https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/one-positive-thing-you-got-from-your-mother-about-styleclothing Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Fri, 10 Apr 2026 05:28:28 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/one-positive-thing-you-got-from-your-mother-about-styleclothing/page/2#post-2360351 Thu, 16 May 2024 09:58:07 +0000 Junia234 2360351@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>&nbsp; My mother dressed well, but conservatively.&nbsp; She used to advise us to always buy pieces that can be mixed and matched. She didn't go for strong, bright colors or prints because they were too memorable, especially in the workplace.&nbsp; I say, "To each his own style of dress!" </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/one-positive-thing-you-got-from-your-mother-about-styleclothing/page/2#post-2360179 Wed, 15 May 2024 03:24:50 +0000 avicennia 2360179@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Love all the responses </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/one-positive-thing-you-got-from-your-mother-about-styleclothing/page/2#post-2360157 Tue, 14 May 2024 22:39:46 +0000 Janet 2360157@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My mom was meticulous about her appearance. She was always well groomed and did not leave the house even to grocery shop without putting a little effort into what she wore. Like her, I would rather be a little overdressed for any occasion rather than underdressed — I could usually be counted on to be more “dressed up” than my friends because of my mom’s influence, and that’s true to this day. Like her, my makeup routine is almost daily but minimal. </p> <p>I got from her a love of shopping, pretty prints and patterns, and scarves and rings as favorite accessories. We enjoyed shopping together, and I still keep a couple of items she bought me on those trips, even though they’re probably 20 or more years old. I have some of her jewelry and wear it fairly regularly. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/one-positive-thing-you-got-from-your-mother-about-styleclothing/page/2#post-2360153 Tue, 14 May 2024 21:48:38 +0000 LaPed 2360153@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My mother was a rebellious tomboy flower child who was always closer with her dad than with her mom, and bonded with him over gardening and hiking, eventually passing those interests along to me. But her mother taught her how to knit, which kindled a lifelong interest in fibre arts! My mom and I made recycled wool rugs together when I was a kid (I remember spending hours scouring thrift stores and free bins for wool suiting to cut into strips for rugs!), and she still spins, dyes, and knits with wool nonstop. She is a diehard utilitarian who always prioritizes function over form, but also has a great eye for colour and line. I'd like to think I inherited her mindset!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/one-positive-thing-you-got-from-your-mother-about-styleclothing/page/2#post-2360113 Tue, 14 May 2024 17:31:05 +0000 Star (Lise) 2360113@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Judy&nbsp;</b>Like your Mom, my Mom also warned me about wearing less than perfect underwear.&nbsp; You know, in case you are in an accident, the horror of not having perfect underwear.&nbsp; Haha not so much the horror you may be injured or worse, dead. :)&nbsp; &nbsp; She was also a great knitter.&nbsp; And I just realised that she never owned a pair of jeans.&nbsp; Jeans are my favourite item.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/one-positive-thing-you-got-from-your-mother-about-styleclothing/page/2#post-2360009 Tue, 14 May 2024 07:24:57 +0000 Val 2360009@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p> <div>We had modest budget and even more modest choices in stores when I was a child but my mom tought me (not in these specific words but somehow) that you live only once and try and enjoy the best of what you can right now, wear it now and have fun now. <br /></div><div>Also told me I was a "winter" and that information influenced a lot of my choices in colors and in styles. <br /></div><div>She still sometimes buys me some clothes/acessories as presents and it always a hit! And she still scorns me for being too shy in my fashion choices :)<br /></div></p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/one-positive-thing-you-got-from-your-mother-about-styleclothing/page/2#post-2359994 Tue, 14 May 2024 02:21:41 +0000 judy 2359994@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What immediately sprang to mind when you asked what knowledge about clothing my mother imparted to me was: "Wear clean underwear!"  So there you go.  And I stick by it ! </p> <p>My dear mom and I had very different styles from early on.  By 12 I was off on my own trajectory.  She was always a conservative dresser, think Talbots.  My mother never wore jeans in her life. I was not conservative, and embraced the 60's, 70's alternative dressing. I didn't take advice from her, and she didn't take it from me. She always found my choices a little too out there, but only occasionally commented that way, and I appreciated her restraint.  As she got older, I'd pay her more compliments, about a beautiful sweater (she was a great knitter) or her color choices and tell her she looked nice.  I meant it, but I also felt she needed that boost later in life. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/one-positive-thing-you-got-from-your-mother-about-styleclothing/page/2#post-2359984 Tue, 14 May 2024 01:21:29 +0000 BrieN 2359984@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My mom paid the bills sewing clothes for other people. I think she liked having a bit of an "audience" when she was working... for example I remember her narrating a bit when she cut out the pieces for a pattern she had just made. She talked about fabrics and armholes and and quality construction.&nbsp; She loved to show off something that was beautifully made. She had a deep appreciation for quality.&nbsp;</p> <p>While I have a different set of values for a lot of my clothing, I also thrill when I see a garment that is truly beautifully constructed.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/one-positive-thing-you-got-from-your-mother-about-styleclothing/page/2#post-2359968 Mon, 13 May 2024 20:36:29 +0000 Dee 2359968@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I remember my mom taking me to have our “colours done” together back in 1980s. I had never heard of such a thing and&nbsp;usually I just chose my colours randomly but this consultation&nbsp;certainly made an impact on my colour palette going forward. I still have my little pocket colour swatches. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/one-positive-thing-you-got-from-your-mother-about-styleclothing/page/2#post-2359967 Mon, 13 May 2024 20:19:52 +0000 Sal 2359967@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think of two main lessons.</p> <p>1) Letting people make their own choices about clothes - we had battles over clothes for a while until I was about 9 but then Mum let me choose my own looks and pieces.&nbsp; I put together some pretty strange looks but I was happy to have that independence.&nbsp; I had a strong desire to wear jeans and cords and more sporty style clothes and she was keener on a Laura Ashley style for me.&nbsp; A very happy moment though was when she arrived home from a trip to Australia with two tracksuits for me when I was 10.</p> <p>2) The power of wearing colours that suit you.&nbsp; Mum was an autumn - fading to a soft autumn in her later years.&nbsp; She always wore muted purples, browns, olives, warm navies, teals etc and avoided black, grey, cool pinks and the colours that did not suit her.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/one-positive-thing-you-got-from-your-mother-about-styleclothing/page/2#post-2359966 Mon, 13 May 2024 20:05:05 +0000 April 2359966@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I must say I am experiencing a mix of awe and envy from reading this thread. So many of you had wise, stylish mothers interested in having wise, stylish daughters!</p> <p>Wise and stylish mothers of the world - carry on! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/one-positive-thing-you-got-from-your-mother-about-styleclothing#post-2359964 Mon, 13 May 2024 18:04:19 +0000 kkards 2359964@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Like Bijou my mom thought me to dress to please myself.<br /> Like you April my mother thought me how to work the markdown rack, and like you I’ve had to unlearn that. Or perhaps better to say learn a different approach then the one that was drilled into my head.<br /> On a practical note she thought me a lot about how to recognize quality and how to care for garments of all kinds.<br /> Over time our taste and style has diverged but I still love shopping with her. It’s always been an activity we’ve bonded over. In fact I’m in the airport heading home after a Mother’s Day visit and yes we hit the mall. It’s getting harder as she’s 88 and doesn’t have the stamina she did only 5 years ago, but still something she really wanted to do. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/one-positive-thing-you-got-from-your-mother-about-styleclothing#post-2359963 Mon, 13 May 2024 17:57:40 +0000 Gail 2359963@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My Mum was very stylish and ALWAYS looked put together right down to her hair, footwear and nails. She had a small budget but managed to spread it around with a few really good items and filled in with others . Once she had a massive stroke at age 62 everything &nbsp; came crashing to a halt and it was very sad to see this once vibrant dresser only be able to wear items that she could wear sitting comfortably and that my Father could easily dress her in. I always remember her telling me that scruffy badly looked after footwear could ruin an entire outfit !<br />&nbsp;Miss her. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/one-positive-thing-you-got-from-your-mother-about-styleclothing#post-2359959 Mon, 13 May 2024 17:18:12 +0000 Eliza 2359959@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Such a great thread! Rarely would I quote another post verbatim, but Angie captured the essence of my mother’s style lessons. She knew herself and took pride in how she dressed; she focused her budget on the most impactful pieces. Angie’s statement described her well: “It's not about the price tag of the wardrobe item (large or small). It's about the quality, fit, and how it's worn and styled. Execution and confidence make the difference.” Thanks, Angie. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/one-positive-thing-you-got-from-your-mother-about-styleclothing#post-2359955 Mon, 13 May 2024 15:33:23 +0000 rachylou 2359955@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My mom believed in nice clothes - no buying things ‘you’ll grow into’ etc. - even though she was aggressively frugal. And sophistication. And knowing who you are and dressing accordingly… for marketing purposes lol </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/one-positive-thing-you-got-from-your-mother-about-styleclothing#post-2359952 Mon, 13 May 2024 15:10:27 +0000 Suz 2359952@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>April</b>, that's what we have Angie for!&nbsp; :)&nbsp;</p> <p>In all seriousness, I'll bet a lot of us wish we'd learned the second part of that dictum from our mums. Oh well. Onwards!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/one-positive-thing-you-got-from-your-mother-about-styleclothing#post-2359951 Mon, 13 May 2024 15:09:36 +0000 The Cat 2359951@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The following are things that I have learnt from my mother and that she is still practicing at the age of 91:<br /> - Wearing a column of colour instantly makes you look more elegant<br /> - The power of these finishing touches: well-coiffed hair; visible lipstick; necklace and/or earrings; neat, polished footwear; a bag which coordinates nicely with your clothing<br /> - Aim to buy quality items at reasonable prices and with an eye to how they can be combined with items you already have in your closet </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/one-positive-thing-you-got-from-your-mother-about-styleclothing#post-2359948 Mon, 13 May 2024 14:12:50 +0000 April 2359948@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I asked this question of my high school best friend, whose mother I know very well, and she said "How to work the markdown racks".&nbsp;</p> <p>That was one I learned too, but I found it was something I had to unlearn in later life, when it was saddling me with a closetful of orphans that had all been 40% off. A useful skill when you have quite a limited budget; less useful when you have to make outfits that actually go together.&nbsp;</p> <p>I guess I wish our moms had added something like, "But you must be just as picky among the markdowns as you would be on something expensive." </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/one-positive-thing-you-got-from-your-mother-about-styleclothing#post-2359943 Mon, 13 May 2024 13:14:52 +0000 Jules 2359943@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Specific to fashion, i would say my mother taught me to embrace colour and pattern. She also never said anything negative about my fluctuating weight and body changes as a child and teen. On a bigger scale also applied to the decorative and fine arts, she taught me to appreciate artisanal crafting traditions over the mass produced. She travelled widely in her lifetime and didn’t buy a lot in her later years, but always had an eye for authentic, unique small maker items. Here is a straw bag she bought in Columbia maybe about 10 years ago. I always admired it and after she passed I found it hanging in her closet arranged to face out with this scarf tied on it. Now I have it on the back of my closet door at home and of course brought it along with me to Costa Rica this week. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/one-positive-thing-you-got-from-your-mother-about-styleclothing#post-2359939 Mon, 13 May 2024 12:37:29 +0000 RobinF 2359939@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>When I was young, my mom was always interested in style and dressed stylishly even with very little money. She was the cool mom in mini skirts and bell bottom pants.</p> <p>As an adult, she was my best shopping partner. We were able to bounce things off each other in a way that made shopping decisions easier, even though our personal tastes were different.&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/one-positive-thing-you-got-from-your-mother-about-styleclothing#post-2359937 Mon, 13 May 2024 12:28:39 +0000 ChristelJ 2359937@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>With my mom, putting together outfits was an enjoyable creative process. She taught me it was ok to find pleasure in playing with one's wardrobe. Mom was and still is, in her 90s, quietly elegant and enjoys picking just the right necklace for her outfit each day. I have inherited her love of the process of getting dressed, and her love of necklaces, too! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/one-positive-thing-you-got-from-your-mother-about-styleclothing#post-2359935 Mon, 13 May 2024 11:41:00 +0000 Helena 2359935@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My mom taught me that it's nice to have something "a little bit different", meaning just a little detail or unique touch to make it your own. And that navy never fails. She (and my dad) also has no time for brands and marketing so even in the brand-conscious 80s I had to learn confidence and contentment in my BiWay outfits (Canadians, who remembers?!?) when the 'cool kids' all had Polos, and it's served me well my whole life to know I don't need what others have to feel good about myself. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/one-positive-thing-you-got-from-your-mother-about-styleclothing#post-2359933 Mon, 13 May 2024 11:23:39 +0000 Staysfit 2359933@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My mom taught me to always wear comfortable shoes. &nbsp;Sage advice which I continue to follow.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/one-positive-thing-you-got-from-your-mother-about-styleclothing#post-2359931 Mon, 13 May 2024 11:00:40 +0000 bella 2359931@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>So many things! I think my mother has always been fashionable in a practical way and she always pays meticulous attention to grooming.&nbsp; But since you insisted on one thing:&nbsp;Don't buy skirts if you don't have the tops to wear with them. :)&nbsp;&nbsp;She would always make sure that the skirts we were about to purchase had tops that went with them. If we didn't already have one at home, we'd buy 1-2 tops together with the skirts. She knew that otherwise, they'd be orphaned. I still follow her advice.&nbsp;</p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/one-positive-thing-you-got-from-your-mother-about-styleclothing#post-2359927 Mon, 13 May 2024 09:56:43 +0000 Bijou 2359927@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>To dress to please myself - as a child she had no problem with me wearing long dresses when playing outside. She thought it was good that I was getting wear from things that I would quickly outgrow - nothing was kept for 'good', and I could choose my own clothes. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/one-positive-thing-you-got-from-your-mother-about-styleclothing#post-2359921 Mon, 13 May 2024 05:10:03 +0000 Zaeobi 2359921@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Her best advice was to never touch my eyebrows. Probably learnt first-hand from the thin pencil brows craze </p> <p>Yeah they may not be 'perfect' according to fashion gospel (I'm sure most of us have seen the 'rules' on which part of your brow should align with your nose/ eye) but that's OK! </p> <p>Her best implicit advice was around fit - I had many an outfit tailored or made from scratch when we would go visit family. My solutions around western wear are a bit more temporary (belting to create a waist, rolling up sleeves etc), but similar principles still apply. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/one-positive-thing-you-got-from-your-mother-about-styleclothing#post-2359909 Sun, 12 May 2024 23:47:35 +0000 Suz 2359909@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ha, that's hilarious, <b>Suntiger.</b> Love it!&nbsp;</p> <p>It's hard to pick just one positive lesson my mother taught. When I was little, she opened the trunk of her 50s clothes like your mother did,<b> April,</b> and let me play with the glamorous things I found there. She sewed most of my clothes (and some of her own), and very early on, she gave me choices -- what colour did I want the dress to be, what style of collar or sleeve (from the options on the pattern), what fabric (within parameters). This helped me develop my own taste. She taught me how to recognize quality construction. Later, as a teen, I had a clothing allowance, which taught me how to prioritize purchases and figure out what I could afford. In my early teens, she took me and my friends to the big city so we could shop there instead of at our boring suburban mall -- this was so freeing and so fun!&nbsp;</p> <p>She loved clothes herself, but there was a period when, for a variety of reasons, she didn't spend much money on herself and let her style completely flounder. So in the 80s, when I worked in fashion retail during college, I was thrilled to be able to invite her to the store where I worked and encourage her to buy herself a whole new wardrobe following a major life transition.&nbsp;</p> <p>I guess the best lesson she taught me was to have fun with fashion!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/one-positive-thing-you-got-from-your-mother-about-styleclothing#post-2359906 Sun, 12 May 2024 23:28:52 +0000 madeline 2359906@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>When your clothes are pressed, you look well-dressed. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/one-positive-thing-you-got-from-your-mother-about-styleclothing#post-2359904 Sun, 12 May 2024 22:42:45 +0000 Suntiger 2359904@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I can say lots of good things about my mom :)</p> <p>She's always been accepting and non judgemental of my choices, style and otherwise.</p> <p>She taught me about thrifting, and while it's not the majority of my wardrobe, interesting things can be found.</p> <p>She had books like Color Me Beautiful around for my early style education.</p> <p>We bonded over style. When my dad was watching sports, we'd escape to the shops! Pro tip- No One is at the mall during Superbowl </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/one-positive-thing-you-got-from-your-mother-about-styleclothing#post-2359899 Sun, 12 May 2024 21:52:50 +0000 MsMaven 2359899@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My mother sewed most of my clothes as a little girl, as she did for my 2 sisters. She was very proper. For many occasions, such as shopping downtown, she wore hat, gloves, nylons, heels, and of course carried a bag. She worked for a milliner before marriage, and used to teach hat decorating classes in our front room.&nbsp;</p> <p>Most important thing she taught: I'd say proper fit. She fussed over the clothes she sewed, and she altered store-bought clothes and hand-me-downs from our aunts.&nbsp;</p> <p>And she also had perfect posture.&nbsp;</p> <p>Late1950s. </p>