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

After Mum died and I cleared out her "stuff", I found loads of things she had obviously kept for best. What is the point? I use the 'best' crockery and cutlery now. This year, what with the covid-19 pandemic, I have even started wearing some of my better clothing even around the house as it cheers me. I use my make-up and perfume too even though only my husband, the dog and the occasional delivery person sees me!

Marydoll - USE EVERYTHING! My mother kept a handful of clothes to 'look good' when she went out, which living in Spain was pretty much every day, other than that, everything was used.
When clearing out my, very much loved, mother in law, I found sheets in their packs, dozens of brand new T-Towels, perfect sweaters, and yet, the 'everyday wear' was quite ribby.
Enjoy everything you have!

oh dear - I have nothing best at all as my lifestyle doesn't warrant it. I actually asked my OH for nice soap for Christmas, and I am asking my kids for anything handmade, whether it's biscuits or chutney or whatever. I keep clearing out as after my Mum died there were numerous bag fulls of amazing clothes that all went to the charity shop. To be fair, she had made a lot of them and loved wearing them. I need to sew more.

This turning out like your mother always intrigued me since I’m like my mother and now my daughter is turning into me so at what point does the genetics clone pool stop does this mean there is only one type of woman in your family and the same one keeps repeating itself? Despite the amount of female varieties in the same family? Just ignore me I’m ill haha!

I used to hoard lovely 'smellies' for holidays and special occasions. Come lockdown my husband is doing all the shopping. His idea of toiletries is to buy the cheapest. I've now used up most of my hoard, a word of warning here though, some hadn’t lasted and had no smell left, binned (what a waste).

And yes its same with our 'dressed up' clothes- we must use them as in these times we dont get to go out much, if at all, so they are getting wasted.its so sad ?

JanEllisWriter- please dont be too harsh on your late father - he maybe sold it (if he did) as he may have needed the money but was too proud to tell you- or maybe he donated or gifted it as an act of kindness?But (wrongly) thought you didnt want it.

My wedding China was used once in 54 years. In all these years give moved house 7 times and on the seventh flitting 3 cups got broken. I was very upset. Now I still haven't used it.

I made a pact with a close friend to not keep clothes for 'best', but to wear them every day - and feel well dressed and confident, rather than keeping them at the back of the wardrobe to be packed into black bags for the charity shop when we die,

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.

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 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 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 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.

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.

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?!?

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.

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 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 .

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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