Still doing things 'properly'

My MIL (94) is always very smartly dressed and everything has to match. If she has new shoes she buys a handbag to match the colour. Yes, even if she has several in the same colour !
Years ago she and my FIL had a whole wardrobe of clothes that were just for holidays including underwear.
I can’t bear to think of all the clearing out we shall have to do when she is no longer with us us.

I should have added that she rarely goes out now other than. with us but never dresses casually.

I went to a funeral yesterday. I have rather well worn and shabby driving shoes. I forgot to put good shoes under the seat to change into for the funeral. Scuttled into the service behind people. I’m sure no one noticed but…

Reminds me of my stepfather wearing a best under a nylon shirt and trousers ,well polished shoes on the beach.

a best not best!

Vest !!!

My Dad, ex RAF, was always smart - fully dressed, jacket and tie etc by 7am every day. He wouldn’t wear jumpers, just agreed to Nordic string vests during the winter. In his last couple of years, we employed a ‘bath nurse’ to help him bathe in the evening, but he insisted on getting re-dressed properly after his bath, as it was only 8pm and he just wouldn’t/couldn’t allow himself to sit round in his pyjamas!
Not too sure about your testosterone theory Oreo

Oh stansgran I knew of someone who drove to give an important lecture. She wore her gardening shoes to drive. Sadly forgot her smart shoes. I expect she looked very smart down to her ankles.

My dad was a fork lift driver. On a Sunday he went to the local working men’s club suit shirt and tie. Always looked smart.

What are young military men like now? Anyone with GC in the services?

This thread is quite sad. That generation of meticulous men, and women, has almost disappeared.
I think of the men working in our hardware shop in the 70s always in a clean unwrinkled brown overall type jacket.

Ginny my mil was like that beautiful clothes and when my eldest son got married twenty years ago had to have gloves hat and nag all matching.

Harris27. Did your MIL ride side saddle?

HelterSkelter1

*Harris27*. Did your MIL ride side saddle?

Georgesgran

My Dad, ex RAF, was always smart - fully dressed, jacket and tie etc by 7am every day. He wouldn’t wear jumpers, just agreed to Nordic string vests during the winter. In his last couple of years, we employed a ‘bath nurse’ to help him bathe in the evening, but he insisted on getting re-dressed properly after his bath, as it was only 8pm and he just wouldn’t/couldn’t allow himself to sit round in his pyjamas!
Not too sure about your testosterone theory Oreo

It isn’t a theory it’s a fact.Probably happens biologically to stop older men getting into fights which they would lose😁

I had an aunt who was always so particular about her appearance. Pleated skirt, twin set, pearls, polished shoes. When she went into a residential home she had her hair done once a week. One day I said I would ring her on Friday and she said that it was her hair day and using the phone on that day would ruin the side of hair. She was a dear soul though and I have a lovely photo of her sitting in her chair, very upright and smart.

I think there’s probably a happy medium between sitting on the beach wearing polished shoes and looking like a tramp.

I could never accused DH of being clothes conscious! He’s always clean and well pressed (his clothes by me!) and has to wear socks with his Birkenstocks because of a foot condition. But he’s on the ball with paperwork etc. I’m sorry at the general lack of (at least) tidiness at church but I’m sure God doesn’t mind! I was sad when my dear F-in-law had to wear gym shoes towards the end of his life because nothing else was comfortable. He was a collar and tie man.

It's a funny thing, but both my father and late DH, two of the most interesting men you could hope to meet, always looked rumpled however hard mum and I, as their respective wives, tried to straighten them up. But they both always shaved properly.

Whereas my dad would not use anyone in the house: he designed and installed his own central heating system and did everything.

He was a civil servant, so no practical training, but if he did not know how to do something he went to the library and found a book. I never once saw a tradesperson in our house.

Him sweeping the chimney was a bit of a disaster though - the brush came off the pole and got stuck in the chimney and he went up on the roof and dropped down a brick on a rope to retrieve it .... in the rain .... in his slippers ......

My dad had a smallholding, pigs and poultry, he wore a pair of navy bib and brace overalls to work in, but always with a shirt and tie. Standards.

Mum used to record daily how much water her dehumidifier utilised. Why, I don’t know really, as she never did anything with her findings.

My parents were extremely formal.They disliked anyone just popping round in case the house wasn't cleaned properly and they weren't presentable.
As for time keeping - If someone was late my mother would be incensed .

A relative once turned up an hour late for lunch - she was never invited again . She was removed from the Christmas card list .

I have fond memories of my father getting up showering,dressing in a freshly ironed shirt with a tie and a suit ,polishing his car just to pop to the shops for a loaf of bread .

My husband is like this (not ex naval). I think it’s a way to feel in control in a situation that causes a degree of anxiety. I’m the opposite, I greeted the decorator in my dressing gown and my husband was horrified. I just want to let them get on with it and feel it’s what I’ve paid for.

Love to read some of the stories on here.
However, is it just me - but I do not that any form of so-called ''smart wear' can be used to describe inappropriate clothes for weather, etc conditions.

I do not see it as 'smart' to wear a jacket and tie, etc on beach or other recreational activity. Would we consider it 'smart' say, for Wimbledon players to play in that sort of outfit?

Smart Wear for me is good, appropriate clothing for weather and whatever the wearer is doing.

I think most folks that I knew of had either summer or winter 'best' clothes that came out whatever the occasion!
Nowadays its almost incomprehensible that you wouldn't have the appropriate clothing - think of how you can accessorise just one dress - jackets, little lacy cardigans, wraps etc!
Clothing was costly, meant to last & mended frequently.

Ah that's so lovely 😍