Like Daughter, Like Mother

Mothers may have a hand in shaping their kids’ values, beliefs and even pass down behavioural traits, but their daughters are paving the way in the style department.

In what’s termed the “consumer doppleganger effect,” moms are keeping on top of trends by looking to their daughters for “fashion and beauty inspiration,” according to a recent study.

On the other hand, children are “far less likely to take fashion advice from their parents,” say researchers from Temple University, Philadelphia. It makes sense. Usually you think of your mom as the one who says, “You’re not going out in that!” when you come down the stairs in a tight, short and strapless number to impress your date.

In most cases, daughters reject their mom’s style in favour of fashion magazines — observing what the latest hot reality star is sporting, they’re looking online to target trends and they’re taking notes from fashion-forward peers.

This doesn’t mean that young women don’t look up to their mothers, but fashion is a way to carve out a unique identity separate from their moms. It’s a form of individual expression. So does this mean we should look down on moms for following their trend-setting daughters rather than strutting down their own fashion paths?

Mothers obviously shouldn’t look like teenagers, but this doesn’t mean that they don’t have something to learn from their daughters. So what if they dress like them? Just because you’re a mother it doesn’t mean that you can’t be stylish.

Hip moms like Demi Moore and Carole Middleton may look to their daughters for style updates, but it doesn’t make them copycats. Kris Jenner, reality mom on Keeping Up With The Kardashians, dresses similar to her daughters, but her attire is not inappropriate for her age and what’s important is that she’s confident in her clothing.

At the end of the day, daughters should take it as a form of flattery if their moms want to look like them.

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