If you make an effort with clothes/appearance to look nice, who are you doing it for?

[Takver]

• for you / for everyone (ie men & women) / for members of the opposite sex only???

(Discussion with DH!)

Thislife when I'm home alone I wear what I usually do. Same hair and clothes. Not dressed obviously but not that different.

For me. To make me feel more confident. In the evenings I often wear sweats, fleece pyjamas but I like to look nice when I'm in out and about during the day. As others have said it's nice to get compliments but that's as a second to how I feel about myself.

I also compliment friends, so not all one way of course.

It's my hobby. I do it because I enjoy it. I like to watch trends and then have a go cheaply and appropriate to me. I like to look at vintage and make it work for me. I like the feel of the clothes, the colours and how they hang. I like it when stylish, fashionable people notice and want to know where I got it from. But I don't do it for that sort of comment, that's a bonus.

I am a clothes geek. If I have enough money I'd go back to college to study fashion. I'd quite enjoy being a buyer and customise my own outfits.

So for me, but not so I look good, just because I love clothes and changing focus every few months.

When I'm home alone it's pyjamas and other lazy clothes with a full face of makeup

For me, but it's on so many levels: at work I wear professional clothes so that my clients and colleagues will judge me as serious about my work - I make an effort in how I look, so hopefully they will then assume I will make an effort in my work (which of course, I do!). I also try to stick to the tenet of wear the clothes for the job you want, not the job you do.

Outside of work I want to be judged as fairly up to date, able to dress myself in a flattering way to make the most of how I look. Receiving compliments from others is a massive ego boost, and makes me want to work harder to get more.

For me clothes plays a big part, but so does keeping in shape, exercising regularly, eating well. And I would never post a bikini shot of me on FB so a very old ex would see how well I've aged. Never. Nope, not me.

Me. I like to be noticed and to catch someone's eye in a low key way.

I spend more effort on work clothes than casual clothes. In a work context, I like to appear competent and memorable.

For the rest of humanity.

For me too as it helps me keep cheerful, ditto wearing make up.

To those who dress up to get compliments, does it make you feel bad if you don't get any on any given day? I'd be worried my self-esteem would take a further knock if compliments were expected.

For me, definitely. The only time I venture out sans makeup, is to exercise (daily run or cycle) or to do the garden.

I'm not glamorous and certainly no fashionista but, I have good bits (and some not-so-good bits) and I play up the good bone structure I inherited, to full effect .

For me. Self care related to mental health issues and recovery from emotional abuse. And like other posters, I really value compliments from other women. I'm not sure many men are bothered about my new lipstick or boots anyway but lots of other women notice

proved my own therory right again

today i look like a bit of a mess as im doing a big clean as first day dd back at school and dh back at work.

so havent done my hair no make up
glasses

got blanked several times this am

so annoying

MrsW, how do you know your dh will fancy you in sackcloth?

My dh makes jokey comments if I slob around at home too much in my PJs. I don't look good and don't expect my husband or children to think so.

homeroad I don't expect compliments, but I probably get complimented weekly. Often if I'm wearing colours TBH, and sometimes it's the implicit compliment rather than explicit that is the nicest - being the first person friends call to shop for new clothes for example. It really surprised me when a few friends and acquaintances told me they always thought I looked nice, I was quite taken aback that people had noticed, TBH. And I always compliment when I see something nice, so for me it's a two-way street (I've also stopped strangers in the street to ask where things they're wearing are from, or complimented shop staff on their hair or nails, say.

For me occasionally, it's fun to show the world I can do it, even if I don't often bother.

Occasionally for DH, although he's the old fashioned sort, he likes me in a dress, but doesn't notice much else.

But mostly at the moment, it's for DD2 (13), who cares if her DM isn't fit to be seen with. She tidies up and coordinates, her 16y big sister too.

Definitely for me. It makes me happy to wear nice clothes. I hope that I appear stylish, with my own unique look. I notice what people are wearing and give compliments to my friends and vice versa. I am also not averse to approaching complete strangers and saying how beautiful their look is/a particular piece of clothing they are wearing/lovely perfume. I think it is such a simple but kind thing to do - I would think most women would find it a boost to their day.

As for dressing for DH or DCs: DH doesn't "get" half of what I wear but is always nice about it! Eldest DC is 14 and therefore everything I do or wear is cringeworthy; youngest DC is 10 and he thinks I am fabulous daaahling...and has already developed his own look.

I definitely don't expect compliments but it's fun to be on a group that likes clothes and style.

Even when I was younger and single I dressed for me and friends.

It helps my confidence at work. I assume that colleagues and managers will view me as more capable if my image is groomed and professional. The bit I like to do for myself is to choose colours that flatter me and look good together. how you present yourself to the world is a complicated thing! For me its mainly defensive

I don't think anyone expects compliments do they? I certainly don't. I think everyone has said that it's nice to get them. And yes, they normally do happen on the days when I've made more effort than going to school in my gym gear/no make up/ greasy hair.