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Glamour mum or scruff bag?

95 replies

bouncy · 16/04/2004 09:35

Recently had a weird conversation with my friend who bought me make-up for my birthday in Feb. She asked me why I don't like it and I said I do. This then sparked a debate about why I do not wear it. I see my friend at the school gates and after school 2 or 3 times a week.

the point is, I get myself and DS up for school, I get breakfast and brush my hair etc etc and take him to school. Friend thought I was a little weird because I don't spent 30 mins in front of the mirror applying make-up and straightening hair etc etc. I do this when I have a night out or go someone nice.

So basically she has made me feel like I dont take pride in my appearence, my clothes are clean and my hair is brushed. What is wrong with that.

So what kind of mum are you, glamour, scruff bag (like me apparently) or someone in middle.

BTW suspect friend on PMT

OP posts:
gemilou · 16/04/2004 10:32

I know people that want leave the house without makeup

juniper68 · 16/04/2004 10:35

I don't always do my hair as it's straight and just needs a brush. do it to go out though. I usually put make up on to leave the house but it only takes me 5 mins to do the lot, moisturise apply foundation concealer eyeliner mascara blusher lipstick....it's very subtly done though, no panto dame in sight

Having said that I have legs as hairy as a gorilla at the mo. I'll get them waxed soon though when I can be a

juniper68 · 16/04/2004 10:36

Must add I have no qualms about leaving house without the slap, it's just I was a hairstylist for years and got used to it

charliecat · 16/04/2004 10:38

Scruff bag, I often get home from dropping dds off and catch sight of myself in the mirror and wonder how on earth noone said anything about how dreadful I look.
T-shirts on inside out and everything BUT dds always look imaculate so thats what matters to me.

monkeygirl · 16/04/2004 10:39

I'm a scruffbag with clothes - always always wear the same ones, black trousers/trackies and a baggy t-shirt - but because I feel so crap about my body I do wear make-up every day. It doesn't take long to put on and makes me feel marginally better and less 'approaching middle- aged dowdiness'. Oh and always spend time on defuzzing my face and body, thanks to the curse of Mediterranean roots (dark thick hair everywhere!)

Frenchgirl · 16/04/2004 10:41

Not glam here either I'm afraid, but do wear make-up every day, not loads on just a bit to make me feel like a girl, also always shower and wash hair every morning, and dry with hair drier (have short hair, a bit messy kind of style, so no complicated brushing involved). Clothes are simple, jeans or black trousers, occasionnally skirt with boots, but as work part-time from home and teaching french, don't need to dress up. I used to love wearing smart clothes for the office though..... have to buy new shoes as all are looking scruffy. French SIL laughs at SAHMs who wear suits and look super glam (but then she has model looks so always looks good..grrrrr)

Jimjams · 16/04/2004 10:48

conkers are great with "difficult" kids as well marthamoo. It was the only place I could take ds1 to get shoes for a good year or so (rather expensive but so soft they lasted).

goosey · 16/04/2004 10:49

Bit of a scruff bag here too. I do shower and wear clean cothes every day but only ever iron my work uniform. Hair gets scraped back wet and dries as it is and make-up usually brings me out in spots - although I do always get complimented by dh if I wear any.
Whenever I wear makeup I feel like a teenager with her first bra on. It is just so darned strange and wearing lipstick is the wierdest feeling ever. Wearing it also means I can't cover my ds, 2 in all the millions of kisses he usually gets every day from me.

Metrobaby · 16/04/2004 10:49

Scruff bag too - especially if I am at home. I don't even iron my clothes unless I have to. I brush my hair and then tie it back - and thats it. The only time I wear make up is if I go on a night out (but I have to admit I don't even do this if its with DH), and when I go to work. However I never reapply it during the day or evening.

Actually I must admit of being rather wary of well groomed Mums - if not a little scared of them.

kiwisbird · 16/04/2004 10:54

generally dress for comfort not for style, although am a bit vain!
Sometimes wear a little make up but cna glam it up if needed
Cannot be bothered most of the time, my legs aint be shaved in a month of sundays

marthamoo · 16/04/2004 10:55

Jimjams (sorry, we are having out own little shoe conversation here) the kids' shoes are so lovely - I was really tempted to draw round ds2's feet and send it off to have some made for him but I think dh would have disowned me.

wobblyknicks · 16/04/2004 10:58

I have to admit to being far too scruffy when I'm just at home looking after dd, but I do try and look half decent occasionally and I do spend time getting ready if I'm going out.

Saw an article in a mag this month saying "could you go without make-up for a week?" amd my first thought was would I even notice??

marialuisa · 16/04/2004 11:02

Somewhere in-between. Clothes are always smart and clean, but a bit on the boring/predictable side as I don't have time/inclination for long trawls round Kookai/anywhere interesting any more. Not really into obvious make-up (hate lipstick, convinced everyone's staring) but shave, pluck stray hairs etc.

Had a weird expereince a few months ago: we had the auditors in and one of the trainees was approx my age but single, no kids. We were both wearing identical Next cheapy suits, but she had a dinky bag, trendy shoes, stretchy sleeveless top, imacualte make-up. I had black boots, big black bag and boring black v-necked jumper. Felt completely old before my time. then her boss (approx 8 years older than us, married one child) came in, she had mismatched socks on, a hole in her top, no make-up and dirty hair. We bonded instantly!

Bugsy2 · 16/04/2004 11:04

Wash hair every day and put make up on every day. Takes me less than 5 mins: tinted moisturiser, mascara, blusher and lipstick. Make sure eyebrows are plucked every evening and do a facial hair check at least once a week. If I'm having a SAHM day, then my clothes are pretty scruffy: jeans & jumper but obviously if I'm going to work I am fairly glam.

katierocket · 16/04/2004 11:12

definitely more scruff bag than glamour

just wash hair and put it up in a clip, the most I manage in the day is tinted moisturiser. try to make an effort when we go out but that's about it.

Tinker · 16/04/2004 11:14

Oh, I wear make-up every day, wouldn't go out of the house without it. But that's just to give me some features, not to appear glam. Don't brush my ever, just ruffle it up with the hairdryer in the morning. Wash hair only every 5 to 6 days, can leave it a week. Shaved one leg yesterday, razor got blunt and I got bored. I'm one of those people who could never appear super smart, just don't have the right hair.

lou33 · 16/04/2004 11:15

Somewhere in the middle. I look ill without make up, so if I go out I put it on, but mostly at home I don't bother. I'm usually in jeans and a fitted top tho, unless I have somewhere exciting to visit.

nikcola · 16/04/2004 11:21

i cant go out the house without mascara cause i have blonde eyelashes, and foundation to cover my frecles, i live in combats and black trousers and i dont even own a skirt i bath every day, i dont straighten my hair or blow dry it unless im going out, this is a big change for me before i had dd i used to spen 2 hours every morning to do my face and hair and guess what i worked in a warehouse!!!! but dd is allways looking perfect!!!

insanidee · 16/04/2004 11:22

oh i'm scruffy, but not convential. my hair is what takes most of my time, i spend about 5 minutes most days using spikin Gel to get it just right, but then it goes with my baggy skater trews (i was wearing them b4 skater kids btw!!) and t-shirts. i have a trainrer obsession when i can afford to, i just got a wikked pair of kangaroos, makes me 2 inches taller, but really need some flatter ones to chase after the kids in. make-up, heh only when i'm going out somewhere nice. but do wash hair most days, bath most days, wash every day, defuzz at least twice a week, and make sure i moiterise.

would also love a new pair of DM's as the ones i have had for 8-10years are just wearing out now. might get some customized ones.

windypops · 16/04/2004 11:56

Scruffbag, I brush hair and usually tie it back and usually add lipstick, but thats usually only to take attention away from a huge zit I often get when due on. Clothes clean, although when DS has a cold there might be tell-tales signs round the back on my trousers.

Jimjams · 16/04/2004 12:10

lol marthamoo. | think the kids shoes are the local steiner school uniform

dottee · 16/04/2004 12:32

Another scruff bag here!

I do shower and wash/condition my hair every morning and put moisturiser on my face and body. Up until two months ago I was an Avon lady and I've got tons of the stuff but it's rare I actually put the 'full face' on (only when going out somewhere 'adult' e.g. pub. Dp hates lippy anyway and if I put liner and mascara on my eyes, I can guarantee they will be streaming within the half hour.

I do like a bath when I've got an hour to spare (rare occasion) when I can get the full pampering stuff out, complete with candles and a huge glass of wine. Nothing like it!

I took dd to the hairdressers the other week and felt guilty that I hadn't done much with my own hair. Dd started ruffling mine much to my hairdresser's amusement and my protest, 'now you know why I don't bother!'

Gumdrop · 16/04/2004 13:11

Scruff bag - totally.

Clean, but never got into make up at all, and feel like I'm playing dress up with DDs when I do put it on. Mind you, I'm now eyeing up the counters in the bottom of Kendals for anti ageing stuff, but find the orange women far too intimidatingly groomed.

Vain enough to dye my greying hair tho!

gothicmama · 16/04/2004 13:14

glam mum trying escape scruff bag state,always jeans & t shirts and trainers but have two opportunities to be glam later in year. hope face does not react to make up after so long with out

karenanne · 16/04/2004 13:20

another inbetweenie here.couldnt live without my nightly bath its the only 20/30 mins i get a day to myself...completley although dd (4) has now realised how to get bathroom door open so will have to start locking it.wash hair every 3-4 days and straighten it otherwise its all frizzy.make up yes on a good day although it only takes about 5 mins to apply very natural looking but only for picking dd up from playschool at dinnertime not 1st thing.am very casual dresser anyway got a wardrobe full of combats and little t shirts or jumpers and jeans .only dress up when i go out which is once in a blue moon.then i have a star of a mum who takes kids of my hands so i can have a couple of hours to do all above properly.