Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

Are you always well-presented?

78 replies

CoolToned · 22/01/2016 22:20

Do you always make an effort to look good, even when, say, just doing grocery?

How important is it for you to look well-presented at all times?

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 22/01/2016 23:22

I always have a shower unless I know I'm just doing house work/ gardening but then I'd have a bath at night.

My hair is always washed or shower soaked , it goes a bit wild overnight.

I don't wear make-up unless I'm really making an effort, certainly not for work.
At work I wear a clinic uniform so very basic, no brain power needed.

I always think 'Hmm would I be ashamed to end up in A&E in what I'm wearing' if I really feel scruffy/lazy.
And as I get older, I'm less scruffy

mewkins · 22/01/2016 23:22

Yes!!! Always blow dry my hair and do make up each day. I love make up.

MizK · 22/01/2016 23:25

Usually look decent as i tend to do makeup and hair before DC get up, so star the day looking presentable.

But on gym days I happily do the school run with scraped back hair no make up and in loud printed workout leggings. No vanity then I tell you!

The reason I make an effort as a rule is that I feel a million times more confident when I feel put together. It takes hardly any time to do my face and I plan my outfit the night before. Not difficult and it makes so much difference to my confidence.

BackforGood · 22/01/2016 23:27

No

It's not

I dress for comfort and practicality unless it's an occasions when there is a dress code (wedding / interview / funeral / party / some aspects of my job / etc)

Savagebeauty · 22/01/2016 23:28

Yes.
I work partly from home, but always wear make up, hair clean, casual but never scruffy.
I couldn't wear anything stained, dirty or crumpled.

Sweetandsour93 · 22/01/2016 23:31

No but some days I do like to make more of an effort :)
Other days I can't be bothered to do make-up etc and sometimes I like to give my skin a break

QuietWhenReading · 22/01/2016 23:35

I'm always very well presented for work/formal occasions/socialising.

More casual on weekends but always showered with clean hair and clean clothes.

Might not style my hair if I wasn't going out or expecting to see anyone and certainly don't wear make up for a day at home.

You'd never find me sitting round the house in my pjs though and I iron everything.

blueshoes · 22/01/2016 23:54

I am pretty scruffy inside the house.

But I am always well presented outside the house. Even in casual jeans or going to the gym, I will wear make up. I did not grow up in the UK but in a country where women generally take more pride in their appearance. Perhaps it is not as enlightened but it is my conditioning.

waceystills · 23/01/2016 08:03

Yep, nearly always. I put a lot of thought into my work wardrobe. Mainly because I love clothes and make up, but also because work is the only opportunity I have to wear my nice clothes

At home its snuggly clothes and no make up. Always showered and wear make up if I am out and about.

madmomma · 23/01/2016 08:36

Jmangel which facial exercises do you do? I do the school run barefaced with hair scraped back (not a good look for me) but by ten I'm fully madeup and smelling gorgeous. I should get up earlier and get ready first thing, but I'm useless first thing and it's the most I can manage to get the kids ready and fed. There's a school near my children's school though where the parents do the school run in pajamas and a coat. I do think that's gross.

dudsville · 23/01/2016 08:44

Hm. I would say no in the sense that I wear outfits and have my hair done when I go to work but not when I go to sainsburys. However, I've always showered, clothes are clean, my hair is brushed. .. but not a dot of makeup!

BoboChic · 23/01/2016 08:44

I never, ever leave the house without having had a bath, hair wash and blow dry. I am pretty careful about skincare and my clothes are always clean. However, I don't wear a lot of make-up. My eyelashes are always dyed and my eyebrows are groomed/gelled and I always wear bronzer.

LaurieFairyCake · 23/01/2016 08:46

I've an allotment so I'm regularly going to diy stores and the allotment covered in mud/no make up. I think it's obvious I've come straight from the garden though.

Going out for a walk or shopping I'm always clean and have make up on.

Petal02 · 23/01/2016 09:03

I always make an effort, it makes me feel more confident. I'm about to head to the gym, I'll be wearing clean, modern gym-wear, a touch of make-up ( to avoid looking like I'm dead), and will use dry shampoo on my hair - there's no point in showering and doing hair just before a gym class, but I still want to look presentable, because the rest of the class always does.

Greengardenpixie · 23/01/2016 09:09

I think i always do but on a work day, more of an effort to look smarter. At weekends/days off, i wear jeans and a top but still try to look nice. If I am not going anywhere, its just joggers and a tee and jumper and generally no make up.

BuggersMuddle · 23/01/2016 09:16

No but I am when it matters. For example I would run to the local shop in old clothes if doing housework or DIY and I don't always wear makeup.

I get my brows and lashes done and am always clean and tidy.

How polished I am for works depends on what I have on and level of arsedness tbh. This time of year minimum is smart skirt, cashmere sweater and a lick idle mascara. Sometimes you'll catch me in an expensive suit, full face of makeup and carefully chosen accessories (which is probably how I ought to dress, but see arsedness). I probably confuse my team Grin

Favouritethings · 23/01/2016 09:16

Shower, make up and clean clothes every day. Perfume, earrings and my watch on too or I feel a bit naked! On occasions that I have nipped to the shops make up free I have always bumped into people such as an ex or past school friends and wanted the ground to swallow me up Blush

DurhamDurham · 23/01/2016 09:32

I can't remember leaving the house without makeup on since I was a teenager. I would feel self conscious and totally ill at ease. I enjoy getting dressed and ready to go out, it doesn't take long, I've got it down to a fine art.

When we're on holiday and lazing around the beach or pool I don't wear much makeup but still feel the need for mascara and lip balm.

I wear jeans and tops on a weekend, I'd never leave the house wearing joggers or gym wear, it looks horrible unless you're actually in the middle of doing exercise.

Once I'm home I do put my pj's on at the first opportunity, on a weekend I have been known to skip a shower one of the days if I'm not going anywhere but I'd never admit to this in real life Grin

Longislandicetee · 23/01/2016 09:41

Interesting. I wouldn't describe well presented as "do I have make up on?". To me, it's ....am I wearing nicely presented clothes? Do I look chic or stylish? Am I wearing jewellery and nice accessories? Is my hair brushed and tidy?If I am out then am I wearing a nice coat and clean polished shoes? If the answer to all of the above is yes, then yes I am well presented. Make up enhances what I have but I wouldn't say I am not well presented without it.

manandbeast · 23/01/2016 10:48

Right now I'm at softplay with the kids. Sweatshirt, hair scraped back, leggings. But for work I always wear make up and nice(ish!) clothes - it's the only time I go out really !!

Judydreamsofhorses · 23/01/2016 12:45

Yes. Shower every day, and wash/dry hair, don't wear a huge amount of makeup but always have red lips and painted nails. Lay work clothes out the night before, always matching bra and pants.

If I'm at home it's generally pyjamas though - today I have a stinking cold so will have a bath, then wash hair, and just put on clean jammies. No makeup in the house but I do always put on perfume. Sometimes I feel DP gets a rough ride - my work colleagues get me in red lips and nice outfits while he gets me bare-faced and in pyjamas and Ugg boots!

BookNeek · 23/01/2016 12:48

Mon-Fri, yes. Work forces me to be presentable, so I do my hair and make-up, make an effort with clothes (dresses and heels mostly), and care about stuff like jewellery and having a nice bag/coat.

Weekends? Hell NO. Its my time to relax, so unless I am going out in the evening, I make no effort at all, and its bliss Grin. Jeans, hair in a ponytail, no make-up all the way!

Jmangel · 23/01/2016 12:53

Hey madmomma. I do Danielle Collins face yoga exercises - I'm not at all yoga ish iykwim but I really notice my face is plumper and more lifted when I do them. She has a DVD - have a look on eBay or amazon. It's just finding the time to do them as I don't want to do them in front of DDs (nor DH either!!)

LoisWilkersonsLastNerve · 23/01/2016 12:54

I always feel I look scruffy on the school run with jeans on but I'm positively overdressed in a sea of pyjamas and tracksuits, up to them btw. It's all relative. I'm always 'done' for work.

donajimena · 23/01/2016 12:54

Yes. Always. I only ever wear gym gear if I am going to the gym. Its very little effort. I can do a full face of make up in ten minutes and usually pin my hair up.
I didn't use to though. My weekend uniform used to consist of slouchy jeans and a hoody. I prefer making more of an effort as I feel more confident.