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?

You win the thread!

God people make such unnecessarily bitchy comments on here 😂 YANBU OP, you have definitely noticed a trend away from dressing up and heels - the coolest youngest girls wear sneakers and boots even to swanky Mayfair clubs these days. I feel positively dated and ancient if I wear a heel.

People do still dress up in certain areas though, but the bodycon and very high heel look is definitely out. Much lower heels/mules and still fashionable though as is nice hair and lippy and cool nails. It’s not all slobby tracksuits!

I was in a bus in Bristol once, about 30 years ago, and out of the window, I spotted a very plump young woman walking along the pavement wearing a leather crop top, leather miniskirt, and knee boots, all black, and the visual effect was colossal muffin tops everywhere! There was a young Australian woman further back on the bus and she let out a whoop - 'Oh my God! Will you look at that!'. Then she fell quiet and said, 'Sorry folks, I didn't think'. After we got off at the same stop I told her she'd given me the best laugh I'd had for ages.

I don't think wearing jeans means you are not making an effort. I like now that anything goes. I was sitting outside a pub in the sunshine at the weekend and people watching and though it was great that in any group you could have someone in a smart dress and their mates in jeans and a nice top. And DDs (Gen Z) make a ridiculous amount of effort when they go out, perfect makeup, styling hair - far more than I ever have!

As others have said already, “making an effort” doesn’t necessarily equal wearing heels (or loads of makeup).
I see plenty of women in trainers and casual yet nice clothes, who seem relaxed and at ease with themselves. I personally think that’s a good look.

YABU. Who cares what anyone wears

I don't believe a word of that. It sounds like a preamble for you to a) preen about how well turned out you think you are, and b) a reason for you to slap women down who - as you say - 'slob about in joggers'.

Vacuous. Yours and OP's posts.

Seems to be a popular subject on here, why do we need to wear heels?

And more importantly why does it matter? Are people that boring that what they wear is more important than who they are?

What active independent woman wants to totter around on spiky heels with pinched toes, when she could be striding along in trainers, perfectly comfortable, ready for whatever the day brings?

There's a reason men always wear flat comfortable shoes, and its all about power, strength, speed and autonomy.

YABU. It's terrific that women dress the way they want, for themselves, as opposed to dressing for the public viewing pleasure of others.

YANBU OP, you have definitely noticed a trend away from dressing up and heels

I am 47 and have hardly ever worn heels in my life to go out in - and when I do/have they are comfortable platforms or wedges. I don't think that's unusual among younger Gen Xs. It was all DMs then smart pumps in our formative years. I really look after my feet - you can't do much when they hurt!

Happy birthday lovely x

YABU

These things seem to go in phases anyway, so the over-dolled up look will roll around again soon enough.

When I was a late teen we didn't make much of an effort when going out or going to school. In fact, our school's (Outstanding) Ofsted report made reference to the fact that the Sixth Form looked "scruffy"! We didn't have to wear a school uniform, but the whole sixth form seemed to have adopted a "uniform" of jeans, untucked checked shirts, sweaters and trainers!

I'd much rather see people comfortable, than looking like they can barely walk and wearing an inch thick of makeup and false lashes.

Because I don’t care about appearance beyond being clean, covering what needs to be covered and not wildly inappropriate- obviously I’m not going to go to my Grandma’s funeral in tracksuit bottoms and my gardening fleece. But jeans and trainers are perfectly fine for most restaurants. I’d rather put my effort into something more meaningful to me than straightening my hair and attempting to walk in uncomfortable shoes.

You mean young women are prioritising their health and safety by wearing comfortable shoes, just like most men do? Good for them. Long overdue development.

I think it’s absolutely wonderful that so many women have stopped ruining their feet with high heels! I’m very happy that dressing smart/casual has become so much more acceptable in the workplace and for socialising.

I'm having a shit day
the replies to this have made me smile

The only thing that makes heels more of 'an effort' than trainers or flats is that they're often uncomfortable to wear. I fucking love Gen Z for making trainers and boots cool to wear out and about - when I look back at my early 'going out' photos I think we look so trussed up and uncomfortable and overdone in our bloody bandage dresses and spiky heels.

Probably a little non-PC to say these days but on the odd occasion I wore high stiletto heels with a short dress because I have muscly legs, and heels make me nearly 6ft I always felt like a bloke in a dress.

Even if people don't care (which is not true), why should they? To please you?

In what sexist world do you live where heels equals ‘making an effort’? Neat / appropriate shoes don’t derive their status as such from the height of the heel and I have a lot of flat shoes in my shoe rack that are a whole lot more classy, elegant and expensive then £20 high heels from New Look, just to name an example. People are making an effort but you just don’t like their look. Too bad for you, because we dress these days for comfort and safety (I rather wear trainers then heels if I’m a lone woman walking home at night) then for the male gaze.

Because it's not 1952?

I’m a mum of boys, my eldest 18 & 21 def take more care about their appearance than boys used to, do their hair, tan etc clothes are casual but expensive but comfy too. The girls they are friends with wear similar bow and good for them, I hated wearing heels and having sore feet on nights out.

I wear jeans a top, flats and just blow dry my hair and do makeup for a dinner/evening out. Op in your opinion people aren’t making an effort but why should they wear heels to be dressed up? I think the girls my sons are friends with all look lovely, comfy and happy and really that’s all that matters isn’t It

Heels were fucking shit! They are bad for your knees, hips, back and feet, mean you end the night in pain and stop you from running if you need to. Hoorah the death of the heel!

I haven't worn heels since I was in my early 20s (many years ago now). Mainly because I couldn't walk in them and they were very uncomfortable. On the rare occasion I go to something smart I will wear lowish heeled shoes with a dress. I fail to see why I should be uncomfortable just because something is "in fashion".

My mum always used to blame her bunions on the heels she wore when she was younger!😀