Anyone else gone to the dogs since first lockdown?

[WilsonMilson]

I used to wear a full face of make up daily and tanned (fake but not hideous) weekly. Wore dresses, skirts, heels almost every day. Hair was always loose and well groomed (it’s long).

These days I apply the least possible make up I can get away with, I wear comfy clothes around the house, hoodies and jeans for walks and haven’t been outdoors in anything except trainers/hiking boots outside since last March. I’m not sure I could even walk in heels now. My hair is tied up in a bun on the top of my head and frankly I am a mess.

I didn’t realise how bad it had gotten until I was looking at pics from 2019 and thought - Jeez Wilson, you’ve really let yourself go!

Please tell me I’m not being unreasonable and that we’ve all become like this in the last year. I’m not even sure I miss the effort of it all - I simply couldn’t be arsed anymore.

I made a huge effort daily for the office, as I had an office "romance" so to speak. Always made-up in dresses, heals, nails always manicured, eye brows done, constantly bought new clothes to impress "him". Nowadays I'm stuck at home with just my kid and trying to shower before lunch is as far as my grooming routine has gone. Not only have I not worn any of my office dresses since March, but I wouldn't fit into 90% of them

I've gone totally to the dogs.

Can't believe no one has mentioned bras yet. I have got the angle of my Web cam perfect so I can go braless. I do still wear them if I'm going shopping and the ones I've got are old, frayed and nearly worn through but I'm not buying more.

Tbh I quite like the freedom. Life is too short to worry about my hair as much as I did.

Yes. Worked until 2.30 in my pj's, dressing gown and blanket. My dining room is Chilly. Even my child slunk off to her room.
Wear the same clothes for days if I cba. Less washing. Win!
Actually wore san Pro a day longer as I forgot I'd finished.
Still brushing and flossing just about.
I was really unfussy before but this is epic.
I cut my own hair and am toying with doing red ends.
I'm dreading back to office. I'm like that kid who was discovered living in the jungle now.

Totally.

B.C. I wouldn't even have put the bins out without a full face of makeup and "proper" clothes. I didn't own loungewear

Sadly I still have to put my face on for meetings almost daily but do it just before and take it off as soon as I can so it's on for far less time. I did make a mistake in answering an unexpected video call from CEO and noting his shocked expression, realised I had no make up on!

Wear same joggers for days and swap tops over depending on who has "seen them" that week. I have a blurred online background so can work from bed if I want I may give all my heels away as I can't imagine ever wearing them again.

Bra off by 5pm latest

I was never massively well turned out hair and make up wise, although I put some effort into how I dress. I used to wear tinted moisturiser, eyeliner, blusher and highlighter for work, often put some of my hair up, changed my jewellery daily etc. Now I wear my hair down all day every day, haven't put on make up since I last went to the pub with someone outside my household in about August, and wear jeans/leggings and a gilet body warmer every day. Sometimes wish i would try harder but can't be bothered. During the first lockdown I got some statement earrings so I'd look good on work zoom calls but don't bother with those any more either.

Pretty much! I have been in work June/July and Sept-Dec. I wear a uniform for that and usually a bit of make up. I straightened my hair for the first time in ages on Monday. Usually at home I am in leggings, wellies for walking the dog. Hair in a bun. General mess.

Sounds pretty normal to me. I would rather spend an extra 15 minutes in bed than waste time and effort on the endless grooming. It turns out no one who matters actually gives a shit.
I wash my hair, I am clean and neat but I am not faffing around with make up and heels and blow dries

I lost weight in 2020 as I was running about 60 miles a week (no kids, furloughed not much else to do!). Then my body decided I was overdoing it, I've fucked my knee so now stuck in the house watching Netflix!

It all has to pan along like this for who know's when. But if ever we get out of this COVID mess and dread, and come out the other side, you will really appreciate some normal and better things later. You may have suffered a lot for ages now, and carried on regardless, as people have had to do, but after bad things,people will view things in a different light, and appreciate all things that can be normal and good again.

I'm going to the dentist today and I will be wearing make-up,jewellery and a dress. ''Tis the only reason I have to make an effort.Hopefully I will back in my comfies by lunchtime.

Well I've certainly put weight on. I'm not sure when I'll lose it again. I've been home schooling my son since March, I'm not in the UK, I'm so mentally worn out by it. I've become house bound and lazy with it.

*house bound due to home schooling. My sons too young to be left alone and my husband can go to work.

I do wear make-up because I do a lot of zoom calls. But yes - yoga pants and slippers all the way here!

I shower daily (almost) and clothes are always clean. But weight gain has been awful and I’m now the heaviest I’ve ever been. My skin keeps breaking out too.
I try and practice self care when I remember, so paint my nails or add some bubble bath etc, but tbh I’m so tired half the time I can’t be bothered.
My weight gain has really, really got me down and I’m trying to shift my attitude to do something about it!
I feel like everyone in the world is just exhausted be has had enough. Everyone needs a break from lockdown life and walking through this ‘tunnel’ - which feels pretty never ending at the moment.

Single parent
Every day shower, bit make up and always dress nicely

Face mask and hair mask once a week

It takes very little time but bloody hell - it makes me feel better than when I don’t

@Mrbob

Sounds pretty normal to me. I would rather spend an extra 15 minutes in bed than waste time and effort on the endless grooming. It turns out no one who matters actually gives a shit. I wash my hair, I am clean and neat but I am not faffing around with make up and heels and blow dries

A contradiction

You say extra 15 minutes in bed

Which is surely not “endless”

I let my highlights grow out in first lockdown and I’m surprised at the colour or my hair !
It was mousey when I started highlights, now it’s a lovely chestnut brown. No more highlights for me until I go grey.

I hear you all. I feel a total mess. I do put on make up and wash/brush my hair if I have a Teams call which is most days but in March before we had Teams set up I stopped wearing make up and stuck my hair in a messy bun. I'd go out for an evening walk around the block and if I caught sight of myself I was horrified. I'm a partner in a City law firm and when I got promoted I had one of those WIB coaches overhaul my "look" and built up a wardrobe of fitted dresses/ shirts/ pencil skirts/ really good bras/ heels, always had my nails done etc. I loved my new glamorous look but I so readily went back to looking scruffy once I didn't go into the office. I'm now 46 so scruffy is more "bag lady" than "arts student ", alas.

The biggest change to my appearance and demeanor is health related. Like many I've got a lockdown belly I can't motivate myself to get rid of. I exercise every day but eat loads of sugary crap and self medicate with alcohol which is full of fermented sugary crap. The toll of very full time job plus home learning for 2 kids (one SEN) means I have a constant sleep deficit. I feel like I've aged 10 years since March and it shows in my poor face which looks like it's collapsed.

When I'm on Teams I have a powerful desk lamp positioned in front of pc which bleaches my face of under eye bags, wrinkles, blemishes etc. If I ever go back to the office and my colleagues see me in natural daylight they will be really shocked! Plus I will be bursting out of my fitted dresses lol. And have forgotten how to walk in heels. I bought some slip on trainers a few months ago and they're now the only shoes I ever wear!

Im kind of hoping we might question some of the need for all this after lockdown.

As a pp said its not "letting yourself go" but being comfortable and practical for the situation.

It would be great if these expectations of women lessened. And women were able to feel okay being themselves and not talk themselves down like on here.

Doesn't sound like "going to the dogs".
And good to hear your hamstrings are having a rest from your heels.

I have been doing a daily early yoga practice since March, so feeling fit.
All the superficial stuff like hair , fake tan can be remedied easily.

I used to wear heels to work, was home from march until September, put a pair on the first day back and threw them away that night, have been in low heeled boots since. However, back wfh now, unlikely to be back in more than one day a fortnight for a very long time, and it's totally casual then. I may pop on jeans for that day but other than that, I'm embracing the comfy. I wore jeans for a bit yesterday to pick my car up from its mot and couldn't wait to get out of them when I got home.
I live with my dad and he has no concept of comfy clothes, he wears the same chinos and smart top every day, he's horrified of the idea of joggers like me and ds live in 😂

I have gone the opposite way !
Myself , and my sister , cheered ourselves up online shopping in the summer. Lots of pretty summer dresses to look smart in our own gardens....where no one would see us 😂
When winter came I felt uncomfortable and restricted in jeans.
So we hit the internet again and I have bought some lovely winter dresses cheaply in the many online sales.
I paint my nails too. I live alone but it brightens my day.
My hair , though , is another matter !!

Last year I stopped styling my hair, wearing make up, looking after my skin and wearing proper clothes. It hasn't helped my mental health so am trying to get dressed properly (No pjs or hoodies rather than full on office wear) and wear a bit of make up so I feel like I look better on calls. It's helping but I also really can't be arsed.

I just can’t be bothered, I go from bed to work station in lounge to sofa then bed again , I’ve put on so much weight and feel horrendous but I’ve lost all motivation. On the plus side DH & I are saving ££ in not going out & I’ve not bought clothes for months.