a woman wearing lots of make-up and jewelry

[alpacinou]

Hello.

What is an adjective I can use to describe a lady wearing a lot of make-up and jewelry?

For example, when a man looks clean and tidy, they say he is well-groomed, or he is all dressed up.

But what about women? Imagine a woman who intends to go to a wedding. She has worn a lot of make-up and jewelry.

 

[GoesStation]

A casual and possibly old-fashioned way to say that is "She's all dolled-up."

 

[alpacinou]

A casual and possibly old-fashioned way to say that is "She's all dolled-up."

That is good.

But when you say old-fashioned, do you mean it's not used anymore?

What are some modern versions?

 

[GoesStation]

But when you say old-fashioned, do you mean it's not used anymore?

Didn't I include an adverb in my statement?

 

[alpacinou]

Didn't I include an adverb in my statement?

Possibly?

Do we have an equivalent for dolled up which isn't old-fashioned?

 

[alpacinou]

Is this correct and natural? Is is something that a native middle-aged lady might say?

I miss getting all dolled-up to go to a wild party. I miss being young.

 

[emsr2d2]

My friends and I still use the phrase "tarted up" (only for women).

 

[GoesStation]

Possibly?

Do we have an equivalent for dolled up which isn't old-fashioned?

I didn't say "dolled up" is old fashioned. I thought it might be. I'm not sure.

 

[emsr2d2]

I find "dolled up" a bit old-fashioned. Even so, most native speakers would understand it.

 

[GoesStation]

My friends and I still use the phrase "tarted up" (only for women).

That one is strictly British.

 

[GoesStation]

I find "dolled up" a bit old-fashioned. Even so, most native speakers would understand it.

Google's ngram viewer tells me it's widely and increasingly used in print. I did not expect that.

 

[tzfujimino]

My friends and I still use the phrase "tarted up" (only for women).

Does it have a negative connotation?

 

[emsr2d2]

My friends and I still use the phrase "tarted up" (only for women).

Does it have a negative connotation?

Not really, no. The word "tart" on its own can be used as an insult but "to tart oneself up" simply means to put your makeup on, do your hair and (maybe) put on some nice clothes.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Hello.

What is an adjective I can use to describe a woman wearing a lot of make-up and jewelry?

For example, when a man looks clean and tidy, they say he is well-groomed[STRIKE],[/STRIKE] or he is all dressed up.

But what about women? Imagine a woman who intends to go to a wedding. She is wearing a lot of make-up and jewelry.

We'd almost always say she's dressed up or she's all dressed up.

There are plenty of other expressions, of course. Google dressed up synonyms.

 

[jutfrank]

The word "tart" on its own can be used as an insult but "to tart oneself up" simply means to put your makeup on, do your hair and (maybe) put on some nice clothes.

Well, it does kind of mean 'make yourself look like a tart'.

 

[emsr2d2]

Well, it does kind of mean 'make yourself look like a tart'.

If you take it literally, that's exactly what it means. We just don't really use it like that when talking about our friends or about ourselves.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Well, it does kind of mean 'make yourself look like a tart'.

It's also veddy British. It's not often used in the US.

I always liked "dressed to the nines" and "putting on the dog." Where are the nines? What's the dog wearing?

 

[emsr2d2]

It's also veddy British. It's not often used in the US.

I always liked "dressed to the nines" and "putting on the dog." Where are the nines? What's the dog wearing?

I've never heard of "putting on the dog"! BrE uses "dressed up to the nines".

Veddy?

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I've never heard of "putting on the dog"! BrE uses "dressed up to the nines".

Veddy?

Putting on the dog = Originally, wearing a fur, now, getting dressed up.

Veddy = Very in American Britishese.

 

[GoesStation]

I've also never heard putting on the dog.