Bless Your Heart of the Week: Mother/Daughter Matching

As a child not only of the 90’s, but also of a southern family in the 90’s I am no stranger to matching… especially of the mother/daughter variety. I remember vividly one of the many summers I spent in Southeast Texas on The Gulf of Mexico at my aunt and uncle’s beach house, there was a photo taken in which mother/daughter matching is on display at its best. While shopping one day my mother was struck by the idea that it would be very festive for all of the “Pride Women” to dress in t-shirts featuring the work of Anne Geddes (yes, the photographer who takes pictures of babies all dressed up as strangely precious everyday items) and pose for a photo when we were all together at the beach. The fact that the shirts were on sale at Costco at the time probably had something to do with this sudden inspiration, but she saw it through. My grandmother Dear and my Aunt Pride had matching shirts, my Aunt Leslie and my two cousins Lane and Rachel had matching shirts, and then my mother and I had matching shirts. Some people might find a picture of us wearing matching t-shirts covered in dressed up babies bizarre, but I find it charming.

But this begs a question: WHERE DO WE DRAW THE LINE?

I think this week’s "Bless Your Heart" holds the answer to that question.

Here we have pictured a mother and a daughter checking out at the Anthropologie at The Grove here in LA (I’m in town working on some special video content for the blog which is why I’m so late with this post). They came in together and I was in the dressing room across the hall from them so I heard a lot of their exchange. The mother had given the daughter a gift certificate for her birthday and had brought her to shop. Adorable. One of my most favorite things to do is go shopping with my mother. She may be brutally honest but she’s pretty much always right. Anyway… at one point the daughter comes out in an item of clothing (I can’t see what it is) that the mother loves, so much in fact that she asks if she could try it on herself. The daughter says of course, which is really lovely. I’d totally do the same for my mother… in fact I have – we got matching Burberry coats out of it. ANYWAY… the mother loves the piece of clothing as well and they agree to each purchase it. So great. Love it.

I get to the check out and realize the women in front of me are the women from the dressing room, and that they have decided to wear their matching items out of the store. Cue the navy and white striped pants. Now I love this sentiment. I love that they went shopping together. I love that they have such a close relationship that they not only don’t mind matching but actually flaunt it. Tell your stories, ladies. But by a certain age, it becomes inappropriate for a woman to wear horizontal stripes across her ass… feel free to quote me

Bless their hearts.

But at the end of the day they seem really happy with their purchases!! They got their pants and I got a blazer that I’ve been watching since February for 70% off. Happy endings all around. Though let it be known that I advise a sensible silk blouse for any mother/daughter matching needs you may be looking to fulfill at your nearest Anthropologie.

moreWith Grace and Good Humor,