What makes a women look frumpy

[Wherecanitbe]

I am considering an overhaul of what I wear and my hairstyle. I am feeling a bit down and frumpy at the moment so thought this would be a positive change.

My overhaul is not going to be a drastic change , I cannot afford to purchase a whole new wardrobe of clothes,shoes and accessories. So please could you give me your items of clothing and / or hairstyles that in your opinion makes a women look frumpy.

This post is not meant to be offensive in anyway, I believe a person should wear whatever they wish regardless of whether another person thinks it's frumpy.

And I have grey hair.

i’m doomed.

in answer to OP, dressing for your shape, wearing the right colours for your skin tone can make a huge difference, I look nondescript in beiges but my friend looks beautiful. Embrace who you are and work with who you are. I love my silver hair.

On me being that sort if puffy bloated you get from over indulging in food /booze or not wearing a supportive enough bra. So chubby and droopy boobs and I can make the trendiest of clothes look frumpy. Likewise if I look a bit fitter and more toned and have a decent bra on I can get away with wearing more things.

I can honestly say I've never ever looked at anyone and though "she/he looks frumpy"

Please don't worry about it OP but do find something that works for you.

OP, you might want to post this in Style & Beauty. Tell us what sort of lifestyle you lead and what you like to wear and we can suggests outfits or tweaks to help.

For what it’s worth, I don’t think any of the individual things mentioned are necessarily frumpy. You can look amazing being overweight or with grey hair and I love a cardigan.

I do think footwear makes a huge difference to your overall appearance, but sometimes something as simple as tucking your top in or rolling your sleeves up can make an impact.

Women without much money to spend on their appearances look frumpy according to the the replies on this thread. My god, you should see the way some the working class mums at my DS’s school dress on the school run. No style at all. Yummy mummies in reverse. The impending economic juggernaut is only going to add to their frumpiness and misery. If only they knew how awful they looked, and the superior sisters on Mumsnet would judge them.

Most things with ruffles.

Wow.

Would a better question be what makes women look fresh/elegant? Framing it as what looks frumpy seems very negative

Yeah Lizzo is dead frumpy. Didn't you know?

Totally disagree. There are some styles of cardigan that are frumpy but loads that are stylish or just ordinary non frumpy clothing.

Florals and shapeless clothing

I know a lot of people will hate this response but keeping your weight in check - and trying to maintain the recommended weight for your height. I know that's not easy with genetics - some people are pre-disposed to being slightly over-weight and it can be a lot harder if you are short.

As you age (I'm 55) nothing looks more frumpy than filling out, thickening up and looking matronly.

I lost three stones (42lbs) during the Covid pandemic simply by cutting out carbs (bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, cakes, etc), reducing my portion size, and I started walking (I now do a 5 mile walk in 90 minutes up to three times a week). It was surprisingly easier than I thought and I don't think I'll ever be overweight again.

It's also useful to have a style icon - someone who you admire that is in your own age range. Mine is Isabelle Huppert, and although she's almost 70, I think she looks fantastic. I love what she wears (obviously not the red carpet look) but only quite a simple elegant look. She gives me the confidence to grow old.

For me it is being even slightly overweight, when slim I'm an inverted triangle body shape with very long legs, when I'm overweight (as I am now) I became a frumpy apple shape (more toffee apple really as my legs stay like nice slender sticks).

So frumpy means looking older than say 30 ?

Sorry OP I don't think you're going to get many straight or helpful answer to your question here. Please Try Style and Beauty.

You need a good bra
A good hairstyle
Shoes that aren't tired. Lots of lovely shoes are comfortable.

Doesn't help When everything you wear is a bit neutral. It can look drab.

Doesn't When everything you wear is just for practicality. It can look a bit joyless.

Good Luck OP. Hope it works out for you.

Bad posture

Over weight

Choosing safe clothing options to wear that might look better on your granny.

All three. I win.

And I have grey hair, pigmented skin, weariness and look permanently knackered.

Olympic frump 🥇

ooh having a style icon is a great idea.

I admire Isabella Rossellini very much and she is by no means a wraith.

I also love how Judi Dench has a very individual and defined sense of style.

I don’t think cardigans are frumpy. Posture and confidence may help. I’m in my mid-50s and often get stopped by strangers asking about where I got my clothes from.

@sunglassesonthetable Even in S&B, people will object to the ageist, size-ist shite.

This. Many, many times this.

No she's right, grey looks really frumpy. Doesn't matter how it's styled.

I agree with a previous poster about having a look at Pinterest if you feel the need for a change.

there are some truly beautiful ideas on there. I get inspiration on there then trawl through Vinted to find what I need. If a shape or colour really works for me then I might spend a bit more on a specific item to build up my core wardrobe.

It's also useful to have a style icon - someone who you admire that is in your own age range. Mine is Isabelle Huppert, and although she's almost 70, I think she looks fantastic. I love what she wears (obviously not the red carpet look) but only quite a simple elegant look. She gives me the confidence to grow old.

@Charlize43 I had to google Isabelle Huppert. Not that I will ever look as good as her at any age but she does look natural and elegant. French actresses do tend to age more gracefully (I know there are exceptions) without the ridiculous botox/fillers/cosmetic surgery favoured by their often much younger US counterparts.

Suggest smiling and being interested in other people . Reflects on your face no matter what you wear.
I am a huge fan of cardigans

But you can’t pretend there isn’t a ‘generic’ beauty standard and that this is affected by age and size, to some extent. It is absolutely the individual’s choice whether to care about it however. All these accusations of -isms is basically ruining every thread on here, you can’t discuss anything anymore.