FIL wants me to wear a certain jacket WWYD?

[Flyingfish2019]

FIL is a somewhat quirky individual. While he has his strong points he can also be bossy and say offensive things.
He told me that he wanted our children to wear wool sweaters. I told him no, because you cannot even put them in the tumble drier. Then he wanted me to wear a certain type of jacket (the type ladies from his generation wear). He wanted to buy me one. I told him: no. He bought one in my size nevertheless and gave it to me as a present. WWYD?

If you don’t want it, AaaaaaarghhhWhereAreMyKeys is in need of a coat....

Be diplomatic and say it looks awful on you and that you know what suits you, which is why you buy your own clothes.

Hi Meghan!

To be honest, it’s not odd at all for grandparents to buy clothes for grandkids. If it was a grandmother you wouldn’t think twice about it - and it’s usually the styles they like. My DC’s parents often bought fairly traditional clothes for my kids (the maroon fake cricket jumper and matching long sleeved polo shirt with coordinating navy corduroy trousers were a particular highlight). If your FIL wants to buy you an expensive coat that’s fine. You are under no obligation to wear it, though Barbours are actually pretty cool and last forever. If your MIL bought you a cashmere sweater or your mum had bought you a pair of nice boots you’d be grateful. This is no different really. If it’s not your style, that’s fine. Put it in the back of your wardrobe for a while to see if you feel different and if not sell it on. I’d see it as just a generous gift, and it’s made him happy to give it to you.

Weirdly though, my DS LOVED the corduroys and always wants a new pair when he grows out of his old ones. He spends most of his time in Nike and Adidas, but he loves his pair of ‘cosy slacks’.

Wear it when you next see him, with leather hotpants and heels, or just your birthday suit? My FIL is also very old fashioned, I just gently call him out on his ridiculous sexism. It's infuriating. Call him out somehow, he needs to learn.

Off topic, but an electric dehumidifer, the sort that takes 10 litres of water out of the air a day, is a great help when drying. You just leave it a sensible distance away from the clothes maiden and the next morning it's done. And no damp walls.

The Lakeland heated airer is also pretty good, but I think you would still have issues with damp.

With FIL, as he is so good for DH, I would just smile, nod and do what you like. Keep the jacket, but don't stress and don't engage. Good luck.

He is wrong to tell you what to do and wear...but I am laughing at myself as I agree with a lot of his comments. Totally right about the guacamole!

My in-laws are similar. I know they despair at how scruffy my DH is, and a few years ago on his birthday
they presented him with a double-breasted navy blazer (with brass buttons), a white shirt and a pink striped tie. I hadn't laughed so much in ages. I call it his Alan Partridge outfit. He's never worn it. They've bought him no end of Pringle sweaters and socks too.

OMG @aHintOfPercy that is outrageous 🤣 do you make your DH put this ensemble on when you want a good laugh?

OP YANBU- wool sweaters are itchy and look dowdy. I wouldn’t put my children in them either! Back in the 80’s my Granny used to knit them for me and my brother every year and we would be made to wear said creations. I hate most jumpers especially wool, decades later!
I also think you should re-gift the Barbour jacket to MIL or your mum as they might like it. If FIL asks where it is, tell him moths got to it and it had to be taken back to the shop for patches! If my mums one is anything to go by this actually happens IRL.

The barbour jacket will last a lifetime. Hang on to it til you get old and dull and appreciate its weather proof qualities!

Send it to Barbourzilla

Love wool it is better for the skin then all this polyester shit. My toddler wears handknitted jumpers and cardies, they're lovely.

There are choices other than wool or polyester for jumpers. It doesn't have to be one or the other.

The barbour jacket will last a lifetime

like totally no way, I hear they RIP like baastards

I would either flog it on eBay or give to a charity shop. His behaviour is controlling and way over steps the mark. Who does that kind of thing?!

Is his wife still living ...

I'm with you op, Barbour jackets are for old farmers.

(I am actually thinking about wearing this at Christmas. It would match the rest of my old fashioned Christmas outfit), basically a woolen skirt wit red and green checks and a woolen jumper, wool tights... donut know which boots to wear now.

But I am not sure if I do want to do him the favour.

He's right about wool too - plus it's much better for the environment than acrylic.

Animal agriculture is one of the single biggest contributers to climate change.

I'm not saying acrylic is good either, it's really not, but wool is still absolutely horrible for the environment and it's inhumane.

Ssnecks cotton, silk and bamboo all have environmental issues around water usage, monoculture plantations and processing chemicals. Everything has a downside, at least wool isn't made of plastic so it will biodegrade and won't sit in landfill or produce microplastic particles when washed.

@ssnecks it not ‘inhumane’ an unsheared sheep suffers terribly and can get infested with maggots. Do proper research rather than spout peta nonsense!

www.asas.org/taking-stock/blog-post/taking-stock/2014/07/14/there-is-no-such-thing-as-humane-wool-when-it-is-left-on-the-sheep-why-sheep-shearing-is-absolutely-necessary-for-sheep-welfare Sheep can die if not sheared as they don’t shed and they then overheat!

From what you've said about him so far, he actually is correct! The issue I guess you have with him is that he tells you what he's thinking rather than just keeping his thoughts to himself.
As far as the jacket goes, I'd suggest you look at jackets together so you can pick which one you like best. Get him to take you to the shop!