Keeping things for best, I’ve turned into my mother! ?

Mother and mil both left piles of unused presents behind when they died. Since lockdown started, I’ve been working my way through a small stash of unused toiletry presents. Now almost finished. Still working through the clothes though, probably never need to buy another jumper or t shirt (but I will). I never wanted a best dinner service, just settled for a Denby service used everyday - we now have 2 Denbys, alternating on a 5 year rota.

As a child I was encouraged to keep things for best and this continued until COVID. I don’t really have special occasions now so I’m wearing my clothes and have opened up all the rooms in my house.
It’s very liberating.

I was a child of the 50s and so had clothes that were kept for best. Now that I can afford to buy nice things, I still find myself wearing the same old fleece tops and jeans at home, saving nice things for that occasion that never seems to happen. So now I will take inspiration from this thread and start wearing my nicer things at home, even though just DH and I will see them.

So maybe I should make a start on those nine unopened bottles of perfume I've got stashed in the bathroom...

I don't keep things for best, precisely because that was what my mother did. It was distressing to clear out so many treasured but scarcely used articles when the house was emptied. A friend said 'our parents' generation was the generation that could not spend'; they were raised to be thrifty, compounded by the war years and the following austerity when items were scarce and difficult to replace, so they limited their use of special things to make them last.
I use all my wedding china and glass regularly and have only broken a few items during the past fifty years.

I have an opposing point of view!

Do I have the only husband who wears brand new clothes (including expensive jumpers, which are often birthday or C-word gifts) whilst gardening/decorating etc?

Given a chance he will choose whatever is nearest to hand as they are all just 'clothes' to him with no distinction between them.

Grass stains, thorn tears, grease stains paint and glue are all now part and parcel of his 'look'. V v annoying!

Always use the nice toiletries and perfume I buy for myself but am a real hoarder for 'best' clothes. Often decide I'll start wearing these items but then I realise how comfy my leggings and big tops are and start thinking about all the extra care I'd have to take with laundry and ironing and not splashing bleach etc. Just can't seem to make the leap. If I donated everything I hadn't worn in the last year as someone suggested then my bedrooms would be almost empty.

You'll laugh. I've been doing the opposite. I've kept salopettes and furry boots, woolly jumpers etc I brought with me from living north and being an outdoor girl. Here on the south coast I never use them. But the thought of how smug I will be when the blizzard comes stops me chucking them.

My father died recently and I scoured the bungalow for a cutlery set that my mother had been given by her employers when she left work to have me. (I turned 60 this year!) It lived in the sideboard for decades, never used. I was - still am - distraught to find the set missing, presumed sold by Dad. I just wish a) they'd used it; b) given it to me.

My Mum was really good she always said "use things now", but I am the culprite my Daughters says" havent you used that yet", to things I have stored to use later, she is right of course why save clothes etc to be used for going out,a thing we hardly ever do, it is senseless of course and things should be used. I still have our Wedding table service, from fifty three years ago, now that gets used at Christmas!
I must try and use things, thanks for this thread today

Best is today, now, use them, wear them and enjoy them NOW. Now is the only time there is!

My Gran had clothes for church on Sunday, clothes for visiting and clothes for everyday. Each set when taken off was carefully brushed, shoes polished ready to go. She also had two tea trays ready set up. One was for friends and the other was for the Minister or the,” Laird’s Lady,”who called once a week with groceries and to see if she needed any help with anything.She had been their housekeeper and they really looked after her.

A couple of years ago some friends and i were tasked to clear out an old Ladies home here. She had become a recluse and it was not a nice job.
In one wardrobe we found dozens of wrapped gifts, these were all presents from her gentleman friend (his Mother had forbidden them to marry), she had opened them, re-wrapped them and stored them.
It was just so sad, they were really good gifts too.
We quickly packed them up and took them to the Church to store as we did not want her friend to see them when he arrived from the UK.
We sold most at our Church fair that year and some of us bought things we liked, she would have been pleased at this as she left a good legacy to the Church.
Now I use everything.

It was the same when my mum died. She always wore the same cardigans, tops, etc because she wasn't going anywhere special to put a new one on, so the amount of unworn clothes and shoes was unbelievable. I have wardrobes of clothes, some years old but still look like new because they have only been worn a couple of times so I find it hard to part with them. I decided not to buy too much this year cos all I do is walk the dog & nip to the shop very quickly and so early most people are still in their PJs. I have perfumes still sitting in unopened boxes, gift sets at the back of the cupboard, etc. Yes I've turned into my mother.

Missadventures nan made me laugh too!
Back to Auntie, when she died she had five ‘half tea sets’ (unused), and had bought herself a ‘full tea set’, also unused. My friend was delighted to take them, and they have been well used, even appearing at village coffee mornings! The mentions of Chanel reminded me that my brother bought Auntie Chanel dusting powder which must have been 60 years old, as it was always kept for best.
And the mention of husband wearing whatever came to hand reminded me of having to practically force the Bodach to wear ‘ good clothes’. His war cry was, “ I’m not wearing that just to sit in a theatre/ pub/restaurant/ house”.
I have cleared out a lot of things, so am left with the better things, so they’ll be getting worn.
I expect to hear of us all dressed in our best over the next few days!

I have a wardrobe of ‘best’ and also, I have indoor clothes and outdoor clothes. During lockdown it slowly dawned on me that my ‘trip out’ clothes weren’t going to be used for maybe a year. And I usually, to go with the best I used to wear out, would wear earrings.

So to give me a lift during lockdown, I resolved to wear earrings in the house and wear my comfy Seasalt tops etc, all the time, instead of waiting months and months.

About scent and posh shower gel, I have always worn good perfume to work and around the house. And a treat even when the budget was tight, was a posh shower gel, to give the morning a zing, a good start to the day.

Wear everything, I say. Life’s too short and lockdowns too long .

Oh dear Marydoll! Its cheered me up picturing the airport security scene?? but yes ive loads of 'best' handbags and 'luxury' shower/skincare items (no bath?) that ive saved for special occasions etc or a few special bath stuff i could use when we had a hotel stay(so with bath) but none of thats going to be happening now for a long while is it? Im so disappointed! Lets give them an airing ladies.(ill have to donate the bath stuff!)?

I stopped when I read a similar story about a widower finding things after his wife had died. He was sorry that he never saw her wearing the lovely clothing.

Was same with lady in opticians who tried sell me expensive designer specs yesterday- she said they looked nice but i pointed out we aren't going out to show them off anymore are we?!?

My MinL has just been moved from a large 4 bedroom house into a 2 bed retirement flat. She insisted on taking most of her furniture and stuff with her. Apparently there is not an inch of space left and there are still 14 boxes to unpack. What made me laugh though was when she said she was taking two dinner services, one to use and one for best. The one for best has never been used. Incidentally, she is 91 and barely cooks a thing.
I, too, have been guilty of stashing away soap and smelly stuff. At the beginning of lockdown in March, I vowed to spray myself with a spritz of perfume every day. So far I have nearly finished 2 bottles. Only 8 to go. I cannot bring myself, however, to open the Jo Malone Lime Basil and Mandarin diffuser I bought in 2015.

I keep good/best clothes as I am hoping holidays will be happening next year. Most of my Good/best clothes were bought with a cruise in mind but this years booking was cancelled
I wont wear decent clothes for sitting around indoors because of lockdown.
I did manage a couple of day coach trips before we went to level 2 and it was lovely to wear something different. I almost felt like my old self again.

I used to but not now. I read a story about an old man laying out clothes for his wife to be buried in. He found some silk underwear wrapped in tissue...never worn. His wife had been keeping it for a special occasion that never came. It stopped me in my tracks. From that day I started using and wearing everything. Remember...that special day or occasion might never come. Enjoy all the beautiful things you have...

I do have 'best' things I seldom wear, even less since lockdown. However looking at them, I realise that it may be because they take more trouble to wash, need careful ironing etc. I think I don't wear them cos I'm too lazy!!

I am new to the site and don’t usually post but I can’t tell you how much enjoyment I’ve had from this thread, and so many memories. Thank you all

I kept a top my ds and dil gave me for christmas,three years later i took it out of the bag and hey-presto it doesn`t fit grrrr.
A lesson learned.