Keeping up Appearances is so good. And it is funny how it seems so OLD nowadays -and yet it was made 1990-95. And her slim-lined pearl-white fone wasn't even carriable.
I just wonder, did ladies really wear clothes like Hyacinth's, or is it just supposed to be fun that all her dresses are so very awful? At least here in Finland I don't recall older ladies wearing something so flagrant.
English ladies do, or at least, they did. I have seen dresses like this sold in our stores, old ladies still wear them, I guess. Don´t forget, she must be around 60.
I don´t think 60 is old, especially now, but people in previous generations dressed more conservatively and the lady of Hyacinth´s age was considered `an older woman`. Those dresses are old-fashioned but then the whole series is more than 20 years old. I´m definitely not an expert on British fashions, but what I have seen there myself, their skirts are a bit on the longer side and would be considered dowdy over here. (Unless they are very short, of course:)
That's okay. Today women are dressing younger and with colouring their hair and makeup, they do look younger. My oma - zwarte jurk, zwarte kouze, steevige schoenen en en knotje. I can't imagine ever dressing that way.
There are still women who dress like this in the church and that makes them look older than they are, but it´s not only the colour, it´s the whole style of their clothes and shoes.
BTW, was this show ever on TV in Canada? Seems to be quite popular all over Europe.
I didn't mean the lenght or cut of her dressess, but the pattern. Here in Finland older ladies used to wear monochrome clothes or if there was some pattern or print it was small flowers or dots. But nothing so exaggerated and flagant as Hyacinth's dresses. And here older ladies would have never worn so pastel colours.
Maybe it is just cultural difference, but I have never seen anybody wearing clothes like that and I was born 1979. So I do remember what middle aged/senior ladies wore 1990-95. :)
But I think here in Finland people tend to dress relatively plain and modest and use dark colours.
One very offtopic question, if you don't mind. What is a lady supposed to do when men tell dirty jokes or otherwise talk bawdy? I tried to google but only found instructions how to talk dirty in bed. :rolleyes:
Here in Finland it it quite common than men do that (and even women) and I just hate it. When I was younger I just thought that ok, I am just very narrow-minded and tried to laugh along or even say something alike myself. (if you try to disguss this topic either IRL or in internet, that is exactly what you will hear: you are just narrow-minded and lack a sense of humour.)
My husband never does that but some of his friends are quite unpossible. No matter what somebody says, they have to twist it to something of a sexual nature. Usually I just try to stay straight-faced and pretend that I didn't hear, but I shouldn't need to do that, should I? If men don't respect me enough to speak like gentlemen, they should at least respect my husband and therefore treat me well, don't you agree?
I can't even start to avoid those people because -well, you cannot avoid forever your father-in-law or your sister's spouse (who tells dirty jokes even when his children are present.)
I am giving you ladies a very weird picture of Finland, I am afraid. :)
If they are Christians I would just tell them that the Bible doesn't allow for coarse jesting. If they weren't Christians; I might leave the room. Wouldn't they get it after a while that some people don't appreciate that?
Keeping up Appearances is so good. And it is funny how it seems so OLD nowadays -and yet it was made 1990-95. And her slim-lined pearl-white fone wasn't even carriable.
ReplyDeleteI just wonder, did ladies really wear clothes like Hyacinth's, or is it just supposed to be fun that all her dresses are so very awful? At least here in Finland I don't recall older ladies wearing something so flagrant.
Yes, it´s one of my favourites:)
ReplyDeleteEnglish ladies do, or at least, they did. I have seen dresses like this sold in our stores, old ladies still wear them, I guess. Don´t forget, she must be around 60.
Hey! I'm 60 and don't consider myself old. My mother dressed like that 30 years ago.
ReplyDeleteI don´t think 60 is old, especially now, but people in previous generations dressed more conservatively and the lady of Hyacinth´s age was considered `an older woman`. Those dresses are old-fashioned but then the whole series is more than 20 years old. I´m definitely not an expert on British fashions, but what I have seen there myself, their skirts are a bit on the longer side and would be considered dowdy over here. (Unless they are very short, of course:)
ReplyDeleteThat's okay. Today women are dressing younger and with colouring their hair and makeup, they do look younger. My oma - zwarte jurk, zwarte kouze, steevige schoenen en en knotje. I can't imagine ever dressing that way.
ReplyDeleteThere are still women who dress like this in the church and that makes them look older than they are, but it´s not only the colour, it´s the whole style of their clothes and shoes.
ReplyDeleteBTW, was this show ever on TV in Canada? Seems to be quite popular all over Europe.
It is a very popular show in Canada. They show reruns. British comedy is the best!
ReplyDeleteI didn't mean the lenght or cut of her dressess, but the pattern. Here in Finland older ladies used to wear monochrome clothes or if there was some pattern or print it was small flowers or dots. But nothing so exaggerated and flagant as Hyacinth's dresses. And here older ladies would have never worn so pastel colours.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it is just cultural difference, but I have never seen anybody wearing clothes like that and I was born 1979. So I do remember what middle aged/senior ladies wore 1990-95. :)
But I think here in Finland people tend to dress relatively plain and modest and use dark colours.
Everything about Hyacinth is kinda exaggerated, but then that´s the point:)
DeleteOne very offtopic question, if you don't mind. What is a lady supposed to do when men tell dirty jokes or otherwise talk bawdy? I tried to google but only found instructions how to talk dirty in bed. :rolleyes:
ReplyDeleteHere in Finland it it quite common than men do that (and even women) and I just hate it. When I was younger I just thought that ok, I am just very narrow-minded and tried to laugh along or even say something alike myself. (if you try to disguss this topic either IRL or in internet, that is exactly what you will hear: you are just narrow-minded and lack a sense of humour.)
My husband never does that but some of his friends are quite unpossible. No matter what somebody says, they have to twist it to something of a sexual nature. Usually I just try to stay straight-faced and pretend that I didn't hear, but I shouldn't need to do that, should I? If men don't respect me enough to speak like gentlemen, they should at least respect my husband and therefore treat me well, don't you agree?
I can't even start to avoid those people because -well, you cannot avoid forever your father-in-law or your sister's spouse (who tells dirty jokes even when his children are present.)
I am giving you ladies a very weird picture of Finland, I am afraid. :)
Depends on your relationship with the people, but if it´s your friends you could tell them you don´t appreciate it, I guess.
ReplyDeleteIf they are Christians I would just tell them that the Bible doesn't allow for coarse jesting. If they weren't Christians; I might leave the room. Wouldn't they get it after a while that some people don't appreciate that?
ReplyDelete