Do people not make the effort with appearance anymore

[Scarletthoo2]

The last couple of months, I've noticed in restaurants, bars and social places that majority of women/young adults have replaced heels for trainers and dresses for jeans and dress pretty much causal when out socialising in bars or eating out. Is this the new norm? Why don't people make an effort anymore? Especially the younger generation. AIBU or is this a minority?

True

As others have said, this is hardly new. I'm in my fifties and haven't worn heels since the 80s when I was a teenager and going to some awful meat market night clubs. By the 90s I had wised up and was going to much better clubs in London where my dancing uniform was dresses and trainers. You can't rave all night in heels! Do people even wear stilettos any more? I now live in Oz where its all very casual, people are usually in thongs or Uggs (or barefoot).

You all seem to be assuming that the OP is female. Why?

Because Mumsnet attracts mainly Mums and women.
A username search shows that OP talks about getting a tan, meeting an OH and getting Botox on frown lines. None of these proves OP is a woman, but I'd bet a bag of chocolate buttons it is.

Doubly disappointed if so. I would hope that only the most stupid of men would hold such outdated and restrictive ideas about how women - how people, indeed - should present themselves.

Given that @Scarletthoo2 hasn't bothered to come back to the thread in days, and only made the one, goady OP, we may never know if they are a woman who has strayed here from the 50s or a misogynist bloke who thinks we exist only to beautify his surroundings.

Plus she’s sashaying down the street looking around at everyone in such a way that she is clearly trying to get people to look. It’s an odd way to walk down a normal street rather than a cat walk.

Admittedly, the OP was ill thought out, but given the extremely defensive and race to the bottom comments by some posters who are trying to outdo just how scruffy they are it is hardly surprising they haven't come back.

I'm scruffy most of the time, but I do like to dress up for special occasions. I have a gala dinner and a wedding coming up soon, and will be making an extra effort. I'll still be wearing flats though.

There is a lot of space between scruffy and dressed up

It seems most of us are happy in that space - clean , tidy , comfortable and wearing what we like rather than someone else has determined as smart

Perfectly put, @midgemadgemodge!

And wearing flat shoes instead of heels, and/or not wearing make-up, does not mean someone has ‘given up’ and doesn’t care about their appearance!

O.M.G.
IT'S JUST CLOTHES!
🙄

Umm, perhaps they dress that way because it makes them feel good? As a pp said, they don't have to 'move on' just to make you feel more comfortable.

Obviously they felt good because they’d made an effort. Who said they ‘have to’ move on? I didn’t feel uncomfortable at all. But they looked DAFT! 🤣

What you describe wouldn't be to my taste, either, but 'daft' is pretty subjective, no? I'm pretty sure that some people with more of a taste for what they consider 'flattering' female self-presentation don't get my love for the oversized and androgynous and think I look 'daft'.

My young adult DC don’t own a single pair of heels or any skirts either I don’t think.

I like it, I think it’s good they aren’t feeling pressured to wear uncomfortable clothing just because they are women. I grew up in 90’s and had actual scars from wonderbra underwires and my feet are mangled from cheap shoes.

To you, maybe. To them, maybe not. And the comment 'how they haven’t moved on' implies judgement over that.

So true.

They actually looked daft 🤣🤣🤣

Yep. And some people keep biting the bait. Lol.

Or calling out the ageism, as you could call it.

YABU.
Let people wear what they want.

Hello all, I'm rather shocked at how huge this post got, to say the least. For those who would like to know, I'm 28 and by heels, I don't mean 6 inchers, I'm talking about a broad spectrum, block heels, boot heels, small heels.
Onto the subject of dresses, I don't mean Bodycon or extremely short dresses, just casual dresses or summer dresses.

Personal opinion that I think most people are far too casual nowadays, it's nice to see people make the effort. Seeing 20 year olds going out in baggy jeans, joggers and trainers to a restaurant or bar just doesn't sit right with me. Surely, it's nice to get dressed up for an occasion or meal... isn't it?

Anyway, thank you for all your lovely replies. Especially the ones saying I'm a nasty pig and probably have a rotten face. It's made my night rather interesting!

It's absolutely right that you should wear what you like, and feel great while you're at it.

Just interesting that men don't seem to feel a similar need to enhance their 'posture' by wearing heels, or that they feel like a 'sack' without them.

I'm so glad that (most) young women have moved beyond that mindset.

Those baggy jeans, joggers and trainers might well cost more than an apparently nice dress...

You still sound snobbish tbh

Because most of the time, people usually dress for themselves and not to please judgmental critics like yourself.

Mind your own business.