Appearances - do they matter?

For work I have to dress smart casual as I deal with the pubic. In lockdown I don't give a stuff about what I look like , grubbing in the soil with my baby plants is so lovely so I just wear old leggings and anything I can find on top. If anyone like me that's because of me not what I look like. If not going out or in my garden I may keep jamas on all day. When I retire I will burn anything that looks remotely smart casual. Anyway how the h.. can anyone be both smart and casual at the same time.

When my kids were teenagers I used to say I don't mind what you wear, as long as it's clean.
The boys used to go mad when I put their fashionable white trainers through the washing machine, apparently they were supposed to be dirty... ?

The dirty, scruffy look often takes more time, effort and money than the smart look.

Even when uniform is issued, which is meant to eliminate 'what to wear' some people can look dirty and scruffy. There seems to be a lack of self pride. It's been great on lock down to be able to sit around in joggers but when I have a Zoom meeting I will do my hair, put on my make-up and try to look professional. I know that some of the young professionals no longer wear suits (especially in the tech industry) but I still think we should take pride in our appearance.

I don’t understand the “well polished” shoes argument either - shoes should be comfortable and practical, fit for purpose. As long as shoes and clothing are clean and comfortable and appropriate for the weather/job then anyone should wear what they choose. If you like full make up and well polished shoes or whether you wear overalls or scrubs, jogging bottoms and trainers or whatever, that’s your choice - enjoy it!!!

I'll second that!
Totally ridiculous in this heat, too.

Whingingmom I agree with you 100%.

Children at school too should wear easily washed clothing which rules out blazers! And sleeves thta can be pushed up for hand washing. Which rules out blazers. Expensive nonsense!

I use wet wipe on trainers, and in the machine if they're too bad.

Cleaning trainers! my GS asked for a shoe cleaning kit last Christmas so I thought that was an easy ask and not over-expensive. When I looked up the link on you-know-what, I discovered that the price was over £30, and intended for the kind of designer trainers that cost a small fortune. He was wearing this solid gold footwear for our family get-together and they were certainly out of the ordinary!

Re doctors white coats - they’re very unhygienic. All health are staff have been required to be “bare below the elbow” to enable adequate handwashing. And no ties or jewellery - they can touch patients and spread infection.
Scrubs for all healthcare staff should be mandatory- can be easily laundered.

Well polished shoes used to be the norm for many people years ago. My mum cleaned our school shoes every night, until we were old enough to do our own.

Not many folk seem to bother nowadays, and I know shoes are made of different materials, and trainers very common.

DIL has never bothered cleaning the GC’s shoes, well, DS hasn’t bothered either.

One Monday morning, after the GC had stayed overnight on the previous Friday, we had a frantic phone call from DIL asking if we had GS’s school shoes. Yes, they were on our shoe rack, he had gone home in his trainers and the shoes had not been missed until school time.

I asked DH why that would never have happened to our own children. He said “ Well, you would have cleaned our children’s shoes at the weekend, and would have noticed they were missing”.

Just how we differ on things, what is important to one is not to another.

Harrigran, if his style is jeans and check shirts and he’s clean etc surely that’s fine ? Better that than an ill fitting suit for example

I always dress for medical appointments but my doctor looks like a country and western singer as he wears jeans and check shirts.
I used to dress for parents evenings and meet DH from work to attend, he wore a suit, shirt and tie at all times.
Our DC went to the kind of schools where all parents were professionals so smart dress was the norm anyway.

Alexa. Agree about “hubby “! So twee.

However you object to “smart”. But you
Like to be clean and tidy ? That’s really all I was saying!

TwiceAsNice, I dislike the word and can't explain why I dislike the word. It's like 'hubby' another word which for reasons I can't explain makes me shudder. I like to be clean and tidy and I like to see people who are clean and tidy.

This topic makes me smile. Being 'smart' and colour coordinated is my aim. My husband used to say 'doesn't matter to me what I wear. It's others who have to look at me'. Mmmm..... Another smile is generated by the full length mirror which is affixed just inside the front door. My Mum said a 'last look' before exiting was always desirable 'just in case your skirt is tucked in your knickers!' The only sight I find yucky is bare cleavage in women, particularly older and more amply endowed ones. Maybe I'm just jealous. Also fancy strapless tops worn during daytime have me bemused but that definitely is an age thing.

Can't say I have ever been concerned about how I look to other people, tend to dress how I want.
You have to conform for work maybe or interviews I guess but other than that life is too short to be bothered about how someone else looks.
It's no business of mine if someone wants to wear a mini shirt or tight pants at 8o.
Life is for living not putting time and energy into such a trivial thing.

Yes, they do!

The state of my nails is usually sub-par. Not disgusting, just not as manicured as I'd like them to be. My hands are in the water a lot...)

However, well-fitted clothing, tasteful makeup (with sunscreen!), and groomed hair are a must. For now, I do touch up the greys.

Diamond studs (17th wedding anniversary present!), good watch (I bought for myself at age 40!) and wedding/engagement ring.

I've done jeans at work on Fridays, but colored ones or very dark. No frayed knees. Reasonable cut on the hipbones. Never leggings, unless under a dress.

And never sneakers. I will go to the ends of the Earth for comfortable ballet flats!

Do love Audrey Hepburn's style. Works very well for work at a school...

What’s wrong with being smart Alexa? How else would you describe someone whose made the effort to be appropriately dressed? Or even clean and tidy for that matter

The male GPs in our local practice are usually to be seen in shirt sleeves though they do wear ties. And their reception staff always wear the standard dress provided. I remember when I was working in further education, when the words 'dress code' were uttered...well, they didn't try that again!

I have lovely curls when it's wet but if it dries naturally it's a frizzy mess.

Callistermon you're right! I absolutely love the volume that I get with curls, I don't like straight hair flat against the head. X

I'm always trying to straighten my hair, FlyingHandbag!

We're never satisfied are we.

Bag lady and proud ?

It matters very much. I always have a full face of makeup, even when going to the corner shop or to visit relatives and I always have my hair curled. Day to day I wear jeans, a nice top and nice trainers or boots. I am never without my handbag and a nice scarf. If I am going to an event, I always buy a whole new outfit.

I find it appalling when people don't even have the decency to spend 5 minutes putting on a nice top and trousers and comb their hair. It shows a certain lack of self respect to go about your day looking like a bag lady.

The above is even more true for people in a role that means you have to deal with the public. The receptionist in the local doctor's surgery is very unkempt. She doesn't wear appropriate clothes or even comb her hair.
She is a former neighbour of mine and she passes my relatives' house on the way to work, and my relative said she went to work one day wearing baggy 3/4 length trousers, an old top and a pink cap with uncombed hair.
This sounds very very catty but I don't mean it in a bad way. X