to want to meet some fellow scruffs?

[IntergalacticHussy]

Maybe I'm just having a bad day, but lately i've started to feel like i'm the only person in the world who doesn't look like they've just stepped out of a catalogue

I mean, not that there's anything wrong with that, if it's what you want, but didn't there used to be other ways of looking?

I was going to this meetup, (i'm new round here) organised by the Other Place, and i'm afraid I just bottled it. Probably says more about my judgypants than anything else, but my heart sank when I saw everyone else turning up, perfectly groomed in brand-new looking clothes, immaculate and pushing buggies that looked like they'd been purchased yesterday. I just suddenly felt like i'd spend the whole time feeling apologetic and uncomfortable so i sort of skulked away feeling crap.

It's not that i look terrible (i hope), i just don't mind if my jeans are a bit faded, or i'm wearing a top I bought two years ago, or if dd's going around in a pushchair that's seen better days. I quite like having things with a bit of history to them; second hand stuff/ the odd vintage thing. I avoid ironing if i possibly can and think dd2 looks perfectly ok in dd1's slightly worn hand-me-downs, unless we're off to a wedding or something.

And please dont' think i'm just having a go at other mothers, it's bloody everyone; all dads under 45 seem to dress the same way, all teenagers have the same floppy, assymetric haircut... when i were a lass we had actual subcultures; grungers, skater-punks, indie-kids, goths, trendies...

i know it's ironic to be a non-conformist wishing she knew some other non-conformists, but i can't help wondering if anyone else feels the same?

[MissMarjoribanks]

I'm scruffy. I am also one of those people who the smartest clothes would end up looking unkempt on within about 5 minutes. All the mums at nursery always seem to turn up looking groomed to within an inch of their lives. When do they do it? I have been up since 6, driven 56 miles, spent the whole day rushing around with barely time for lunch, let alone to brush my hair. My hair which in addition is very fine and naturally looks fly away and messy, whatever I do to it.

On the positive side I work in a planning department, where being scruffy is almost part of the job description. I'd get some funny looks for turning up on site in skyscraper heels.

[MissBetsyTrotwood]

I'm with the 'even when I'm smart I still look scruffy' crowd. There's just something about me that never, ever scrubs up.

Every pair of glasses I've ever owned come up wonky.

My hair doesn't know the rules.

I attract spotches, stains and smudges like an ice cream van attracts a desperate parent on a hot day.

I'm a snaggle toothed, knock kneed inveterate tights ladderer who HAS TRIED to be smart and failed so count me in. Please. I look like Ugly Betty.

[rycooler]

I suppose Scruffs can always pretend they're an amature poet or song writer and just too 'deep' to worry about fashion -

[MumGoneCrazy]

Scruff here too

My definition of glamming up is adding mascara and lip gloss to my usual routine of washing my face, brushing my teeth, dragging a brush through my hair, chucking on jeans (good to go for about 3 wears), a vest top, trainers and out the door all in less than 15 minutes

[MotherOfHobbit]

Ooh, so nice to see there are so many others out there. I'm supposed to dress smartly for work which means the same three smart pair of black trousers and about five shirts going in cycles until they wear through. I'd love the idea of a uniform.
Just realised that when DS was born, I remembered some old story that makeup shouldn't be opened for more than six months (bacteria and such) so tossed the lot and bought some more. Almost 18 months later and the new stuff is still in its packets.
I'm clean and neat. I'm clean and so are my clothes so that's good enough. I definitely resent having to iron for work.

[HoHoLaughingMonster]

another scruff here.

Thing is I do make an effort. I buy new clothes, take a bit of an interest in fashion, have my hair cut regularly and I wear make up for work.

But I still manage to look like Pigpen. I think it's my hair...or my lack of ironing skills...or just some general vibe.

I didn't even scrub up well for my wedding.
Sigh
As they say, you can't polish a turd

[DrCoconut]

I always look scruffy even dressed up. I think some people are just not elegant looking and I am one of them. It's not that I don't like nice clothes or makeup etc, I try but usually fail to make the grade. I am quite heavily built (as opposed to fat!) and look like a rugby player in drag if I try to dress really girly. I see women arriving at work looking like they've just left the hairdressers and been to a fashion shoot. How do they do it when I look all windswept from the walk?

[NightLark]

I'm a scruff .

I'm a scruff cos I am really not interested at all in fashion, because I always choose comfort over appearance and because I have 3 small children who will mess up anything remotely posh anyway.

I do think though that I looked rather better as a scruff when I was a lithe, fit and slender 20+ year old than now I am a slightly saggy 40 year old...

[HengshanRoad]

Sheesh, it doesn't take that much effort to look presentable. No wonder British women have a reputation for looking like sacks of spuds.

[bangcrash]

Oh go and file your nails whilst we go and do something enjoyable.

[Tee2072]

My fashion cry is Clean, Covered and Comfortable.

Sometimes I forgo clean.

Even when I try to look groomed I manage to do something wrong or wear something wrong, so I've more or less given up.

[diddl]

Who says we don´t look presentable?

I´m clean & tidy, but not in make up "best clothes"

I can´t imagine feeling that I have to be dressed up & made up everyday & tbh I feel sad for those people that are so insecure that they bow to these perceived pressures.

If you wear make up everyday, how do you look any different for a "special occasion"?

[TheSkiingGardener]

Even if you only spend 5 minutes each morning doing make-up and clothes, that's over 30 hours a year.

I spend the extra time sleeping.

[NinkyNonker]

Blimey, I'm a scruff most days but when I do put make up on and decent clothes it takes 5 mins longer than not to, that is hardly bowing to external pressures and demonstrating my innate insecurity!

Putting nice clothes on takes no time extra, and I would ear different make up in the day to a special occasion.

There are some very scathing comments on here.

[inmysparetime]

I'm a scruff too I don't even own makeup, I cannot walk in heels and I never iron anything.
I have no idea how parents manage to change nappies while wearing false nails, let alone run round the park in stilettos.
It's all a mystery to me, I'm more likely to have soil on my nails than nail varnish, but I'm also more likely to be smiling because my life is fun

[NinkyNonker]

I'm wearing nail varnish, and my life is fun.

[Fatshionista]

I'm a scruff. Chipped nail varnish and an outfit entirely from a charity shop (black ballet flats, long black leggings, a long black batwing jumper, beige snuggly cardi, a cream beret and gold accessories. DD2 looks excellent in DD1's heavily worn hand me downs and DP doesn't know what an iron looks like: tip, take out of tumble dryer, shake and fold :o.

i'm no catalogue model and DD's are more Primark than Boden.

[LunaticIsOnTheGrass]

I'm a scruff .

I always have been. I can't help it.

I've tried to be smart but I just don't think I have it in me.

[inmysparetime]

Ninky nonker, how do you stop the fun trashing the nail varnish?

[RalphGnu]

Massive scruff reporting for duty sah!

I remember the days when I wouldn't dream of stepping outside without shiny straightened hair and a face full of slap. I'm currently sporting DP's ancient holey jeans and a grey shapeless top that's so old I can't remember where it came from. My eyebrows are so overgrown I resemble Noel Gallagher.

I can't help but admire the women who always look so smart, with jewellery and scarves for education and aspire to be like them when I grow up, and then realise that they are in fact much younger than me.

[RalphGnu]

with jewellery and scarves for education

And by this I mean 'for every occasion'.

My eyebrows are preventing me from seeing what I'm typing properly.

[DecapitatedLegoman]

I love this thread and I don't think it needs to be a criticism of those who are swanky less scruffy. It's just a celebration of the union of lots of us who either can't or won't succeed in making ourselves look groomed. So there. Play nice.

[NinkyNonker]

I don't. I let it get trashed, leave it for a few days then re do while watching tv of an eve, normally with a bowl of ice cream! I'm not trying to be difficult, I just get a bit antsy when people imply that if you make any form of effort (even 5 mins of a morning or getting a nail file out in front of the tv) means you are a shallow, insecure princess with no life.

[NinkyNonker]

I love my gilet.