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?

[Sodamncold]

And then you get the daft ones like

@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!

Who a) completely exaggerate b) assume others are lying because they don’t do as they do

[Sodamncold]

@Pluckedpencil

I am a shingle parent of a 9 and 7 year old.
If I’m not doing for myself, Am I doing it for them when I wash and blow dry my hair, apply mascara and lipstick etc? Or perhaps the birds when we go on our completely remote forest walks?

[PeaPeaEeByGum]

I’ve stopped drying my hair but still doing a full face of make up. I have rosacea and other conditions which affect my appearance.

I was a bit cas to start with but started dressing up again because I have lots of nice clothes I want to wear and I like planning outfits for work. So doing that made me feel more like myself.

[RaspberryToupee]

I’ve intentionally stopped washing my hair as frequently to see if it can be conditioned to go a bit longer between washes but I’m still showering every day. I’m probably brushing my hair more frequently because it’s desperately due for a cut, so keeps getting really tangled. I’ve also stopped wearing my work dresses but I’m still wearing the clothes I would for casual Friday so jeans and smarter jumper/T-shirt. I’d also wear those over the weekend anyway so not too different. I wouldn’t normally do my hair or makeup, so I’m not starting during lockdown. I’m still wearing a bra. I suppose the big difference is that I’m only putting something on feet when I’m outside the house. I think I might struggle to adjust to wearing any shoes for any length of time when I can return to the office. Whilst our place is smart-casual, it isn’t casual enough to wander around barefoot!

[Elmerrrrrrrr]

I've worn make up every day in lockdown.

[AnnaNimmity]

I shower and blow dry my hair daily no matter what i'm doing. I feel rubbish if I don't shower and sort my hair out, and do that even if I don't see anyone at all.

I put make up on if I go out or have zoom calls (which is most days). I am now not putting any effort into clothes at all - I am working pretty much 9-6 every day and wear sports clothes, and it's more comfortable to sit at my screen in leggings than anything else. My colleagues see me in my yoga vest now (standards have slipped from the start of this). If I have an external meeting, I put a top on on top of my leggings.

I barely go out, and if I do, I'm usually running there, or walking the dogs, so am still in sports clothes.

if I had a partner at home, i may put some nice clothes on occasionally, but I don't. I think I look good in my yoga gear though!

[Mintjulia]

Actually (apart from a decent haircut) I’ve been putting In more effort because I finally have time for myself - been furloughed.
I’ve manicured, pedicured and moisturised, I take longer flossing at night, I’m reshaping my eyebrows. Usually I don’t get the time but it takes my mind off worrying about my job

[binkyboinky]

I'm only wearing a bit of eye slap when outside. And I'm extremely casual about what I'm wearing at the moment, I live in PJs at home or leggings/t-shirt when I go outside.

I do enjoy feeling clean and groomed though, that's just for me. So I've been pampering my skin and hair and even shaved my legs recently despite not going outside! And I don't let my 'tache or eyebrows go out of control as I hate my face when they do. It's just what I like personally, so it's not a chore to me.

[DrCoconut]

I don't dress up as such but certainly being showered, hair done, dressed in clean clothes etc is necessary for my mental health. I'd become depressed really quickly if I lived in PJs and left my hair unbrushed. I have suffered depression in the past and need the routine and rhythm of getting ready and doing something (even if these days that's just an activity with the kids) to stay well. I always dread the time between Christmas and new year because things are closed and all routines are gone. This is a huge extension of that so I'm taking care to not go downhill.

[Dozer]

I don’t think OP was referring to basic hygiene.

[dudsville]

I stopped wearing work clothes (and haven't yet) and stopped doing hair and make up for several weeks, however, i was also depressed and scared, over eating, drinking too much, eating crap... a few weeks ago I got a grip and yes, as a part of my return to a healthier state of psychological wellbeing I've returned to doing my hair and makeup.

[candilemon]

I assumed daily shower/bath etc was assumed, the rest being over and above!

[SantanaOhNaNa]

@Dozer the OP said some of her colleagues looked like they hadn't showered or brushed their hair so I think she was talking about basic hygiene. I have to say that none of my colleagues look unwashed!

[YorkOrLucas]

I've been far more dedicated to my skincare and hygiene. I've really stopped wearing make up but I am far happier with how I look (if only I could get my eyebrows done!).

Hair I have been less bothered by. It's clean but in a bun most days.

[ItsLeviOsanotLeviosA]

I consider it a leap to suggest that because your colleagues look less groomed during lockdown than they would in the office, that equates to some sort of mass conspiracy involving grown adults secretly dressing up for others whilst loudly proclaiming they’re just pleasing themselves.

Firstly, have you actually had such a conversation with any colleagues? I can’t think when that might come up, or how.

Secondly, there are a abundance of variations here. Low mood might equate to less effort. Less time for those home schooling and working full time would make dressing up too much of a faff. The opportunity to be less trussed up than full suit and boot is incredibly appealing and so some might just be embracing that.

I give some consideration to how I’m presenting to others, it’s rare not to, and if you work in certain industries it’s the profession’s persona rather then your individual persona that’s on display. I’m a solicitor and we have a strict work dress code, and I’m fine with that because there’s frankly enough to be distracted by and spend time talking about. I’ve welcomed the chance to wear less formal clothes whilst working from home. I still enjoy the uniform my ‘normal’ work clothes serve as, and dress to please myself as well as to fit the expectations of work.

[Gwynfluff]

It’s part of my routine. Get up do hair and makeup get dressed. Still wear a smart top and have my jeans on bottom half - which I wouldn’t do at work. Would feel completely out of sorts to work in my pyjamas. But wrong to be at home in full work clothes. Do lots of video calls each week.

[LellyMcKelly]

I shower and moisturise, self tan once or twice a week, let hair dry naturally as it’s wavy and looks best then. I have a sort of uniform. Navy or black linen trousers and white or black v neck t shirt with some jewellery. I’ll usually have BB cream, mascara and lip balm as I often have online meetings.

[Shinyletsbebadguys]

I have had the opposite realisation actually , mostly I've realised how much it boosts me to do my hair and makeup and dress up. I'm fulltime working on zoom all day and I do every day get up , put makeup on etc , I've had some fun wearing nice dresses that actually I would be less inclined to wear out to work as they are not as practical for a long work day.

To be honest I always suspected I wanted to look a certain way for myself but maybe it was due to others expectations. Nope , turns out that I do it for myself. The only people in my house are DP , who randomly seems to think I look nice in everything , DC who don't think I look nice in anything unless I am proffering penguin biscuits at the same time. My zoom meetings can only see my face , so definitely for me.

I will grant you though maybe I wear less socks for other people, because up until the warm weather hit I was about three times a week wearing big thick cable socks with whatever outfit I chose.

[princessTiasmum]

I am doing everything i normally do,couldn't bear to see myself in the mirror if i didn't
I have always worn make up either in the house or out,
In fact almost everyone i see around where i live doesn't doesn't,
They probably think i'm strange,but makes me feel better,

[bingowingsmcgee]

I put myself together every day to feel mentally healthy. I also think it's cheering for my family to see me looking nice. I know I like to see my family looking nice. It lifts the mood of the house. I don't feel as good when everyone is slobbing it.

[irie]

I've definitely been sporting a fresh face, "mum bun" and loungewear but I've also been very into my skincare, pedicures, bought a gel kit to do mani pedis, tinting eyebrows and lashes and trying to get a glow in the garden... I don't really care about being bare faced but all the latter little things are defo for me and make me feel more "myself"

[AndNoneForGretchenWieners]

I've always been a bit slack - I rarely wear make up, only for going out or for important meetings where I need my 'armour' on, but my hair hasn't seen a hairbrush for about a week and I only bother with a bra when I'm leaving the house. I took comfort from my usually glam colleague the other day who admitted she wasn't going to turn her camera on for our Teams meeting because she hadn't had a shower for 3 days and her hair was really greasy, and she was wearing her nightie. I do try to put a different dress on each day but that is as far as it goes. I spent today in denim shorts and a bikini top because nobody here except DS.

[CountFosco]

I suppose the big difference is that I’m only putting something on feet when I’m outside the house. I think I might struggle to adjust to wearing any shoes for any length of time when I can return to the office. Whilst our place is smart-casual, it isn’t casual enough to wander around barefoot!

I love shoes and normally plan my outfit round them. It is strange getting dressed without having to think about shoes.

Although I'm very casual anyway I know I dress for other people.That's not, as suggested above to mean, I dress for men. We all wear clothes to signal to others our place in society, whether that is as straightforward as wearing a uniform or show our allegiance to a band or TV series or wearing business formal in certain professions (law being the classic example) or wearing very casual clothes in others (newtech mainly: DH is a software engineer, I'm a scientist, both very casual industries). Even our casual choices show our status/financial situation, whether we wear Sweaty Betty or Nike, Toast or Primark. My clothing tells people certain things about me before I even open my mouth. We all dress for others, even if some of us also use clothing as a form of self-care.

[MrsJBaptiste]

I always thought I wanted to look good for other men/women but having had a few days at home make-up free, I much prefer looking in the mirror and seeing me looking a bit better!

I always put more effort into a Zoom call and always get dressed up on a Friday & Saturday night as it separates the week from the weekend. I've got lovely clothes stuck in the wardrobe that I want to wear so I'll wear them!

However I won't be buying any new clothes this summer as why spend money if nobody is going to see them? Particularly, bikinis and summer holiday clothes.

[MrsJBaptiste]

And I'm also keeping up with ironing even though nobody sees my clothes. However I don't turn my Microsoft Teams camera on if my hair needs a wash - I have an image to preserve! 😉