Your Mother’s Style
May 9th, 2008Our mothers probably have more impact on our style and dress sense than we would care to admit. Here are some aspects of my late Mother’s style that I was grateful to learn:
- Good style starts with the best bra and I cannot stress this point enough.
- Perfect polish goes a long way. Styling your hair, wearing a scent and grooming your brows are easy ways to increase your style quotient. Mum was big on polish and I had this drummed into me at an early age.
- My Mother had good posture because her Mother made her walk around with a book on her head. When I do catch myself slouching on the odd occasion I can hear my mother telling me to STAND UP STRAIGHT.
- Dress up instead of dressing down because you’ll make a good impression that way.
- Don’t overdo make-up. Hallelujah. I especially love this one. Overly made-up faces are unsightly at any age.
- Black and white is a winning combination. I wear a lot of black and white and continue to love it’s dramatic effect.
There are also aspects of my Mom’s style that I would have liked her to change:
- Not wearing real fur. Mum did it freely in a time when the awareness was very different to what it is today. I am very opposed to fur and would have definitely gotten her to see things my way.
- Embracing denim. Wearing jeans was hard for my Mum. She thought denim looked un-ladylike and overly casual. But she eventually got her head around a pair of white jeans because they’re smarter. With encouragement, she would have eventually embraced smart casual dressing because she looked superbly elegant in jeans.
- Painting the toes red. My Mum was convinced that red toenail polish made her feet look like they were dipped in blood. Hilarious. Red looked so much better than the brown, earthy tones she chose instead.
- Adding silver to the mix. Gold was Mum’s only choice of metal, because she felt that she didn’t look good in white gold and silver. This was not true and she’d have enjoyed mixing metals.
Has your Mother’s personal style influenced your own? Would you like to change anything about your Mother’s style?
And for all the Moms out there: Happy Mother’s Day!
This post is dedicated to all mothers, and in particular to my late mother, who loved fashion and was an extremely stylish lady. She died eight years ago this month and would have turned 67 in September. I am proud to say that her style is alive in me.
May 9th, 2008 at 7:26 am
Your mother was absolutely beautiful!
May 9th, 2008 at 7:41 am
Second that, she looked stunning!
May 9th, 2008 at 7:43 am
I don’t know if I am feeling particularly emotional today, or what, but your post brought tears to my eyes Angie. I love your mother’s day posts every year, and I can tell how much that gorgeous lady influenced you and how much you still care for her.
She is a knock-out (and I see the resemblance).
To answer your question, my mom has never been overly-concerned with style. I never remember her going out of her way to be stylish. She is definitely more of a casual person, and prefers comfort over haute couture. But what I did learn from her was the necessity of picking and sticking to a good skin care regimen and how beautiful natural can be. My mother has been dating her partner for almost 10 years, and it was only about a year and a half ago that he realized she wore make-up everyday. She is so beautiful with her minimal look that she doesn’t need more. I would be so lucky to look half as beautiful as she does when I reach her age.
May 9th, 2008 at 7:45 am
your mother was absolutely lovely. beautiful post.
May 9th, 2008 at 7:46 am
Agreed, your mother was lovely!
My mother’s style has HUGELY influenced mine my whole life.
Thanks to her I:
-Love to wear bright red on my lips, fingernails and toenails.
-I hold Estee Lauder at a high regard even though I’ve never really used their product.
-I’m a Victoria’s Secret fanatic because of her.
-I can’t wear black with brown or black with navy blue because of her.
-I’m very matchy-matchy because of her.
-Louis Vuitton handbags are gorgeous to me and are the only things I care to have a logo on.
Those are just the things I can think of off the top of my head.
Happy Mother’s Day to all!
May 9th, 2008 at 7:46 am
The biggest influence my mother has had on my style is probably my lack of make up. I do wear it sometimes and she wears a minimal amount always. I think I can also credit her with my sense of modesty although via a more subtle influence. (My father gets the credit for my posture.) The lessons from her that sit strongest with me however are manners and how to behave to people. She’s visiting this weekend too.
While my mother does have polish and occasionally gets an ensemble right, I’m afraid she could use an entire wardrobe makeover. She breaks quite a few of Angie’s most basic rules. One day she showed up at my house in red crocs– much to my flabbergast-ination. This is not a project I’m interested in taking on, especially since she lives in another state, so I will just love her as she is.
May 9th, 2008 at 8:06 am
Fabulous pic. The lady has style. I definately see your mom in you.
My husband often says that the stork must have dropped me on the wrong door step. This comment rings true in the fashion arena. My mom doesn’t care a wit for fashion. She grew up in a religious home where women never cut their hair, wore only dresses, didn’t show their knees or elbows, etc. Fortunately she did not require those things of me. She rebelled and to this day jeans and sweatshirt are her uniform. As for me, Mom reports that at a very young age I took to fashion. I would not wear what she picked out for me, instead I formulated my own ensembles. Bless her heart, through the years she put up with endless shopping trips for me and paid for types of clothes she never wore growing up. Perhaps she wanted me to have the things she never did. Thank you, mom!!!
May 9th, 2008 at 8:33 am
Hi!
Fantastic post… as always. Congratulations on your wonderful, can’t-live-without-it-anymore site!
May 9th, 2008 at 8:53 am
Hi… Angie your mother is very beautiful!
My mother prefers comfort over style. As a nurse she wore uniform to work for 30 years. Now as she retired, she dresses up to go to church and a nice t-shirt, skirt or pant with elastic at the waist and sandals would be her dayly look. I can’t go wrong shopping at Macy’s for her, but I like to do it on my own because if she is with me she is more concern about the prices than the looks!
She is a sweetheart. I love her so much.
May 9th, 2008 at 8:56 am
Your mom was a gorgeous lady, Angie! Lovely post..
From my mom I took the no makeup..always dress up look. She never dresses casually except at home and looks stunning at any place she goes to..better than the 20 year olds..I hope I can be half as graceful and pretty as her at that age. She tried a lot to get me into the habit of styled hair but that’s one thing I could never pick up. My hair runs wild no matter how hard I try.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the fab Moms out here!
May 9th, 2008 at 8:57 am
Ang, I wish I’d known your mom! Happy Mothers Day.
What I still hear my late mom saying to me is, “You never know who you’ll meet.” She said it when I wanted to go somewhere as a teen or young single, looking less than presentable, the message clearly being, you could meet Mr. Right for the first time. Now that I live with Mr. Right, I imagine running into a client, a friend, a neighbor, maybe even an old boyfriend, when I want to run a quick errand in gardening or painting clothes, and I always “get presentable.” Thanks, Mom.
I wish my mom had worn makeup other than just lipstick. I think wearing makeup, done right, gives the message that you value yourself and are someone to be taken seriously. I think it would have helped her feel more powerful, but as she would have been 100 years old next month, women weren’t encouraged to be powerful, important or serious in her time.
May 9th, 2008 at 9:03 am
What a beautiful tribute to your mother Angie! Loved your article, and your mother is absolutely beautiful!!! She has that Jackie-O look!
May 9th, 2008 at 9:04 am
I hate fur also…they belong on animals not on me…
May 9th, 2008 at 9:53 am
My mom taught me that confidence is the most important thing. She always tells me how great I look and never criticizes, which I believe to be one of the greatest gifts she’s given me. I work extra hard to live up to her standards. Her sense of modesty, politeness and grace exceed trendiness. She’s also a big believer in exercise - which makes everything look better. I love you, Mom!
May 9th, 2008 at 11:01 am
Though my mother is considered to be a great beauty, her style is very different from mine. My late grandmother was a huge influence on me, style-wise, and in so many other ways. She was tall and naturally exotic looking, but always dressed like a lady. She knew her good points ( legs ) and emphasized those. I rarely saw her without an elegant pencil skirt and polished pumps. Never having a lot of extra money to spend on clothes, she taught me to only buy quality, to look at the lines, the cut, and particularly the fabric. She believed it was better to have a few good pieces, rather than a closet full of lesser ones. She didn’t like sales and always said “It’s not a sale if you’re not going to wear it!” I, in turn, taught to my to my son, and he told me recently he always thinks that when he goes to sales. Nice to know her influence has transcended generations. Happy Mother’s Day.
May 9th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
What lovely thoughts and a fresh way to celebrate our mothers! My Jewish mother and grandmother had a huge impact on my everyday style. My grandmother owned the millinery and glove department of a fashionable ladies store in San Antonio from 1940-1975 (Julian Gold, still a wonderful store). She only wore Ferragamo shoes, shades of cream or navy, a net veil over her eyes and nose, coral nail polish, signature diamond pieces and pearls. My mother lived a much more simple lifestyle in her housedress and Keds, but with such an inner radiance- she was always happy for others and never judged them. Since she didn’t drive, and the Avon lady was her best friend- she had vanity filled with all the lipstick shades.
Happy Mother’s Day to all!
May 9th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Angie, that picture of your mom actually reminds me of similar pictures of my own mother. She would have turned 66 next month (she passed away almost 17 years ago) and they sound as though they were quite similar. My mother also wore fur, instilled the importance of good posture in me and she never embraced denim…
I’m exactly six feet tall and I often lamented the fact that I looked ridiculous in heels. My mother firmly disagreed and always said “The taller the woman - the higher the heel. Wear it proudly!” She also taught me that if your suit or dress has gold or brass buttons your shoes must be patent.
I have no idea whether those were actual fashion rules or not but they stand out in my mind for some reason. And I had every reason to trust her because she had impeccable taste.
Happy Mother’s Day everyone! Enjoy it and look “fabulous”!
May 9th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Great post Angie. Your mother looks beautiful and elegant.
My mom isn’t big on fashion. In fact, she usually spends her days in jeans and a t-shirt or sweat shirt, but she’s taught me several important things.
1) Stand straight. No matter what you wear you will not look good if you slouch.
2) Only a little make-up is best. My mom never wears make-up, but she always told me that mine looks best when it’s minimal.
3) Be confindent with the body God gave you. She always tells me I’m beautiful. I don’t usualy agree and I’m still learning to like my body, but she certainly encourages me in this area.
4) Always wear what looks good on you. Trends will pass but the classics will endure.
May 9th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
I want to chime in with the others and say your Mother is beautiful!
My Mother never cared much for make up or style, but my Grandmother-that was a whole other story! She loved jewelry and would wear things like sequined sweaters. She died 20 years ago and I think of her almost every day. And I inherited the love of bling too!
May 9th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Angie, your mum and post are both lovely and touched my heart.
As Amy T said, my mother was more about confidence and experiences than fashion. Much to her chagrin, i spent a lot of money on cosmetics and Seventeen magazines in my youth. Then i even started my career in the cosmetic industry!
So i’d say regarding fashion, I’m on my own. But when it comes to being centered and understanding one’s self, I get that from her.
Today is the 8th anniversary of my husband’s mother’s death and from pictures i’ve seen from her youth, she had it going on! Here’s to you Vivian.
May 9th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
My mom is 67, Angie. I have a photo of her from the early 60s in which she looks a lot like your mom!
Some of my earliest childhood memories of my mom include:
1) Her wearing a hot pink bikini - and she had the tiniest waist!! But this was replaced by mumu’s in the 70s.
2) Playing with all the perfume and lipstick and other pretty bottles on her bathroom counter
3) Bouncing on her bed while she’d get all dressed up for date night with my dad - trying on her shoes, helping her zip, smelling her perfume
4) I remember in the 70s a really awful hippies tunic she wore, it had tassles
5) Her favorite pumpkin wool coat (I think my sister now owns it)
Later on, when I became a teen, I have very fond memories of going shopping with my mother. We loved to shop for clothes and would spend hours and hours doing so. Mom would always know what would work best on me, and I would always know what would work best on her. I now do the same with my own teen girls!!
I also have a lot of memories of my mom spending hours trying on various outfits, checking herself out in the mirror, being dissatisfied with what she saw, and trying on something else. She’d go through 10 or 20 outfits before finally settling on something. I am the *exact* same way!!
She also taught me to never, ever go on an airplane without being dressed up. These days, I don’t wear high heels but unless it’s a really LONG, overnight flight, you won’t see me in sweats.
After her masectomy, she taught me that the secret of fashion is all in creating an illusion… you don’t need to go under the knife to change your body. Work with what you have.
But most of all, she taught me this: never leave the house without lipstick!!!! It’s all you really need to look fabulous.
May 9th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
My mom isn’t a huge fashionista, but she always looks decent. She taught me some important lessons:
1) Dress appropriately-it’s better to be over-dressed than under-dressed.
2) Good posture
3) Walk with your feet straight ahead. To this day I think nothing ruins a beautiful outfit faster than the person walking with their feet angled outward like a clown.
4) Don’t wear your skirts too short
5) I love that my mom always wears a dress to church and now I do too
Also, I will forever admire my mom because she can sew anything beautifully. Over the years she has made me many garments that I treasure for their sentimental value as much as their quality. Unfortunately, I didn’t inherit her talent.
May 9th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
What a beautiful photograph! You do very much resemble your mother–very beautiful!!
May 10th, 2008 at 2:11 am
Hi Angie - Beautiful photo. Thinking of you on Mother’s Day and of your lovely mum looking down on you. It is funny how trends come and go but some of the classic styles have remained constant. Your mum would be very proud of how you are keeping her spirit alive and helping everyone “look fab”! See you in France soon… Jem & Tom
May 10th, 2008 at 5:22 am
What a lovely tribute to a lovely woman, Angie. Your mother, and the gentleman beside her are brimming with style and beauty.
Thinking about all the things my mom instilled in me about fashion and personal appearace, made me realize that I had ignored many of her ideals for a long time and have recently started to reincorporate them into my life. The one that never escaped me is her insistence on wearing a wonderful bra.
This also maks me consider my fashion relationship with my 11 year old daughter. She definately knows what she likes and will start little trends among her schoolmates. Yesterday, she wore my converse sneakers to school–and I realized that there has to be a little bit of me in her if she’s wants to wear my stuff. I’m sure she has now adopted my new shoes. But that is what being a mother is all about.
Happy Mother’s Day!
May 11th, 2008 at 6:12 am
Angie, your mother is lovely! I see you in her. You both have wonderfully big smiles that brighten your face and bring smiles to those around you.
Happy Mothers Day!
May 11th, 2008 at 9:33 am
Angie, thanks so much for the wonderful post! I agree that a mother’s fashion sense impact one forever - just as in other ways one seeks to emulate or rebel against the overt or merely observed learnings absorbed in childhood..and after.
The picture is gorgeous - I see you in both your parents. But you especially resemble your mom. What a lovely lady.
Happy Mother’s Day to mothers and daughters alike! Nancy
May 11th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
The one piece of fashion advice that my mom gave me that I still follow is that “a little makeup goes a long way”. I still only wear mascara and blush, unless I’m going to a special event. I think that these two things help accent a woman’s natural beauty without hiding anything.
Happy Mother’s Day!
May 11th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
Angie, the picture of your mother is lovely! So stylish and put-together.
My mom always told me and my younger sister:
* Spend money on classic pieces, because they’re investments in good style
* You can never have too many shoes
* If you find something you love and it fits perfectly, buy at least 2 colors
* Work with your figure, not against it
* When it comes to makeup, less is more
I would say she influenced my fashion 100%, because these are my fashion guidelines too! Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms!
May 12th, 2008 at 9:00 am
A big thank you for these touching comments and compliments. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing about you and your Mothers. This is a topic close to my heart and I hope that you had a super Mothers Day.
May 12th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Angie–was the picture of your mom and dad from a special event? Such a striking photo!