Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Dressing inappropriately for the heat

51 replies

Zenana · 09/09/2023 11:24

An elderly couple have just got on the same bus as me. It's like a greenhouse. The man is wearing a suit with jacket underneath which is a shirt, tie and handknit (therefore quite thick) jumper.

Do elderly people feel cold at these temperatures or is it an old fashioned thiregardkng, how they'd dress in the 1940s regardless of temperature?

OP posts:
ParentingSolo · 09/09/2023 12:30

Then again it may have been cooler down the mines

SunnieShine · 09/09/2023 12:31

largeprintagathachristie · 09/09/2023 12:08

Just helped an elderly man with his bag of Tesco shopping; I could see he was making very little progress with that and his walking stick, and asked if he wanted help.

Chatted as we walked to his flat and I asked why he was wearing a winter coat. (It was massive and definitely impeding progress, and it’s 30 degrees). Not that I said any of that.

He said it was because he had a short sleeve shirt underneath and didn’t want to get sunburned.

That was so nice of you to help. I'm sure he appreciated it.

Idratherbepaddleboarding · 09/09/2023 12:32

My husband’s grandad wore a shirt, tie and jumper every day, he always looked super smart! I don’t know about mine as one does before I was born and one when I was 6 ☹️.

His Nan would always wear a 3/4 length skirt, jumper and tights. Both would wear a coat out in the middle of summer. I don’t know if they always felt cold though our just wanted to look smart.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Beauty Clothing General style & beauty
ParentingSolo · 09/09/2023 12:35

NCADHD · 09/09/2023 12:30

It's not that hot really though is it?

I have Hyperhidrosis, along with a neurological disorder which makes me overheat, a thyroid disorder (also affects heat regulation), two types of medication which both have heat regulation issues & excessive sweating as side effects and as a result of my other medication (prescribed steroids) I'm also very overweight.
As you can imagine, this last week has rendered me all but housebound as I'm sweating so profusely (sorry TMI but I'm the cleanest person on the planet as a consequence of this!!) all over my body inc. my face & scalp. If I go outside for more than 10 seconds, it pours into my eyes and drips off my chin & nose.
So yeah, to me it's that hot! 💦

dearanon · 09/09/2023 12:37

My gran would sit outside with a hot water bottle and a blanket over her while she was wearing a top, cardi, trousers, bed socks and shoes in 28° heat. She was always freezing.

TheHappyCarrot · 09/09/2023 12:38

@largeprintagathachristie might have been his shoplifting coat 🤣

User19548763 · 09/09/2023 12:40

I wear long sleeves and trousers and sun hat because I have just had a basal cell carcinoma cut out of my leg and a biopsy on a second suspect one, I am a bit concerned about getting more. I try to wear light more summery clothes but still feel a bit overdressed when everyone is in shorts and short sleeve tops

GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal · 09/09/2023 12:47

ParentingSolo · 09/09/2023 12:30

Then again it may have been cooler down the mines

Swelteringly hot I believe. The miners used to strip down to next to nothing down there.

Fairyliz · 09/09/2023 12:50

I assumed this thread would be about people coming into the office in little crop tops and tiny shorts.
Let’s be honest most Brits have no idea of how to dress in the heat. They usually just remove most of their clothing and display acres of pink flabby flesh, rather than wear loose clothing

Madlymumming · 09/09/2023 12:54

I have an older relation with Alzheimer's he's still wearing a short sleeve vest, long sleeve shirt, wool jumper and a jacket or even fleece when he goes out. He just doesn't recognise the feeling of being too hot. Or in fact being too cold during the winter.

How he hasn't had heatstroke I don't know lol

MissMarplesGoddaughter · 09/09/2023 12:56

As a child, I can remember my NDN cutting his lawn (hand mower) wearing a wing collar and frock coat. He always dressed formally.

WandaWonder · 09/09/2023 12:58

I figure they are old enough to be able to tell how they want to dress

CurlewKate · 09/09/2023 13:04

Yes. "Old people" are entirely different in all respects to "people." Almost a different species!

Bluevelvetsofa · 09/09/2023 13:07

A schoolgirl I saw yesterday was wearing a coat and thick black tights.

babysharkdoodoodedoodedoo · 09/09/2023 13:13

I always dress inappropriately for the heat! I live abroad and it’s bloody boiling but I’ll always be fully covered in something of an unsuitably thick material and usually black. I just don’t feel at ALL comfortable in summer clothes for some reason!

babysharkdoodoodedoodedoo · 09/09/2023 13:14

Bluevelvetsofa · 09/09/2023 13:07

A schoolgirl I saw yesterday was wearing a coat and thick black tights.

And this would have been me as a kid. I wore a winter jacket on sports day in the middle of summer 😂

Mademetoxic · 09/09/2023 13:15

Bluevelvetsofa · 09/09/2023 13:07

A schoolgirl I saw yesterday was wearing a coat and thick black tights.

In winter she will have bare legs!

Ohwhatfuckeryisthis · 09/09/2023 13:21

I saw a bloke, mid 60s ish, this morning. It is the country,but, flannel shirt, tweed jacket and flat cap, thick corduroy trousers. He was sweating cobs! Did he not think it might be a bit warm. Also saw young (I think) person in beach shorts, Canada goose jacket done up and hoodie with hood up with balaclava. I felt hot just looking.

ApolloandDaphne · 09/09/2023 13:40

My DM is 82 and she is always cold. Even in the heat she will only be slightly warmish. The other day I was in shorts, vest and sandals and she was wearing a long sleeved top, fleece and socks and trainers. She was perfectly comfortable, possibly even a little cold.

ImDuranDuran · 09/09/2023 13:57

She might have sweat patches under her arms.
Some people are very self conscious about this.

I think you're spot on there @CharlotteBog as I was exactly the same at that age Sad Horrible hormones.

romdowa · 09/09/2023 13:57

My granny was on lots of blood thinners etc and in 30 degree heat she would put the heating on while wearing multiple layers. Her house was warmer than hell

VeridicalVagabond · 09/09/2023 14:09

ParentingSolo · 09/09/2023 12:26

Does he have heart issues? My dad had heart failure and became cold 24/7

Show quote history

You know you're probably right, he did have a heart attack a few years ago and has been quite a bit more frail since then, and I think that's when his sensitivity to the cold started.

CharlotteBog · 09/09/2023 15:20

NCADHD · 09/09/2023 12:30

It's not that hot really though is it?

32C here. For most people that's hot.

Ginmonkeyagain · 09/09/2023 15:25

See my lizard people thread of two days ago!

My grandpa was always very smart but in summer he wore a light colour linen suit, short sleeved shirt and a staw hat.

Ginmonkeyagain · 09/09/2023 15:28

I tend to wear loose fitting cotton or linen clothes in this weather - today I am waeri g a loose cotton broderie anglaise t shirt and denim short. Make me sweat seeing people poured in to tight fitting polyester or lycra.