Dressed to the 9s

There are few things more depressing than cleaning out a dead persons house, and finding unworn clothes, saved for "best" that never saw the light of day.

It broke my heart to find those things in my mums wardrobes.

MissAdventure

Presumably people are allowed to wear what they like?

What? Did anyone suggest otherwise?

It feels as if that is the implication, but that may be me being over dramatic.

Either that, or it's a reflection of how gransnet is, of late.

Apologies if I have the wrong end of the stick.

OK it felt a bit snippy. I was surprised as since covid here most here are casual but perhaps it was a special occasion for these ladies.

Iam64

kircubbin, I met my sister at the garden centre midway between iur houses. We decided to enjiy a coffe catch up before plant shopping. The table next to us had 8 older women, as you describe, dressed to the 9’s, full makeup and styled hair. Yes a good garden centre with cafe food cooked well in the premises, a good butcher, baker and veg section plus quality ready meals.
We realised this kind of outing is loved by older people like ourselves. I’m not about to dress up though - jeans for me

As there were 8 of them perhaps they were in competition as to who could look the best. I’m definitely in the casual (but tidy!) category.

MissAdventure

There are few things more depressing than cleaning out a dead persons house, and finding unworn clothes, saved for "best" that never saw the light of day.

It broke my heart to find those things in my mums wardrobes.

We had exactly the same experience clearing out my inlaws' house - there was almost a whole wardrobe full of 'best' clothes, many of which still had the tags on them, others which had been bought as birthday or xmas presents for them, but never worn.

I hope not DamaskRose, they were glamorous group having a good time, I’m mid seventies, they teminded us of our mum and her friendship group who went ballroom dancing and glammed up at any chance

I don’t put the bin out without makeup,always try to look my best,surely that’s not a sin in the 21st century.I buy new clothes most weeks and I like to wear them ,even to a garden centre.We were just saying how different it was from when we met 50 years ago,people always got dressed to go shopping now it’s shocking what a mess some folk look,my OH says maybe they don’t have a mirror

GrannyGravy13

I have wardrobes full of clothes, love clothes, footwear, bags and fragrances enjoy wearing them, so that is what I am doing nowadays.

Me too.

No one has to dress up. Some of us enjoy it. No, we're not in competition with anyone else.

When I meet up with friends there is almost always a range from casual to dressy (although we all leave the tiaras at home) depending on what we are doing and where we are going and who is there. One or two live in jeans. Some of us wear dresses and long skirts on hot days. One or two wear shorts. Each to their own.

I called into our garden centre this morning - not for plants, but not dressed up as I was going on for a walk after. There were very few people buying plants but the large cafeteria was rammed, as it usually is. And yes, many groups of ladies, who were nicely turned out. Good job there was no room at the inn - I would have felt like a bag lady! I honestly think that without a decent cafeteria, and a gift section, most garden centres would not survive.

I can't do glamorous, it's never been me.

I wore a cream lacy top the other day and said to DH "I feel like an old Granny in this top".
He said "Well, I hate to tell you, but you are an old Granny".

I'm not eighty yet!

paddyann54

I don’t put the bin out without makeup,always try to look my best,surely that’s not a sin in the 21st century.I buy new clothes most weeks and I like to wear them ,even to a garden centre.We were just saying how different it was from when we met 50 years ago,people always got dressed to go shopping now it’s shocking what a mess some folk look,my OH says maybe they don’t have a mirror

I don’t put the bin out without makeup
😮

Oh, I don't wear makeup at home.
Just a touch when I go out, although less is more these days.

Kircubbin2000
I’m very impressed that you can recognise designer outfits. How did you know they were wearing All their jewellery.

petra

Kircubbin2000
I’m very impressed that you can recognise designer outfits. How did you know they were wearing All their jewellery.

This.
Glad you're impressed.

MissAdventure

Well, of course Angela is the exception.

I honestly think that Angela should have a stylist and so should many other politicians and so called celebs. Many of them would not know what style is if it kicked them in the face.

I really can't bring myself to care what they wear.

It is nice to dress up for lunch when meeting friends. Most people I know do that even when we meet at our ladies group, never seen anyone in jeans. Of course it is an individual thing and if people feel more comfortable in casual clothes that is fine too. I dress casually at home and for comfort so it is great to dress up a little more when going out. Each to their own!

Our craft group holds a tea party every summer for the older ladies. It is guaranteed that all the ladies in their 90s turn up looking very glamourous with their hair done and matching suits. They are such treasures and totally lovely.

I have a drawer of "grot gear" that is purely for wearing at home or in the garden, I'd never go out in any of it. When I meet up with friends for coffee or lunch or whatever, I always wear something nice, light makeup including eyes and lips and a spritz of my favourite scent. I think it's great to see these groups of older ladies (sez she, a few weeks off her 79th birthday!) looking so beautifully turned out - having something to dress up for is so good for the soul.

I enjoy dressing casually normally fairly smart shorts and top if I’m in the GC in summer and jeans and top winter if I’m meeting friends. I always manage to get a bit grubby though as after a coffee etc I like to rummage around the plants reading labels and often lifting a big bag of compost so definitely don’t dress in my Sunday best!!
I don’t really notice what people wear. I rarely wear jewellery.

I m far, far, far from posh but I never leave the house without earrings something round my neck a bracelet, watch and light make up on
I don’t party much now so I like to look smart when out and about and always make an effort

Dressing up and wearing make up and jewellery isn't posh. It's just dressing up and wearing make up and jewellery.
Wear what you want.

Sorry to digress (again) but does anyone know where the expression "Dressed to the 9s" comes from? It is a very known saying and we all know exactly what it means but where did it come from?

I don't think, personally, I ever get beyond being dressed to the 6s and that's on a good day.

It's nice to see senior citezens looking smart and that they have made an effort with their appearance and no doubt it will make them feel good too. Not everyone wants to go out in casual clothes and it could have been a special occasion they were celebrating. Each to his own. LIve and let live.

From Wikipedia

The phrase is said to be Scots in origin. The earliest written example of the phrase is from the 1719 Epistle to Ramsay by the Scottish poet William Hamilton:

The bonny Lines therein thou sent me,
How to the nines they did content me.

Robert Burns' "Poem on Pastoral Poetry", published in 1791, also uses the phrase:

Thou paints auld nature to the nines,
In thy sweet Caledonian lines.

Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (New and Revised edition. 1981) states that the phrase is "perhaps a corruption of 'then eyne' (to the eyes)"

The phrase may have originally been associated with the Nine Worthies or the nine Muses. A poem from a 17th century collection of works by John Rawlet contains the following lines:

The learned tribe whose works the World do bless,
Finish those works in some recess;
Both the Philosopher and Divine,
And Poets most who still make their address
In private to the Nine.