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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Dress up to go to a grocery store

47 replies

blueberrypie0112 · 16/10/2020 01:02

Do you dress up to go to the grocery store or dress comfortably?

My sister went to Trader Joe today and she felt everyone seem so boring because no one dressed nice for themselves. all in comfortable clothes like sweatpants . I think people just want to get in and out from the store so it is the least of their concerns.

OP posts:
Downunderduchess · 16/10/2020 02:34

I did this week, left the house for less than two hours. Supermarket, chemist, takeaway coffee then home. I wore makeup! Had nice pants & top on. Felt good to do it. I’m not going anywhere much these days so it felt nice.

Flaxmeadow · 16/10/2020 02:38

I just throw on some leather loafers and a trench coat tightly buckled. Some hooped earrings maybe. Any old scarf. Definitely couldn't be bothered plastering loads of make up on. It's only the shops

Downunderduchess · 16/10/2020 02:39

For what it’s worth OP I understood what you meant by saying dress up, make an effort, look presentable etc. I think pretending not to understood & making the conversation all about that is odd. But hey, that’s just me.

user1481840227 · 16/10/2020 02:47

I think people are just out and about less at the moment so they tend to fit in the supermarket shop with other things. I go straight after training... all my kids activities have been cancelled so it's the only day i'm in the town and I just get it out of the way when i'm there.

AcrossthePond55 · 16/10/2020 02:57

I used to when I was much much younger. Put in contact lenses, full makeup, fixed my hair (meaning not a scruffy pony or plait) and I'd put on 'nice' jeans or trousers and top, and a pair of 'Candies' heels.

Then I had kids. I went to a pony or plait, and whatever was clean and shoes that were comfortable. Still wore make up & contacts though.

Now, I'm retired. It's glasses, a slap of mascara, and wear whatever is most comfortable.

Took me decades but I finally realized that not only do I not need to 'impress' anyone at the market, in reality none of them give a shit about me or what I wear.

PawPawNoodle · 16/10/2020 02:59

Regardless of what supermarket I go to I just wear whatever I have on, which is usually just normal everyday clothes.

I did "dress up" to go to Westfield yesterday though because I realised I hadn't worn anything nice in a while.

Aridane · 16/10/2020 03:28

Used to, now I don’t

NeonGenesis · 16/10/2020 04:11

I don't give a shit what anybody at Trader Joe's thinks about how I look. However, I think there are some people out there who "dress up" for themselves. I'm not one of them but my mother is, so I do have some understanding. My mother feels good about herself if she has taken care of her appearance. So I think the people who have "dressed up" for Trader Joe's haven't actually done it for the strangers at the shop - they've done it for themselves, and would probably have done the same thing for whatever activities they were venturing out for that day.

HeretoThereandBackAgain · 16/10/2020 04:36

I like to look presentable, even if I’m just putting the bins out. I like comfortable but not sloppy clothes. I will never under people who go to the shops in PJs or scruffy, holey joggers. I was in a shopping centre one afternoon last week and saw a guy being refused entry to a department store. He was wearing PJs and flipflops. It’s just slovenly. It would take five seconds to throw on clean jeans or trousers and a top.

LG101 · 16/10/2020 04:50

I don’t dress up but I refuse to wear tracksuits etc in public. I would always wear jeans or skirt / dress.

I can’t bring myself to wear loungewear in public I think it’s really trashy

Vivana · 16/10/2020 05:07

Having worked in a supermarket the things people use to wear would open your eyes. I have seen people wear pajamas and onsies and some wear barely anything. People should dress appropriately to go out even good shopping. Staff do not want to see customers in there pajamas. In fact I've seen people been turned away specially in summer eg men not wanting to wear a top to enter the store

Purplecatshopaholic · 16/10/2020 05:38

I dress up in the sense that I put proper clothes on rather than slobbing about in leggings like I do at home all the time at the moment! For me the current COVID situation has meant endless days of crap leeeeshure wear in the house so putting naice clothes on even if just for the Sainsbury’s is a mood enhancer.

eaglejulesk · 16/10/2020 05:59

If I'm wearing sweatpants and I want a few groceries then I just wander to the supermarket. Why get changed just to go shopping - it's nuts. Who on earth do you think cares?

PopsicleHustler · 16/10/2020 06:03

Op doesn't meant black tie.

She means like get all dressed up ie make an effort, a full face of makeup and wearing something different to a typical jeans, joggers and jacket. I.e dolling up like its for an Instagram post lol

BoudicasBoudoir · 16/10/2020 06:03

@Downunderduchess

For what it’s worth OP I understood what you meant by saying dress up, make an effort, look presentable etc. I think pretending not to understood & making the conversation all about that is odd. But hey, that’s just me.
Agree
nosswith · 16/10/2020 06:51

At least make sure you have had a shower/bath that day, and no jogging bottoms or leggings please. Have some dignity and self-respect, and consideration for others who at least have to walk past you.

alilstressed · 16/10/2020 06:57

The way this year is going, I say do it! I don't often wear lipstick and now I don't often go out. There have definitely been occasions over the past few weeks where I have put lipstick on when I was only going to sainsbury's or B&Q

honeylulu · 16/10/2020 07:09

So I think the people who have "dressed up" for Trader Joe's haven't actually done it for the strangers at the shop - they've done it for themselves

I agree with this. I don't like "being seen" outside the house if I'm not presentable. I am often wearing gym gear but I don't think that in itself is scruffy (OP might disagree). Make up and nail polish always done; hair brushed. In the first 2 weeks of full lockdown I wore scruffs, no make up or nail polish, messy bun. I realised it actually made me feel really depressed even though I only left the house for a 10 minute walk around the block at dusk. I went back to my usual look (more comfy clothes than the office but all matching etc) and felt much more "me" even though only husband and kids could see me. They don't care what I wear so it was definitely for my own benefit.

I also confess that in those days my only proper outing was to go to Tesco once a week and I would wear a one of my fitted work dresses and heeled shoes. I might have looked ridiculous but it made me feel happy.

I don't mind/care what other people wear at all though. In fact I envy people who don't need to give it a thought. The only exceptions are pyjamas/onesies/bare chests. I do tend to think "yuck" if I see that in the supermarket etc.

OhTheRoses · 16/10/2020 07:18

At this time of year jeans, boots, coat. I always do my hair (5 mins with a curling brush) and put on a bit of makeup (2/3 mins). Why wouldn't you even if it's only for you?

Most people in my local supermarket seem to do similar.

Camomila · 16/10/2020 07:24

We went to Ikea on the way back from a wedding once...I got some looks in my 90s velvet dress!

I probably would get changed out of tracksuit bottoms to go to the supermarket tbh (I'm turning into my mum, tracksuit bottoms to do housework then change into proper clothes to go outside)

DappledThings · 16/10/2020 07:29

I don't really have any smart clothes or scruffy clothes I I don't think. I live in jeans or skirts and leggings (never just leggings!) And trainers and a few different jumpers, some hoodies.

I have a few dresses that are proper dresses, for weddings and the like but I don't think I have more than these two levels of clothing.

Fallsballs · 16/10/2020 08:09

I don’t know what “Trader Joes” is but I always wear a Chanel two piece and heels for shopping and soft leather gloves.

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