Do any aspie gals here ENJOY dressing up/makeup?
I don't really like that many girly things, but that may have more to do with where I lived when I was younger than being an Aspie. In my middle school and high school, some of the most obnoxious, sluttiest girls I knew wore makeup and did girly things, and I really, really REALLY did not want to be mistaken for one of them, so I tended to avoid such things. I think the Aspergers may have also had a small role in it, too, because I used to assume that 'femininity' involved acting like those girls and therefore did everything in my power to reject such 'femininity'. My mother tried to convince me on many occasions that 'real women' don't act/dress/behave like those girls did, but it took a lot of convincing from many other people to get me to realize that.
Also, the guys-oriented fiction/movies/manga/anime/games tend to have a lot more in regards to plot-development and action than girls-oriented fiction/movies/manga/anime/games/etc. I am so sick and tired of all these cliché romance novels, ESPECIALLY the supernatural ones. It doesn't help that all those girls in those books, movies, what have you don't seem to think of anything other than 'shoes, boys, and parties', things I've never really been interested in. (It hasn't been until recently that I have even bothered to really look at the opposite sex.)
Finally, makeup just feels very weird on my face, even the hypoallergenic stuff; plus, I have a rather low self-esteem and thus don't feel comfortable in things like dresses and skirts. Not when there's perverts around waiting to either hit on me or comment on how 'ugly' I am.
Mummy_of_Peanut
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Joined: 20 Feb 2011
Age: 51
Gender: Female
Posts: 3,564
Location: Bonnie Scotland
At the grand old age of 40, I've learned how to apply eye liner. I've been attempting to apply it for 25 years and really just haven't bothered wearing it out, even with a full face of make-up (which is rare anyway). I always just looked scary. But, I'm going to a WWII themed party in a couple of weeks and everywhere I read says the main thing about 40s make-up is the eye-liner. My whole outfit looks authentic, so I felt I had to get this bit right. So, I've been trying and trying for several weeks and was starting to panic a little. I had 4 different types of eye liner (not easy to come by, as I have allergies and have to avoid most), but I've not been able to work with any. But finally, after buying yet another gel eye liner yesterday (one with ingredients on the packaging, which is unusual too), I've done it. It looks 'normal'. I'm going to practice every night, until the party.
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"We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiatic about." Charles Kingsley
I love wearing beautiful clothes and makeup, complete with sexy heels or high boots, and a wrap or pashmina. I love shopping for elegant old clothes in charity stalls. I like a bit of bling too; earrings, bracelet. But I don't do it every day - perhaps only once every couple of months, when I'm off to a concert, or coffee with friends. Most days I'm working alone, so just an old pair of work trousers and a shirt will do fine; dog cares not what I wear in the shed.
When I was younger, I sometimes (usually?) didn't make the effort, just turned up to things in my favourite old jeans and a scruffy t-shirt, and paid for it dearly. I think part of being NT is that you make the effort. It did take me a long, long time to notice that the way people treat you is a reflection of how you present yourself, and I now prefer the way people treat me when I'm smartly attired. So now I usually dress up a bit to go into town, do my grocery shopping; anywhere where I might have human interaction! (Not makeup during the day, I think that's a bit overboard, but definitely not old jeans either.)
Dressing up is kind of like putting on a mask. Do you want people to see the mask that says you are confident and intelligent, and coping...er, thriving? "You're looking well!" Or do you want them to see the mask that says you are disorganised and a little bit depressed? "Are you ok?" Make the effort.
Recently, I've also been learning to dance - a major blow to my comfort zones, but had to be done! It's neural re-programming all the circuitry that has taken so long to function properly. It's as if decades of awkwardness are being corrected. (Note that it's probably working for me because it's formulaic.) There are gorgeous outfits and jewellery that go with that, so makeup will be necessary for performances and such.
whirlingmind
Veteran
Joined: 25 Oct 2007
Age: 57
Gender: Female
Posts: 3,130
Location: 3rd rock from the sun
I always wear make-up when going out or anyone visiting. I don't bother when it's just me and the children at home.
I would always dress nicely for going to an event and would never go out in slobby clothes - although I do wear comfortable but decent clothes jsut for everyday trips out.
I love make-up and beauty products. In fact I could say it's a special interest of mine. I have word make-up since the age of 13 (it was just eye shadow then) and am a bit of an expert in it. I buy products that catch my eye long before I need them so I have always got a brand new stock in my cupboards. I do tend to fall for the lies they tell about make-up products such as "this cream will make you look 10 years younger" etc. but that's part of being an Aspie!
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*Truth fears no trial*
DX AS & both daughters on the autistic spectrum
OwlBeThere
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Joined: 28 May 2013
Age: 35
Gender: Female
Posts: 61
Location: Ontario, Canada
I don't wear makeup for three reasons:
1) I don't know how to put it on.
2) It's too much work/trouble.
3) I always end up rubbing my eyes or something and smearing it.
As for clothes, I secretly wish I had better fashion sense but I perfer comfort over fashion. I would rather be comfortable and able to move/breathe than fashionable.
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I don't know how I'm supposed to feel. The more I hit the gas, the less it seems to be real.
I understand, but the two aren't necessarily mutual exclusive. It's a matter of finding nice-looking outfits that work with your body type. Easier said than done sometimes, I know ...
I'm not nearly as fashion-conscious as I used to be. At my station in life, in my late 40's and children grown and gone, I'd rather be out hiking in the desert than at some dressy party or whatever, so I tend to fill out my closet with shorts, jeans, tshirts, and walking shoes. When I do get dressed to go out, I'm pretty minimalist. A nice light sundress and sandals is my preference, especially in the summer. No stockings. No heels. Maybe not even a bra, depending on where I'm going.
I like dressing this way, and the men I'm with like it too. So that pretty much seals it.
lostonearth35
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Joined: 5 Jan 2010
Age: 50
Gender: Female
Posts: 12,651
Location: Lost on Earth, waddya think?
As a really girly-girl i must say, i really enjoy dressing up and make-up and stuff. I like dresses, and shoes/high heels, to do my hair and put my earrings on. I always watch a lot of hair and make-up tutorials on youtube, and love all the modelingprograms, i find it very enjoying. Despite i find make-up sometimes very annoying (i often got the feeling make-up makes my eyes very heavy as in, makes my eyes very tired), but i know i just look a little bit better with make-up on my face. Not that i wear it every day, most of the time i don't. But when there is a social occasion i like to do so. I recently bought a new make-up suitcase, because all my stuff couldn't fit anymore in the old one. I spent a lot of money on make-up and hair products. I have this 'thing' for mascara's. I think i have 20 different mascara's, just like to experience which one i like the most. Oh, and i love my curly irons! Love to transform myself into a little princess And i must admit, it feels really good to get compliments from my environment about my looks (of which i obviously take a lot of effort in sometimes). But i certainly don't do it all the time. Really respect those women who do! I think the right clothes and a little bit of make-up can do so much on a women! I know you must not judge a book by its cover, but it does happen.
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If you got rid of all the autism genetics, you wouldn't have science or art. All you would have is a bunch of social 'yak yaks.' - Temple Grandin
I love gettong dressed up and putting on makeup! I don't get to dress-up all fancy-shmancy everyday, but it's always nice when I do. I feel and look dead without makeup though, it's rare seeing me go out in public with no makeup on. But what I really like is when other people pick out outfits for me to dres-up in and when someone else does my makeup and hair for me too!
I can relate to this very much!
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If you got rid of all the autism genetics, you wouldn't have science or art. All you would have is a bunch of social 'yak yaks.' - Temple Grandin
I like to wear nice clothes and style my hair, but beyond, that? No. I have never worn make-up in my life.
I didn’t used to dress nicely either. When I was a teenager I dressed for comfort, in the baggiest clothes I could get. I wore my hair really long and always tied it back. It was my opinion that looks are not important and I didn’t see why I should make an effort with my appearance.
I’ve since realised that looks are important, even though they shouldn’t be. Perfect strangers used to think it was okay to comment on the way I look. So that, combined with getting a boyfriend made me want to start dressing a little better. It took me a while to get used to, but I now enjoy clothes. I don’t do much with my hair but I’ve since had it cut into a style, rather than just letting it grow out and I often wear it loose now as well.
I doubt I’ll ever wear make-up. I know I’ll never use lipstick because I think it looks horrible. Sometimes I feel I should do something to stop me from looking so washed-out and tired but then I can’t be bothered and I wouldn't have a clue where to start -- I have no idea how to apply make-up properly! I don’t think I’ve had any negative personal comments about my appearance since I started making a bit more of an effort. People are so shallow, it’s depressing.
Well there is something wrong when people think it is okay to judge you because of your looks and strangers make cruel, personal comments about your physical appearance. Looks are not important to me in the slightest. I’m in love with and attracted to my boyfriend purely because of his personality.
[...]
I'm 16, a girl, and I don't like wearing anything like this generations' "fashion". I hate the thin, clingy fabric, loud obnoxious colours with logos plastered all over, and things too revealing where you have to wear three layers of shirts to make it appropriate. [...]
I only started getting interested in make-up when I was in my early twenties, and then I approached it as I do everything else: systematically, intensely, and obsessively. I asked a girl whose make-up was always really nice (not too much, good colour selections etc) for hints, and she showed me a number of products I'd never even known existed (eyeshadow primer!) and how to use them, and also pointed out a few make-up blogs to me. So I read, and did my research, and started with small things (eyeliner, filling in my eyebrows), went through a phase of full make up all day, every day, and now usually just do the eyebrows and sometimes eyes -- can't be arsed to do the full face, though I will on some days when I feel like it.
MagsMorrigan
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Joined: 15 Dec 2011
Age: 42
Gender: Female
Posts: 51
Location: North America
Um, well..? "Enjoy?" I dunno.
I am very strict in what I will wear for clothing and I have my own particular style. I almost always wear all black, sometimes grey or brown on very rare occasions. I find that if I don't put on a little makeup and some jewelery people think I've gone into mourning or am some sort of sad sop.
On that note, I cut and dye my own hair since I hate getting it done by anyone. I don't wear any coloured eye makeup or lip colour. I have often been asked (and by often I mean almost every time I go out) where I get my hair done and/or if I am a professional beautician. I've worked hard to get the look right and find the challenge of doing a friend's hair or makeup fun. Although I use some unconventional things - no foundation, only powder. Sugar free milk of magnesia makes the best powder primer and absorbs oil harmlessly. Great for all us aspies with allergies! Pro tip! haha
But doing my own? Nah. Means to an end. I never change how I do my makeup and it takes very little time. At home it's a pony tail and Dr. Bronner's! lol
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