Still doing things 'properly'

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😁

HelterSkelter1

*Harris27*. Did your MIL ride side saddle?

Harris27. Did your MIL ride side saddle?

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.

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.

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.

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, 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

Vest !!!

a best not best!

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

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…

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

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.

Casdon

My FiL was a military man, and he was the same, everything he did was well organised, and he was immaculately dressed always. We inherited an electric fire when he moved into residential care, and he’d stuck a label inside, where he’d recorded every date on which he’d changed the bulb in the last fifteen years, which made me laugh, that was so him.

My Dad too was ex military. To the day he died he kept a note book in the car in which he wrote the date and how much fuel he’d bought and also when he’d topped up the oil.
My grandfather was the same although not military. I have a leather bound note book in which he kept a note of every purchase for his children. “ Dorothy - school skirt 1/6. Reading Book 3d”. All added up and carried over to the next page 🤦‍♀️. Also a list of guest houses visited for holidays with their pluses & minuses for future reference & comments on whether the landlady was suitable and friendly 🤣

My DH has always been a smart man, his token gesture to being casual would be a polo shirt or short sleeved shirt with trousers. After his stroke I make sure I help him to dress in smart clothes and have a close shave when someone is coming or we are going to visit somebody because I know it is important to him.
My father was the same, he would take time to polish his shoes and our shoes on a regular basis and go to the beach wearing his trousers and shirtsleeves rolled up.

My Mum liked people to look professional at work. She hated to see cooks or chefs looking grubby and liked to see their hair covered up. She always wore a clean apron when cooking at home and tied her hair out of the way.

She was aghast when receptionists at the surgery said “hiya” or addressed her as “Hun”. I dislike that too actually.

My Dad was particular too and even though he was a painter and decorator and wore white overalls he always wore a shirt and tie underneath. Likewise he always wore polished shoes at work. He was horrified at his elderly brother’s funeral. He was one of the longest serving policemen in the county many years ago so my Dad told them about his funeral arrangements. They sent a couple of special constables to the service and talk about scruffy! Crumpled uniforms and filthy unpolished shoes. My Dad said my Uncle would be turning in his grave.

It is all to do with how you feel comfortable.
My father, when ill, after being sent home from hospital to recuperate, would arrive downstairs fully dressed apart from a jacket, which he had replaced with his dressing gown, the type with facings and frogging, and his polished leather slippers.
Staying in bed was anathema to him.

Erica 23 I know what you mean, I'm exhausted, to add to it all the electrician was late. I'm going to lie down for a couple of hours!

My FiL was a military man, and he was the same, everything he did was well organised, and he was immaculately dressed always. We inherited an electric fire when he moved into residential care, and he’d stuck a label inside, where he’d recorded every date on which he’d changed the bulb in the last fifteen years, which made me laugh, that was so him.

When we had our extended kitchen done my late DH who used to be a building contracts manager for a-big company, spent his whole day watching them like a hawk, fortunately it turned out as they constantly tried to shortcut things. I also have photos of my dad on the beach in a collar and tie . DH dressed quite casually once he’d retired , hardly ever wore a suit and tie. He went back to his student hippie attire jeans shorts and t shirts!

HelterSkelter1

I love that story keepcalm. Actually I love watching tradesmen working. All the gadgets they use and how they do things. So I could be that old lady in a deckchair in the corner of the kitchen. But I would be in shorts and a tee.

I think in OPs case her DH is maintaining control..of something, anything. I don't think she will change him now.

Such an important thing to have…control.
My mum has recently come to live with us, in an annex, and has lost control over so much. Not her bladder thank goodness!

Its the armed services background. My father (ex-army) was the same, so was a late friend, ex-Navy.

We are doing up a house we have an endless stream of workmen going through the house. Currently there are 2 trademen reroofing a single story extension, a plumber fitting anew bathroom suite and an electrician. I make them welcome, make offers of coffee/tea and several times a day go and inspect progress and have a chat.

I am wearing what I would be wearing on any ordinary day in summer. Today it is capri pants and a shirt.

Aveline

My late Dad was a stickler for self presentation. Even in advanced old age and unwell he'd wear a tie with his pyjamas!
When he was working (as a GP) he'd often comment on elderly ladies who'd greet him wearing a hat even though they were ill in bed. Standards!!

I have pictures of my Grandmother on a beach in a dress and hat.

I felt sad when my Dad started wearing jogging bottoms.

I sympathise I’ve got one like that too. He cant think or do anything else until the task is completed, he then makes me tense, why I have no idea. It’s exhausting.