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.

I think clothes look frumpy when -
-clothes aren’t ironed
-clothes look old and faded
-clothes don’t suit the person, ie, I’m a pear shaped, and v-necks look frumpy on me
-colours - some colours don’t suit people, eg, i suit Autumn colours, so black drains me.

Casually dressed Boris looks an untidy prat, but I don't think I'd use 'frumpy' to describe him.

I felt really frumpy when I lost my waistline when I got fatter in covid. I was still slim but as soon as I lost my waist I looked about 10 years older. Doesn’t matter if you’re overweight or not but a defined waist just looks so much better!

Remus I know you are a longtime poster in S&B and I respect you but I think this poster has a point. Why can't we just engage with the OP's question positively? Why does she need to be shouted down and accused of being a terrible person? It's a question about clothes and hairstyles FFS. Whether or not we like the word it's immediately obvious to all of us what is meant by 'frumpy' and using the word is the most straightforward way of getting the advice she's looking for.

This is sage green. How is it ‘frumpy?’

No-hairstyle hair. Or comb-overs.

Tops that don't cover their huge pregnant-looking bellies (nothing wrong with a pregnant belly when it's on a pregnant woman!). Just buy a longer top! And get rid of any shrunken ones.

Measuring their waist size for waist-high trousers round their hips because they have a huge pregnant-looking belly and want to ignore that and pretend they're still slim, then their trousers barely cover their arse crack and the crotch hangs down by their mid thighs. Baggy low slung trousers as a style is different, that's not what I'm talking about.

Deliberately cropped trousers is a thing and you may or may not like it. Trousers that are too short because that's the only size stocked in the shop is also a thing, one that should never be seen!

Being middle aged and dressing modern and getting it right, but they forgot about the hair and so overall it just looks wrong.

Wearing their one coat with everything even when it doesn't go with the outfit. Either stick to one clothing style or save up and buy a second coat.

Although, having looked at its etymology, 'frumpy' is 'to wrinkle' and Boris does always look as if everything needs a good iron (I'd start with his balls).

Like thee maireas I will no longer wear crippling shoes. Even if they are a bit safe.

If my feet are painful I promise you it shows in my face. And a pained expression accentuated by wrinkles is not a youthful thing.

Practical clothes for me are a must - at work it is a none too flattering uniform, at home I have my crosses to bear. You can’t do that in stuff that requires a dry clean.

I go down the road a shambles because I simply don’t have enough hours in the day to change to look chic.

I do make an effort on the very very rare night out I get. I might not look fabulous and may look frumpy to some but it is an improvement on every day. (It'd be different if I had legs like yours my friend!)

My neighbour is in her late 80s. She has, a very normal for up here, older lady style. But she has the most beautiful smile and that takes many years off her when she throws her head back and laughs.

I’m sitting here wishing I looked like Andie MacDowell though. Isn’t she stunning? And how good would I look in my kaftan? 😉

Too true

Because the OP KNOWS it's a silly word, and is actually trying to ask about things that she might try wearing, rather than a list of 'What not to wear' (Because such a list is plain silly, other than obvious things like, 'Leggings that show your bum').

Haircut can go a long way. Here's me with straggly mousy hair that got piled in an increasing straggly bun, and after with a decent cut and some colour. Took 10 years off. I'm 47 for reference. Also summer dresses are a revelation. I had a TKMaxx shop and got some nice lightweight long ones that you can just slip on and go. Was previously a jeans or trousers and a top sort of person.

Or this in sage green. How is it frumpy?

I think you’re missing the point though, there’s always going to be celebrities (usually inherently good looking) with megabucks to make that ‘usually frumpy’ thing look chic and stylish. Most people on the street with grey hair don’t look like Helen Mirren. More Miriam Margoyles. We are people on the street we don’t have personal stylists or £££ to spend on maintaining ourselves.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow I'm with you regarding sage green. I think it can look absolutely beautiful and is one of my very favourite colours, but unfortunately it makes me look as if I've been dead for several days.

It’s on a model ffs of course it’s not going to look frumpy. Now imagine it on Therese Coffey, yes it is now frumpy.

No. Most women with grey hair do not look frumpy. They just don't look 25 anymore.

showup

They did a right bonny job there flower ☺️

I think that's your skin tone. Do you look better in bright colours?

But what’s the point in beating around the brush and using a thousand variations of ‘what looks frumpy’ when what you want to ask is ‘what looks frumpy’?

Bad posture , lack of confidence

I don’t think most women with grey hair look frumpy but nor do most of them look stunningly chic. It’s the same with basically anything.

Because there isn't a definitive list - just like there isn't a list of, 'Items that will make anybody, including little, fat, old, grey Remus, look fucking gorgeous.'

It’s on a model ffs of course it’s not going to look frumpy. Now imagine it on Therese Coffey, yes it is now frumpy

But you could say that about any colour or style.

Plus "frumpy" is almost meaningless. I think those massive tiered floral dresses with puffy sleeves and big collars look hideous and, yes, frumpy.
But they're everywhere. All ages.
I think just try to find clothes in colours and shapes to suit you and your lifestyle. You'll look good. It's very subjective, though.

I'd make sure you have straightened yourself up OP - that is, make sure your top is pulled down properly, not wrinkly and up at one side and down at the other (unless it's a fashion statement), no labels sticking out of the collar, that type of thing. Make an effort so that you don't look unkempt, as if you have just rolled out of bed and have thrown something on without checking your appearance as you leave the house.