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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To hate the idea of masks as a fashion accessory

186 replies

Ghostlyglow · 31/08/2020 19:05

I'm not anti-mask - just thought I should say that. Just no, though to masks that match outfits and "designer" masks - I saw some on a jewellery website for £35!

OP posts:
Oldraver · 31/08/2020 22:20

@Nquartz

There was a photo on the homemade masks thread of.One made out of the same fabric as a dress, I think it looked nice. If I have to wear one i 'd rather it looked nice!
Was that me / Grin

Ive made a few masks to match my dress. The first time I went out in over two months was to give blood...I wanted to make an effort

Oysterbabe · 31/08/2020 22:21

Masks are here to stay. There will be increased use of them even when there's a vaccine and no lockdown or distancing. Where you saw the odd person, usually Japanese, wearing them before some people won't stop. Why not make them pretty.

Stripesgalore · 31/08/2020 22:22

It depends how often you wear one as well.

I have to wear a mask all day at work, and for hygiene generally put a new one after a few hours. So I am wearing them a lot, so it is hardly a waste of money to buy a few nice ones.

Stripesgalore · 31/08/2020 22:24

I will wear mine after a vaccine as well. Not having had a bug for so long makes me realise how slack we all were before Covid.

Holothane · 31/08/2020 22:26

I’ve got silk ones Liverpool ones I want a dr who themed one next and yes I’ll be wearing Christmas ones too. If we’ve got to wear them I’ll choose colours and themes I like.

ColdTattyWaitingForSummer · 31/08/2020 22:27

I wanted a washable one, so I picked one with a pretty pattern 🤷‍♀️ it wasn’t any more or less expensive than the plain black one I got for ds. Also, lots of small businesses are making and selling them, so it feels good to support them just now.

Fatted · 31/08/2020 22:27

If I've got to wear the bastard arse things when I go everywhere, then I am going to wear one that I like. Rather than looking like I'm off to surgery or about to do over a jewellers.

DappledThings · 31/08/2020 22:32

Seems like you aren't a person who takes pleasure in things that are fun/ beautifully made/ colourful/ unusual etc etc. That's ok but I'm sorry to say a large number of humans do and have done forever probs. Gorgeous jewellery, tapestry, ornaments, clothing etc etc from cultures across the world and history.

Ooooooh now I do like a good ornament, I have many from galleries and museums across the world. And artwork. I've just embarked on a crosstitch of an 19th century Indian print of a peacock that will take me months to complete probably and hopefully be good enough to frame when it is complete. I'm very excited about the tiles I bought this week that are soon to be the new floor in my hallway.

But I do also have no interest in personal adornment. Have been given many objectively lovely pieces of jewellery over the years but can't ever be arsed wearing any of them. Never considered that such a contradiction. Interesting!

It's not a judgement. If anyone wants crystals on their shopping bags that's up to them. I just don't get it and was offering my opinion on what I thought was a reasonably lighthearted musing thread.

YolandiFuckinVisser · 31/08/2020 22:33

I like this one

To hate the idea of masks as a fashion accessory
powershowerforanhour · 31/08/2020 22:33

Can't for the life of me understand why people go out of their way to have different colour masks

In practical terms, it's easier to remember whether the one you left lying on the table is a used one for the wash or a clean one if you have different colours and patterns.

Northernsoullover · 31/08/2020 22:34

I'll just ditch my beautiful purse and start carrying my change around in a Barclays polythene change bag Hmm. I have some lovely masks. They aren't compulsory where I live but I do wear one out of courtesy. No way will I wear one when this is over.

AuntieStella · 31/08/2020 22:34

I rather liked the tweet from the head of Blood Cancer UK, in response to Burberry launching a £90 mask - asking people with that much to spend to instead buy one from them, with >£80 to cancer research projects included free with each purchase

monkeyonthetable · 31/08/2020 22:38

I quite like it. Have had a few compliments on a mask I wear and get smiles when out with DC wearing co-ordinated masks. Got to wear them, so may as well get and give some pleasure from the experience. I like seeing what style masks others choose and guessing what it says about their personalities.

slashlover · 31/08/2020 22:45

Turning something that you are only wearing for medical/legally mandated reasons into a fashion accessory is quite odd. And it makes it seem like we are all enthusiastically making them a permanent feature of our lives by making them fashionable. I don't want to think masks are permanent.
Yes @DappledThings, this.

I remember in the 80s when someone came into school with a plaster cast, we all used to colour it in with felt tips but you can now choose colours. It used to be only plain plasters but you now get them with all sorts of cartoon characters.

I wear a mask for hours 4 or 5 days per week (retail) so reusable work out cheaper than disposable. If I can spend another couple of £s on etsy to get a prettier one than i will, especially in the earlier days and it made a few people smile. I also also make sure to speak any children who come in with cute masks on.

Regularsizedrudy · 31/08/2020 22:53

Oh get a grip. It’s nothing new in plenty of other countries. That’s like saying we should only wear plain bike helmets. God forbid anyone try to make things nice in this shitty time.

RaininSummer · 31/08/2020 23:03

I have used my patchwork cotton to make some funky ones with bats and bugs on.

itsgettingweird · 31/08/2020 23:16

@slashlover

Turning something that you are only wearing for medical/legally mandated reasons into a fashion accessory is quite odd. And it makes it seem like we are all enthusiastically making them a permanent feature of our lives by making them fashionable. I don't want to think masks are permanent. Yes @DappledThings, this.

I remember in the 80s when someone came into school with a plaster cast, we all used to colour it in with felt tips but you can now choose colours. It used to be only plain plasters but you now get them with all sorts of cartoon characters.

I wear a mask for hours 4 or 5 days per week (retail) so reusable work out cheaper than disposable. If I can spend another couple of £s on etsy to get a prettier one than i will, especially in the earlier days and it made a few people smile. I also also make sure to speak any children who come in with cute masks on.

The same with AFOs.

When my ds got his gaiters he got a catalogue type page to choose the material!

He went for denim look cotton Grin

Someone9 · 31/08/2020 23:52

Ah I was thinking the same OP (though we are very clearly in the minority Grin)

I couldn't put my finger on why it bothered me and thinking on it I think it's the rampant consumerism.

There was a time around the beginning of lockdown where people were commenting on how one good thing that might come from this pandemic is that we will see the "error of our ways" so to speak. There was talk of how good it would be for the environment (no flying) and the sort of "back to basics" of what's important - family/relationships etc and how this will be the pause we all need. A few months on all that's forgotten and people trying to make profit from the situation just seems so...vulgar?

I'm not articulating myself very well and I must say I don't care what masks people wear on an individual basis and if they want to spend £££ that's their business but symbolically I can't help feeling it's all a bit crass.

ItsAlwaysSunnyOnMN · 01/09/2020 00:11

I have of masks my favourite is pink leopard print

I think it’s a good idea I’m quite sure when I was young I would have wanted them to match my outfit or the glittery ones

We don’t need to go round looking like we are in a clinical setting

TheNewLook · 01/09/2020 00:18

Totally get you OP. It makes me cringe. It normalises the whole mad thing. I put one on to go into shops and whip it off the second I’m out. I can’t help it, I just cringe to see myself and others in them.

Tillygetsit · 01/09/2020 00:25

How really depressing that these fun sponges begrudge a little individuality in horrible times.
My masks are white with little black owls on them. My dh has a very questionable skull mask but if it makes him happy 🤷‍♀️
Ds's favourite is Spiderman and dd's is a rainbow. Those refusing to wear masks at all are the ones not taking Corvid 19 seriously, not us wearing fun ones.

KittyWindbag · 01/09/2020 00:33

I actually think it’s great - they’re going to be around for the foreseeable future, why not make the most of them. Might encourage some kids to wear them.

Thedogscollar · 01/09/2020 00:34

The Valentines day masks and Easter masks are in the pipelineWink. I don't care what they look like or say tbh just don't wear it under your nose, under your chin or on top of your head.

MadameBlobby · 01/09/2020 00:35

I think that anything that normalises mask wearing or makes it out to be a positive in any way is not a good thing. To be clear I do wear a mask because I comply with the law and guidance

Stripesgalore · 01/09/2020 00:41

‘I couldn't put my finger on why it bothered me and thinking on it I think it's the rampant consumerism.‘

Surely people buying reusable ones is less of a consumer issue than the medical disposable ones that contain plastics?