How important is how you look to you

[sayalittlerayer]

(Sorry originally posted in chat then realised I should of come here)

Body, hair, makeup, clothes, etc etc etc.
What's important to you and what's not important and why?
Approaching 45 and trying to suss out a balance and looking at reasons as to what makes me feel good/not so good, I think I dress quite youngish for my age. I like to look nice but realise a more mature, demure approach is on the horizo

Well the current mainstream fashionable aesthetic is much more towards midi dresses and trainers so I don't think bodycon dresses and killer heels is what most people on this thread are probably referring to.

Very. And it’s really just for me, nobody else.

I wouldn’t say I’m particularly high maintenance, I don’t wear very much make up and sometimes none at all and hardly ever straighten my hair and instead leave it natural (curly and lion mane-like).

I keep to my hair, brow and wax appointments and invest in an expensive skincare regime because I’m getting to that age now where I need to.

I like fashion but that doesn’t mean I’m wearing all of the trends (especially not Broderie!) but do pretty much wear maxi/midi dresses every day because that’s what suits me. I like a few designer pieces but not every thing I wear costs a weeks salary because I simply can’t afford it and would rather save my money for amazing experiences that use it as a platform for my IG (makes me cringe to see influencer wannabes aka mutton dressed as lamb flashing their designer gear) shudder

My appearance is for me and for me only. .

Quite important.

I go out in dog walking clothes and boots and would nip into Tesco etc after

But usually I try to have on a nice smart casual outfit and have clean hair either straightened or put up.

I do tend to live in skinny jeans and nice tops but I hardly every wear makeup unless it's for a rare night out or I look knackered

I don't get tans or nails done apart from on holiday but I tan naturally, have nice long hair and I'm quite slim so I think that's half the battle.

My skin can let me down tho and I get the occasional spot which knocks my confidence a lot.

I always do my make up in the mornings some foundation, powder, radiant touch for the dark circles! Mascara sometimes wear a light tanning lotion. Various creams and skin care. I like looking after myself it makes me feel better and more confident.

I’m trying to lose weight at the moment and stopped eating chocolate as it crept on around Xmas and feel better when I’m a bit lighter.

I’m 43 and look a few years younger which I think is mainly to do with my Lidl’s night cream and my jeans and vest tops and long hair.

Very (am early 30s). I am ruthlessly sensible with my spending: I save a lot, I negotiate bills down, I don't fritter money away on coffees out, I bring my lunch into work every day.

But my weakness is clothes. Beautiful clothes, particularly midcentury vintage, which are good quality and will last. It gives me immense joy to wear something stunning every day (what I might find stunning other people might not, but it makes me happy). I like that looking at myself in the mirror is nearly always an uplifting experience.

I usually wear make-up, I sometimes not (with just a dusting of ByTerry hyaluronic powder), get my eyebrows threaded but no manicures, pedicures, waxing, hair dye etc. But I always look put together (even at home - silk lounge wear etc)

And I splash out on expensive pilates/yoga classes. Always make me feel amazing so it is worth it.

Looking good makes me feel more confident
I don’t wear make up but have my nails done regularly and hair every 6 weeks
I try to dress to my hourglass body shape, and tend to stick to good quality classics
I do like a bright colour and statement shoes which for me lifts where I could be too safe
I’m mid 50s size 10-12 (after losing 7 stone in total) and aiming to be 8-10 by Xmas

Very but I am a perfectionist. I do everything I can to be healthy yet have a serious health condition that I have no control of. My looks are something I do have some control over and I like to look nice.
However, I am low maintenance in some ways as I don't wear make up (only on special occasions) and get my hair washed and blow dried once a week then just leave it. This is because it hurts my neck to wash and style my own hair.
I get a wax once a month, eyelashes every 2 weeks and have had a lip lift as didn't like lip fillers.
I do think that there is more pressure to look a certain way because of social media, but I was aware of wanting to look a certain way since I was about 8.

*As long and I'm clean, don't smell, and I have brushed my hair, all the rest is just gravy.

I'm ugly, I have always been ugly, lipstick-on-a-pig ugly.

The whole matching nails to toenails, capsule wardrobe, 3D eyebrows stuff totally passes me by.

If you don't like how I look, choose any of the other 359° to stare at*

@elQuintoConyo

You've described me to a tee!

No perfectionist but I do care how I feel so in good times want to be the right weight for my frame, hair not too long or too short, not to have hairy legs etc, good quality fibres rather than cheap

Yes I do care about how I look. I'm no beauty but I aim for elegant/understated. I'm 45.

Things I do:
regular haircuts
skincare
healthy diet
nails clean and short
regular exercise
fortnightly home pedicure with nail polish (summer only)
grooming (hair removal, iron clothes, polish shoes)
spend time planning wardrobe - quality over quantity, I keep things for ages

Things I don't do:
make-up (except sometimes concealer and mascara)
hair dye (am 30% grey but I like it)
fingernails (paint them twice a year max!)
fake tan

I spend a lot of time on how I look as it is very much linked to my mental health.

@Sigh81 where do you get your silk lounge wear from?

@ninetysixer it is either vintage silk kimonos or 30s silk embroidered pyjamas. Both sourced on Etsy. Or 40s housecoAysgarth!

Hair is important: I have a unique, artistically painted buzzcut.

Nails must be immacuate at all times. As must lingerie (I have a massive lingerine fetish). Couldn't give a toss about the rest of my clothes: mainly second hand and whatever my friends don't want

I love my colourful DMs and Converse.

No interest in jewellery - apart from my two facial piercings - or handbags.

I never wear any makeup.

My body is a temple. I'm a wannabe bodybuilder and have to maintain a slim, muscular frame.

I'm 52 if that's relevant.

That's me

It's important to me.

I'm just not very good at it.

Bushy hair.

Un-manicured hooves.

Clueless at clothes shopping but have discovered Captain Tortue and can get several items all at once.

I'm fairly young compared to most of mumsnet (early 20s). I care to the extent that I usually won't go out with greasy hair or toothpaste down my front, but that's it.

I'd love to look nice, but I'm obese, have shit hair and awful skin - this combination makes it feel futile to try to change any of these things as I'll still look crap.

I own makeup and do wear some sometimes if I'm going out, but I'm not very good at applying and it makes me feel self conscious.

I have recently started making more of an effort about dressing for my body - straight leg jeans, tops that are fitted but not tight rather than the tents I want to wear, dresses that make me look like I have a waist. But I never feel that I actually look nice in them, Just not as bad as I used to.

I don't think caring about how you look and manicures/ eyebrows/ fake tanning are always one and the same. I don't do any of those things and I wear make up less and less. I still care, it's just that the groomed look isn't what I'm aiming for.

I sort of care. I wear make up everyday and like to dress quite trendy ish (I’m 38), I wear stuff like Adidas trainers and baggy trousers and denim jackets etc etc. But I’m very casual. I spent my younger years working in senior management dressed up to the nines and I hated that. Hair all done and high heels blah blah. It’s not comfortable. So now I don’t have to work anymore I just enjoy being a bit of a comfy trendy scruff bag. But I do like my make up and nails nice (I just do my nails myself and have long hair that doesn’t need cutting- I hate getting anything “done”).

My mum was absolutely obsessed with looking nice and having her hair and make up perfect, she died of bowel cancer in March and the day she died she was sitting up in bed at the hospice half conscious moaning about her nails and make up (which I did for her). We didn’t have a great relationship and I always felt if I didn’t wear make up that she would judge me for it so now I feel like I’m rebelling a little - I’m wearing less make up and dressing down a bit more. I don’t feel I need to look a certain way. Just dress to please myself.

Babdoc I am so sorry about your husband 😢
It is important to me - GP so no scrubs.
I never wear heels - just never trained myself to walk in them now have arthritis big toe so comfy flats for me ( birkies are my friend!)
Important my clothes suit me, prefer dresses over separates ( because I am mega short). Always hair cut regularly and eyelashes tinted , makeup is simple.
I like playing with clothes and having fun.
It’s an expression of who I am.