Dear Wendyl,
I’m one of those lucky people who has a really glamorous mother. She used to be a model and has always looked fantastic. Immaculately groomed, great dress sense – the whole package. My problem is she’s now in her mid-seventies and still wears miniskirts. She has always had great legs but, to be honest, those pins aren’t holding up any more.
I’ve tried to gently suggest she might want to dress more age-appropriately, but she just laughs and says at her age she can dress however she likes. Meanwhile, whenever we go out together, people stare and whisper, and I know they’re talking about her minis! What can I do?
Lydia, by email
Dear Lydia,
I love your mother just from the way you have described her. I bet you have wonderful old black and white photos of her looking extremely glamorous and she no doubt has some fantastic stories to tell. I’m with your mother on this. I think as a nation we’re too conformist and don’t celebrate the individual enough. So what if people whisper?
It doesn’t seem to bother your mother, who obviously feels free and easy in her minis and enjoys wearing them. So let her be herself and enjoy this wonderful woman. And next time you feel uncomfortable, imagine how you’d feel if she was sitting there in a tweed skirt and sensible cardi and muttering about her life spent doing nothing much of any interest.
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