To ask how much ‘effort’ you make with your appearance for work?

[Birkinbag]

For context, I’m a manager in an administrative environment in my mid-30s. For the 15-ish years I’ve been working, I always get up earlier on days where I’m in the office to do my makeup and my hair - I have quite bad skin (acne scarring) so it’s partly a confidence thing, but mostly I just enjoy making myself look nice.

The other week at work, a couple of colleagues were talking about people who get ‘all dolled up’ for work and how pointless it is, and that we’re coming to work and not a fashion show. I don’t know if these comments were aimed at me or if I just happened to be there at the time but it’s made me feel really self conscious that people think I make too much effort and they’re laughing at me behind my back.

What are your thoughts - do you care about what your colleagues look like? Is it reasonable to get up half an hour early to put my face on when I am just working in an office?

I don't judge people for being better turned out than me.

Clean and neatly pressed is my office effort, my WFH effort is top only (snuggly PJs on the bottom this time of year!)

I'd judge the gobshite colleagues who like to run others down rather than the woman neatly turned out with well done make up and hair.

I always do my hair and full makeup, and dress very nicely. Far better than most others in my pay grade. I take pride in my appearance and find it a bit sad how many people these days have seemed to have stopped doing that.

OP: I think the people who made the initial comment are either a) jealous - either because they're not as good looking as you or don't have the time / means to dress up or b) a bit lazy and just don't take pride in themselves

Don't stoop to their level.

Wear uniform.....

work in a cat B mens prison so minimal makeup and jewellery

Iron my shirt and polish shoes. Use a work approved rucksack we all use the same so it's easier for searching

Hair down at the moment but up in summer

I don't make a particular effort for work but I put in the same level and effort as I would for eg going out for lunch with a friend. I always wear make up and do my hair etc. Most people in my office - men included - look smart and presentable.

I only go in a few times a year so I make an effort. I don't go anywhere else enough to make an actual proper effort for so work I do my hair, make up, a nice outfit.

😂

They sound nasty tbh. And maybe a bit jealous?

Dress however you feel comfortable. Agree with pp. In a work environment I always feel more comfortable being slightly overdressed. A bit of make up goes a long way or else I look pale, tired and depressed tbh

If I am going to bother with makeup then it's more likely to be on a work day than if I'm meeting a friend at Soft Play on my days off!

I normally wear mascara and perfume and have clean, styled hair. We have no dress code but the most casual I go is jeans - no joggers or hoodies.

I've chucked tomorrow's outfit on the bed and it's dress, tights, ankle boots. I am not client facing.

Anyone who sits and discusses people being “dolled up” at work are 100% jealous of the people they’re talking abouts appearance. I’d take it as a compliment if I was you.

also, assuming that you work in a professional environment i would think that everyone would want to look their best 🤷🏽‍♀️

They may well not have been talking about you OH and you may be sensitive because you worry about your skin.
However even if they were bitching, who gives a fuck what they think? Focus on feeling good in your skin and don't let anyone bring you down.

Wfh a lot but when I go in 1 or days a week I wear a smart clothes, make sure hair done and make up on . Don't wear tons of make up generally anyway just the basics. My Job is one where I do have to be smart as look in like the directors office in ab admin role.

I work in an office and probably put in quite minimal effort, except on the days where I'm front desk (I work in property so it's a mix of admin days and then front of house days where I'm with customers face to face).

My colleagues all vary. I wouldn't judge anyone who wore more/less make up or put in more/less 'effort'. Different people have different preferences, some people like to wear smart clothing and make up as it helps them get into 'work mode,' others like me prefer just being comfortable.

I wouldn't worry about it OP, it's none of your colleagues business how you choose to dress for work! X

I used to have a job in the NHS. I was knackered with a sleepless baby and underactive thyroid. Manager told me I wasn't doing well enough and needed to sort myself out. A month later she told me I was doing much better and she was really pleased.

The only change was that I had started wearing makeup to work again.

Lots of people - who should know better - have no idea how shallow their own judgments are. Of course it shouldn't matter what you look like, just how you work, but a lot of us are still living and working in an incredibly sexist world.

Oh god, have we descended into "they're just jealous" already?

I never wear make up, never have.

I don’t do anything but brush my hair and put it in a ponytail for work..

I work in an office so wear business wear (except on Fridays) and wear a 'no make-up' make-up look, so cc cream, mascara, lip gloss. minimal jewellery (watch, studs).

I think going to town on eyebrows, eyeliner, eyeshadow, blusher and lipstick is the same as wearing heels; ok if you like that look but a bit much for work in my opinion.

Somebody I work with wears a full face every day plus leather leggings and heels and an array of interesting jewellery. At least she brightens the place up.

Yes, because running down women who hold a different view about the value of painting their face really gives you the high ground.

I work in an office and I do subtle makeup every day and try to look semi smart but outfit wise jeans and trainers are usually the norm for me! When I was younger I used to make a lot of effort for work, tbh it made me super outgoing and confident (more so then I am now in a job) and I got a fair bit of stick for it from some older female colleagues who said I was doing it for attention! I see nothing wrong with looking nice every day if it makes you feel good OP, ignore the haters!

I always put a bit of make up on and try to get my unruly hair under control (doesn't always work) and put a bit of thought into what I wear. I'm not a very confident person so to me it's like putting on my mask if that makes sense.

Im 50 now and make sure my hair is fine and minimal make up
When I was early 30's I'd definitely getup 30 mins earlier than usual to doll myself up.
It's a confidence things aka not really caring if people think you're gorgeous ..

If you enjoy getting dolled up - you carry on and if not - Make less effort xx

Most of the time you have a choice between being over dressed compared to other people, or under dressed compared to other people.

But surely the most likely option is being the same level dressed as most other people? That's kind of the whole point - it's the average level of dressed-upness.

I think I'm average in my workplace. I always wear make-up, but pretty minimal, subtle make-up. I wear comfortable, smart casual clothes, because that's pretty much the dress code. No jeans, leisure wear, shorts etc (I'm a teacher). There aren't really any major outliers in the dressing up stakes, either in being really scruffy or really dolled up.

I don't wear make-up because I feel like I'm expected to (lots of women at my school don't wear it). I wear it because I prefer how I look with it on. And yes, I realise that in itself is learned socialised behaviour and that I wouldn't feel that way if I were a man.

I wash my hair, put on deodorant, put on clean clothes ... so I'm guessing the bare minimum

I wear makeup and do my hair for work. I have a capsule wardrobe that has some bolder pieces in it so I always look turned out.

At the end of the day though, I do it because I enjoy it. I like clothes and I love makeup. The outfits I wear make me feel good at work so I couldn't care less about anyone else's opinions.

Someone at work last week said I had "main character energy" I took it as a compliment. :D

I'm clean and tidy. That's plenty.

Also as women we need to support each other not sit around bitching about each other's choices. I would never dream of slagging off my colleagues who don't wear make up and show up in jeans and trainers, or indeed who make more effort than I do.