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?

Another nurse here. Always wear some make up. It nearly always disappears but it feels nice at least for the first couple of hours!

I make sure I’m clean and smart.

we have women who look absolutely stunning, with make up that looks like it’s applied professionally, more power to your elbow I say.

could care less what anyone thinks of my (lack of) effort. But I’d have words with anyone belittling any member of my team for how they were dressed/made up.

I wear coordinated clothes, nothing overly special, and wash, brush my hair, etc. I think make up is kinda silly so don't wear it, but it doesn't bother me if other people do.

I work in a warehouse. I have a shower before work, moisturise and tie my hair up. That's it.
I feel like a right old frumpy plain Jane compared to my colleagues (mostly Eastern Europeans) they're all so beautiful and slim and their make up, nails, eyebrows, grooming etc. And they all waft around smelling absolutely amazing too in all their perfumes and aftershaves. I don't judge them, they are all lovely (and so gorgeous!)

I work in a lab/office where people are often (very) casual. Compared to most people I work with I'm over dressed and over made up.
I prefer it that way though. I'm late 30s and don't have the best complexion (sallow skin) and I like to try and look my best.
Plus I don't get out much 🤣

I wear make up to work for confidence as I suffer from rosacea, only a quick 5 mins of foundation mascara and blusher.

I pretty much style me hair and make up every day unless I'm not leaving the house.

What an appalling judgemental attitude. "Far better than others" This poster thinks everyone else is incompetent or just plain lazy. Shameful.

Even if they were making fun of you, who cares! If it makes you happy, just do it. It is your choice and nothing to do with what others think. When you ask this question you will get mixed answers, everyone will say what they think according to their own beliefs, so you are the only one to decide. If it makes you more confident, you feel happier just do it💓

Not much but I've never been a hair and makeup person. Plus I run around with kids and usually come home with snot or custard or similar down me 😂.

One of my work colleagues always looks lovely with beautiful hair, makeup and clothes. I wish I looked as lovely as she does every day but I just cba!

I wear makeup and do my hair when I go to the office. Not loads because I feel it's a bit aging on me, but I do always focus on my skin.
If I heard someone saying that I'd probably join in the conversation and say how I like getting myself all ready in the morning. It's a routine that I like doing that feels different to just sitting in front of the desk at home.
Sometimes people aren't bitching they are just sharing their opinion - and you shouldn't feel bad about sharing yours or doing it differently.

I have a public facing role but no uniform. I make an effort with my appearance because I feel more professional when I look professional. I wear formal clothing and shoes, I don't have to be super smart, but a typical outfit would be a dress and jacket, or trousers and a shirt (not a tee shirt, and not jeans). I wear a small amount of make up, cover blemishes, a bit of mascara, neutral lipstick.

The only time I care what my colleagues look like is when they're an hour late but still found time to do a full face of make up and a blow out. I don't say anything but I seeth inwardly (especially when they get on the same bus as me and try to claim it was late but I've been picking up their slack for that first hour). I'm trying to care less.

I’m at a place in my life where my self esteem is so low that I see it as trying to polish a turd at this point so I don’t bother anymore. I’ve given up with nice clothes too. I used to though. I always looks nice to leave the house.

No more effort than I do for any other day of the week, which is to say I wash my face, brush my hair, put on some combination of jeans and sensible top. If something big was happening like a meeting with the higher ups or a customer was visiting I'd make sure it was one of the nicer sensible tops.

I wfh so it sit at my desk in the shirt and shorts lol

I always have a face of make up for work . I line to look the best I can . Doesn’t take me long but when I leave the house I feel good about myself and ready for the day . Weekends are different altogether . I do t even brush my hair ! 🙈

Edit button needed

• t shirt not the shirt

Your colleagues sound rude and unnecessarily judgemental.

ATM I don't make much effort at all. I work in a school and am outdoors quite a lot. There is not much need for me to be in any way made up. I also work Monday to Friday at the school, so I'd be doing makeup most days if I started.

If I see someone who gets glammed up for work, I usually just think they look lovely. If (and nobody ever had thank god), someone came in wearing something inappropriate for working around kids, or came in really smelly and unkempt, I'd have something to say, but otherwise couldn't give a crap how people look at work

Just do what makes you feel good, if that’s getting ‘dolled up’ fine, if that’s nothing fine. Would love to have the time I had pre-baby for making myself look good in the morning.

I like to be clean and tidy, so nice clothes, hair clean and brushed but I don’t wear makeup to work. So long as it’s not over the top I couldn’t care less what my colleagues look like/if they are wearing makeup.

However, I do think, working in a professional environment, too much makeup would make me unconsciously judge someone. It’s an office, not a nightclub so I think makeup should be relatively natural. Probably unfairly, ott hair and makeup says to me that the person has their priorities wrong - focused on appearance rather than performance, but that’s probably part of my prejudice because I can’t be bothered to get up early enough to do it myself.

No way I could spend half an hour on makeup on a morning. I put mascara and a bit Of powder on. My skin would hate it if I wore foundation etc every day. Always wear nice earrings though

Keep doing what you’re doing. I wouldn’t dream of going to work without wearing make-up and doing my hair. I’d always wear perfume. If I went for a wee break, I’d reapply lipstick. In a week I would wear something different everyday and would always take pride in my appearance. But I like fashion, clothes, makeup and always worked in offices.

Before covid I made an effort to have a bit of makeup on, smart'ish office clothes etc. Now I WFH mainly it is comfort clothes and I will brush my hair etc but nothing major. If I go into the office it is much more casual now then pre covid. Jeans and a smart top, hair looks OK but not styled as such, with enough make up to stop me looking too rough. There are not many of us in the office these days.

Most people are the same as me but there are a couple with beautiful styled hair, make up etc every time.

It depends where you work and if you enjoy it. I don't enjoy the dressing up and the make up (although I love the actual work) but working in a corporate and quite stressful but very well paid environment with clients every day, I have to look very good for work. Hair always blow dried, full make up, nails, if not a suit then very small trousers and top and always heels but not stilettos but block heels. Unfortunately, if you don't look like this, people start making the "are you ok? you look a bit tired" comments which is of course codeword for you look awful. This means that at weekends, unless I have people round or we have to go out, I spend most of the weekend in my pjs, watching Now, Apple Tv and Netflix.