1983 called, and they want their outfit back. which is the first thought that struck me when i spied this adorable pair of linen pants and a white tee. oh, don’t worry, the visual merchandise team from anthropologie didn’t pair these two items together. they’re far better at their job. no, this was an outfit accidentally created by me in a brightly lit dressing room while visiting charleston, sc..
labels: linen pants Anthropologie; tee Anthropologie (similar here and here); sneakers Sperry
but when i caught sight of this summer ensemble in the dressing room mirror the first thought that sprang to my mind was that of my mother. this outfit had her name written all over it. she would have loved this outfit and would have worn this outfit waaayyy back in the eighties. it was comfy and cute. just how she liked things then. you remember that decade, don’t you? it was a fashion debacle from beginning to end filled with oversized blazers and shoulder pads, leg warmers, headbands, track suits, parachute pants, acid wash jeans, mullets, and perms. yikes!
but all of this got me to thinking about mother’s day and my mother. isn’t it funny that just one glance at an outfit evoked a memory of her.? oh, the power of fashion. the power of clothes.
and i couldn’t help but stroll down memory lane, remembering what a beautiful woman my mother was. how she loved clothes and passed that love onto me. i guess you could say my mother was my first style icon. she loved cashmere and pearls and dressed her only daughter in bobby socks and mary-janes. as a young girl, i would rustle through her dresser drawers filled with kidskin gloves in a variety of lengths.
every year, she looked forward to our back-to-school shopping spree where she would skillfully steer me towards suede skirts and mohair turtlenecks and deftly turn away from overalls or blue jeans. sailor-suits were the norm for me through grade school as were sleeveless dresses. it wasn’t until junior high that the dress code relaxed a bit and we could wear pants to school.
there are still vivid memories of a favorite skirt of hers. it was black and white windowpane that she wore all summer long. through the 1960s, i watched her hemline inch up then fall back down when the midi and maxi returned with a vengeance. her favorite fabrics were velvet and lace and silk. for my first school dance, she whipped up a scrumptious black velvet dress with an oversized lace collar that i thought was dreamy.
she grew up in an era that favored hats and she wore them regularly. especially on sunday. even when that tradition began to wane she remained steadfast to her love of hats.
in her eyes living rooms, fine china, and guest soap were reserved for, well, guests. for years i teased her that the guest soap would have to be buried with her as they outnumbered the guests 6 to 1.
my mom loved to share her skincare routines and makeup tips with me. when she came to visit we regularly trotted off to the mall for a shopping spree. since she firmly believed in ladies who lunch there was always a stop at a local cafe.
she was the oldest of three girls. whenever the sisters gathered together, they reminisced of years gone by. their stories held my rapt attention which included vivid descriptions of the outfits they wore in their youth. and the local stores where they were purchased.
here are five style lessons i learned from my mother. lessons that stick with me today.
- never leave the house without lipstick
- invest in cashmere sweaters
- there’s no such as thing as too many white blouses
- moisturize, moisturize, moisturize
- it’s okay to make a mistake
not one tip is groundbreaking news, but it’s good advice all the same. wouldn’t you agree? and while my own crew didn’t include girls to share fashion tips with i still like to dole out a little advice now and then to my three sons.
and i’m always at the ready to share a little home decor tidbits like how to shop for sheets. here’s a recent message from mom where i dish up some tips on folding a fitted sheet.
a mother is a mother all of her life. and no one loves you more than mom. it’s true. so wherever you are, whatever your plans may be today i wish you a very happy mother’s day! it’s the best job on earth.
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About The Author
Happy Mother’s Day to you, Beth! I loved reading about your mother.
hi susan! i hope you enjoyed your day as well.
xoxo
Beautiful! I enjoyed getting to know her through your loving words. I just recently went through old photos of my mom, whom I miss every day, but of course it hits me especially hard today, even though she’s been gone a long time. My mom was also a major fashion plate–and she definitely influenced me, in so many ways. I sometimes laugh to find myself looking at pieces of clothing with her critical eye–does it have bound buttonholes? are there nicely finished off french seams? are all the stripes and plaids matched the way they should be? etc. Most things don’t quite measure up, but I smile to remember her high standards. She was quite a perfectionist with clothing, and made a lot of her clothes herself–a trait I picked up–I did that for many years.
Your mom’s advice was all good–all of those still hold true! Have a wonderful Mother’s Day! Oh–and you definitely resemble your mom!
Oh, and you brought back a hilarious memory–I’m old enough to remember that years ago, when I went into NYC, I actually honest to God wore white gloves to head into the city. I had different length gloves as well in drawers. How funny to think that now.
i hope you had a relaxing mother’s day, sue! and how wonderful to hear your mother had such a discerning eye. she would probably faint at the sight of some of the shoddy workmanship that’s so commonplace today. ugh!
xoxo
What a beautiful family and what a special relationship you had with your mom. Thank you for sharing your photos and memories. Love the advice your mom gave you. I learned a lot about fashion from my Grandma and from my mom I learned NEVER show up at your kid’s school wearing something that will embarrass them. She came to my classroom one day with rollers in her hair. We can laugh about that now but it is still a vivid memory.
i’m laughing my heart out at the thought of your mother in rollers and your reaction! yes, we can learn from mistakes. my mother would pack our school lunches in the big paper sacks from the grocery store. i think we were the only kids in school that had oversized brown paper bags…
xoxo
You are blessed with good genes—you ladies are all so lovely.
i agree, sharon! God was very good to me.
xoxo
enjoyed the post!! Very wonderful to have such a lovely Mother and one who shared good stuff with you!! My Mother loved shoes. So do I.
isn’t it funny how we adopt so many habits from our mother’s?! i wouldn’t have it any other way.
xoxo
Happy Mother’s Day, Beth. Your mother was certainly a beautiful woman (you look very much like her). My mother was also such a lovely looking woman (think Barbara Hale from the Perry Mason show) and always looked pretty even though our family finances left little for clothing. I also enjoyed your kitchen advice. I love to cook but have a small NYC kitchen.
when we lived in san francisco our kitchen was the size of a postage stamp. it always seemed easier to eat out. i’m so thankful i have a larger kitchen again to whip up my favorite dishes.
xoxo
Thank you for your inspiration, Beth! Happy Mother’s Day! ????Your mother is very beautiful!
thank you, linda! i hope you enjoyed your day too.
xoxo
Beth, I hope your Mother’s Day was wonderful! Thanks for sharing pictures of your mom and your family. You do look quite a bit alike, both lovely ladies. I have known women like your mom, always well-dressed, well-groomed and smelling of a signature perfume. When I see outfits, I always wonder what fragrance they chose for the day. xoxo
love your thoughts about a signature perfume! i wear chance for day and shalimar for night.
xoxo
What a lot of work and dedication to create this post. Lovely memories. Happy Mother’s day to you.
thanks, sweet friend! i hope you had a relaxing mother’s day.
xoxo
What a wonderful post for Mother’s Day. I enjoyed the photos so much. Your Mother certainly was a VERY beautiful woman. Such fun to take a peek into your life, thanks so much for sharing.
thanks so much for reading, bonnie! and for sharing your thoughts.
xoxo
I love reading your pages, Beth. I am a similar age group and figure as you, and I find you so inspiring, also I really enjoy your travels and getting a glimpse into your American life (I’m from England) X
this is so nice to hear, joy! i think the best part of the internet is catching a glimpse of a different part of the world. so nice to meet you!
xoxo
What a nice way to remember your mom Beth – loved seeing your “back to the future pictures” always beautiful !
mom’s always have a special place in our hearts!
xoxo
Seriously???
Sitting having my morning coffee in a warm but daggy tracksuit on a bleak Queensland (Australia) morning,I was feeling out-dated and frumpy,so I went in search of a new look on Pinterest….WOW!!!! I found you Beth, with amazing similarities from age,height,body-shape,hair colour & style,I’ve also discovered a whole new wardrobe I didn’t know I had!! I spent the whole day putting pieces together that I’ve never matched up before copying from your photos.THANKYOU I’ve found my go to girl, I’m now on the lookout for a Yellow cardigan,it’s the only colour I don’t have,Maybe I need another trip to the States for shopping spree. Love your blog,and thanks for getting me out of a tracksuit rut????????????????
hi joanne! just saw your comment. nothing makes me happier than to hear you found some inspiration. and shopping your closet is the best shopping spree out there.
enjoy!
xoxo