I am definitely an early morning person. I am usually up before daylight year round and it seems like the older I get, the less sleep I need and the earlier I wake. I see no need to get dressed at O dark thirty and sometimes that stretches later into the day, depending on what's on my schedule. Now and again if my schedule is empty and I have no plans for the day I could stay in my jammies all day! Not so much in the summer but more often in the colder weather.

I gave up wearing make up when I retired from outside employment although I will go to the effort if invited to something fancy. My hair is cut short so requires little attention.

My most slovenly habit (and I am embarassed to admit) is to go most of the time at home without my dentures. After all these years, I still find them a mouthful and difficult/irritating to wear. Always have them in when in public but if you drop by unannounced, all bets are off.

" it's showing respect to those who have to look at you I guess. "

If they feel disrespected by my appearance, then they're not people to whom I want to show respect, I guess. The idea that you would have to change your appearance to show respect to someone else is so outrageously egotistical, I don't know what to do with it......I'm just talking about makeup and hairstyles, but what if what they expected as being respectful was more extreme? What if they told me that if I respected them I'd get liposuction or Ozempic, or if I respected them I'd get my hair dyed or get a face lift?

If they don't like my appearance, that's their problem, not mine. The question becomes "do I care if they don't like my appearance"? A while ago, I decided that there are people whose opinions I care about, and people whose opinions I don't care about. It's a very freeing feeling. Also, there are jobs and positions (like beliefs and places) that I will change my appearance out of respect, such as places of worship, bosses, clergy, loan officers.

I'm up between 6:00-6:30 (today though it was 5:30) do my 45 min stretching but then into my running/hiking clothes as I hike or run around 8:30 after my coffee.

Showering and putting on decent clothes after my second cup of coffee when I get home. No makeup. and at 73 I no longer wear dress-up stuff or makeup.

And I don't really care what absolute strangers think about my choice of make-up/no make-up, t-shirts/fancy blouse, jeans/pants and why should I care. I'm the one with no make-up, in a t-shirt and jeans. They are clean and they are not ratty.

I put on makeup, and wear jewellery every day, and perfume. I do it for myself. I like to feel pretty, oh so pretty. 🤗 It doesn’t matter if I’m going out, or power washing the siding., or cutting the grass.

It makes me feel good.

I usually spend the first hour of the day in my housecoat, then shower, doll myself up, and then get going with my day.

But, Nina! We are your social life.

and i LOVE it!! 💞

Nope. I practice good hygeine brush, my teeth and comb my hair. But I'm not getting dressed unitl I am leaving the house. No makeup most of time and when I do wear it it's minimal. But, here's what's funny. Yesterday I was in a parade and I used extra makeup. It harkened to the days when I was skating and into theater stuff. Must wear make-up during a performance under lights. The parade was a performance under bright sunlight and we were being judged sooo..........

A parade is definitely a performance! Stage lighting or not.

I'm normally up around 4 whether I want to be up or not - that's my new normal. I make a cup of coffee, get dressed and check my email. I brush my teeth, put on tinted moisturizer and spend about 10 minutes on my hair. Five mornings a week I'm out of the house at 7:15 for my car pool to the gym for our aqua boot camp. The 2 days that I don't leave I sill get up at 4 and get dressed. The only time I stay in my pj's is when I'm ill.

I do not get dressed unless i leave my house. I stay in the long sleeping shirt I slept in or pjs all day,or I will throw on a sundress. I will change into workout clothes to do my walk on my treadmill and to work in my garden, but real clothes? No. Why create more laundry? For what? Everyone who would need to stop by my house is aware that I am not a "just drop in anytime" type of person anyway. They need to call or text and let me know they are coming and why. So if needed I can get dressed for the visit.

The only time I tried to wear makeup was in high school in an attempt to conceal my acne. When I realized it only made it worse, I adandoned it. I will wear it when required and paid for by someone else, like if I am in a wedding party or something like that. But I do not own any makeup. I have nothing against it, but I do not find that it improves or enhances anything.

You early birds tire me out. I don't go to bed to well after midnight and get up late morning. I dress immediately, and it's shorts and a T-shirt in the summer and turtlenecks and joggers in the winter. Never a bra in the house and sometimes not outside either unless I'm in a tee shirt. I have never used mascara or foundation in my life. I use Vaseline on my lashes and I wear lipstick and Jones Road(Bobbi Brown) products on my face.

I get up between 6:00 and 7:00 and get dressed right away. I lay my clothes out the night before. I try to wear one outfit per day. It is coordinated, in good repair, and looks good enough to ” meet company”. I meet my walking friends at 9:00. I wash my hair as soon as I get up I am very much into routines. I take a bath every night and wash my hair in the morning. My ”uniform” is jeans, turtleneck, sweater, snd usually a fleece jacket in the fall and winter. In warmer weather it is capris or shorts with an appropriate shirt.

I am 76 and try to look presentable, some jewelry, little makeup, no sweats.

Do you think men worry about this?

If not, why not?

That's what I think about this. If it was two sided, that would be a reasonable thing. If they expect you to wear pantyhose, or high heels, or anything else... That's their issue.

Since it isn't two sided, I think it's nothing to be worried about. This isn't a human trait. This is something put up on people. And if somebody expects me to do that, too bad they're disappointed. That's the last person I wish to impress.

If I dress up, if I put on makeup, or anything else, it's for myself. Because I like to. If someone needs that from me, screw them.

See, no wrong answers. Why not do as you like?

I'm up around 4:30 year round. I get dressed right away, but never wear a bra unless I absolutely have to; in winter I almost never wear one unless I'm going to be in public without a coat or heavy sweater. Hair is no longer a problem. At 81, I've been losing it for some years. I think a balding old woman is quite an ugly look so I wear scarves all the time in public; lovely ones and simple ones are available from many internet sites. The plus side to going bald is that I never have a bad hair day--just pull on a scarf. I no longer wear make up at all--to me it looks clownish on an old face.

(Real comment here is why is Houzz/Gardenweb demanded I sign up again and again everytime I want to post a comment. I've been on gardenweb for over 20 years.)

Mentioning jewelry: I have discovered huggie earrings and wear them 24-7. They’re for pierced ears and are small and snap closed into an o, so I don’t even think about them. Extremely comfortable. I have 8-10 pairs, and most are sterling silver.

I don’t wear rings on my hands at home but if I’m going out I do. My wedding ring has a diamond that is mounted high and I don’t wear it around home as I’m cleaning, digging outside in the dirt, etc.

See, no wrong answers. Why not do as you like?

Well, porkchop did ask what our feelings were about it.......

Since retiring, I try to remember to wear earings when going anywhere. (studs, no dangle, only one hole per ear.) I'm afraid that if I stopped completely, they would close up, and I for sure don't want that.

I like to wear dangly earrings every day.

I rigged these up for Canada Day. LOL 🇨🇦🩷

I used to love wearing earrings, and I had a great collection of fun and unique dangling ones. Sadly, my body started rejecting anything other than 14K or 18K gold, so I stopped wearing them because they'd be too expensive for a collection. My ear holes have since grown closed, but I do miss wearing them.

TV, I am the exact opposite! At one time I could only wear 14K or 18K gold. Clasps on bras caused me to break out in a rash.

I think I’ve toughened up in my old age, or my body just doesn’t give a hoot any more.

Do we worry about men not fixing themselves up? 😆🤷‍♀️

My attire depends on the tasks at hand. If I am doing work around the house I am not wasting time on my appearance. If it is a lazy/lay around the house day, same thing. That is the whole point of a lazy day for me and we are all entitled to relax.

You show up at my house unexpected, you get what you get. 😄 Fortunately that seems to be a dying trend in my social circles - absent my house being on fire, everyone I know calls or texts before just showing up. Thankfully! Which means I have zero concerns about allowing myself an occasional day of slobby-ness.

I have gotten dressed, though not dressed UP, ever since forever. There was a time when I didn’t have to be dressed to get kids to school or go to work, but I could be called upon to do something for my parents at any moment, so it behooved me to get dressed before 9am or even 8. I also wanted to set a good example for my kids by being up and dressed for breakfast, which was also helpful if I had to drive them last minute. There was the rare occasion of throwing a lab coat over my pajamas for drop off or to take DH to the train.

Now I don’t have those incentives. I’m one who thrives on routine and I’m kind of without an externally imposed one now. I joke with DH that my goal is to be dressed by noon. I actually try for 10. I feel best if I’m dressed by 9! I feel like that’s when my day begins, I can take care of emails and phone calls and housework and errands. In my pjs I feel like I’m lounging.

I don’t usually wear makeup for everyday, but I do like to dry my hair so I don’t look like a limp rag. and I guarantee that the days I don’t dry my hair, and don’t put on a cap, is the day I run into everyone I know at the store.

I’m 79 and do what makes me feel better. As for earrings, I leave in small gold hoops that stay through showers and sleeping. When I get up about 9 I get dressed, wash my face, brush my teeth and put on some makeup and brush my hair. I’m careful with the makeup I’ve seen old ladies like me look clownish trying to look young. I just want to look nice for my age.

Anyone else have a wardrobe of house clothes? Still good enough to wear around the house, answer the door etc. but too ragged to do an errand?

They are my demoted pieces that are still wearable.

I no longer wear make up everyday, but do when I'm going to socialize.

I sometimes miss having my part-time job. I liked having a place to get dressed for on a weekly basis.

Eld - that's me too, with house clothes. It is always comfortable pieces that are getting too ratty for public appearances. One step up from actual sleep wear, but definitely below "running to Target" clothes. 😆

I apparently have many levels of clothes.

Yes, and also I have yard working clothes. :)

I like arcy's point - and this made me recall Dolly Parton's quip that you owe it to other people to not go out 'looking like dog' 😄

Before the pandemic, I never left the house without at least some makeup, but since then, I've abandoned that and only very rarely do I use a little eye, cheek & lip makeup. Also haven't worn foundation for many years before that, since it just made my sensitive skin break out. I have some mineral concealer and a pore minimizer and that is sufficient, but I think the last time I wore any makeup was July 2024 for a family friend's 100th birthday.

One other thing I think about is a quote I read years ago about how a young face is like a blank canvas, while a mature one is not. Most makeup migrates into the nooks and crannies I have now and I hate that, so not wearing it just looks better, IMO.

I'm masking out in public anyway, so most of my face is covered most of the time.

And I totally get the 'house rags' thing. I generally wear old clothes I don't mind getting stained, etc. while I'm staying in, but I do make an effort to look neat and clean and at least a little bit in style when I go anywhere, and the style I prefer is oversized linen/cotton shirts, jeans and my nicest sneakers.

I do always wash my face and clean my teeth after breakfast and coffee, and change out of my pajamas, but on my days off, it can be rather late, compared to workdays.

Anyone else have a wardrobe of house clothes? Still good enough to wear around the house, answer the door etc. but too ragged to do an errand?

Yes

Agreed, no wrong answers 😉

Just a reminder to keep the focus where the focus should be. Long as you're doing it for the right reasons (which can be a lot of reasons!), this is a good thing.

I live in apartment. I have a set of full length cotton house dresses that go over my night gown or pajamas in case the dogs need to go out very late or very early, ordinarily I'm dressed for real on the first outing of the day. The house dresses are respectable enough for the five minutes or so I'm out there.

Very occasionally (fortunately) I am ill or under the weather, and will wear the housedress that day should I need to answer the door.

I have short, wavy hair that I just towel dry. No combing or brushing. I wear sunscreen and very light make-up every day. My entire beauty routine, such as it is, takes less than five minutes. My nails are usually polished in some shade of red and I try to touch up chips. I'm a city girl, and these things feel like part of the culture.

I'm small-chested and never wear a bra. I tried wearing one a few times in my teens but didn't need it and couldn't handle the way it felt. If something is see-through or scratchy, I'll wear a camisole. I consider my grooming style to be "wash and wear." Although I'll rock a pair of high heels for the right occasion.

" I think I’ve toughened up in my old age, or my body just doesn’t give a hoot any more "

I wonder if it's worth trying again?

Yes TV, what have you got to lose?

There is so much beautiful jewellery out there that at one time I knew I couldn’t wear. Some of it still bothers me, but not like it used to.

I know that you travel a lot and I’m sure that you must see locally made jewellery but refrain from buying it. Fun stuff. Maybe give it a try.

You all are making me exhausted! I have ALWAYS been a night owl, from teen years to now. A 45 year working career was VERY difficult for me, because I never want to go to bed before 2 or 3 and never want to get up before 9 or 10.

I love being retired and living alone, I can stay up until dawn if I want and sleep until noon if I want. For about 14 years, I took care of my grandson on the nights his mother worked graveyard, so he slept over and I had to get up to get him to preschool. It was 2 or 3 days per week, which really goofed up my schedule, lol. Then for a few years, when she switched to day shift, I would show up at their house by 7 to make his breakfast, pack his lunch and get him to school. Some days I was tempted to just stay up all night instead of having to get up at 6:15 to get there on time! Her job changed and now she can get him to school and he just got his license so will be driving himself next year.

So for those years, I'd get up and get dressed to go over there. Now I stay in my nightgown as long as I want. I like to to chores before I shower and get dressed. Sometimes not until late afternoon, or even evening when I might head out to shop. If I lived where the stores were open 24 hours I'd be shopping the middle of the night.

No make up ever. I do like my hair to look nice, but I have an easy style - soft perm and pulled up into a clip.

Like Nina, no one stops by here unannounced. If they do, I know they are not someone I know, because my friends and neighbors would never do that!

I'm living out of a hotel in Seattle with my teen grandson while he attends a special summer program at the Museum of Flight and the Aviation High School affiliated with it for 3 weeks. He inherited the night owl gene and we bond over staying up late at night.

@Olychick That is so awesome what you describe with your grand son. I'll bet you two will have a fantastic time in Seattle (I'm sure it's NUTSO today though.....)

@hobbitmom thanks, luckily we are south of the downtown/stadium area. We don't have to travel too far to the school and can avoid the freeways, so it's not too bad. Seattle is always a mess in the summer because of tourists and all the cruise ships, etc. I usually avoid at all costs!

@hobbitmom "Since retiring, I try to remember to wear earings when going anywhere. (studs, no dangle, only one hole per ear.) I'm afraid that if I stopped completely, they would close up, and I for sure don't want that."

I have a terrible time remembering to put on earrings when I leave home these days. I've started leaving a couple pair in my car. I also recently got hearing aids which I also keep forgetting to put in when I go out. Kind of defeats the purpose of getting them!

Earrings are about the only jewelry I wear - and it's studs, mostly. Once in awhile I wear a necklace - just a simple chain and pendant in gold or silver.

I walk my friend's dog as often as I can, usually daily, or every other day, depending on the heat and weather of course.

I like taking him to the grocery store or to the little mall, or in the trails. I dress decent enough but certainly not put on makeup , just casual clothes.

One time I was on my way to go out with some friends and I stopped by the local conveniece store where I often pop in with Sparta. I had jeans and a nice top, and my face on and jewelery. The store owner was taken aback and said Wow you look great!

But when I'm back from any outing, whether an errand to the grocery store, etc I get in my "homeless clothes" and off comes my bra.

I do wear jewelry every day. Of course the apple watch is on from get up to bedtime. When I leave the house, I always put on my wedding ring, another opal ring I have and my blue topaz stud earrings. Otherwise just the watch.

I only wear my Apple Watch as I have for ten years. I don't have pierced ears and never wear earrings or jewelry of any kind, including my wedding/ engagement ring. I might wear a thin gold chain if I'm going somewhere special.

Yes to having comfy house clothes and now with tick concerns seperate more covered up yard work ones. I've never worn foundation or any make-up other than mascara, blush and lipstick, and in the last few decades it's been lipstick only so getting ready to go out for errands etc, takes seconds longer than donning slightly nicer clothing and running a brush through my hair. Quick and done. I still work remotely from home, but now only 2 days a week. The other days I may or may not lounge around in pj's for a while. I live alone and have no specific routines other than work days. There was a day last week that stood out as unusual - at dinnertime I was still in my bedclothes!

I keep coming back to this post and all the various thoughts.

I realized for me, it is about giving myself permission to just fully relax every now and then. If that means wearing my jammies until noon, or even all day, and no one is harmed by my day of relaxation, then it is all good. And I count myself in the "no one is harmed" numbers.

Sometimes I need to push myself, sometimes I am too hard on myself. Sometimes it is very important to try, other times if is fine to...not.

I gave up trying to impress other people long ago. One of the best parts of aging is caring less about the opinions of others. I don't mean that as a license to be rude, just that I care about my comfort more than being perfectly dressed and coiffed now.

And yet.....I feel good/better about myself when I look nice. Quite a pickle! 😄

I have no conclusions to share, no deep pearls of wisdom - just keep mulling this all over.

Ally De, I hear you!

I don’t think it has ever been trying to impress others, or worrying about the opinions of others. LOL Unless dogs and horses judge you by your looks. Treats in ones pockets always impress them, though.

I love spending a long time on myself. Soaking in a hot bathtub, or having a long hot shower and letting the water pour over me. I love brushing my hair, putting on my makeup, digging through my jewellery box, picking out an outfit for the day, looking in the mirror and looking forward to the day.…no matter what I’m doing.

Don’t get me wrong, I can slob out with the best of them. I just like looking great while doing it.🤠

Your clothing should never be uncomfortable, nor shoes, no matter how dressy they are!

Thinking about possibly getting my ears pierced now, at 65.......About 20 years ago, I tried getting a navel piercing, and my body rejected it. Literally pushed it out of my body, over the course of about 6 weeks. No long term harm, though, so it might be worth trying again.

I gave up make up and watches when I retired. Both pre-retirement and now I am prone to have an accidental pajama day every few months 😂 I have just always embraced it if my relaxation got away from me and I found myself still in jammies in the middle of the day. I embraced it so much that we named it in this household.

An accidental pajama day is super fun. Enjoy❣️

TV, I believe ear lobes heal so much easier that other body parts. Based on observation of friends and family. Ear lobes are quick and painless and easy to care for.

TV, when my mom was 80, she decided to get her ears pierced. She couldn't get past the leave the earrings in until they heal stage so it didn't work out for her. But I was impressed that she did try it.

I would only caution if you have any allergies to metal. I have to have gold or sterling silver.

I never had my ears pierced and never intended to, but I've shared here before that I was reunited with my only child, who had been placed for adoption at birth, when I was 42 (he was 21 and searched for me). For our first time together on my birthday, he gave me a pair of aquamarine studs and a gift certificate for piercing. There was no way I wasn't going to wear those earrings, so I had my ears pierced. It's been fine and definitely easier to buy nice earrings. I guess he thought I'd somehow missed the pierced ear fashion, lol and wanted to bring me up to date.

I tried to convince my boss's sec'y to get her ears done. The pain you feel for the few days of healing is *nothing* compared to the pain of those clip-on/screw-on torture chambers. But there was no convincing her. So she suffered.

My mother was born in 1920. She never left the house without her hair and makeup done and wearing an appropriately nice outfit. She went to the hairdesser twice a week - every Tuesday and Friday at 9:00 am. She didn't work outside the home, but she was the home executive. She had something going every day of the week and it was her job to represent our family. We also were expected to be dressed and clean and presentable when in public. She also made it a point to go back to her bedroom and freshen her hair and makeup every day at 5:15, as my dad would be home at 5:30 and she wanted to look nice to greet him after he worked all day. Even after my dad passed away and mom was in a nursing home, she wanted her hair and makeup done and wanted to wear something nice every day. Alfred Dunner outfits were her daily wear in the nursing home, comfortable, easy care outfits that still made her feel good about the way she presented herself to the world.

My two older sisters both had public facing jobs and lived in a small town - a pediatrician and a corporate executive. Like my mom, they were always aware of how they presented themselves to the world.

I had jobs when I was younger that required that I presented myself well at work. Working for an attorney and greeting clients, selling real estate, owning a small business and having to meet with clients . . . but from the time I was 30 I only spent about 3 years working in office environments where I needed to present myself well, wear business attire, have my hair and makeup done . . . I spent 2 years working at a humane society as Director of IT - minimal dress code requirements - seldom wore makeup, wore jeans or scrubs - never wore anything nice. The remaining 30 years were working from home as a telecommuter. Over 1/2 my wordrobe is PJs, lounge wear or nightgowns. It was my work attire. I still got up and washed my face, brushed my teeth and ran a brush through my hair - but why wear makeup or get dressed up to sit at a computer all day? When I did leave my home it was to take care of my horses (they don't care if you have makeup on) or run some errands - I lived in San Diego - wasn't likely to run into anyone I knew. I still own makeup - I will dress nice, do soemthing nice with my hair and put on some powder, blush and lipstick if I am going out to dinner or to someone else's home, but I don't wear if I am not going out.

The one thing I do wear daily is perfume. Not for anyone else, but because I like perfume.