"I no longer care about clothes, and it's a glorious, liberating feeling"

jingle I'm on the Patient Participation Group for my GP practice (what was I thinking?!) Anyway at the AGM on Saturday someone from the floor complained about mums pushing their baby buggies all over in the waiting room because it is "unhygienic" and the lovely doctor responded, "And those feet that walk behind the buggies that tread the same sidewalks that we all tread in our neighbourhood every day and indeed walked on to come here today?"

My mum was a typical 50s housewife, I never saw her in anything in the least bit 'casual'. It was almost 'twinset and pearls' to vacuum the carpet. She would have rather have died than have the neighbours see her in rollers, or a dressing gown. I'm mortified that her habits have rubbed off on me a bit... I sometimes put three or four velcro rollers in my hair 'of a morning' as I've lost a lot of volume on my crown, and if I forget them and someone calls round I nearly die of embarrassment. And last year I actually got halfway to our village shop and realised I was wearing my slippers.... they were leather so what I was worried about I have no idea. Especially as my neighbour across the road is quite unashamed to sweep her step at 11 in the morning in her dressing gown. Oh, these French women are so chic!

He made a good point Grannyknot.

I do cringe if the postman catches me still in my dressing gown, but I put on a huge smile which seems to go down with him OK.

Answer the door in a dressing gown? I'd sooner shoot myself in the foot.

Me too, but then I'm up by 6.00, far too early for deliveries of any kind!

I blame the nuns loopy

That's right!
When I first went to the Covent I'd rarely seen, let alone met, a nun. They still haunt me - for a while I even thought they moved around on wheels, they were so good at creeping up on you! The headmistress was about 5' tall and the same round (like a billiard ball, come to think of it!) and one look from her was enough, she didn't need to say anything!

loopylou The nuns at our Convent remind me of webbles they just sprung up everywhere and you are so right about the "look" Sister Winifred had me a bag of nerves for a whole term one year I have never forgotten her eyes,they where there looking at me every corner I turned,
I couldn't wait until I finished working full time for the New Home Builders I worked for they all had their own distinctive uniform for Winter & Summer some of them made us look like Easy Jet rejects others where quite smart really,so as soon as I retired they all went to a Charity Shop I found it amusing one day when walking in our Village a lady coming to-wards me in a crisp red/white & blue dress which I thought looked familiar to find it was a dress from one of my Builders the lady obviously didn't notice the builders name embroidered in white across the pocket.
Now I'm happy in my jeans/leggings and ankle boots with a classic top,hair can be let loose as and when and everyday make-up makes for a contented lifestyle no more regulation dressing for me.

When DH retired he swore never to wear black socks again. He's gone a bit 'John Snow' in that respect

When I retired I binned my watch. Never missed it in almost 10 years

Oh! That's because you've got a phone! I bet.

DS nevers bothers to put a watch on. When asked why he says he looks at his phone.

After forty years of having to be 'office' dressed I just love living in my casual clothes when at home, but they must be clean and I change them every day. Don't think I could ever go out in my PJs though.

Still wear 'good' clothes if I am going out anywhere, say clothes shopping or the hairdressers.

I remember the joy expressed by my DH when he took all his ties to a Charity Shop when he retired.

My sons don't have to wear ties to work. When I was a working girl in the 60s trousers were never worn by girls in the office!

Remember when the Trouser Suit came in - so liberating.

Grannyknot - Perhaps Mamie meant this song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxDKXZFwi9s
I change into something clean to go shopping, but most of my clothes are at least 10 years old. It doesn't matter though because most of the other shoppers are pensioners in ancient styles.

Funny Tricia I'd forgotten about that song.

"When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter."

(with acknowledgement to Jenny Joseph)

"Hey little girl comb your hair fix your make-up, soon he will open the door...
And men will always be men...
For wives should always be lovers too, run to his arms the moment he comes home to you...'"
[feminist vomiting emoticon]

Oh yes! And that bit that goes

'Don't send him off with your hair still in curlers,
You may not see him again...'

Gosh, never heard that one before!
Should be censored to 'women only', especially if there are any men reading this!

Some of these replies made me laugh(in a good way!)
I still take a reasonable amount of care with clothes, it's easy to give up and not bother, and I don't want to go down that road.

mamie I suspect a lot of men who are not "menimists" would love that!

I think I just made up a word!

I grew up waiting for hours for my mother to get ready just to go to the grocery store.It made me want to be the opposite. I look presentable going out the door my hair brushed but I have on only lip gloss and day face cream with sunscreen.No umbrellas got tired of caring hers!

Can we have a 'fingers down the throat' emoticon please Gransnet?

I'm off to look for a red hat

I forgot that one Mamie!