Nothing like a teenage daughter to keep you humbled…

[JamieOliverPetrolStation]

I leaned into the culottes and polka dot trend this season and was delighted with this bargain in Sainsburys last week. I thought I looked great. Effortless and summery chic etc etc. Until 14yo DD looked up at me with withering disdain and asked why was I dressed like a Tombliboo.

We had a similar situation last year when I bought a striped teeshirt and they called me Bagpuss for the whole summer.

Is it sad that I leap for joy inside when my 15 year old compliments my outfit 😅

Thats how bad it can get haha

Obviously I show minimal reaction to my excitement on the outside, just a “thanks love!”

I always say it's a parents job to embarrass their children:

"Dad, you're so embarrassing - can I have a lift to town"

I bought a cobalt blue shorts/blouse combo,and sons insisted i look like i work in Tesco- it continued so ive now got rid of the blouse top and wear shorts only with a very none blue tee shirt- also i got a blue& white stripey towelling coverall thing,to pop over my tankini, whereby the sons then laughed & said i look like banana 1 from 'bananas in pyjamas'- I give up! (Gonna start thinking of names to compare them to when they buy new stuff)🤔

What is it with kids comparing their parents to TESCO?

It’s not just daughters and teens. Years ago I bought a black wrap style calf length jumpsuit, I thought it was really flattering and a lady in the changing room even complimented me when I tried it on. I thought it would give really effortlessly cool mum vibes at the school gate. I was ready to go to my then reception age DS’s parent and child reading morning and he asked ‘mummy, why are you going to school in daddy’s dressing gown?’ 😫

Many years before that I went home from uni wearing a man’s shirt, waistcoat, leggings and doc boots. My DDad asked why I was dressed as Max Wall*. Google wasn’t a thing then so I had no idea what he was on about. I do now 😫

*tbf with hindsight he had a point 😂

The same teens would doubtless never comment negatively on their friends' appearances and would say they should wear whatever makes them feel comfortable.

I'm impressed your teenage DD knows who Bagpuss is! 😂

I wouldn't be flattered by the fashion views of a 15 year old.

A while back I (briefly) started running again and set off under cover of early evening darkness with a flashing head torch on my head. I was doing loops in the neighbouring streets round the house getting slower and slower. On my final loop I saw my daughter coming in the opposite direction back from a friend's house. "Hello" I said as I drew alongside her and she screamed. "Did you not recognise me??" I asked "No!" she gasped "I thought you were roadworks!"

Meanwhile, my son, albeit in a kinder way, objects to my wearing batik style kaftans in the summer. I also really like some of the hair turbans but this is cultural appropriation apparently , and therefore unacceptable. He is horrified another the amount of white young people that had dreadlocks in the 90s….

You could ask him what's the difference between cultural appropriation and fusion. Tell him he's not to eat dahl or curry and get back to sausage and chips / the lamb chops cabbage and mash of my childhood.

If you really want to go for it you could tell him that blue hair dye is cultural appropriation from older women. 😂

😂😂😂That's brilliant! You win the Internet today.

My then teenager described his own 1/4 zip top as “Tory wear”.

Their compliments are sweet though. Dd aged about 8 said admiringly I looked like “slinky malinky” in a black dress before I went out.

When I get it right I get an approving nod. The other one is polite and always says I look nice so I actually value the opinion of the younger fashionista as if she says I look good I actually do as if I don’t I will be told!

Awww yes the compliments
my DS,then around 7, told me I looked like ‘posh totty’ (st trinians) when I was dressed up for a dinner party

LOL. Have you ever met a teenager?

Are you wearing that? The most loaded question ever.

They probably wouldn’t say it to their faces but behind their backs.

Depends on the 15 year old.

They are not all the same.

Doesn't matter. I'm still not taking advice from a 15 year old.