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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:
SoupDragon · 01/09/2020 14:17

We all have to wear clothes so we choose ones we like. Currently we have to wear masks...

...so we choose ones we like. That has no bearing on whether they are here to stay or not.

nosswith · 01/09/2020 14:19

If it gets people to wear them, so much the better. If it gives income to local independent retailers and craftspeople, or to charity, so much the better.

Fashion reaches its tentacles into far worse things.

DappledThings · 01/09/2020 14:19

@SoupDragon

We all have to wear clothes so we choose ones we like. Currently we have to wear masks...

...so we choose ones we like. That has no bearing on whether they are here to stay or not.

Sure, if that's what people want. I still don't get the impulse and it still makes me uncomfortable to see but I am well aware that's my issue!
vanillandhoney · 01/09/2020 14:19

That's just it. We all have to wear clothes so we choose ones we like. Currently we have to wear masks but by making them fashion accessories it's the acceptance that they are like clothes, that they are here for ever. I want to continue to see them as a short term aberration!

That doesn't mean they have to be bland and boring, though.

workhomesleeprepeat · 01/09/2020 14:22

Op, when I moved to countries with cold weather after largely being raised in warm countries, I had to normalise hat wearing, glove wearing, boots, coats - I hated it and still do - would rather just be in a pair of shirt, but you know what? The environment forced me to do it, and so I did and made it 'fashion'. Don't see why masks are different. I think you are kind of anti-mask. Its just a bit of cloth tbh.

SoupDragon · 01/09/2020 14:24

it still makes me uncomfortable to see

Seeing all the masks in general makes me uncomfortable - the style of them makes no difference!

Although I think seeing everyone in identical ones might be even worse actually

amusedbush · 01/09/2020 14:25

I have leopard print masks. I like them.

When I'm in the supermarket I see loads of patterned ones - I'm just happy people are wearing them!

tabulahrasa · 01/09/2020 14:31

“So it still feels weird to me to want to prettify something that is so generic.”

But it’s the genericness that makes me want ones that are prettier... everyone in the same colour of mask is creepy AF, it makes it even worse.

Figmentofmyimagination · 01/09/2020 14:33

‘Glow in the dark’ Halloween ones could be fun - skeleton, zombie, vampire etc

phoenixrosehere · 01/09/2020 14:53

YABU

I don’t like wearing a mask. It makes my nose run at times and dries out my throat, but I wear them anyway so I am able to do the things I enjoy. The only positive/highlight I can find other than protection is wearing one I like that coordinates with my outfit.

I coordinate my glasses (when I wear them, wear contacts) with my outfits and my hair colour (currently a mix of a soft, smoky pink with hints of lavender) with my clothes so it is not a difficult push to coordinate a mask too.

We don’t know how long wearing masks is going to last and I definitely hope it isn’t a long term thing but until it stops being something many of us have to wear, I’m going to continue to make the best of it.

I’m more bothered about the amount of disposable masks I’ve seen littering the ground tbh.

wanderings · 01/09/2020 14:53

Some of us are not anti-mask in itself, but a good many of us are anti-masks-being-mandated-by-government: it's set a precedent towards other dress codes being mandated by the government, which we do NOT want in a free society.

The masked warriors on MN keep telling us that this mandate will be temporary, but I think there is a real danger of it becoming permanent by stealth, just like income tax did, if we are not careful. I can just see Boris the clown thinking, when it's time to review the mask mandate: "But the public are clearly enjoying hiding their faces, I see no reason to change anything, and mask-making boosts the economy."

So many of the replies on this thread seem to think the masks are indefinite - Boris's brainwashing has worked, just like it did with terrifying the public into staying at home and spying on each other, and people who rely on lip-reading will continue to have a hard time.

JanMeyer · 01/09/2020 15:10

Some of us are not anti-mask in itself, but a good many of us are anti-masks-being-mandated-by-government: it's set a precedent towards other dress codes being mandated by the government, which we do NOT want in a free society.

But a mask isn't a "dress code." And why do you think it sets a precedent for "other dress codes being mandated by the government?" What possible reason could they have for doing that?
And what's your problem with them being mandated in certain situations like public transport? What, do you think people should be free to not wear a mask because they don't want to, even though they could potentially infect those people who CAN'T wear masks?

DominaShantotto · 01/09/2020 15:22

I have nightmares featuring mask-clad people (I have PTSD which has now become focused on the fact that the individuals involved were wearing surgical masks). I get panic attacks going out into a store with masses of mask-clad people and just a sea of eyes... I really really really fucking appreciate those who have nice bright, less intimidating coverings to be honest - it's not the pink Minnie Mouse ones that are haunting my nightmares at least!

My hairdresser got bored and blinged around the edge of her visor headband! I just laughed at it.

You've taken away a huge part of people's ability to show facial expression by covering noses and mouths... so people want to express some element of their personalities with what's covering them? So fucking what? They're following THE RULES - they're just not following your own personal MUST BE MISERABLE AT ALL TIMES RULES.

tabulahrasa · 01/09/2020 15:23

"But the public are clearly enjoying hiding their faces, I see no reason to change anything, and mask-making boosts the economy."

Masks are awful for the economy - everyone is getting out of places as quickly as they can to get them off.

There’s no way they’ll be permanent as they are just now... I mean they may become a bit more normal for people to choose to wear them if they’ve a cold like they do in other countries - but given how much people dislike them, I doubt it’ll even be as widespread as that.

latticechaos · 01/09/2020 15:27

@BeyondMyWits

Looking forward to festive mask day instead of jumpers this Christmas 🎄
I think it's inevitable.

Maybe op you don't like it as it suggests people are happy wearing masks or transfer hat they will be around a long time?

I think everyone will be glad to be rid of them but we may as well have choices while they are here.

Mittens030869 · 01/09/2020 15:32

Watch out for some scary masks when Halloween comes around. I think my DDs will enjoy that!

And no, it doesn't mean that I want them to be around forever. But if there's fun to be had with masks, what's the problem with that??

HesterShaw1 · 01/09/2020 15:36

I'm with you OP.

It's normalising face coverings by making them into a fashion accessory.

Covering your face for normal social interaction is not normal and never will be, no matter how "safe" it makes some people feel.

HesterShaw1 · 01/09/2020 15:37

And I have met plenty of people - friends, customers, people in shops etc - who feel the same.

TheNoodlesIncident · 01/09/2020 15:56

This is not a new trend though. During the second world war, people decorated their gas mask cases with materials they had spare, to personalise the boxes and make them more unique/interesting/attractive. It's human nature to do such things. I don't think there's any correlation with the length of time people are anticipating using masks, except that it's long enough to bother (ie more than a couple of weeks).

It's not doing anyone any harm, is it? I like to see touches of individualism, it would be duller if we all just wore bog-standard disposable masks. If it makes children happier about wearing them so much the better. I would have wanted one with horses on.

I'll be happy when we don't have to wear them any more; I do find it a little harder to breathe with mine on, but it's worth it for others to feel better about being out and about, imo.

kittensarecute · 01/09/2020 16:15

I'd rather masks than stupid social distancing.

OddBoots · 01/09/2020 16:21

Thinking about it there is good reason for our masks being bright and celebratory, the evidence is showing that they are a big reason why the death rates are dropping while infection rates are still fairly high and increasing. I am feeling very positive towards them having seen Dr John Campbell's update video today.

Chienloup · 01/09/2020 16:28

I only wear a sackcloth mask to match my sack cloth clothes. Wearing colourful, well-cut, fashionable clothes just trivialises the fact that Eve ate from the forbidden fruit.

thedaywewillremeber · 01/09/2020 16:31

I feel if you have to wear it in significant amount of places now you may as well have a nice one. I personally wouldn’t spend more than about five pounds on one but each to their own.

Eaumyword · 01/09/2020 16:44

I'm with anyone who thinks as long as it gets folks wearing them (and not under noses or chins) then it can only be a good thing.
I have lots of pretty patterned triple ply cotton ones and think that masks as fashion are fine to get us through the winter.

SoupDragon · 01/09/2020 17:38

it's set a precedent towards other dress codes being mandated by the government

Like what? It's hardly a dress code, it's a response to a global pandemic, not a decree that we should all wear clothes that cover our ankles.