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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

MIL trying to dress DH

31 replies

PJHarvey · 01/10/2021 11:10

So my DH works in a creative industry where people generally wear pretty casual gear. Jeans and a T-shirt or jumper are the norm. He always wears clean clothes and looks neat and well groomed.

The issue is his mother. She regularly makes comments about how he needs to start dressing like an adult, and she keeps buying him formal shirts, ties and trousers. During the summer we went away for a few days (during the heatwave) and she gave him so much grief about bringing shorts with him instead of smart trousers. He was so self conscious we had to go out of our way to go shopping for clothes. Of course once we got to our destination and went out for dinner, the other men were dressed in the kind of casual gear that my DH would normally wear. We weren't going anywhere fancy.

The last time she started making comments (not in front of DH) I pointed out that his workplace was casual and he would look out of place if he dressed up. Still she carries on. He went to see her at the weekend and she had bought yet more shirts for him.

AIBU to find this really annoying and kind of disrespectful to DH?

OP posts:
FrangipaniBlue · 01/10/2021 14:05

@MumW

Start buying 'old' lady outfits from charity shops for her and tell her should should start dressing her age? 🙄👵🤣
😂😂😂😂
PJHarvey · 01/10/2021 14:09

@MumW

Start buying 'old' lady outfits from charity shops for her and tell her should should start dressing her age? 🙄👵🤣
Love it! Grin
OP posts:
forrestgreen · 01/10/2021 14:10

I'd ask for the receipts and swap everything for T-shirt's.
Then send her a photos and a Thankyou

sillysmiles · 01/10/2021 14:13

All you can really do if she is getting in his head is to quietly point out to him that things have changed and she's not seeing that. And that she doesn't understand his work place. What he is wearing is appropriate.

Cocomarine · 01/10/2021 14:15

If he keeps accepting her offerings then no I don’t think it is disrespectful to him. Because he’s confirming that she’s right and he does need her help.

This is his issue. Even if he couldn’t stop her, or didn’t want to hurt her feelings - why is he feeling so self conscious that he’ll actually go shopping when on holiday for a pair of trousers? Honestly not being flippant when I say he should consider therapy.

Ragwort · 01/10/2021 14:16

I'd be more irritated that I was married to someone who hasn't got the backbone to say 'thanks mum but I am not going to wear these clothes, please stop buying them'.

How on Earth does he hold down a job 'in the creative industry' Hmm if he can't just say something to his own mother - is he frightened of her?

And when you went on holiday with her why was it such a big deal, surely he just wore his own clothes or does she put an outfit out for him to wear every day? Confused. How old is he?

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