Carole Middleton, Sarah Ferguson and Demi Moore could often be mistaken for their daughters. From their trendy clothing to their groomed tresses the similarities are uncanny.

Now a study confirms that mothers today look to their daughters for fashion and beauty inspiration.

Researchers from Temple University, Philadelphia also say that children - although they might appear to act older than their years - are far less likely to take style notes from their parents.

Coined as 'reverse socialisation', many middle-aged women are becoming 'consumer dopplegangers' striving to regain their youthful appearance as they buy into the same products as their offspring.

Journalist Amanda Platell commented that it is a pattern that has become more noticable in recent years, with high fashion becoming more accessible on the high street.

'The trend for good-looking mothers to compete with their daughters in the glamour stakes seems to be creeping into all sections of society.

'It’s known as the 15/50 phenomenon — because the woman may look like a teenager from behind, but she is decidedly middle-aged from the front.'

Researchers questioned 343 mother and daughter pairings, with an average age of 44 for mums and 16 for the daughter.

It discovered that if a mum is young at heart and fashion conscious she is more likely to view her daughter as a style expert and copy her.

Dr Ayalla Ruvio, of Temple University, Philadelphia, said: 'This finding provides initial support for the notion of reverse socialization and suggests that the impact adolescents have on their parents is much more profound than has been credited to them.'

(Read by Lee Hannon. Lee Hannon is a journalist at the China Daily Website.)

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(Agencies)