How To Get Your Mum To Buy Your Clothes Without Her Necessarily Knowing It

I recently met my Mum for dinner after work. She rocked up in these amazing tailored navy culottes and a very Louis Vuitton-esque white polo neck. Admittedly, she’d styled the look with a Radley handbag but I was definitely curious about where this otherwise very chic get-up was from. ‘Oh, I got it in Marks the other day,’ Mum said casually, adding that she loves culottes because they remind her of the early 80s when she met my Dad (aw), rather than because Victoria Beckham and others are touting them for a 2014 comeback.

This made me think that the next time I go home for the weekend, I should perhaps suggest a little outing to the local M&S. Mum and I will have a lovely wander round, probably indulge in tea and cake and with any luck I’ll spot a little something fashiony like those culottes among all the ‘office appropriate’ shift dresses. There will be a subtle yet very definite expression of my admiration for said item, perhaps this 90s Kate Moss-like silver cami dress, and my Mum will be so happy I’ve found something I want in a shop she likes that she’ll probably fork out for it. evil laugh. If all else fails it’ll be a good chance to stock up on pants.

Don’t get me wrong I’d never stamp my feet and demand she buys me stuff or anything like I did aged 7. And I am totally all about being a salary earning, independent grown up lady paying all my rent, council tax and shit. But y’know sometimes you’ve frittered away your disposable income on not-quite-sure-how-many £10 cocktails but still fancy something new before payday. Got me? Maybe this little ploy sounds calculated and exploitative but it turns out that I’m not alone when it comes to being pretty savvy about creating situations for my Mum to treat me.

A recent report in the Wall Street Journal found that 75% of mums now go shopping with their daughters. Because mums are adopting a 'more youthful style' and high street stores are responding by mixing up their stock 'women's and girls' styles are converging.' Which basically means that loads more 'kids' can shop with their mums - and we all know the side effects of that.

My friend Harriet and her mum Aline are voracious vintage shoppers. Aline has already sussed Harriet's tactics for getting her to fork out for their finds. ‘We'll discover a gorgeous thing which we both want but Harriet will - very innocently - tell me she's left her wallet at home,’ Aline reveals, ‘She'll say, “Oh mum you get it for yourself,” but she knows that I'll slip it in her bag before she leaves.’ My own Mum, Claire, reckons that I have no such agenda but as we talk about it more it dawns on her that: ‘You prompt me. You plant a seed and wait for me to offer to get it for you.’ Busted.

If you’re new to this game then you’ll be needing a little guidance. First up, the most successful Mum stealth buying will always occur in shops she loves too. Obviously this will vary from Mum to Mum but I’d say that COS, Reiss, Whistles and Zara are brilliant one-stop shops to find stuff to make you both happy; lovely knits and tailoring for her and on-trend but still nice-enough-she’ll-buy-it pieces for you. Crucially, their minimal, serene shopping environments are very Mum pleasing. (Sadly my Mum breaks out in a cold sweat if we step into Urban Outfitters.) If you’re going to make a day of it then Bicester Village or Selfridges are winners too.

Convinced? Don’t feel too much of a scab? Well then, here’s some pieces to make sure you subtly walk your mum past when you’re out shopping this weekend….

Yes it’s orange and cropped but you’ll get away with it because it’s from good old Marks and Sparks

This will remind your Mum of the lovely P.E kit you looked so sweet in. Little will she know that this is also a major summer skirt shape.

Mum will be so proud you’ve finally decided to wear sensible shoes. Which helpfully are one of the key shoe styles to wear this summer.

Try this line: ‘Well, navy is a very sensible colour. And it will go with everything.’ Plus, your Mum probably wore jumpsuits when they were first cool so you can bond over how to wear it.

For when it’s worth reminding your Mum that you really need an outfit for family weddings this summer. And this oh-so-pretty one would make her proud.

Follow Bethan on Twitter @bethanholt

Picture: Frances Sousa

This article originally appeared on The Debrief.