I was looking through some coats of my mother’s that I’d stored in the garage this summer.
One is a plain, soft, wool, grey about two sizes too big for both myself and my mother. Why did she insist she was a size 14 when she and I had weighed the same since I was 18?
The other is a classic Aquascutum plaid, also wool, and long, well below the calf. Looking at it admiringly, a little astonished by its boldness, I thought,
“Oh my gosh, this would keep out all manner of Northerly winds.” and I hurriedly tried it on.
It was a generous and once I’d buttoned and belted it, I looked at myself in it the mirror and decided, begrudgingly, that it looked like a dressing gown, a very snazzy dressing gown mind you, but a dressing gown none the less.
I lovingly shrugged it off and prepared to put both coats back in their storage bags to take to the charity shops that have been lucky recipients of the clothes my mother left behind.
As I zipped the bag I looked at the magnificent Aquascutum again and decided that a charity shop could not possibly do justice to this creative remnant of my mother’s way of expressing herself.
I decided, what better place for her artistic outlet than a theater costume room?
Satisfied that the high street was not on my list of places to go today, I took both coats back to the garage for further keeping.
In the afternoon, while I was out walking, I made way on the pavement for a little girl hurtling towards me on her scooter. She was wearing a coat, neatly buttoned and belted that came down to her mid thigh. The pattern of the coat made me gasp. It was my mother’s in minature, or almost!
Later I told hubs and he described a coat he’d seen a man wearing while he was out this morning, long, woollen and plaid!
I made a mental note to keep a close eye on what people along the Beckenham and Bromley High Streets were wearing this winter.
What I think is dated and unwearable may well be up to the minute haute couture.
Well hello there! My name is Vivienne McNeny.
I am an empty nester exploring life as a Boomer…you could say I'm happily Boomering along!
As a homeschooling Mum I have finally quit the job of role model and mentor to my four children. I do what I want to do, eat when I feel like it, enjoy life with my blue eyed cowboy and clean my house once a month or so whether it needs it or not!
In true English form I write about the emergence of my true identity now that I can no longer hide behind my children as their Mum.
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