How aRsed are you about your appearance?

Dial Hard · 10-04-2017 05:56PM

whoopsadoodles wrote:

My wardrobe is almost entirely made of dresses. Casual to formal. I wear skirts and tops/blouses a lot for work too (also in IT but with a requirement for smart dress). I prefer the easiness of dresses. A whole outfit in one go. Simple.

Conversely, I never wear dresses. I have a collection of formal ones from black tie events over the years but on a daily basis, never. I don't even own a casual dress. Or skirt, actually. Have a couple of pencil ones for work but that's it and even then I rarely wear them.

I think it's a hangover from being a complete and utter tomboy growing up. But I love my hee-highlers, so go figure :-D

whoopsadoodles · 10-04-2017 08:06PM

Smile111 wrote: »

Thanks.
Love dress but tend to wear boots with them.
I end up throwing out pumps after 3 days!

Do you buy expensive pumps?

I also wear boots, usually ankle boots, either flat or stilleto.

Summer then it would be wedges or clarks sandals.

I'd also happily put my hiking boots on with dresses.

Heels in work or going out.

I don't buy expensive pumps no.

Dial Hard wrote: »

Conversely, I never wear dresses. I have a collection of formal ones from black tie events over the years but on a daily basis, never. I don't even own a casual dress. Or skirt, actually. Have a couple of pencil ones for work but that's it and even then I rarely wear them.

I think it's a hangover from being a complete and utter tomboy growing up. But I love my hee-highlers, so go figure :-D

Yeh I was a tomboy growing up too. When my figure started to take shape though, trousers and jeans weren't really an easy option. I had hips/bum/boobs/tiny waist from an early age so if I bought the kind of trousers there were "in" back then they would gape at the back and just weren't comfortable. So I discovered dresses and how comfortable and easy they were and that was that really!

Parchment · 11-04-2017 08:49AM

meeeeh wrote: »

I think running gives me very muscular legs and since my calves are pretty butch anyway I doubt it actually does much for me looks wise. But it makes me feel good. I guess that is just as important.

Same for me -i feel really good after it. But my legs get bulky (in comparison to the rest of me) quickly. But i do find it flattens my tummy quickly!

__Alex__ · 11-04-2017 03:21PM

whoopsadoodles wrote: »

Dresses!

My wardrobe is almost entirely made of dresses. Casual to formal. I wear skirts and tops/blouses a lot for work too (also in IT but with a requirement for smart dress). I prefer the easiness of dresses. A whole outfit in one go. Simple.

I love dresses too, they are cute and practical. Love anything in jersey material, bonus if it's skater style. Add some leggings or tights and stick a fork in me, I'm done!

I did have to also invest in some skater skirts though too. The reason being, I use a backpack fairly frequently (I'm backpack-obsessed ever since I worked in Tesco during the boom and noted all the Eastern European boys using their backpacks to bring home their groceries in) and the problem with backpacks is that they can cause dresses to ride up at the back. The problem is eliminated with skirts and tops because the bottom of the backpack just rubs against the top which is independent of the skirt.

So I have a nice mix of dresses and skirts. I have a few pairs of jeans but rarely do I wear them these days. I'd wear my gym pants everywhere if I could though, but nobody needs to see the exact outline of my down stairs area.

:pac:

Glitter · 11-04-2017 04:40PM

I haven't owned a pair of jeans since I was about 8 or 10. Very much a dresses and skirts gal.

I have about 7 or 8 dresses that I wear regularly to work. On their own or with a cardy depending on the weather and dress them up with a suit jacket for events.
All my stuff is vaguely vintage during the week; and I'll go full throttle when going out with tea dresses, wiggles or even a gown if I can possibly get away with it!
Occasionally I'll veer into jumpsuits and I have one non-vintage-style dress from Coast that I really love which is a bit more modern.

I wear more make up now in my mid 30's than I did in my twenties when I had really lovely flawless skin. Now I need a bit of concealer, primer, powder and blush to make me look fully human.
Winged eyeliner everyday and I like to play with lips; from nude to berry to red.
Always a strong red 50's vintage lip going out.
It's pretty much the exact same look every day though - dialled up or down for day/evening, so even though it's high impact, it only takes me about 8 minutes to apply in the morning.

I've gotten mad into hair styling over the last year and do an overnight wet set approximately twice a week. Super easy to do a brush out then on the first day and it has great body for styling over the next few days for various up-dos. Like the dresses and make up, I just have the same 3 or 4 looks that I've perfected and rotate them each day according to the dress I'm wearing for the working week.

I dye my hair myself every 6 weeks but only get it cut 2-3 times a year.

Skincare I'm not into as a "thing", I've used the same Nivea moisturiser for years and I just take off my make up properly with micellar water in the evenings and moisturise again. I've tried various fancy lotions and potions over the years but I just genuinely prefer my old staples.

I do my own mani/pedi regularly and get professional ones a couple of times a year.

Shoes: flat brogues / low heeled ankle boots during the week as I walk to work and heels going out (but only mid height, my sky scraper days are long gone, too many ankle injuries!). Sketchers for the gym / dance studio.

Running out to the shops, gym etc, or for slobbing about on a super lazy Sunday I will do leggings and flip flops with a long cardy.

And I always have a pair of massive sunglasses about my person.

So eh, yeah, pretty ar$ed!

SarahMollie · 11-04-2017 04:50PM

__Alex__ wrote: »

I'd wear my gym pants everywhere if I could though, but nobody needs to see the exact outline of my down stairs area. :pac:

Amen to that! I love gym/yoga pants, and I wear them whenever I can get away with it, be that out to brunch or for a stroll in the park.

I have some Lululemon ones that I've bought on previous trips to Vancouver and Sydney. I know they seem ludicrously expensive for gym pants but the fabric is magic and they last so well. I might buy another pair now that they're in BT's.

__Alex__ · 11-04-2017 05:44PM

SarahMollie wrote: »

Amen to that! I love gym/yoga pants, and I wear them whenever I can get away with it, be that out to brunch or for a stroll in the park.

I have some Lululemon ones that I've bought on previous trips to Vancouver and Sydney. I know they seem ludicrously expensive for gym pants but the fabric is magic and they last so well. I might buy another pair now that they're in BT's.

Yeah, I have Nike ones and slightly baulked at the E45 price tag for what seemed like leggings. But they are soooo much better than leggings. Don't want to know what the Lululemon ones cost! :pac:

11-04-2017 05:50PM

__Alex__ wrote: »

Yeah, I have Nike ones and slightly baulked at the â‚¬45 price tag for what seemed like leggings. But they are soooo much better than leggings. Don't want to know what the Lululemon ones cost! :pac:

$60 - $130 range, BUT they keep their shape forever and wash and dry beautifully long after other brands start to show fatigue. They're carried in a few sports outlet stores, but still pricey enough.

meeeeh · 11-04-2017 06:10PM

I absolutely hate any sports clothing and wear it only when exercising. I don't like leggings either. Even when going for a walk I would wear trousers/jeans and flats (no pumps). Sports clothing is also something I spend as little money on as possible. I can't go for cheapest of cheap stuff because it's itchy and because pink Tesco and co. tend to feature makes me gag but after that whatever is on sale. It's the only clothing I don't care one bit about and wouldn't be seen outside the house in it except when running.

Dolbert · 12-04-2017 02:58PM

Smokin' on the street in my activewear

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYRENWT8lz8

meeeeh · 12-04-2017 03:36PM

Lol

I actually don't overly mind it on other people it's just not me. I think I owned same pair of tracksuit bottoms from 13 to 26 before moving to Ireland. I own some now but I think it's safe to say current trends of flat shoes and sporty clothing aren't me. Special mention to clothing I dislike goes to parkas.

Dial Hard · 12-04-2017 04:38PM

Glitter wrote: »

I've gotten mad into hair styling over the last year and do an overnight wet set approximately twice a week. Super easy to do a brush out then on the first day and it has great body for styling over the next few days for various up-dos. Like the dresses and make up, I just have the same 3 or 4 looks that I've perfected and rotate them each day according to the dress I'm wearing for the working week.

I'd love to be good at my hair but I'm absolutely rubbish with it. It's just So. Fcuking. Straight. My sister has the most amazing, biddable hair that she can do pretty much anything with and it gives me serious envy.

Glitter · 13-04-2017 01:30PM

Dial Hard wrote: »

I'd love to be good at my hair but I'm absolutely rubbish with it. It's just So. Fcuking. Straight. My sister has the most amazing, biddable hair that she can do pretty much anything with and it gives me serious envy.

Even the straightest of hair can be beaten into submission with vintage styling.

You just have to go the old school route and do it overnight or under a hood. And use setting lotion and all that gear. If it's super poker straight it might turn out more Veronica Lake than Rita Hayworth but you can definitely still get curl into it. There are some excellent youtubers that do tutorials (not sure if I'm allowed to name names here) on both modern and vintage methods. I am turning into a major geek on the subject!

Oh, and I can't say enough about backcombing for volume. Buy a rat tail comb (and a tangle teaser for afterwards

) and never look back!

Dial Hard · 13-04-2017 01:40PM

Glitter wrote:

Oh, and I can't say enough about backcombing for volume. Buy a rat tail comb (and a tangle teaser for afterwards ) and never look back!

My mum is a hairdresser who did her training in the 60's when hair was BIG and even she says my hair defeats backcombing.

She actually still has an old-fashioned hood dryer and has tried setting my hair properly under that. Nope, gorgeous for about an hour, then just drops into flat nothingness.

Pretty much the only thing that will put a curl in my hair is a really good curly blow-dry but even at that, it takes forever. Last time I got one my hairdresser had 25 brushes in my hair by the time she was finished.

Glitter · 13-04-2017 02:02PM

Dial Hard wrote: »

My mum is a hairdresser who did her training in the 60's when hair was BIG and even she says my hair defeats backcombing.

She actually still has an old-fashioned hood dryer and has tried setting my hair properly under that. Nope, gorgeous for about an hour, then just drops into flat nothingness.

Pretty much the only thing that will put a curl in my hair is a really good curly blow-dry but even at that, it takes forever. Last time I got one my hairdresser had 25 brushes in my hair by the time she was finished.

Wow, okay! Perhaps I'll have to admit defeat on this one if a proper hood set didn't work. :eek:

If I knew you IRL I'd be demanding you let me at it to try though. I love a challenge.

Dial Hard · 13-04-2017 02:04PM

Glitter wrote:

If I knew you IRL I'd be demanding you let me at it to try though. I love a challenge.

I'd be letting you! I dream of big, bouncy, loose curls.

I have hair like Sissy Spacek as "Carrie".

Glitter · 13-04-2017 02:24PM

Dial Hard wrote: »

I'd be letting you! I dream of big, bouncy, loose curls.

I have hair like Sissy Spacek as "Carrie".

Well, that's the other option I guess, lean into it and go full 70's bo-ho chic?

whoopsadoodles · 13-04-2017 03:16PM

According to a hairdresser I spoke to a couple of weeks ago. Heatless curls are the way to go for poker straight hair. There are loads of methods if you have a google. Overnight and no heat should work according to her.

I have inbetweeny hair which needs to be styled to look at all OK but it will straighten or take a curl easily and last for days if I don't need to wash it.

I would love hair that could dry naturally and not leave me looking like Monica from friends when it gets a bit humid.

Bambi985 · 13-04-2017 05:43PM

I have proper weshhhht of Ireland hair, without some serious effort I look like someone who's been messing with sockets. Ridiculously thick, naturally curly/frizzy, unruly, brittle...I've had hairdressers refer me to African beauty salons for products to deal with it as it's closer to Afro-style than anything else. Washing and drying naturally produces comical effects, my boyfriend calls me "Sideshow Bob" :pac:

I spent most of my twenties going for professional blowdries once a week because I simply could not deal with the 2 hours it takes to style it myself just so I look vaguely human. Then I got wise to the amount of money I was blowing on it so have now reverted to washing it once or twice a week and getting 3/4 days out of any particular style I put in. Or just being lazy and throwing it up in top knot and straightening the sides. It weirdly looks it's best about 3 days in, once it's fallen a bit and my natural wave/curl is creeping in.

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5 · 13-04-2017 09:07PM

Bambi985 wrote: »

I have proper weshhhht of Ireland hair, without some serious effort I look like someone who's been messing with sockets. Ridiculously thick, naturally curly/frizzy, unruly, brittle...I've had hairdressers refer me to African beauty salons for products to deal with it as it's closer to Afro-style than anything else. Washing and drying naturally produces comical effects, my boyfriend calls me "Sideshow Bob" :pac:

I spent most of my twenties going for professional blowdries once a week because I simply could not deal with the 2 hours it takes to style it myself just so I look vaguely human. Then I got wise to the amount of money I was blowing on it so have now reverted to washing it once or twice a week and getting 3/4 days out of any particular style I put in. Or just being lazy and throwing it up in top knot and straightening the sides. It weirdly looks it's best about 3 days in, once it's fallen a bit and my natural wave/curl is creeping in.

Mine's not brittle but yeah, big thick head of frizzy curls. And same, wash as little as possible and straighten the shop front bits

Hence my love of hats! I'm also kind of lucky in that I like a more hippie/crusty kind of style so the hair isn't such a disaster but I'm honestly not sure that I didn't just organise my whole style around the hair...

Hair has to be the main grass-is-always-greener thing though (apart from boobs maybe). My mam has my hair and my dad has poker straight, fine stuff and I often berate them that I got her genes! But friends who have that hair would be gagging for the thickness and curl of mine like.

Did you ever try any of the Afro products? I've idly considered going into one of those places and asking but I'd just feel pretty awkward and white I think...

Bambi985 · 14-04-2017 01:38AM

Madalynn Most Waiter wrote: »

Did you ever try any of the Afro products? I've idly considered going into one of those places and asking but I'd just feel pretty awkward and white I think...

Nope, I've never summoned up the nerve either. More laziness than anything, I just don't care enough. I tend to stick with the same supermarket shampoos and then go for more high-end stuff for conditioners and styling serums etc.

I did try a Brazilian blowdry once back when I gave more of a shyte in my mid-20s. Lasted a wet week before it was back to its frizzy flyaway self. Funnily enough I seem to get the "you know what would really suit your hair, a Brazilian blowdry..."comments from literally every single hair stylist I visit these days. Nope. Not even that can tame this mane!

Daisy78 · 14-04-2017 05:00PM

I think most people are arsed about their appearance but to varying degrees. It's all subjective, someone could spend 10 minutes on their morning routine which is more than enough time for them, whereas another person would feel they need to spend a lot more time (and money) to make themselves presentable. It's also interesting to see how posters place a lot of emphasis on one aspect of their appearance and don't feel the need to put a lot of effort into another part.

I'm definitely not high maintenance but I think I do put some effort into my appearance. Like some other posters I have thick west of Ireland hair that has to be cut and coloured every second month. I would also apply a lot of treatments, oils and serums to keep it manageable. I have man's eyebrows which I get tinted and waxed religiously every month. I don't consider either of these things to be luxuries, just routine maintenance. I tend only to wear makeup on nights out or if I was doing a work presentation. But it tends to be fairly basic at that.

The one thing I have become more conscious of is skincare and despite trying to save most of my wages for a house deposit, I still invest a lot of money in that. I have always used good quality moisturisers but now I have added masks and serums to my routine. I appreciate though for some people that might seem over the top and unnecessary. A lady I work with recently told me that she doesn't moisturise her skin, and has a fairly basic cleansing routine. I couldn't get my head around that but she said that she was always fairly lax about her skin, even now in her thirties.

I love clothes. Im lucky that I've always had a good figure, slim but with boobs and a bum so getting clothes to fit has never been a problem. I just love the aesthetics of clothes, the colours, materials, how you can express yourself through a dress or even a pair of boots. It's a joy to me. I have to wear semi formal clothes to work, for the most part it's black trousers and a blouse but I do try to inject some colour into my work wear, like little fitted wool dresses in the winter or a silk skirt and blouse during the summer.

whoopsadoodles · 14-04-2017 05:10PM

Daisy78 wrote: »

I think most people are arsed about their appearance but to varying degrees. It's all subjective, someone could spend 10 minutes on their morning routine which is more than enough time for them, whereas another person would feel they need to spend a lot more time (and money) to make themselves presentable. It's also interesting to see how posters place a lot of emphasis on one aspect of their appearance and don't feel the need to put a lot of effort into another part.

I'm definitely not high maintenance but I think I do put some effort into my appearance. Like some other posters I have thick west of Ireland hair that has to be cut and coloured every second month. I would also apply a lot of treatments, oils and serums to keep it manageable. I have man's eyebrows which I get tinted and waxed religiously every month. I don't consider either of these things to be luxuries, just routine maintenance. I tend only to wear makeup on nights out or if I was doing a work presentation. But it tends to be fairly basic at that.

The one thing I have become more conscious of is skincare and despite trying to save most of my wages for a house deposit, I still invest a lot of money in that. I have always used good quality moisturisers but now I have added masks and serums to my routine. I appreciate though for some people that might seem over the top and unnecessary. A lady I work with recently told me that she doesn't moisturise her skin, and has a fairly basic cleansing routine. I couldn't get my head around that but she said that she was always fairly lax about her skin, even now in her thirties.

I love clothes. Im lucky that I've always had a good figure, slim but with boobs and a bum so getting clothes to fit has never been a problem. I just love the aesthetics of clothes, the colours, materials, how you can express yourself through a dress or even a pair of boots. It's a joy to me. I have to wear semi formal clothes to work, for the most part it's black trousers and a blouse but I do try to inject some colour into my work wear, like little fitted wool dresses in the winter or a silk skirt and blouse during the summer.

I'm one of those that has never really invested in skincare. I suppose because I've never needed to. I'm 35 and have great skin and look pretty OK. My mam and nanny both do too. And they only wash their face with soap.

Maybe by the time I realise I need to it'll be too late

I guess I gave up on clothes other than dresses years ago. Slim but boobs, bum, and tiny waist; they didn't make clothes for me and for my age.

I'm OK with clothes now though. I have my style and I know what will look good and what will make me look crap so I avoid the latter!

Dial Hard · 15-04-2017 01:57PM

whoopsadoodles wrote: »

I guess I gave up on clothes other than dresses years ago. Slim but boobs, bum, and tiny waist; they didn't make clothes for me and for my age.

I have the exact same body type and never wear dresses. Funny, innit?!

fussyonion · 16-04-2017 09:39PM

I'm 30 soon and I realised recently that I don't care what people think about me.

In my twenties, I'd lash on a full face of make-up whenever I left the house but now I will often go shopping without a scrap of warpaint on and it doesn't bother me.

I also don't wear a lot of make-up everyday.
I used to wear foundation, blusher, eyeliner, eyeshadow, mascara and lipstick no matter where I was going.

Now I will just slap on some moisturiser, foundation, mascara and lipbalm.
I'm loving the dewy fresh-faced look that Pippa O'Connor is into.

I dress casually; most days I'm in leggings and a vest top because I spend a lot of time in the gym or walking.

When I go to the pub or whatever, I will make an effort and it makes me feel nice to don heels and lash on the full slap but normal days?
Nah, can't be bothered.

Smile111 · 17-04-2017 01:36PM

For those who buy dresses.Where do you purchase?
I find it particulary hard to find long sleeve dresses.Thanks

17-04-2017 07:22PM

^ The dresses that I've been wearing to work recently are from Oasis, Red Herring at Debenhams and Asos.

I never get long sleeved dresses as they would be too warm for my workplace and I've very long arms so they never fit properly. The ones I'm wearing at the moment have either 3/4 length sleeves or short sleeves.

Glitter · 18-04-2017 01:44PM

Yup, I find it pretty hard to get dresses for work with sleeves also (and I hate my upper arms), so I have a load of cardies I pop on top of them.

My work dresses are mostly from Oasis, Next, H&M etc. Buy the odd one from Penney's - as bizarrely- they often have lots of things with sleeves - but they don't last that long.

Evening / weekend dresses are nearly all vintage repros I buy online or occasionally in Retro in the George's St. Arcade.

Smile111 · 18-04-2017 03:07PM

I wear cardis all the time but would be great to find long sleeve/ three quarter sleeve dresses where there is no need:)

amtc · 22-04-2017 05:16PM

I wear dresses all the time....get some lovely ones in Carraig Donn and I bought a couple on line in McElhinneys...all long sleeves.

I have 3 1/2 size feet. And I buy arnotts and my local shoe shop out of them every season as they only get one pair. I used buy more shoes in more distinctive designs e.g. Dune when I was bigger...am now a 8 to 10 and weight came off my feet (it wasn't intentional, was never big but had a stomach ulcer).

Wear less make up than I did ten years ago. Always Benefit with a bit of others...cheap on some, expensive on some.

Blow dry before anything important. Used to get highlights every six weeks but going white so can get six months.

How aRsed are you about your appearance?

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