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?

[candilemon]

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!

I think it’s firstly for yourself and secondly/also for other people. I don’t think you seriously think people dress like that at home, even in normal times. You must already know people shed at least somesof their work garb when they get home!

I always wear makeup but it is pretty natural: light moisturiser, light and ordinary foundation, natural
brows with some pencilling, light concealer, a bit of cream blusher, greenish eyeshadow with some under eye smudging and a touch of mascara on top lashes. That’s it.

I wear striped, jersey,long sleeved dresses a lot with navy cardigans or grey crew necks and lace up navy canvas beach shoes, brogues or pumps. Colours tend to be navy, black or green khaki. Pretty much my staple stuff. Even on my own I would do so. I do not own lounge wear or joggers so have never dressed down to that extent.

People generally do what works for them.

[Tryingtoslim]

I’m fairly young, early 20s and I’ve had a full face of makeup on almost everyday even though I’ve o my been out a handful of times round the block. I don’t feel happy in myself without makeup, so yes I wear it for myself

[CovidicusRex]

I’m actually wearing nicer clothes in lockdown because I don’t have to dress to the weather. I’ve spent this time in beautifully patterned dresses from toast/seasalt and pretty socks. Pretty things make me happy.

[Dozer]

Not feeling happy with oneself without make up is often due to social pressures.

[wowfudge]

I wore makeup for the first couple of work zoom calls then realised you can't really see my skin all that clearly so stopped bothering. I do wear make up when I go to work or socialise because I think it makes me look better, which makes me feel more confident. I usually dress smartly for work then change when I get home. I'm not going to work so I'm wearing the kinds of clothes I usually wear around the house. My hair desperately needs cutting, but it's clean and fairly neat.

[ekidmxcl]

I've maintained my standards. But they were low in the first place!

[bumblingbovine49]

of course you are right op. I posted on another thread that I have learned in lockdown that I don't give a monkeys what I look like, just how I feel.

I look pretty bad nowadays, scruffy, grey hair etc but I have been exercising a lot and sleeping and eating well so I feel great . I wouldn't feel great though if I had to go out looking like this as I would be worried about how others would judge me. So for me, yes any thought to my appearance is absolutely about how I appear to others and nothing at all about how well or happy I feel internally

[MaryLennoxsScowl]

I haven’t touched my hairdryer since lockdown began but I tended to run out the house with wet hair anyway - maybe bothered to dry it once or twice a week. It’s better for it not to be blow-dried. I’m also much more inclined to not bother washing it - I would rather have been late to work than not wash my hair previously. I’ve worn make-up sporadically for Zoom calls, haven’t plucked my eyebrows (but am also seeing what their natural state is so they can be reshaped nicely), and am very relaxed about whether I’ve shaved my legs as you can’t see if they’re shaved from 2m away! I’ve been wearing jeans and sweatshirts mostly, but I happen to be a scruff normally and have to walk hound three times a day.

But if I were allowed to go to a party tomorrow I’d do the whole works!

[MaryLennoxsScowl]

Plus, when I put foundation on now it looks way too much. When I do have makeup on it’s just concealer, mascara, highlighter and blusher now.

[EngagedAgain]

I'm pretty much doing the same. Hair is growing out but I want to grow it out (usually just use box dye). Starting to look a bit of a mess, but shape/cut is still good. Not sure what to do, but hope to wait it out for a cut and hopefully colour be gone. Going to have to put up with it for a while I expect.

[SantanaOhNaNa]

Tbh I do make an effort for others anyway. I am 50 and have found increasingly over the last 10 years that I am taken far less seriously at work if I look scruffy. So I do it for that reason which I guess is self serving as I want to get pay rises and so on. I am continuing while wfh because people do make unscheduled video calls etc.

[BillywigSting]

My beauty routine is exactly the same (and basic) as it's always been.

I shower, wash and dry my hair, apply moisturiser and sunscreen and sometimes a bit of makeup. Every couple of days I get rid of the hair on my legs. Face mask once or twice a week to keep the eczema and spots away both for comfort as much as looks as both are very uncomfortable conditions to live with.

I pick out something to wear that is comfortable, weather appropriate and activity appropriate for the day. Today for example I'm wearing a button through shirt dress, a light cardigan and strappy sandals. Last bank holiday weekend it was old painting clothes. I feel grotty if I stay in pyjamas and don't get a shower because I sweat like a beast at night.

I have never been one to have a full face of make-up and posh clothes every day though, maybe if I was my standards would have slipped.

[NameChange84]

I’m maintaining exactly the same standards as before. I do it for me no one else.

[gumball37]

Well... I don't wear makeup because I like the way I look and it seems like a hassle... an expensive hassle. I'm sure other people would think I should wear it, but I won't do that for other people. I did have eyeliner tattooed on years ago because I love the way it looks on me, but I'm shit at putting it on. That said... I also don't dress for anyone except myself haha. Jeans and a tee almost always. I have started using a facemask since lockdown though because I have more time and hate blackheads haha

[gumball37]

@BillywigSting I don't have the swearing issue usually... But I shower and change into clean pajamas🤣🤣🤣. I literally only put on real clothes if I'm leaving the house

[gumball37]

Well I definitely have a fucking swearing issue.... Just not a sweating one🤦🤣🤣🤣

[PhoneLock]

I get ready in the morning in exactly the same way as I did when I went to work before lock down. There are no differences at all apart from not needing to put a coat on for my commute to my home office. I dress to the same standard and vary my outfits. I do my hair and makeup the same way (as in I do nothing with either).

[peaceanddove]

I can't bear the thought of not having a shower every morning and putting on clean, nice clothes. I always wear simple make up too, just CC cream, mascara and a tinted lip balm. I look and feel so much better and fresher. I just couldn't bring myself to slob about all day in my PJs and no shower [shudder]

[CountFosco]

I have always been low maintenance and that hasn't changed, still shower and wash my hair every day but I've never painted my body. I'm a scientist so pretty casual in how I dress, that has increased although I'm wearing a dress from cos today. It is a buffet dress though!

[Dozer]

No one is talking about not showering, or wearing PJs all day!

[Dozer]

“I am 50 and have found increasingly over the last 10 years that I am taken far less seriously at work if I look scruffy.”

Ah yes,the combination of sexism and ageism - especially for those of us who are overweight.

[EllaPaella]

I get up and get dressed in the same kind of clothes I did before lockdown. I go to work anyway three days a week and haven't been working from home.
I make myself look presentable to leave the house to walk the dog (which I do everyday). - I also feel better about myself if I make the effort to wear clothes that make me feel presentable, I also do my hair and makeup regardless of what I'm doing that day.
I do it for me but also because I do care about how I present myself to others, I make no apologies for that at all.

[Floisme]

I agree, women are often judged on how they look and dress. I have also not been taken seriously at work - that's because I love clothes and I'm in an organisation where it's seen as flighty. So I sympathise. If lockdown means women who don't enjoy it can do less then that's a good thing.

But some women do enjoy it. And sometimes they get judged too, as parts of this thread illustrate.

As I've said, I don't like cooking and I've faced disapproval because of it, but I don't begrudge people who do. I also wouldn't dream of barging onto a cookery board to ask why they're not holding solo dinner parties if they like it so much.

[Inniu]

I’m a SAHM, only usually wear make up if I am going out but I haven’t changed.

In morning dress in running gear, after run I shower and dress, blow dry hair.
I never wear lounge wear, or leisure wear unless I’m sick.

Today am wearing dress, necklace and wedges to home school and go for an ice cream in the park with the kids.

Biggest difference is my brows and lashes are blonde and currently invisible,

[SantanaOhNaNa]

@Dozer indeed. It mattered less when I was younger as I had youth currency but now I don't so I need to have effort currency.

@Floisme agree that if people enjoy it that's great. I do, to a certain extent. Even in the early weeks of lockdown before people were video chatting so much I showered, dressed comfortably but not in leisure wear and did my hair. It made me feel more normal and plugged in so improved my mood and energy levels. I did sit at the computer in my pjs a couple of times if I wanted an early start but actually I didn't feel great doing it so I knocked that on the head. So I guess it's partly for me but also for others. I do have limits though - no one can see my feet on video calls so I'm wearing flip flops today, other days it's been big fluffy socks neither of which I would wear in the office.