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| Mother's Day 2014: How our mums influence the way we dress | |
| (2 days later) | |
| Petra, | Petra, |
| 35, relationship manager for a financial institution | 35, relationship manager for a financial institution |
| We | We |
| lived in Slovakia, under a communist regime. All the clothes were | lived in Slovakia, under a communist regime. All the clothes were |
| mass-produced and everyone wore the same stuff. My mum wanted to wear something different, so she learned how to sew. | mass-produced and everyone wore the same stuff. My mum wanted to wear something different, so she learned how to sew. |
| She made clothes for all of us – she was really creative and would come up with funky | She made clothes for all of us – she was really creative and would come up with funky |
| stuff, especially in the 1970s and 1980s. Triangular graphic | stuff, especially in the 1970s and 1980s. Triangular graphic |
| designs … materials sewn over each other … using a hole-punch to | designs … materials sewn over each other … using a hole-punch to |
| make holes in the material. She even made me a purple onesie that looked like a | make holes in the material. She even made me a purple onesie that looked like a |
| padded skiing outfit. And my grandfather said: "No! She’s going to | padded skiing outfit. And my grandfather said: "No! She’s going to |
| look like a cosmonaut." | look like a cosmonaut." |
| She | She |
| even made her own wedding dress from scratch. She spent hours and | even made her own wedding dress from scratch. She spent hours and |
| hours sewing little flowers onto it. | hours sewing little flowers onto it. |
| She | She |
| would wear what was in fashion – but the fashion would arrive | would wear what was in fashion – but the fashion would arrive |
| after a massive delay, like the music. So in the early 1980s | after a massive delay, like the music. So in the early 1980s |
| she was following the late 1970s look: wide-leg trousers, beret, massive Dior glasses. | she was following the late 1970s look: wide-leg trousers, beret, massive Dior glasses. |
| We | We |
| would look at German Burda [a pattern and fashion] magazine together | would look at German Burda [a pattern and fashion] magazine together |
| and discuss what looked nice – and | and discuss what looked nice – and |
| because my mum had that attitude and payed attention to fashion, I | because my mum had that attitude and payed attention to fashion, I |
| think something stayed with me. | think something stayed with me. |
| I | I |
| look at the detail; at the colour schemes. I have glasses with green | look at the detail; at the colour schemes. I have glasses with green |
| arms. And then I’d have my green scarf, my green belt, and if I | arms. And then I’d have my green scarf, my green belt, and if I |
| managed to have a green handbag I’d wear that as well. People have | managed to have a green handbag I’d wear that as well. People have |
| commented on how coordinated I am. I used to be more so. But now I | commented on how coordinated I am. I used to be more so. But now I |
| travel a lot so I stick to black quite a bit. | travel a lot so I stick to black quite a bit. |
| I | I |
| am proud that she expressed herself. People were covered in grey from head to go, and then she came along. I’m not sure her | am proud that she expressed herself. People were covered in grey from head to go, and then she came along. I’m not sure her |
| fashion would be something she would be spied on by the state | fashion would be something she would be spied on by the state |
| for. But it might have been. (My dad was followed because he admired western technology.) It was a brave thing to do. | for. But it might have been. (My dad was followed because he admired western technology.) It was a brave thing to do. |
| Lynnette | Lynnette |
| Peck, 46, fashion and beauty journalist, and founder of Lovely's | Peck, 46, fashion and beauty journalist, and founder of Lovely's |
| Vintage Emporium | Vintage Emporium |
| My | My |
| mum’s look was very Nana Mouskouri. Long black hair with a black | mum’s look was very Nana Mouskouri. Long black hair with a black |
| sideways fringe, and she wore those black-cat glasses. In the 1950s | sideways fringe, and she wore those black-cat glasses. In the 1950s |
| she wore the nipped-in dresses; in the ‘60s she wore shift dresses; | she wore the nipped-in dresses; in the ‘60s she wore shift dresses; |
| and in the ‘70s maxi dresses. I do remember her looking very like | and in the ‘70s maxi dresses. I do remember her looking very like |
| Margot in The Good Life. And I went through a stage of dressing like | Margot in The Good Life. And I went through a stage of dressing like |
| that and actually, when I was in my 20s, everyone called me Margot. | that and actually, when I was in my 20s, everyone called me Margot. |
| Maybe | Maybe |
| that’s where my love of vintage came from … me parading around and | that’s where my love of vintage came from … me parading around and |
| trying on her things from the dressing-up box; and her on her way to | trying on her things from the dressing-up box; and her on her way to |
| a fondue party, coming into my bedroom to say goodnight, a waft of | a fondue party, coming into my bedroom to say goodnight, a waft of |
| Charlie and a swish of maxi dress. | Charlie and a swish of maxi dress. |
| I | I |
| definitely do lean towards the 1970s-meets-modern. All | definitely do lean towards the 1970s-meets-modern. All |
| the shaggy fake fur coats … the leather boho across-the-shoulder | the shaggy fake fur coats … the leather boho across-the-shoulder |
| handbags … the maxi hats in the summer … yes, if I’ve got one | handbags … the maxi hats in the summer … yes, if I’ve got one |
| era … | era … |
| My | My |
| mum was definitely into fashion – she would have two or three | mum was definitely into fashion – she would have two or three |
| catalogues arrive every season and we’d pore over them together – | catalogues arrive every season and we’d pore over them together – |
| but she wasn’t as obsessed as me. Her interest aided and abetted me | but she wasn’t as obsessed as me. Her interest aided and abetted me |
| but I was born fashion-obsessed. | but I was born fashion-obsessed. |
| My | My |
| mother tells me that at at age two I started deciding what I was going to wear | mother tells me that at at age two I started deciding what I was going to wear |
| every morning, and she no longer had any say. I’d lay out my | every morning, and she no longer had any say. I’d lay out my |
| clothes the night before. I’d put that top with those trousers … | clothes the night before. I’d put that top with those trousers … |
| I was basically styling. I remember outfits I wore. I used to wear | I was basically styling. I remember outfits I wore. I used to wear |
| this purple trouser-suit … and there’s one photograph of me, on a | this purple trouser-suit … and there’s one photograph of me, on a |
| hospital bed with my legs covered in plaster, and I’m wearing a red-and-white poncho. And I’ve got a red-and-white basket that I’m | hospital bed with my legs covered in plaster, and I’m wearing a red-and-white poncho. And I’ve got a red-and-white basket that I’m |
| holding – like a little handbag basket – that matches the poncho. I | holding – like a little handbag basket – that matches the poncho. I |
| chose it all. | chose it all. |
| My | My |
| mum doesn’t follow fashion any more but we still go clothes-shopping | mum doesn’t follow fashion any more but we still go clothes-shopping |
| together. That’s something we’ve always done: gone to the shops | together. That’s something we’ve always done: gone to the shops |
| together and tried on clothes together. My parents are very joined at | together and tried on clothes together. My parents are very joined at |
| the hip but this is the one thing we do, just the two of us. It’s | the hip but this is the one thing we do, just the two of us. It’s |
| our thing. | our thing. |
| Bibi Lynch, 48, writer and broadcaster | Bibi Lynch, 48, writer and broadcaster |
| My mum died in 1988. And when I think of her, I pretty much think of her clothes and how brilliantly she dressed. And no wonder. She was out there – she made so many statements with her outfits! | My mum died in 1988. And when I think of her, I pretty much think of her clothes and how brilliantly she dressed. And no wonder. She was out there – she made so many statements with her outfits! |
| She would wear leopard-print leggings with geometrically-patterned jumpers; red Katharine Hamnett combat trousers with many material loops and belts. She even had a Pocahontas dress made for her. And a chain mail one. | She would wear leopard-print leggings with geometrically-patterned jumpers; red Katharine Hamnett combat trousers with many material loops and belts. She even had a Pocahontas dress made for her. And a chain mail one. |
| She sounds fashion-unhinged. But she wasn’t. She looked incredible. (Saying that, if you had that face and figure you’d look good in a bin-liner. I’m now trying to remember if she ever wore a bin-liner.) She had an elegance that pulled all that craziness together and she never looked anything but stylish and sexy. | She sounds fashion-unhinged. But she wasn’t. She looked incredible. (Saying that, if you had that face and figure you’d look good in a bin-liner. I’m now trying to remember if she ever wore a bin-liner.) She had an elegance that pulled all that craziness together and she never looked anything but stylish and sexy. |
| She certainly dressed to be seen – and I wonder if her clothes were her creative expression. She had seven children and never had a career outside of the home. Perhaps that’s why I dress so differently from her. I do have a creative outlet, and maybe my clothes don’t play the same role. (The only style similarity I’ve inherited from my mum is her love of huge sunglasses.) | She certainly dressed to be seen – and I wonder if her clothes were her creative expression. She had seven children and never had a career outside of the home. Perhaps that’s why I dress so differently from her. I do have a creative outlet, and maybe my clothes don’t play the same role. (The only style similarity I’ve inherited from my mum is her love of huge sunglasses.) |
| My style is definitely understated. I dress like a boy. My look was described as "All Saints mum" once. (The band, not the brand.) And that’s sort of true. Vests, combats, jeans, trainers/heels … I feel a little Dick Emery if I’m wearing a skirt. I sometimes wear skirts and dresses – but they’re funky rather than feminine. | My style is definitely understated. I dress like a boy. My look was described as "All Saints mum" once. (The band, not the brand.) And that’s sort of true. Vests, combats, jeans, trainers/heels … I feel a little Dick Emery if I’m wearing a skirt. I sometimes wear skirts and dresses – but they’re funky rather than feminine. |
| Perhaps unsurprisingly, my favourite item of my mum’s was the plainest outfit she wore: a black crepe wraparound Ossie Clark dress. This is how I liked her look best: simple, to show off her beauty. (I borrowed that dress once. To wear in a school revue. I was playing a Macbeth witch. In an Ossie Clark dress. Dear God!) | Perhaps unsurprisingly, my favourite item of my mum’s was the plainest outfit she wore: a black crepe wraparound Ossie Clark dress. This is how I liked her look best: simple, to show off her beauty. (I borrowed that dress once. To wear in a school revue. I was playing a Macbeth witch. In an Ossie Clark dress. Dear God!) |
| I don’t have many of my mum’s clothes but those I have are kept in protective dust-bags. I’ve moved seven times in the last six years but I’ve never put her stuff in storage. I’ve carried them with me to every temporary move. I couldn’t not. | I don’t have many of my mum’s clothes but those I have are kept in protective dust-bags. I’ve moved seven times in the last six years but I’ve never put her stuff in storage. I’ve carried them with me to every temporary move. I couldn’t not. |