had another DONT BUY IT moment in Marks shoes today. Lady with the daughter and the knee boots

[BrendaandEddie]

DONT LISTEN TO HER

the boots looked terrible. They made your legs look bigger and just shit.
DONT wear them around the house first to get them to loosen up, they didnt fit or suit

get a cool ankle boot instead.
And get a new daughter

A man (maybe 70s) came up to me in debenhams a few months ago wearing a cowboy hat and asked me if it suited him. I honestly thought he was being sarcastic, laughed and said 'oh yes! It looks great!'
He wasn't being sarcastic. He bought the hat. I'm yet to forgive myself.

Sort of off topic but I'd have thought knee boots would have looked way better than ankle boots if you've got chunky thighs - sort of balance them out. I find ankle boots hard to find as have tree trunky legs.

I once muttered to the mother of a teenaged girl who was sobbing in the changing room at Kew, being forced to try on ever more frumpy dresses by the overbearing assistant, to take her to New Look, as 'this place is for older women.' I'm was then in my mid-late forties ao no spring chicken myself, but it was heartbreaking hearing this poor girl breaking down but clearly having no voice to tell them both to stuff it. Don't think it made any difference though - mother probably thought I was just mad and interfering.

It would depend on the individual ankle boot for a chunky leg. I have doc's, they pull in on the ankle and I have shapely legs (in the context of a tall size 18) so I like them, but those ankle boots that are all wide at the ankle either saggy pixie boot style or stumpy wellies are NOT GOOD. I have some nice longer length boots that I wear with 'skinnies' or dresses etc. that are flattering and fit well as they hug the curve of the leg.

I do have leg shaped legs if they offend the sensibilities of the achingly hip it is of little matter, as I am married and have no ambitions to a career in fashion or plans to move to Hackney, I only need to feel happy in my clothes. I have always thought people's idea of what looks nice is not a fixed thing as it tends to change with the fashions of the day so the only opinion I rely on is my own. I wish I had a team of trusted stylists but I think s&b has a role to play, in confirming the current thinking on shapes/ lengths/colours but only when you are open to seeking that confirmation, unsolicited advice like cold calling, is rarely welcome.

What a gratuitously offensive OP, the post, the person and the response to other posters. I will enjoy being roundly abused, which seems to be the point of this thread for the OP.

yes, I think they were more welly style.
But the daughter encouraging the mum who was simply not convinced

good work shotgun

I often look disapproving or say...have you seen these? fab..can't believe they have them etc etc to move the person on to something less ghastly

family friends and shop keepers are not necessarily your friends

also long boots are a bastard to get right and are far from for everyone

The other week I was helping a mate get something. As she went off doing something I started chatting with loads of shoe shoppers as I was in a chair right by the mirror.

It was brilliant. The woman dithering over ecco boots or John Lewis. I do hope you did go back to ecco

Lol at cowboy man

Good grief !

Just remembered I persuaded someone into a pair of ankle boots in M&S the other week. I tried some on and she was trying on some too wide at the calf knee boots - mid 40s or maybe a just 50s.

She asked my opinion and I said they were too wide and she was looking at my ankle boots and said, ooh they are lovely but I don't think I can wear them. She popped them on, they looked ace and she trotted off happily to the till muttering that her daughter would probably steal them. She looked great in them.

perfect 80's

I never ever understand the point of these "open letter" type threads on mumsnet

This one appears to batter fat people, older people, daughters who try and be nice to their mums, and anyone who comments to disagree with the OP

Horrible thread

I'm just glad someone profited from my neverending quest to find a pair of ankle boots that suit me...

Lol. Well done 80s.

I'm still worried about long cardigan woman in Oxford.

I can honestly say I've never come across this while shopping, I just don't pay attention to what other people are trying on/buying.

Btw op, wtf makes you an expert on what people should or shouldn't wear? Are you Trinny?

I'll quite often if I'm shopping on my own ask the opinion of someone who isn't a sales assistant (i.e. no vested interest) - and likewise have been asked my opinion.

I don't think I'm Trinny (awful programme, awful) but sometimes a second opinion is nice. Though I have to say if you aren't sure immediately, it probably needs to go back on the hanger.

I Don't always take the opinion given and don't always give an honest opinion back - but it's a bit of chat while you are out. That sounds like I go shopping lots, I don't really as there aren't any shops where I live, so when I go away I like a nice mooch around.

I don't actually think there's much wrong with the OPs post - I think we've all seen the situation where someone is trying some thing on that they aren't 100% sure about and someone else, for whatever reason, is trying to persuade them to buy it.

I don't see how you can not notice. Person sitting right next to you on a sofa bench thing

Not a horrible thread

actually perhaps the opposite

lots of people lose their way with fashion. they become unhappy, out of touch or just worn down by never being able to buy anything when you need it in the shops
daughters don't always help. I was a horror to my mum as I was unable to understand that 40 wasn't 100000 yrs old and I bullied her by sighs eyerolls etc
I get it now but I wish someone had been honest enough to intervene

I still see it all the time. Women in timewarp fashion. Being bullied into ancient drudgery. Thinking they are three stone heavier or lighter than they are
There is no help and not a lot of support in magazines etc

If we were all aware of other people when shopping and honest and kind and sometimes a little bossy to overcome shopgirls or grim kids/inner fears...it might all work out better

Also I love love love Trinny and Sussanah

so neh

I have been known to stare pointedly at recipient of such family / shop assistant sabotage and give them an almost imperceptible shake of my head if they make eye contact. This approach has served me well.

I love the head shake idea. I might adopt that. Unless someone is loving having a fuss made of them.

I'll backtrack a little on Trinny and Susannah - the early shows where they seemed to be kinder were good. And genuinely showed that a bit of colour and some accessories and new shoes could make a huge difference.

I don't think it is a horrible thread. Unless you are Giselle Bundchen then there are probably quite a few things that look rubbish on you.

The daughter here should have been kind and said no to the knee boots but try these on as they're more flattering.

I think it is pretty mean to tell someone they look good in something if they don't.

I also used to love Trinny and Susannah. But then I have no problem taking advice on clothes/interiors etc etc

Obviously i don't really care whether its a 'nice' thread or not. I would just hide it, if I didn't like it.

That aside i am glad I don't have a daughter , fashion wise or not. My son looked at my poncho, said ' you look like an evil Mexican' and carried on watching people shout at video games on Youtube