You know how people often insist the effort they put into their appearance is for themselves?

[Ultrasoft]

How many are keeping up the same standards during lockdown when there's no one to see?

I agree, look good, feel good, but that's all (mostly?) because we care about how others see us surely? Otherwise the immaculately groomed would still be that way now (or the best they can do without the salon) and the rest of us wouldn't have lowered whatever our usual standards are.

If you haven't, you're in the minority. We had a short notice staff meeting of 40 staff on zoom yesterday. None were smartly dressed, most hadn't bothered with makeup and many looked like they'd barely seen a shower or a hairbrush These are people, on the whole, who are usually well turned out.

So who do we dress up and get our hair done for really?

I'm at home with Toddler DS and I've still been doing my hair and a bit of make up- BB cream, mascara and blusher. I put on perfume too. We haven't left the house in a few days and DS doesn't care so I guess it's only for my benefit!

My effort is definitely more for other people (not completely, but at least 80%). I am enjoying not wearing foundation - I wouldn't have dreamed of going to work without it, but the resolution on a video call just isn't that good and my skin isn't bad - bit uneven in tone and some black heads on my nose, but not spotty. And I used to think my eyes looked tiny and unnoticeable without mascara at least, but I'm getting used to my face without it and my eyes look ok.

I enjoy dressing up in nice clothes, as it makes me feel better. I don’t think I do it for anyone else. I just see my clothes as an extension of my personality and i enjoy spending time choosing colours and clothes that reflect that. It’s a bit of a hobby I guess as all my clothes are second hand and I take time and effort to source them.

Me
Single parent with two primary children

Every morning exercise shower, moisturise, light make up, hair dry (but not style) and spritz of perfume.

Face masks few times a week and then keeping to top of nails during the evening in front of tv

I get up, showered and dressed everyday. Makeup everyday too. I feel much better when I have makeup on. It's definitely for my benefit and no one else's.
I think if I stayed in my pjs all day I'd be very unproductive and everyday would feel like the weekend. On a weekend I sometimes don't get showered and makeup on until lunchtime.

* If you haven't, you're in the minority*

And you extrapolate that from your meeting

Not my experience. People still looking very presentable at work, certainly brushing their hair!

I do. I wear make up every day even if I'm just at home. Because without it I looked ill, tired and angry. Prescription glasses make my eyes look small, pale lashes make them look red rimmed and washed out. But with make up on I look perkier and more cheerful.
Bit less careful on clothes though. But did change out of gardening gym clothes into real trousers to go to the supermarket.

I agree, look good, feel good, but that's all (mostly?) because we care about how others see us surely?

But surely that is still for themselves, they feel better/more confident when they look good when at work or out and about, whereas people who don't put effort in don't feel any worse or better however they look.

Also, when life is normal and I'm in work every day, I could just wear a very similar outfit every day, for example a few plain tops and trousers on rotation, and nobody would care, but I enjoy having all sorts of different clothes to choose from and that I feel good in - it's not to impress my colleagues.

I am wearing niceish clothes but mainly not work clothes - nice casual clothes. I feel really grumpy if I look terrible so I'm making enough effort not to look awful, but I'm not really extending that to makeup. I also took the opportunity to train my hair not to be washed every day, so I'm now washing it every third day.

One of my friends gets dressed in proper work clothes and puts on a full face of very striking makeup - liquid liner, red lipstick, the lot. She says it makes her feel like things are more normal.

I feel dreadful without washing my hair and putting on make up and clean clothes every day, and have carried on as usual throughout. I definitely do it for me - even though makeup is usually quite minimal anyway - we're not talking false lashes and gel nails here!

I still wear make-up every day, because that's the way I'm used to my face looking. I'm not going out (except on dog walks), so I'm not doing it for others. I'm not dressing smartly, because I'm not going to work. But I wouldn't normally dress smartly if I weren't going to work. I hate staying in pyjamas after get up, so I never do that, lockdown or not.

So people who enjoy dressing up and wearing lots of different clothes why wouldn't you also enjoy having lots of different outfits to wear at home? We still have to wear clothes and yet the bottom has fallen out of the market.

I'm still showering and wearing clean clothes, I will do my hair but I'm not bothering much with make up and I don't often have a bra on!

I'm not working at the moment and have infrequent video chats with friends. I live alone.

Every day I put on a bit of make up, brush my hair, wear ironed clothes, a bra, work out, whack on some fake tan once or twice a week, do a home facial etc.

It's all for me.

So people who enjoy dressing up and wearing lots of different clothes why wouldn't you also enjoy having lots of different outfits to wear at home? We still have to wear clothes and yet the bottom has fallen out of the market.

I'm not going to put a dress on to go for a run, do a workout, do some gardening or sit around at home - just as I don't in normal times. I wear appropriate clothing for what I am doing.

I've always admitted that the effort I make is probably 70-80% for being seen by others.

During lockdown I've showered and washed my hair but haven't bothered with make up and wear whatever's clean and to hand rather than putting together a styled outfit.

I've been making the effort to get up, shower, get dressed. I've actually played around a bit more with wearing a fancy dress/make up/hair to make myself feel better. I've had different themes for different days - I did full 1940s red lipstick and hair roll last week, for example, and then had another day which was 'big 1950s rockabilly dress'.

It's been really perking me up and keeping me functional during lockdown.

Here's a tip: posters on a board called 'Style and Beauty' tend to enjoy clothes and / or make up.

Personally I'm still wearing clothes I like but not buying at the moment because all my favourite shops are closed and I'm not a fan of buying clothes online. On the other hand, I'm not so interested in make up and quite happy not wearing any all at the moment.

You’ll get loads of people come on and claim they straighten their hair every day, wear make up and high heels etc as it’s got nothing to do with impressing/appearing more attractive to other people - honestly, genuinely....

When in reality everyone knows that the vast majority of people have adopted a fresh faced, ponytailed, loungewear for daywear look since lockdown.

So people who enjoy dressing up and wearing lots of different clothes why wouldn't you also enjoy having lots of different outfits to wear at home?

I do and maintain the same standards as I used to when I didn't work from home (that was about 10 years ago though). I do it for myself because it makes me feel good.

I do. I make an effort with my appearance- makeup, hair etc even when I am going to be seeing NOONE and am not even going out that day.

Thats because I do it for me and noone else. The way I look expresses my character and personality and I see it as a form of self expression.You have every right to disagree with this if you like, i dont care. But please dont make baseless assumptions about others just because YOU dont do it. If you dont want to do it- fine! do what works for you but to assume all women only get dressed up for others (eg men) is very ignorant and silly.

I am in work clothing, full makeup & styled hair, every day during the week. It is keeping me sane to keep my routine up.

At the weekend, it's my weekend routine - less make up, comfy clothes but still smart.

I don't normally buy a lot of clothes and I prefer shopping on the high street to online, so I have less opportunity anyway. I have still bought some clothes online though. I have bought loads of make up, skin and haircare, if the market's fallen there then it's not because of me!

Think I’ve been doing more self grooming then usual as I have the time right now.

My hair is looking pretty dire tho as I badly need a hair cut and colour.

No judgement from me on colleagues appearances during online meetings. I know for a fact a few of my colleagues are really struggling with the isolation and being stuck at home indefinitely.
Everyone at work is very concerned for one another.

I'm still working full time so can't really say. I do dress for myself and not for other people. I always go make up free at the weekend to give my skin a break from make up.

My hair is looking awful not much I can do about it apart from trim split ends.

I am still getting showered, dressed, bit of make up... I look, and therefore feel, crap without a bit of make-up.
Walking past a mirror and getting a glimpse of a patchy red faced woman... then oh shit it's me

I will admit I'm taking a more lax effort with hair , make up and clothes since we've all been at home . When meeting friends, going to work or just generally out in the big wide world (remember those days ! ) it was to feel on par with those also doing it and also to feel I'd made an effort to look as good as possible.