. What a treasure. My Mother aged Grace-fully too (her name was Grace). I have a few striped watch bands that match ties, just a few. Beautiful sweaters. I wish I could get my wife to wear some like that.
Chipped beef - too salty. Did you also have Mac and stewed tomatoes, toasted cheese sandwiches and tomato soup? Memories of simple meals from my childhood.
What a great post! You mom's wardrobe looks just like mine :O)
All this talk of food is making me very hungry and nostalgic. We ate roast beef and gravy on white toast, grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato or chicken noodle soup and tapioca pudding for dessert. Our vegetables were all fresh or had been canned by my mother. My mother and grandmother were very practical women both in their dress and cooking. I'm lucky to have them as role models.
I am seriously in love with her wardrobe!!! She seems like a great person and has worn some cute outfits, even I may take a cue from her.
-Veronica
My husband was looking over my shoulder and asked why my closet was on the web? Love your Mother's style and love the headbands! Where can I find them? As for the chipped beef reference. It's right up there with Welsh rarebit as a dish I would rather forget.
@Anonymous 11:39 - All of our clothing is kept in closets and chests of drawers. Nothing is packed away. The ribbon headbands are from Eliza B.
Please don't take offense to this Muffy because there's no offense intended, but your mother's wardrobe and your wardrobe and incredibly similar. That is not to say that you dress elderly, nor that she dresses elderly or too young, just to point out.....like mother, like daughter. I would probably wear anyone of those articles of clothing on any given day.
By the way...I absolutely love that your 86 year old mother will wear a headband on a daily basis since I was accused of not wearing something more "age appropriate" when I wore a grosgrain ribbon bow tied around my pony tail. Sometimes I take advice and sometimes I ignore it. That was one piece of unsolicited advice I chose to ignore.
The photo of her (with your father)where she is wearing the navy sweater with the khaki skirt? That's pretty much my daily uniform.
Since we are on the subject of our elders, do you know what really, REALLY annoys me? When people call senior citizens 'cute'. I recently visited an assisted living facility where the were residents were still very, very actively living and enjoying their life. The cafeteria was just like a restaurant and they were all dressed for dinner. The ladies wore their lipstick and jewelry and the men were turned out in tie/jacket. After dinner some of them played cards and had after dinner drinks while others listened to music and danced. Then someone in my group, in a whiny, patronizing voice goes, "Oh, aren't they so cute." No, they are not 'cute'. They are productive, healthy, happy citizens who are seizing every moment that life has to offer. Okay, I'll get off my soap-box now.
Do you hang much of your clothing? I'm curious, your items seem to hold up so well, so you must take impeccable care of them. I've been contemplating changing how I store a lot of my clothes. I know not to hang sweaters, but sometimes I think it would be easier to see what you have with it folded and on shelves. Just curious!
@Flo
you absolutely can hang a sweater on a hanger - like this.
http://www.rachelcoleman.com/2007/12/14/is-it-right-is-it-wrong/
demo here
http://ericandjanafrancisfamily.blogspot.com/2007/12/is-this-right.html
Hi Rachael!
A lot of young people will make such insensitive comments like that. They can't wrap their brains around the notion that one day they too will be "old".
Funny thing is,the pictures of myself that I actually like are the ones where I am wearing simple clothes... that matched. I just didn't like "matching" with my older sister! >:( LOL!
WRJ...
I've spent countless hours hanging around my elders. The older people in my life help keep me grounded and calm. Even as a child I spent more time with adults than other children, just watching and listening... now that I think about it, I was often shooed away! "Go on now, go play!" : )
Like a few of us here, you could have been photographing my closet and clothes cupboard! I've always been a matchy-matchy and get many favourable comments on my look. My sister, who was more of a style 'rebel', once commented that neither my clothing choices nor my hair style (chin length bob) had changed since I was two! Only a slight exaggeration . . .
Your mum sounds delightful - just like you! Timeless style, values and character - how good is that? scotmiss
Oh, I meant to comment on chipped beef on toast - I was never sure if it really was 'beef', but that, cucumber sandwiches and deviled eggs - absolute standbys! Do they still sell chipped beef? Or have the food police stepped in?
@Nutrivore
Neat idea! Unfortunately most of my sweaters are heavy/bulky and I would end up with them taking up way more space, and that is something I don't have. Would be great for someone with a large closet though!
scotmiss: They still make it. I was laughing to my Mom about this post, and she said she has some, purchased recently, right there in the cupboard right NOW. ;) She still makes salt-pork gravy, too!
"Old preps" never look old because the look and lifestyle is timeless. It spans generations and decades effortlessly. Additionally, it's a young look for the young at heart. I will also still be wearing my bright headbands and paisley skirts well into my 80's! I'm very happy for you that your mother is so healthy and full of life! Go mom! --Holly in PA
You mum is truly beautiful in every sense of the word - what wonderful genes you have!
Your Mother may be my hero. She sounds awesome and so are her headbands!
Your mother looks like she brings a smile wherever she goes! Thank you and you mother for the encouragement to live in color.
Muffy,
You are so fortunate that your mom is still in good health. My mom was active for much of her life, despite having rheumatoid arthritis since her late 40s. Now, she can only walk with a walker, is legally blind, and has very limited hand functionality. Still, she gets out to see my dad at the assisted living community and does what she can.
With this in mind, wardrobe can be a bit of a challenge. In particular, she misses the LL Bean pullover winter sleepwear from a few years back; the replacement models, with buttons and a fabric that bothers thin skin, really don't work for her.
Scotmiss, yes, chipped beef is still available. It might be found packaged in some food stores. We usually get ours in Pennsylvania where it may have originated. I assume by chipped beef (it is finely shaved beef)on toast everyone is actually referring to "creamed" chipped beef on toast. I enjoy that for breakfast and you'll find it on the breakfast menu of many Pennylvania restaurants.
I love it. Your mother's wardrobe is suitable for a girl or woman of any age. You just can't go wrong with good quality preppy basics.
As always, thank you for sharing your lovely family photos with us.
Erica in Cazenovia, NY
I gotta admit, I love me some chipped beef gravy--but on biscuits, not toast. And not the frozen kind you boil in plastic bags at home, but the kind they serve in the most disreputable-looking diners. :)
Thanks all for confirming that chipped beef is still available - it was in little jars. Now I remember making a fabulous dip with chipped beef, green onions, cream cheese and sour cream - it was always a big hit so I'm not sure how I forgot it! On toast though, it was in a basic white sauce and poured over good old toasted wonder bread! scotmiss
Another lovely observation, in the photo of your parents, they are dressed alike. Your mum simply has on the “female” version of your dad’s attire. Makes me smile…
I almost hate to admit that we have some of those dried beef jars around that we use as drinking glasses! Armour Star Dried beef--the little jars had the stars around the top for years, although newer ones didn't. Now it comes in a vacuum sealed package here, not quite the same.
Flo:
That's right! We had a bunch of the Armour jars and used them as kids' milk glasses for about 30 years!
As an aside, one of the things I like best about Muffy's blog is that it's always about fun, uplifiting, enjoyable things. After 2 hours of listening to NPR every morning, it can feel that everything's gone to hell and we're living in the Dark Ages. Well, we'll never solve all the problems people keep bloody-mindedly making in the world, but The Daily Prep at least reminds one to SMILE--and set an example.
I really love the pictures of your parents. I especially love the one of them together. Thanks for sharing.
Hi
First, I love your blog as well as your style. I have two questions: what do you think of multi-striped shirts, like this?
http://www.ralphlauren.com/product/index.jsp?productId=17874446&cp=1766205.1766232&view=99&ab=ln_men_cs2_sportshirts&parentPage=family
And how do you think it should be matched?
Regards,
Andreas
Love your thoughtful selection of clothing that moves in bright yet tasteful colors for your Mother. If your Mother were going to be taken out to dinner at a private NYC club or attend a formal event (not black tie) in the country, what would she wear?
Ah! I haven't been back here for a week. I love this post. The last two sentences in the post - so charming! And those webbed lawn chairs...those were the days, as they say!
I think this was one of my favourite of your posts, ever.
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