What 'occassions' do you dress/make up for?

I'm usually in jeans or jeggings with sweatshirt/jumper/t-shirt etc even when I go out. I do have a nice black skirt/black trousers teamed with an appropriate blouse/sweater for winter & smart white trousers or a skirt for summer. I don't go out in the evening so no "dress up" events.

My earrings go in when I do my hair when I get up & dressed. I usually only wear mascara & lipstick as I'm allergic to most make up. Always perfume, my nails however are a different matter, always perfect nail polish, I'm lucky that I have strong nails which grow quite long even though I enjoy gardening & I do the housework (when necessary)

I wear trainers most of the time (Podiatrist recommendation) but I do have some nice shoes & boots.

Well, there's dressing up, and then....dressing up, no? Whenever I go out for a drink with a friend or to have a bite in a small restaurant, I make the effort of putting on fresh clothes, comb my hair, put some extra mascara on etc. For big occasions, like a wedding, the opera, I put on real nice clothes, matching shoes, the right coat or shawl, some jewelry, the works ? And yes, I like that! It's part of going out I think!

I’m much happier in jeans or leggings and have lots of nice tops for going out. I am not happy in dresses although walked into Next recently as a last resort and found the perfect dress for a wedding we were going to. It will do for a trip to the races in July and we won’t be mixing with the same people so no one will have seen it! I have my hair cut every month, if my hair is easy to manage I feel smarter whatever I’m wearing. Don’t go for heavy make up but admit to not leaving the house without eye makeup. I’m not bothered who notices, I do it for me!

Several people here saying that make-up makes them feel good about themselves.
I'm the opposite. I never wear make-up and would feel really awkward and self-conscious if I did put it on.

Dress-wise, I've never worn anything like a smart suit or posh frock. I suspect I have an ageing hippy look.
I usually remember to comb my hair.

I've never been keen on 'dressing up', much more a tidy casual dresser who lives in jeans or trousers. However, I make an exception and an effort for weddings, the last one being DS3's eight years ago. We also have an important anniversary coming up this year so I suppose I will have to make an effort for that, that is if DH wants to mark the event in some way. It's usually just the two of us so we don't bother very much with celebrations, and our kids are unlikely to even remember the date!

I think it's a shame that people don't dress up now. Back in the 70s, my friends and I used to try to outdo each other clothes-wise, even when just going to the pub. It was good fun. A while ago, DH and me went to Chatsworth House for afternoon tea. I made an effort and wore a nice dress and jacket and DH looked smart. Everyone in there had jeans, fleeces and trainers on. We felt like a right pair of dopes.

In the 70s it was lovely to wear long dresses at any social occasion in the evening. If it was formal, it would be a posh frock, even a ball gown, if it was informal perhaps a kaftan, or tee shirt and sarong, either way it was lovely to be different from the way we looked all day, those of us (like me) with bad legs could cover them up and the whole room looked so much more graceful without skirts cut off at different lengths. How can we oldies revive that fashion?

But I bet you looked the business KatyK not dopes at all. If I had been there I would say to my DH about you two 'Well they know how to dress for Afternoon Tea'.

I love to dress up whenever I get the chance. I think it's really sad that no one seems to bother anymore. I get the sequins out at the drop of a hat. I love it when people comment on it. Life is to short for boring clothes.

Like some others I hardly wear any make up apart from lipstick and normally just smart casual for going out. For special occasions eg weddings, the occasional.pah meal out with friends I will dress up a bit more (eg nice dress & heels) & wear more make up eg eye make up but I'm always worried about looking like a clown!

NanKate Thank you! But you know how it is when it's you dressed one way and everyone else dressed another. I felt as though people were thinking 'what have those two come as'?. Obviously they were all just getting on with their tea and cakes and not noticing us at all.

In the 70's I wore Levis, cotton tops, Laura Ashley frocks on special occasions, I'd long hair and no make up though I did wear huge hoop ear rings.
As soon as I retired, I gave my work suits to charity and since then have rejoiced in only buying clothes I like, rather than having to buy stuff that did for formal work/less formal work occasions and would double up for out of work activities.

I found selecting clothes to wear when one of my daughters had a formal wedding nightmarish. I eventually located an outfit in which I felt myself, rather than the Lady Mayoress of Weatherfield.

I live in dog walking/gardening kit mostly. I rarely wear makeup but I have treated myself to a good foundation which I wear if going "out". I like the fact things are less formal than they used to be. I love linen, loose clothing, less structured clothes and wear them on special occasions - not for gardening or dog walking.

Since retirement & helping with the grandchildren I’ve worn jeans & tops with boots in winter & converse trainers in the summer. In order to change the look I have invested in a range of lovely jackets many from high end charity/2nd hand shops. But I yearn to wear the smart clothes I wore at work. I wear skirts when I can & always make an effort if I’m meeting friends for lunch. At the drop of a hat I will dress up but usually find that no one else has bothered. It’s such a crying shame.
I don’t get invited to many weddings but my son is getting married soon. Guess what, he’s wearing jeans & waistcoat, smart shirt & posh trainers! I give up. Still I have bought a dress I love. It is not too formal but I am wearing high heels, so there. I always wear light makeup, it’s been drummed into me that I must always looked groomed & co-ordinated. I love clothes. Even my tracky bottoms for housework & gardening are decent. It makes me happy, I know I’m daft!

katyK I am sure you put everyone else to shame!
I think too that if you’re smartly dressed at some places you do get rather better service. Last year we had lunch in a rather grand restaurant in America and were more smartly dressed than most of the other people there.
The restaurant was packed but the waiter managed to find us a table for two at the window, with an amazing view over Lake Huron.

I like smart casual but will wear make up if going out in evening. I don't make up in day time even if I have a meeting.

This thread reminds me of the Lucia books (E.F. Benson) and also a TV programme. The village residents had three degrees of dress- Hightum, Tightum and scrub. I'm mainly scrub in the house, Tightum if going out shopping or lunch or NT visit, or Hightum if it's an occasion, wedding or party etc.

I usually put "my face on", but I think I'm starting to get lazy prefer natural these days.

smile] missadventure.

I meant missadventure

I am always `casual` , prefer leggings and tee shirt /blouse with a little cardi over the top . Always wear make up to go out though , I feel naked without . I look ridiculous if I try to dress up and at less than 5ft more like Mrs Pepperpot in a dress !

Always wear make up, clean hair and clean casual clothes, now usually jeans; slightly smarter version for going out. Wear dresses if going out for meal. I have an expanding wardrobe of old clothes for doing the garden and painting, and increasingly frequently put the bins out in dressing gown and no makeup! Now the mornings are light will have to rethink. Vanity, all is vanity, who is looking at me anyway?

I consider clothes as armour in which to do battle with the world and repel all comers, especially those who think older women are invisible. I do my hair properly and wear clean, pressed clothes every day and never venture out without being smart, even if in jeans. I do not wear make up every day but I will for any occasion which isn’t ordinary.

On Friday and Saturday evenings I ‘posh up’ for a cheeky glass of Cava or champers with the OH. I even put on my diamonds.

I was on a Bluebell Steam Railway train this afternoon and the other older ladies were in fleeces and leggings. Oh dear.

You are a long time dead.

We went for afternoon tea with friends a couple of months ago. I wore my smart black trousers with a flowing top and duster coat. The hotel was very upmarket and most people were dressed in a similar fashion.
I never wear makeup as I'm allergic to most of it. I hate tights but wore them with a dress when we went out to lunch last week.

I wear make up and jewellery everyday plus a squirt of perfume! Usually trousers with a nice top and make sure my hair is reasonable! I do it for me. Make a special effort when going out with friends/family too!

Not too worried about what I wear, mostly jeans, tops , boots I winter, linen trousers, sanadals and linen shell tops in summer. but I always make sure ‘ I’ am smart, hair blow dried , manicure, pedicure, , then what you wear always looks ok.