Children of the 70s - was your mum a Barbara or a Margot (sartorially speaking) and have you followed her?

[Tollergirl]

Just daydreaming having read a passage in a book about adult women "wafting" around in their dresses, and watched some old Good Life dvds with DD. My mum was definitely more of a Barbara but had friends who seemed very glamorous to me (definitely Margots). I have such fond memories of wearing long dresses to birthday parties when I was little and can vividly remember choosing my first new outfit when I was 5 (having only worn hand me downs until then) - it was a long tiered skirt with an orange tshirt with daisies round the neck. Seemed overwhelmingly wondrous to me at the time but my close friend had chiffon with puffed sleeves which was so much more chic (her mum was French!). I think I've always been a Barbara and am now happy with that as when I've tried doing a Margot I've never really felt like me - she did have some fabulous clothes but somehow I'm more of a jeans/dungarees woman.

This has become somewhat of a nostalgic ramble but I'd love it if anyone else wanted to share ...

My mother was a Margot. Her appearance, hence mine and my sister's were important to her. She often dressed us as mini versions of herself. I'm much lazier than her but can not resist the pull of smoothing down my hair, applying lipstick and checking my appearance before leaving the house. Have noticed my dd does the same now, although not lipstick but lip balm.

Hmm, I think my DM was more Penelope Keith in To The Manor Born ie skirts and cardigans with the occasional pussy bow blouse. Generally, I'm more of a Margot. I still haven't mastered a low-key casual style that I'm comfortable with . . .I'm much more likely to wear dresses and lipstick.

Mother was/is Margot, i am firmly an extremely scruffy Barbara. Child of the 80s/90s mind.

That's interesting- I've had the same new years resolution for the last 5 years which is to wear lipstick! I rarely wear any make up and feel really self conscious if I do. It's not to say that I never have - in my twenties I was definitely a bit more 'put together ' when working in offices but now my lifestyle is very different so maybe that's why- I wonder if any women are the total opposite to their mother - my girls are early teens and so far not that interested in make up but things may well change. My mum did put on lipstick for a night out as well as a spray of Rive Gauche but that was as far as she went!

Mum was/is a Margot to her very bones, I was a Margot in teens, Barbara in 20s/30s, reverting to a Margot now in 40s.

I'd say my mum was a Barbara but desperately trying to be Margot, although I don't think it ever came naturally to her.

I'm a bit of both. At work, I like to look smart, glamorous and polished. But at home I love nothing more than a pair of jeans and flat, comfy shoes with no make up on.

My mum was a total Barbara. Home made bread, gardening, dad made wine in the downstairs cupboard, Fair isle jumpers, camping etc We would have had the goat if Dad hadn't been so busy at work. He briefly considered getting a pig
I knit, make jam, and have had my crunchy moments so I think I might come across a bit modern day Barbara Goode. I would like chickens.

@Jesuisclaude - that's interesting- was it a conscious decision to change your style or did it sort of happen organically? I am often fascinated and envious of women who look together and polished but it always feels too distant for me personally?

My mum is/was a Barbara no make up - made most of her clothes etc
I’m now a mix of the two!
I don’t wear make up but have regular cut n colour, gel polish, Brow etc wax
I’m much more in touch with fashion even if I buy it second hand or from eBay xxxxc

Barbara and Barbara. I have a fabulous pic of her in a pink denim pinafore dress that, frankly, I’d kill for now.

Mine was a bit of both. Happiest as Barbara, in her garden, digging up potatoes I think but on occasion glammed up as Margot. I have a memory of her in a dusky pink, floor length evening gown which would have been right up Margot’s street.

I am also a bit of both but happiest as Barbara.

My mum was married young and had me at 19 so looked like Barbara but more Margot my earliest memory was shopping in biba in Kensington high street and getting a maxi dress and wooden clogs 😂

My mum was and is a Barbara, still wearing dungarees in her 70s and I am happiest in wellies too.

My mum was stuck up like Margot, but dresses like Barbara! 😂

Margot, toujours Margot. Me too.

I wish that my mum had kept some of her sixties outfits. She had a fantastic pucci-style chiffon print frock with trumpet sleeves and feathers. I’d have been all over that!

Mine was, still is, a total Margot. In fact, we used to call her Margot and occasionally still do!

Always very well turned out, and always pecking on my dad for something!

My mum was a total Barbara - they grew their own fruit/veg, had chickens, goats, calves, lambs, pigs and mum had a penchant in the 70's for twill fishermans smocks or boilersuits when she wasn't at work. She also favoured a clog, and mostly made all our clothes even knitting socks.

I'm not as much as a hippy as mum, but outside of work I am more happy in boots and leggings

My mum is a Margot, at 81 she’s still very well turned out.
I was a goth at 15, then spent years in dms, then trainers and clubbing gear for the 90 s.
These days I’m in yoga pants or skinny jeans. Call me Barbra.

My mum was / is totally a Barbara: into gardening, growing her own veg (though garden was an of 8th the size of the one in the Good Life), old and second hand clothes, no make up etc. She had friends with Margot pretensions though (even down to the voice). I used to love Margot’s outfits as a child.

Barbara but when she danced she became Margot!

I was not encouraged at all to be stylish and had no money for it given as a teen - and so now as I grow older I am being more and more Margot but always an underlying casualness that I can’t seem to get rid of.

My mother was neither.... not glamorous nor earthy.

I looked like Barbara as a child and I've been a Barbara all my life.

Totally Barbara, me and mum. Dad was a bit Gerry, but that’s not so bad.

My mum dressed like Margot definitely but her mind was is/not like Margot. A lot of matchy matchy outfits and dressed up for dinner parties. The outward appearance Leadbetter. The inward Tony Benn.

Me I'm like Barbara on my good days.

Incidentally, we had a neighbour who was sartorially like Gerry. And indeed was called Gerry.

@Krouse64. Biba! It was sooo exciting!

My mum was a bit of both but I am definitely a Barbara....I am over 50 and DH and I are not quite self sufficient but close..I mend my clothes and love getting muddy...