In one of the most entertaining reader questions I have ever gotten, Dennis writes:
Good Morning Charlotte,I was just noticing some of the ladies on my office and thought you would be the one to answer my question – Do real women, the kind that work out and sweat like ditch diggers, have time for or even care about primping? Is just a good scrubbing enough or do they have time to get all girly about things like manicures, painting little things on their nails, facials and all that other stuff?That just reminded me of a girl I dated a long time ago (a really long time ago) that had a small mole on the side of her nose and every once in a while she would decorate it to look like a big spider.
When I asked him if I could use his e-mail here, he said he just wanted to make one clarification: the sentence should have read “sweat like ditch diggers in Arkansas in August.” (You’re welcome Tourism Board of Arkansas!) Clearly the man has seen me sweat.
I’ve warned you before that I am not at all pretty in the gym. In addition to sweating so profusely that the Gym Buddies and I had to make up words to describe the stains (swoobs, swack, etc.), I also don’t both with hair or makeup. If I’m already wearing makeup for the day I won’t bother washing it off before I exercise but as the majority of my workouts are first thing in the morning, I generally show up barefaced and ponytailed.
Most of my gym friends know me no other way. I remember at a TurboKick social gathering (oh yes, we do those!) a friend commenting, “What a difference hair and makeup makes!” I don’t think he recognized me. But here’s the thing: I love dressing up. Adore it. 6-inch stilettos, jewelry, dresses, flowers in my hair, a full face of slap – the whole shebang. I don’t know if it’s my background in theater (my sister’s theory) or just a serious girly girl deficiency from living with 4 boys but I have a vintage dress collection that has overtaken two closets.
The Gym Buddies also seem to like their primping. When Gym Buddy Sunny moved away (sob!), all her gym friends – ditch digger sweaters every last one! – celebrated by going to a spa together. Massages, manis, pedis and yes, even facials were had by all. This doesn’t only apply to girls in the gym either. I have a very good male bootcamp buddy who simply cannot run if his shirt doesn’t match his shorts, socks and shoes. He even coordinates his sunglasses when we run outside.
So to answer your question Dennis, this gym rat likes to have it both ways! I’ll sweat my heart out at the gym (and even run three errands afterward without showering) but give me an occasion to put on a swingy skirt and some peep-toe heels and I can’t resist. I don’t do it every day – preschoolers could care less what you wear as long as it has a soft shoulder to wipe their nose on – but I do love to dress up. Although I draw the line at crazy fingernails. I’m not good with maintaining a French mani, not to mention long fingernails accidentally scratch little faces and break off on the weight floor.
Now for all of you out there, let me know where you fall on the girly girl – tomboy spectrum! Do you put in your hairpiece and apply a coat of red lipstick before step class? Or do you own 15 pairs of track shorts and look ready to drop your purse and run a 5K even at your annual church dinner?
I’ve created a little poll to help you out:
Congrats on Blog Her of the Week!
Hi Diana! I'm blog her of the week?? Huh, who knew? Yay!
I definitely fall under both categories. I frequently throw clothes on and run out the door without a second thought, but other times I'll take my time and primp and preen. It's nice to be comfortable with both extremes!
Congrats on Blog Her!!!!!!
I admit that I pretty much wear gym clothes all day, every day. Once in a while Hubby and I will go out, but even then we don't really get gussied up. (I think because of my own theatrical background, I'm kinda sick of makeup, lol!)
But every once in a while, yeah, it's nice to be a girly girl and go all out. I LOVE the way my eyebrows look after getting them waxed or threaded!
Great job re. Blog Her!! You deserve it.
I must must must have a very natural shade of lipstick when I go to the gym or else I look like death. I don't wear another speck of makeup til after the shower. And I go through phases where I want to look sorta cute in gym clothes but then other times I just want to look nothing at all special. Not girly-girl nor bad boy either.
i absolutely adore fashion and dressing up and makeup and spa days and mani/pedi's…but i cannot be arsed with makeup and clean hair @ the gym – i am a full on sweaty betty! So i like you charlote, like to have it both ways – and why not! We work ahrd on our bods so we deserve a little pampering!!! PLUS when i am happy with my bod exercise and eating wise, getting dolled up is WAAAAAAAAy more fun!! xxxxx
runs to closet to double check.
yep.
my high heeled sneakers are still there.
(Kid you not)
I definitely love to work out and get all sweaty and gross, but I don't feel comfortable being out of the house at any other time unless I have on make up, jewelry, and my hair is fixed (which for me isn't very hard — I definitely have an easy hair cut). In terms of clothes — I work in an office (unfortunately) so I'm in office gear 10 hrs a day Mon – Fri. On the weekends, I like to dress down a bit, but to spice up jeans and a shirt with pretty boots, jewelry, etc etc. I also try to get my hair cut and get the color refreshed every few weeks and I do, on occasion, get my nails done.
Oh, and at the gym/while exercising, I sport whatever old-ass t-shirts and stretchy pants I can find. I have, once or twice, bought special pants to be used JUST during workouts, but for the most part I'm all mismatched. And i don't wear any make-up at all when I work out, as i find sweating under foundation and powder can give me acne. I'll only wear some cosmetics if I go biking.
Wow, Blogher of the week??? Can't wait to see you being promoted all over the place because it's so well deserved! Yay!!!!
So I know it's no surprise to anyone that I am TOMBOY all the way. At the gym, at work, at the store, at a cocktail party. I admire you girly girls but couldn't go there myself if my life depended on it!
The hair! The shoes! The skirts! The makeup! Eeeeek!!!!!
I'm starting my weekly hair and face masks again. And working on my pull-ups.
When I'm working out, I just want to be comfortable but I do love to dress up. I love clothes and makeup and shoes (oh! the shoes!). So yeah, I fall into both categories as well.
I work out at home, so have nobody to impress. I usually wear a sports bra and too-small shorts and let my preggers gut hang out for my husband to admire. However, I am an accountant most of the day, and always wear makeup, do my hair, wear earrings, and heels every day I'm in the office. On the weekends I'm about the same, just in jeans. I find that I'm not very productive if I don't "pull myself together" every day of the week. If I could afford manis, I would do them all the time! I hate the time it takes to care for myself!
I usually leave the stilletos at home when I head to the gym. As for the thong…
Yeah, I'm pretty OCD about a lot of things, but what I wear to work out is not one of them. I wonder why that is? I wonder if I'll obsess about it now and I'll have to coordinate from now on. Shoot!
Joshua
The Technical Parent
I live in Gym clothes or pajamas (scrubs)(sleep commando! Too much sharing?
I like to wear a cute outfit at the gym, but I never wear make-up. I hate wearing baggy t-shirts.
Because of the morning work-outs, though, I only have about 20-30 minutes for to get ready for work (when I worked). No time to blow dry my hair or wear make-up. I probably should make an effort at this point.
Not really a tomboy or girly girl. When I work out, I don't make an effort to look nice. I do wear fairly nice workout clothes mostly because I run a lot and the good stuff doesn't make me chafe. When I'm not working out, I like to look presentable, but for me that's a trendy pair of jeans, shirt, and shoes. I wear some face powder and eyeshadow, but that's about it. I prefer a natural look, but still want to look pretty (if that makes any sense).
I laughed at your running buddy who has to match everything. I'm the same way. I have even almost skipped workouts because I didn't have any clothes that matched.
I laughed at your running buddy who has to match everything. I'm the same way. I have even almost skipped workouts because I didn't have any clothes that matched.
I laughed at your running buddy who has to match everything. I'm the same way. I have even almost skipped workouts because I didn't have any clothes that matched.
I get up, clean the teeth & off to the gym. The way I sweat, make-up or even trying to look half decent is a waste of time after 10 minutes during my workout! I am in the gym for a workout & not to look "pretty".
I wish I was more fashion knowledgeable & make-up knowledgeable, but I am not. I was more into that when I was younger but just have sort of let that go. Not good! I should try to look better outside the gym more often but sometimes it is so hard to figure it all out!
Well the identical minute I first picked up a weight all the makeup in my purse dissolved! My kitten-heeled sandals ran away down the street, and the double standard police confiscated everything in my wardrobe except grey Hanes knit sweatshirts.
I cannot imagine sidling up to some guy working out at the gym and stammering out "Um, hey, I guess you like, um, never wear a suit and tie on account of sweating keeps you real busy, huh?"
Who actually sits down at a computer in 2009 and asks if a woman who works out hard loses ability or interest in grooming?
I sweat a lot so I don't bother with makeup, I usually wash it off and put sunblock on if I'm running outside (sure it all sweats off by mile 2 but I figure some is better than none). I was an athlete in college and it usually surprises people because I'm really into fashion. I've had more than on person say "You wear heels! and you're a runner!" I have a very slim straight but strong looking body (ie typical non-starved runner) so a lot of clothes work for me.
I wear good quality running clothes, mostly because I enjoyed a 60% discount through my team in college…I swear I can never run in cotton again!
My love of fashion and running do collide sometimes. The heels for instance don't care for my abused feet, also throwing a silk dress into a locker room locker seems like a bad idea, etc.
bottom line, I am fashion obessed, but when it comes to going out for a run, as long as I've got my sunblock and my clothes are not cotton…thats all I care about
Love this post. I tweeted a link to it and I hope you don't mind. I LOVE my white running skirt. Best invention EVER!
Yes, happily for all those interested, high-heeled sneakers really do exist! (http://www.splendicity.com/shopaholicsdaily/files/2008/12/skechershighheel.jpg)
Love to sweat and the only makeup I wear to the gym is to cover any really red breakouts and maybe a tad of eyeliner (I do need to look at myself in the mirror). Aside from the gym, I work at home so I am usually in gym clothes, pjs or sweats but when I go out, heels, designer jeans, … (still not too much makeup and I never really style me hair, just let it dry naturally). I do draw the line at long nails. I type all day and lifting and tennis are not nail friendly.
The one difference over the past few years is that I will run errands after the gym looking sweaty and gross but would never go out in those clothes if I was not sporting the après-gym glow!
I'm with Charis. This email, perhaps not the author's intention, smacks with sexism. Pretty girls don't sweat and sweaty girls are like hairy East German women who don't bother to shower or groom. The implication is there, just below the surface. Hopefully the guy who wrote the email will read the comments and educate himself and also take some time to be honest about his motivation and attitude. So in the interest of full disclosure, I know one woman who puts on full make-up before Impact! I know women who buy uber-expensive bags to tote their gym clothes stylishly. I know women who have a checklist of steps to prevent their expensive hairdo from being ruined. I've seen thongs hanging over low-rise work-out pants in power pump and abs (ladies, please, some decorum).
growing up in a church culture where I wore full face, dress, and heels every Sunday, I was always grateful I felt good in my tomboy digs and never wobbled in my heels
I don't sweat a whole lot, but I make up for it with all the grunting I do, especially when the only other women in the weight gym are walking through to the cardio class.
Did I mention I played on the boys' rugby team in high school with Charlene's boyfriend? I sucked, but I was there!
I'm another who skates the line between Girl Girl and Tomboy. I love to get all dolled up with pretty hair and makeup and my RED shoes, but I am not against showing up at the gym with half a ponytail and clothes that don't match…especially when I rolled out of bed just a few minutes before class.
A mutual friend made fun of me once for not posting pictures of my new haircut on Facebook because I wasn't wearing makeup. "Hello, I've seen you at Turbo Kick!" Touche. LOL
I'm totally a tomboy. Love jeans and T-shirts, and as I live with three boys, comfort is key. That being said, I also have a strange and overwhelming love of party dresses. Tulle, satin, lace … I love it all. On rare occasions, I'll wear one out, but mostly I just like to try them on every once in a while and twirl in front of a mirror. 😉
I sweat my hiney off, but I also make sure to color coordinate. 🙂 I'm not really into "primping" (never had a mani/pedi, my fiance cuts my hair, etc) but I do like to look good and put thought into what I leave the house in every day. If I don't have a necklace and earrings and lipstick on and I'm leaving the house to go anywhere but the gym, I'm probably sick…
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