She Said; She Said…Dress Style!
By Emily Prysby (daughter) and Sandra Dalka-Prysby (mother)
Daughter: I like how I dress. I have a clothing style similar to what my female contemporaries wear. I buy my clothes at shops and stores catering to young adults and I get compliments all the time on my wardrobe, not only from those my age, but from older adults, too. I guess about the only person I can’t please when it comes to the clothes I wear is my mother.
Mother: I don’t understand why my daughter has to show her midriff and her cleavage with some of her clothing choices. I also don’t think that tight jeans are becoming. My daughter’s poorest dress choices, however, are her shoes. She wears the highest, skinniest and most pointed heels when she goes out. I know her feet hurt in these shoes, but she wears them anyway. I think she can still look “hip” with better and more flattering choices.
Daughter: My mother sees how young people dress and knows that I don’t dress any differently than they do. (My girlfriends often meet at my house before we go out at night.) She just can’t seem to accept that her version of what is “acceptable” clothing is not in fashion. I never wear anything that has my boobs hanging out, but she finds my low-cut tops to be offensive. She likes to use the word “tart” to describe my style of dress. This just isn’t an accurate description of my wardrobe. But I have learned the hard way that I can’t change her mind and that I shouldn’t spend time trying to do so.
Mother: My daughter dresses well and fairly conservatively when she goes to work. I have no problem with her work attire. I do have a problem with what she wears when she goes out with friends. Not only does she wear scant and hardly body-covering clothes for an evening out, but she rarely covers herself up with a coat on cool and cold evenings. She might wear a jacket or sweater, but these, too, hardly cover her. I’m surprised that she isn’t constantly fighting pneumonia or, at least, a cold. And many times, even though the ground is covered with snow, she insists on leaving her boots at home and going out in her high heels. Again, I’m surprised that she hasn’t slipped and fallen and broken some bone or another!
Daughter: If I need a warm coat, I wear it. If I need boots, I wear them. I’m not stupid. My mother just thinks that I should dress the way she does. She gets cold all the time so she needs heavier clothes offering more coverage. And I have never seen her in shoes with heels higher than one inch. We have different styles. I accept her clothing choices; I wish she could accept mine!
Mother: I know that my daughter is a decent girl with good morals and values. I’m just worried that she is giving the wrong “first impression” by the clothes she wears.
Daughter: I haven’t had problems with my clothes giving off the wrong signal to men, and my mother knows this. If my clothing style is too suggestive, then I’m hardly alone. All the other young, fashionably dressed women out there are in the same designer boat as me. My mother just doesn’t seem to understand this. And, to be honest, I don’t think she ever will! But this won’t stop me from wearing what I like! It’s my style, not hers.
Comments
Of course, I have to agree with your dearest mother. Just ask my hubby what kind of message he gets from that kind of dress.....but preception comes with age.......you'll get there, dearest Emily (I have a 16 yr. old Emilee.)
Posted by: Carol | November 19, 2006 04:30 PM