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?

[CaraDePena]

I don't like my casual look, it makes me feel depressed. I like other people's casual look and if anything I make an effort even when nobody else has and I risk looking vain and foolish. I have worn make up every day of the lockdown, if anything it has become more important to me (I don't say that with pride, I think I have issues!)
Similarly I wear at least low heels most days, again because I feel better and more confident.
For me not making an effort spirals into not getting dressed at all, possibly not showering and not tidying up generally and just feeling zero motivation about anything in life! Lockdown is hard enough, I need all the help I can get to keep motivated (single mum) and feel like myself.

[Judystilldreamsofhorses]

I'm not wearing work clothes, but I am wearing nice clothes, washed hair, makeup (including red lipstick) every weekday. I might have a weekend lolling about in tracksuit trousers and a bobbly jumper, but I did that pre-pandemic. So I am essentially doing exactly as I would normally, just with slightly bushier eyebrows, and shaggier hair! I agree with PP that I need it for my sanity, and it's definitely for me - my DP and the cat couldn't give a shit if my hair's been straightened or not.

There's a daily outfit thread on the board which might show that some posters are carrying on as normal.

[ageingdisgracefully]

I'm always in full slap but I'm not sure who it's for.

If i were on my own and completely unable to go out I think I'd be make-up free for the first time since 1981.

As it is , DD is here, I'm working from home and able to go out for a couple of walks a day (Wales so fairly strict lockdown rules still).

So - yes - I think I actually get dressed, dolled up and groomed for others, not myself.

[Herja]

I make very specific effort. I always do my eyebrows and still am. I don't generally wear make up, so that's the same. I do my hair, but it tends to be different plaits rather than heat styling anyway. I wear nice clothes because otherwise I feel crappy, but I have always dressed very casually. I am making exactly the same amount of effort, it was just never huge amounts...

[LaurieFairyCake]

Not me

I put effort into my appearance to look ok to go outside - highlights to hide grey, make up to make me look even skinned and highlight features

For the last two months I've mostly been wearing pyjamas and wearing various face masks while gardening

[NiteFlights]

I have a ‘comfort level’ which i don’t go below, which is showering and washing my hair every day, blow-drying my hair (not styling it, it just looks rubbish if it dries naturally) keeping nails in a reasonable state, wearing clean clothes & using moisturiser.

If I did less I would feel really slobby. I guess some are the same re makeup etc. I’m loving wearing basically the same thing every day whereas a colleague said she has to wear a different style of top every day or it’s depressing.

[Thecazelets]

Interesting to hear the differences.

I'm red, shiny, thread-veiny and a bit spotty without at least a bit of concealer and powder. My eyebrows and lashes (blonde) disappear if I don't define them a bit. My hair does a fair imitation of Worzel Gummidge without daily care. I hate catching sight of a crimson-faced scarecrow in the mirror, and my boobs hurt if I don't wear a bra.

DH and the DC couldn't care less what I look like, and I'm not seeing anyone else at the moment, so my daily outfits and makeup are definitely for me. I think the routines help with mental health too - a semblance of normality.

[candilemon]

Same standards here.

[Bluntness100]

It’s an interesting question.

I always make more effort when seeing other people, eithe for social events or work. More dressed up so to speak.

However at home I still make an effort. I fix my hair, wear clean clothes, casual but decent outfits etc, and put light make up on at least a couple of times a week. So I’m doing it for me. If I look like shit it impacts how I feel for the rest of the day.

On the occasional zoom call, (we usually just do Skype), but when I do have to video in I make more effort, and all my colleagues are the same, we are clean, tidy, presentable albeit in more casual clothing and not suited and booted. The men are in open necked collared shirts for example.

I think predominantly I do it for me, with a percentage of wishing to maintain standards in front of others.

So I’d say we maintain standards.

[TheNavigator]

Interestingly, I am putting no effort into the external trappings (make-up, hair etc) but using the commute time I've saved to up my exercise, so after 8 weeks I am in better shape and more toned. Swings and roundabouts.

[ChrisChambersNeverMisses]

I'm at home with 2 DCs, furloughed but still shower, do hair, wear make up etc. I find I feel better, happier when I like how I look, I feel more lethargic and depressed if I don't wear make up/ wear scruffs etc. It's just for me and makes me feel better. Perhaps If I didn't look like Miss Trunchbull if left 'undone' it might be different!

[Lottapianos]

I'm mostly keeping up the same standards of hair, skincare, waxing, manicure and pedicure. I dont wear as much make up as usual but still something pretty much every day, definitely base and a good strong lip, and perfume.

I would always have said that my beauty regime was for me just as much as anyone else, and lockdown has proved that's true!

[TheClitterati]

I'm very low maintenance day to day, though I will dress up a bit more and put a bit more makeup on for a fancy event or party.

My day to day is occassionally some tinted moisturiser, and most days lipstick. I wear perfume every day. I am absolutely keeping up with this while I'm at home. I've not seen another person since Sunday and I've put on lippy occassionally and perfume always.
The tinted moisturiser is getting very low so I'm not using that much ATM.

It's been an interesting experiment - I've thought for many years now I wear make up/perfume for my own enjoyment (different when I was younger and less secure) and lockdown has absolutely confirmed this.

I get my eyebrows shaped at a salon and have over the last 12 months been making appoinments in advance, so being a bit more organised about it - they are slugs now and I can't wait to get them done. I doubt very much anyone else notices, but I love it when my bland slugs are arched and sharp!

[Pluckedpencil]

Cue a million mumsnetters telling you how they are still wearing pencil skirts and heels. Of course it 's for other people! I barely dress!

[Floisme]

I'm still not sure why you seem think this is such a gotcha?

People who aren't that into it - probably the majority - won't bother, like your colleagues.

People who are into it - a lot of posters on here - will carry on doing whatever it is they enjoy. But even they don't have as much time or money to buy clothes as they're worried about losing their job in the near future and/or they've got their hands full with children at home ft while they're working.

I don't know why this is so hard for some people to understand. I get little pleasure out of cooking but I realise lots of people do, even if they only have themselves and their immediate family to cook for.

[Francina670]

We still have mirrors that we look in and assess our appearance. That assessment is based on how we believe others will perceive us. That doesn’t change just because no one is seeing us.

I’m not styling my hair or wearing makeup because I believe that at the moment I won’t be perceived negatively for that. Just as a pony tail and bare face would be suitable for the gym before, but not a wine bar.

[wiltingflower]

I wear whatever is appropriate for the activity I am doing, lockdown or no lockdown. I am taking greater care of myself now though because I have more time so probably look even better than pre lockdown times.

[ILoveAnOwl]

My first zoom meeting I changed my clothes, did my hair, full make up and even perfume.

This morning I mis-timed my run so I was in workout gear, hair shoved up any old how, no make up and red and sweaty.

Howy standards have dropped!

[AlexisCarringtonColbyDexter]

I don't know why this is so hard for some people to understand. I get little pleasure out of cooking but I realise lots of people do, even if they only have themselves and their immediate family to cook for

Exactly. I'm not sure why people are struggling to accept that others are different and will therefore behave differently. It brings me pleasure to wear makeup, do my hair, get nicely dressed etc even if I'm seeing noone at all. That doesnt mean I'm wearing a ball gown to do the hoovering but equally, it doesnt mean I'm just slobbing about makeup free with my hair in a scraggy ponytail which some posters here seem to think is the height of ecstasy and enjoyment. If you enjoy that- crack on, but I dont. Yes- people enjoy different things- who knew? 😆

[BabyDarlingDollfaceHoney]

I've always known any effort I make is for other's benefit! Today I wore my hair down instead of in it's usual comfy but unflattering ponytail and put on earrings and a dress! But that's only because I was meeting a friend for a walk... And I still didn't stretch to makeup! Having worn full makeup pretty much daily for over 20 years I haven't worn it even once since lockdown (I don't have a job where you can from home or anything). The combination of lockdown plus a one month old baby and a 21 month old toddler has meant little time and little inclination to make an effort on my appearance! I don't mind though. If anything I'm enjoying being a bit less worried about how I look, not really looking forward to going back to doing makeup every day to be honest.

[DoraemonDingDong]

I don't feel my standards have dropped. Pre-pandemic I had days when I couldn't be bothered and slobbed around in jeans and tee (slobby for me), also had days when I'd throw on a dress and accessories even if I wasn't going out.

Same now in lockdown. I don't normally wear a face full of make up anyway, so I don't look any different IMHO whether I slap on some concealer or not.

For me it's more important to feel good about the way I look. It's nice if friends agree or compliment, but first and foremost it's about how my appearance makes me feel and that I'm happy with myself. Regardless of audience/ witnesses.

[Dozer]

Agree, OP. So much of what women especially do with respect to appearance is due to social factors.

Of course, many AH will care about the opinions (or perceived opinions) of their partners.

[Honeybee85]

I am a SAHM.

Shower and do hair daily.
Take good care of my skin and wear concealer, eyebrow powder, mascara and blush every day. I wear also perfume even if it's just me and DS all day. It's not only about how I look with make up but I enjoy using the products and choosing a pretty blush colour from my stash.

[Iamblossom]

I deffo haven't bothered with perfume , see absolutely zero point in that, my sons and DH wouldn't even notice.

I wear light makeup on days when i am going to have video meetings, but we can pretty much choose to activate our camera or not so don't always.

I had an important client meeting yesterday and wore lipstick for the first time in weeks (would ALWAYS wear it when at work normally ) and DS said wow mum it makes such a difference! 😂

[Love51]

I have a friend who always maintained she would wear makeup even if she wasn't going to see anyone. I asked her on the phone. She still is.
I'm a special occasion make up person, but I'm maintaining the 'standards' I usually do.