Appearances - do they matter?

Both my mother & grandmother were very stylish & never left the house without full makeup on & 'good' clothes. It rubbed off on me so I have tried to always look my best.
I have never left the house without full makeup since I was 15 (although I sometimes got into trouble at school if I hadn't made it subtle enough).
I do my makeup every morning even if I am staying in all day. The only time I don't wear makeup in the day is when we go to Greece & I am on the beach all day.
It's just habit & I doubt I will ever change.

Frizz Ease
Perhaps that's what I need - does it work?

That was in reply to Alexa

I would not like to see a teacher even of young children, in leggings and a crop top.

Cropped tops are for the beach. Leggings should be worn with a long top.
My friend, who was a nursery teacher but also in charge of other areas of the school as well as governor, wore trouser suits - so trousers and a top for the nursery which could be smartened up with a jacket for meetings whether with outside people, parents or governors.
And flat shoes.

Actually, you've reminded me of an incident. One weekend I went into 'Britain's favourite store' dressed in casual weekend attire (anorak and tracksuit) and the assistant looked down her nose at me as if I'd just crawled out from under a stone. From the snooty look of disdain I was to be considered barely human.

A couple of days later in my lunch hour (wearing a business suit) I returned for more supplies and the same woman welcomed me with great enthusiasm as though I was a long lost friend who had loads of money to spend.

It predated the scene in 'Pretty Woman' by several years. Of course, being polite and non-confrontational I didn't behave in the same way.

It certainly matters if you don't make an effort as people judge you on your image. If you work in an office it helps to look smart - untidiness doesn't command respect, does it?

It may seem silly but image is everything now - when going for a job interview for example, if you present the right image and look clean and tidy it helps with that important first impression as you don't get a second chance. You do have to make an effort whether you agree or not - an impression is made within the first few minutes.

PinkCakes That’s me too. I do it because it makes me feel better and especially when Im meeting people or when I’m working in an environment full of much younger staff for whom full make up is a way of life.
Clothing might depend on what you can afford, but I’d be worried if my doctor hadn’t bothered to wash or brush their hair or pressed their clothes. Wait staff in restaurants and cafés are another group who need to look clean and well presented if I’m going to eat there, even if their choice of clothes wouldn’t be mine.

If a man cannot look smart in a suit, he cannot look smart in anything, that applies to Boris ! His hair was a total mess even before lockdown and he looks like a sack of potatoes. I know that appearances can be deceptive, but as an alleged leader of a country, I personally expect more. Mind you with the orange one over the pond with his bleached “teddy boy” quiff, at least politics has had some humour injected into it, I can’t take either of them seriously ?

Loopyloo

And these days we will be judged by our masks! Today am going to try to create some with design and flair. Dream on.

Still laughing at Demonic Cummings - it's SO apt!

When my youngest daughter left home we went through all her clothes so throw/charity/take. She kept picking up items and saying "you let me go out in THIS", as if I had a chance of stopping her!!! She was always fully covered, no low tops/short skirts but her taste in clothes was appalling. She's a lot better now she has a proper grown up job with the council, power dressing, tights and high heals.

Granny23 how well I know the “speak to the man”syndrome. I am still rendered speechless with rage when salesmen and tradesmen refuse to deal with me if DH is present!
But also I do know that appearances matter. I was advised by a hospital nurse friend that I would be taken more seriously if I dressed 'smartly' for a hospital appointment.
Same goes for banks, etc.
Not a snob but a realist...

I always wear a full face of make-up for work and going out socially (obviously not socially at the moment), and I wash and blow-dry my hair every day.

I think it's more to do with making myself feel decent. I wear appropriate clothes for my age (60)without looking frumpy. For instance, I wouldn't show my cleavage as I used to 20 years ago, and I don't show off my bingo wings [ grin]
or too much leg (dresses are knee or calf-length).

I try to dress appropriately and as if I've made an effort when going to the doctor's as I think a drop in standards can be taken a sign of depression or other problems. In other areas I think that presentation does affect attitudes whether we like it or not.

Yes Boris' hair has been terribly frizzy since he came back. Perhaps his hairdresser hasn't been able to visit?

Neither of my sons has to wear suit and tie unless meeting a client. However their casual office wear is clean and stylish, that’s the point!

I used to mix things up - just to confuse my students. Either I'd dress very formally or very casually (but always clean and tidy) depending on my mood, hormones and the weather. I must admit that I sometimes do judge by appearances, initially, but I see it as a character fault of mine. (I do wish somebody would give Boris some Frizz Ease.)

Betty65, not if you're sitting down behind your desk!

Last night’s Downton Abbey had Matthew and Robert both forced to wear black tie instead of white tie for a posh dinner party.

Oh, the horror! The shame! I expect it was the talk of the county!

B9 but Zoom can show the full picture so your pink socks with hearts on have been seen by all!

Nanna, I agree the decor of the hospital, including uniforms, gives patients confidence. It was a pity for this reason the old fashioned nurses' uniforms cap and aprons and black stockings were replaced.

Ill people are not the same as parents of school children, and unfprtunately many parents need their children to be taught by a teacher who is according to the parents, unconventional.

If I were a parent of a small child I would distrust a teacher who was dressed in a suit and high heels. I'd prefer a teacher in leggings and crop top and trainers.

Just come off a Zoom conference call, and would have felt odd not having a smart top and jacket, plus a bit of lipstick. But the bottom half is old jeans and socks with pink hearts on!

They matter immensely, for the benefit of the person who has made the effort. Think about those vital services providing help and advice to cancer patients on beauty/ self care, they provide an invaluable boost in wellbeing. We all feel better when we look a little better.

Exactly Hetty!