Do others on here loving dressing up?

[friendlyflicka]

As I am writing this I suddenly have a vision of my youngest daughter, as a toddler, always in princess dress and wellington boots...but probably a similar mindset:

I always think about what I am wearing, I love getting ready for things, I love putting on makeup. I always have. Even in lockdown I bothered because it is something that gives me immense pleasure.

When people on here suggest that an outfit is 'overdressed' it makes me feel sad.. I love looking online for beautiful second hand expensive clothes. I enjoy making an effort. I don't think is is for anyone else. I am 56 and I admire women of all ages who look as if they have put thought and effort into their appearance.

I don't advocate that everybody should do the same at all. And I appreciate that for lots of people, this is not a priority at all. I do spend time on a lot of other pursuits that might be considered less superficial. But even when I am properly ancient, I can't imagine that I will change.

I can remember when my grandmother, was on a stretcher in hospital, after a heart attack (she lived another 20 years) and she whispered to me 'are my eyebrows still on, darling?'. It could be genetic.

I just wondered if there are others on here who are similarly ardent.

Yes, I like to make an effort every day for my own self esteem. Clean, ironed, coordinated clothes, shower, hair washed/styled and make up on. I’m not so keen on dressing up for occasions though, my style is quite casual and I hate wearing dresses/heels.

OP, your story about your grandmother reminded me of my mum. When in her 70s she had a stroke the first thing she asked for when she regained consciousness was a mirror. I got my blusher compact out and opened it for her she said, 'Ahhh, lovely, Dior".

I can't walk in heels. I wish I could. I do have a vast wardrobe of dresses for all occasions. I don't lead a very eventful life - no cocktail parties or ambassador's dinners, so no ball gowns etc - but a lots of silk and wool and heavy cotton and a large range of colours.

I also have an extensive coat collection. I think I have an extensive everything collection but I wear everything I own and get rid of things if I don't.

Oh yes.

I'm not so much into 'dressy dressing' and I'm not particularly interested in make up or grooming but I adore beautifully made and / or interesting clothes. And I love thinking about what to wear.

I'm also less and less bothered about whether something is regarded as flattering and perfectly happy for clothes to 'wear me'.

Sadly I think we're in a minority on this board op, but maybe your thread will flush a few more out.

I think you’re conflating different things. I love beautiful clothes, yes, but because I walk and cycle everywhere, they are more likely to be slouchy trousers and cashmere jumpers and expensive boots or trainers, which don’t look at all ‘dressed up’, or glitzy. I never wear heels. I wear expensive, good wpquality but very plain clothes for special occasions. I’m not bothered about being conspicuously well-groomed — my ‘uniform’ is a dark lipstick. I have shoulder-length curly hair. I’m 51.

I would have said checking whether your eyebrows were on after a heart attack was down to worries about facing the world with an unadorned face…?

I'm the same, and it's totally for me not anyone else. God willing, I'll be a nearly 90 year old in full make up, like my 88 year old friend, who is so glamorous. And interesting and witty. I've always felt like I was born in the wrong era 😂

That is so like my grandmother. She died at 94 and she still looked throughly beautiful. Honestly. Her hair went pure white and she kept in a kind of bouffant bob like a 50s film star and got her nails done, and wore tiny little slacks with Italian shoes and wonderful hats and always smelt lovely

Im into vintage clothing and really love putting outfits together. Hair and makeup always done. Quite feminine style mostly. When not that, tailored trousers - I dont wear jeans and I dont do fast fashion. My clothes last for many years as theyre well made. I buy secondhand at times. Also I wear low heels, thought of high heels makes my feet twinge! Im always clean and tidy and well presented.

Looking good makes me feel good. Anyone attempting to police my style/makeup would be given very short shrift, I'd never in a million years care what people think - but I do think its sad a lot of people care way too much what others think. If they think you're overdressed leave them to it, so what? Im 60 now and have been this way since late teens

We glammed by grandmother up for her funeral as she was glam in life. Its was beautiful seeing her like that. I want the same when my time comes

What @Floisme said, pretty much. I love clothes. Generally relish getting dressed. Despise most black tie frocks - although that white gown Zendaya was shown in today was a triumph.

It’s been a long hard day on S&B, though ...

I don't think I am conflating different issues. Most of my clothes are nice everyday things. I live in the country and spend a lot of time outside. And if you wore good quality plain clothes and passed me every day, I would probably admire your taste in slouchy trousers and cashmere jumpers.

My grandmother was very confident and canny. I think the eyebrows were about her personal standards. She never let them slip, even on a stretcher.

I too love dressing nicely. I no longer go to big functions but I still have the dresses and heels… you never know when an opportunity might present itself!😊

I always put makeup on, even if I know I’ll be staying in. I wear clothes that I feel good in and could never feel good in a tracksuit or similar. I feel undressed without a fragrance to compliment the day. I rotate my fragrances according to the seasons then according to the occasion - not necessarily a big occasion, often simply a day at home or a walk.

I’m pleased to see that I’m not alone.

I think they are different. Getting dressed up can mean a variety of things. Some people like clothes they feel comfortable in (skinny jeans, woollen jumpers), some like high fashion (expensive, on trend), some more fast fashion (maybe younger people who want to be on trend but can’t afford to spend as much).

You can still get dressed up casually, it’s the joy of liking clothes (whether they are fashionable, comfortable, cheap, expensive). It doesn’t necessarily mean they like doing hair and make up though!

I do like to dress up when going out to places, not in an elegant way but more doing slightly off-beam stuff like steampunk - wearing corsets and a long skirt and little hats and the like, if going somewhere that will work.

I do feel a bit sad that people don't dress up for some things like they used to - it's great opera, which I love, has got more approachable for many people, but a little sad no one really dresses up outside of the country house festivals. I'm hoping to take oldest to their first Glyndebourne this summer if I can afford it and I love dressing up for that! I enjoy planning a special outfit for things like that.

On a day-to-day basis I like to ensure I'm wearing something colourful or interesting - you'll only catch me wearing jeans when I'm going no further than the supermarket or to visit family, I feel too boring in them personally as they are so ubiquitous. I'm not smart, chic, stylish or put-together at all but I have had quite a lot of compliments on my 'happy clothes' or that I 'always wear such colourful stuff' and I hope it makes people's days a bit more interesting.

Whenever I am apprehensive about something I have to do, I decide what I will wear, and it immediately calms me down.

Very nice to hear you all. It isn't about judging other people, or thinking there is a right and wrong way to be about appearance. Initially, it probably did help with my confidence, to look as good as I could. But I also always enjoyed the whole process.

And @floisme and @BlossomBlossomBlossom I am another Margaret Howell fan but come at it from the dresses angle. I can't believe how wonderful and sheeny the cotton and cotton silk mixes are, and how they fit in the right places. Buying from Japan on eBay is a surprisingly easy experience

There's a lady near me who looks about 80 and is an absolute bombshell. She has the luxury of height, marvellous posture and an incredible sense of style. She dresses 'up' every day, in tailoring, heels and bouffant hair. I just love seeing her around.

There is a landlady at a pub I go to, who is just always so perfectly put together. It is part of the pleasure of eating there. My husband is always teasing me about my admiration for her...

I like to get dressed up to go out, either to the supermarket, to see friends or out on a date etc. But I don't personally dress up to stay in the house.
It's lovely to put a nice dress and go out to eat, isn't it? That's my favourite thing to do!!

Supermarket, yes. And my friends are always commenting on the effort I make for a very everyday visit. I second hand shop for them quite often now as well

@petrine predictably I also love perfume.

I second hand shop for them quite often now as well

Oh, I love shopping for family members (old/ young / male / female) as much as for myself. And I care far more about ‘putting an outfit together’ for them than for me. I would happily wear completely mismatched things left to myself, as long as the individual pieces were fabulous.

I love getting clothes for my daughters and we are all the same size, so end up giving them a lot of my purchases as well

I don’t think it is superficial at all
I do like making an effort on my appereance - clothes/shoes/nails/hair
I have good figure and good teeth - never had any procedures done
Yet - I’m super casual unless it is an occasion or the office - my office dress code is professional but simple

I grew up with a mum who didn’t care about her own appereance, her children’s appereance and her home appereance - fine if she didn’t criticize everyone who cares and didn’t berate me when I started caring - I was called superficial and frivolous on a daily basis no matter how well I performed in school, sports, theatre…I was even called slutty when my dress sense was very modest for a teenager growing up on a tropical country.
Anyway, it has been a journey - I had to learn to how spend money investing in good quality garments and having variety.

I love looking at fashion but I know what suits me and what don’t and I feel better in low key, classic styles, no make up make up.

But the truth is - personality and attitude trump any looks

We spend a lot of time outdoors, walking, gardening etc so we both tend to be a bit scruffy. I do however like to wear nice dresses or skirts and top at home a lot of the time even if it's only for having dinner and watching telly. We used to go to a social club and I'd wear something pretty, I suspect many who didn't know me may have thought I was a bit posh even though I'm not. I also used to dress smartly for work.

Yes I am similar to you OP! Not 'dressy' per sé but I have a vast and arguably excessive collection of clothes of every variety - and they all get worn. I too shop nearly exclusively secondhand and value good fabrics and interesting pieces. Lots of good denim and silk velvet coats of lovely colours and prints etc. I would not bother with hair or makeup personally but always dress 'up' how I enjoy.

My people! I have magpie style so love sequins, colour, gemstones, faux fur, metalics. Very much not Style and Beauty style, but I love having fun with clothes and especially accessories.