Still doing things 'properly'

There is only one way to do anything properly and that is my mother’s way.
I deeply regret that I was so much influenced by her standards and brought up my children so rigidly by her rules. How much better childcare is now, when children are loved, encouraged and rewarded instead of doing everything by the book.

My late FIL was immaculate, also ex forces.

When we stayed he always brought us morning tea in bed, he wore a robe with pyjamas but not the ones he had slept in, a silk dressing gown and cravat.

When I first met him and he was still working he wore a bowler hat for his London business trips.

My MIL was the female version, she never wore trousers, nails beautifully polished, hair coiffed and always made up.

My husband was taught to clean shoes properly by the age of 7 and to this day always carries a clean handkerchief.

There are Church clothes and everyday clothes, imo

We were at a funeral in a village church yesterday. Warm day.

I wore a navy short sleeved cardigan over a blue flowered dress, DH wore a dark suit.

Most people dressed for a funeral, but some looked like they had just popped out from the garden to attend.

Teenage GD’s wore short dark dresses over clumpy shoes or trainers, the GS’s white shirts and dark trousers.

But I think the deceased would have been pleased that so many people turned out to see her off, whatever they wore.

What are young military men like now?. Well I would imagine that, unlike when DH was a career soldier, shirts and ties would not figures largely in the sartorial equation. They wear battle fatigues now, except on formal occasions, whereas up until he retired in the mid eighties, carefully pressed trousers, shirt and a tie were the mainstay of the working uniform. He used to press his own shirts - wouldn’t trust them to me! When he retired, he was pretty much the same, until I managed to persuaded him to “loosen up” a bit, but there was always a place for a shirt and tie.

Oreo

I think there’s probably a happy medium between sitting on the beach wearing polished shoes and looking like a tramp.

I agree.

There is a difference between clean nice well fitted jeans, polo shirt, belt -- and a tramp as well. There are Church clothes and everyday clothes, imo.

Let's face it ladies, most men in the UK look dreadful in shorts. As for socks and sandals to complete the 'look' ......

WithNobsOnIt

You say your husband was in the Navy.
He sounds like the equivalent of an Army Regimental Sergeant Major.

I don't think l would like to be a Tradesman in your house fixing something. With him looking over me, with a very superior manner and commenting.

Intrusive and intimidating

Yes,l know a lot of so called Tradesmen leave a lot to be desired these days

But l think your husband's approach is well out of order.
.

No, I don't think so. Nothing to say he had a superior manner or was commenting.
He just wanted to be properly dressed as it wasn't just him and his wife, & maybe was anxious he'd miss the doorbell, so watching out for them.
Tradesmen too used to dress up in their suits to go out, it's not neccessarily a class thing (as most were in the army with National Service until 1960.)

I find it rather sweet ❤️

Stansgran that reminds me of the winter evening when I travelled in clumpy boots to sing solo in a concert. I had forgotten my evening shoes and rushed into the kitchen of the venue in my evening dress and practically tore off some shoes from a waitress’s feet😁

You say your husband was in the Navy.
He sounds like the equivalent of an Army Regimental Sergeant Major.

I don't think l would like to be a Tradesman in your house fixing something. With him looking over me, with a very superior manner and commenting.

Intrusive and intimidating

Yes,l know a lot of so called Tradesmen leave a lot to be desired these days

But l think your husband's approach is well out of order.
.

My dad was a Navy man and he never wore jeans, shorts or trainers, smart casual or shirt and tie all his life.

That’s interesting. My husband was also in the navy and if we are expecting a tradesman he hovers around and keeps looking out of the window.
We had a stair lift fitted recently and he hovered over the poor man the whole time. I defrosted the freezer and tidied the shed!

Bet the electrician was in shorts

Luckygirl3

Whereas my dad would not use anyone in the house: he designed and installed his own central heating system and did everything.

He was a civil servant, so no practical training, but if he did not know how to do something he went to the library and found a book. I never once saw a tradesperson in our house.

Him sweeping the chimney was a bit of a disaster though - the brush came off the pole and got stuck in the chimney and he went up on the roof and dropped down a brick on a rope to retrieve it .... in the rain .... in his slippers ......

My Dad was similar.(not a civil servant)
The CH worked very well but periodically it would shoot very hot water out of the overflow under the eaves.
He used a bricklayer & plasterer for our house but if it was a matter of cow / tractor sheds he'd do his own blockwork & render.
Wouldn't they have loved expert advice from the internet? I remember my Dad made me some horse jumps for Christmas & on Boxing day, my pony trotted straight through them & broke the lot.( she didn't believe in all 4 feet leaving the ground, & she was the stubbornest.)

Ah that's so lovely 😍

I think most folks that I knew of had either summer or winter 'best' clothes that came out whatever the occasion!
Nowadays its almost incomprehensible that you wouldn't have the appropriate clothing - think of how you can accessorise just one dress - jackets, little lacy cardigans, wraps etc!
Clothing was costly, meant to last & mended frequently.

Love to read some of the stories on here.
However, is it just me - but I do not that any form of so-called ''smart wear' can be used to describe inappropriate clothes for weather, etc conditions.

I do not see it as 'smart' to wear a jacket and tie, etc on beach or other recreational activity. Would we consider it 'smart' say, for Wimbledon players to play in that sort of outfit?

Smart Wear for me is good, appropriate clothing for weather and whatever the wearer is doing.

My husband is like this (not ex naval). I think it’s a way to feel in control in a situation that causes a degree of anxiety. I’m the opposite, I greeted the decorator in my dressing gown and my husband was horrified. I just want to let them get on with it and feel it’s what I’ve paid for.

My parents were extremely formal.They disliked anyone just popping round in case the house wasn't cleaned properly and they weren't presentable.
As for time keeping - If someone was late my mother would be incensed .

A relative once turned up an hour late for lunch - she was never invited again . She was removed from the Christmas card list .

I have fond memories of my father getting up showering,dressing in a freshly ironed shirt with a tie and a suit ,polishing his car just to pop to the shops for a loaf of bread .

My dad had a smallholding, pigs and poultry, he wore a pair of navy bib and brace overalls to work in, but always with a shirt and tie. Standards.

Mum used to record daily how much water her dehumidifier utilised. Why, I don’t know really, as she never did anything with her findings.

Whereas my dad would not use anyone in the house: he designed and installed his own central heating system and did everything.

He was a civil servant, so no practical training, but if he did not know how to do something he went to the library and found a book. I never once saw a tradesperson in our house.

Him sweeping the chimney was a bit of a disaster though - the brush came off the pole and got stuck in the chimney and he went up on the roof and dropped down a brick on a rope to retrieve it .... in the rain .... in his slippers ......

It's a funny thing, but both my father and late DH, two of the most interesting men you could hope to meet, always looked rumpled however hard mum and I, as their respective wives, tried to straighten them up. But they both always shaved properly.

I could never accused DH of being clothes conscious! He’s always clean and well pressed (his clothes by me!) and has to wear socks with his Birkenstocks because of a foot condition. But he’s on the ball with paperwork etc. I’m sorry at the general lack of (at least) tidiness at church but I’m sure God doesn’t mind! I was sad when my dear F-in-law had to wear gym shoes towards the end of his life because nothing else was comfortable. He was a collar and tie man.

I think there’s probably a happy medium between sitting on the beach wearing polished shoes and looking like a tramp.

I had an aunt who was always so particular about her appearance. Pleated skirt, twin set, pearls, polished shoes. When she went into a residential home she had her hair done once a week. One day I said I would ring her on Friday and she said that it was her hair day and using the phone on that day would ruin the side of hair. She was a dear soul though and I have a lovely photo of her sitting in her chair, very upright and smart.