To ask how not to be frumpy

[Moomoomango]

I feel like total mum frump. I'm overweight (working on it) I rarely put on make up and I generally feel like a frump. I'm only 29, two children 5&1. Please tell me how mums at soft play look so put together and gorgeous- whilst I am just straggling along delighted we've made it out the house? What simple routines / things should I do / buy to look less frumpy?!

Straight jeans, skinny are out of fashion and look awful on a lot of people, and boot cut only look good if you're hipstery.

I'm in my late 40s with short legs. Straight leg or even "slim fit" jeans make me look like someone's grandma who thinks she's "with it." I do rock a pair of skinnies, though. I might nt have long legs and a thigh gap, but the point is that they look a damned sight better on me than anything else and I feel a damned sight better in them than anything else.

I refuse to wear anything wide legged since I tripped over in some and permanently damaged my elbow. That fucker still hurts 10 years on and I'm blown if I'm going to cripple myself any further because of some notion of "fashion".

WTF is a "mum do"?

I think it has a lot to do with state of mind. I bounce from feeling good about myself and wanting to hide away (generally hormone based for me). Choose something you feel seems maybe 'too' glamorous for everyday and just go with it!

pick

According to google something like this? Idk.

I haven't seen hair like that for about 10 years, horatio :o

I think the opposite of frumpy is probably glamorous or chic.

I think stylish is something else. You can probably be stylish and frumpy.

Foureyesarebetterthantwo

I agree about larger bosoms looking matronly. I am only a B cup and I still wear minimiser bras!

I have two pencil skirts from Jaegar which I wear with black knee high boots or court shoes depending on the weather, but have just learned on here that black leather knee high boots are a no-no

I don't see how you can wear skirts with ankle-length boots (unless the skirts are very long). Are people really suggesting that you have to wear shoes in the depths of winter? I can't do style when it comes over comfort (and warmth). Comfort wins out every time (hence why I like Hotter sandals - with a pedicure!)

I think a knee length skirt with ankle boots looks great- why wouldn't you wear this? Much more modern than court shoes.

I don't think knee boots are a no at all but I do think that knee boots with a pencil skirt (esp in black) might look a bit like Helga from Allo Allo. Although that's a look, I suppose ;)

are knee boots those that go up to the knee/end right below it or those that go over the knee?

To me, they are the ones that go up to the knee, like this

s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/39/d2/7d/39d27d7f95cd469d1ab106d2e8699566.jpg

I suffer from repeated bouts of depression which started as postnatal and one of the things that does it for me, no matter what weight I am as that yo-yo's, is what I eat. I'm not one of these clean eating fanatics but I find that if I ditch the ready meals and make what I eat including lots of fruit and veg, by cutting out the preservatives makes me feel better and makes my skin and hair better whatever I wear. And it makes me a bit more motivated to put things on that are a bit nicer. I know you're knackered with the kids but when DH/DP is around at the weekend, take some time out, dye your eyelashes so if you forget the mascara then you've still got abit of something. Agree with the others, tidy your eyebrows and maybe colour them a little darker so again, if you can't be bother with make-up you've still feel better by having something make you look awake.

I wear these often with skirts. It's comfortable, imo stylish and your feet or legs won't get cold/wet ;)

Maybe I am a bit frumpy?

Oh well... I think ankle length boots can make me look shorter and make it seems as if I have stumpy legs... Even though I'm not even short. Idk why...

But I just like outfits like the ones I posted. So so comfy ;)

Why cant i find mrs gloss and the gloss page? Can anyone link?

Oh nevermind I found it

A key message is to avoid the boden medal print dress. Even the models look frumpy - and not in the ironic way that some of the dreaded young people go for these days.

Ankle length boots with skirts or dresses don't look good on many of us, and shoes are tricky, especially in winter!

Isn't practical above beautiful the essence of frumpy? Everyone understand why people wear long boots in winter but arguing that it's not frumpy because it's weather appropriate doesn't really convince.

Personally, I think it's OK to make the frumpy choice if it suits you.

surrey

I'm kind of relieved I'm not the only one ;)

I do like them with jeans and they're ok with mini skirts and super thick tights (in winter).

Avoid:
Hotter shoes or anything like them
Fussy blouses
White Stuff tunics
Short hair
Calf length skirts
Leggings
Gold jewellery in the form of fine chains etc
A jacket that looks like an anorak

Mrs

Idk. Riding boots simply work for me. With jeans, a-line skirt, skater skirts, pencil skirts or with dresses.

The weather is an aspect, but not the main reason. I also wear riding boots in autum. I think I look good in them, that's the main reason ;)

Not just practicality: health and safety! High heels and shoes that squash toes, for example.

Men are not expected to compromise their health to be deemed stylish.

Wonder if anyone can post stylish but flat shoes or boots that would suit women of average UK size!

Ballerinas are not healthy as often to keep them on you have to squeeze toes, causing planta fascitis and mortons neuroma.

surrey

Aren't there many?

Brogues, loafers, moccasins, espadrilles, oxfords and what I call 'boat shoes' but I'm not sure what their English name is. Flat mary janes (not my kind of shoe, tbh),

And then ankle boots (which I only wear with mini skirts and tights or jeans), slouchy boots (not my thing, tbh, but some like them), riding boosts, dr martins, Chelsea boots (probably my 2nd favourite style of boots) etc.

My knee high boots stop.just below my knee. I wear them in colder weather because when I'm defrosting the car windscreen at 7 am in order to.get to work, they are a better bet than my court shoes.

I can't imagine wearing ankle boots with a knee length skirts. A couple of people in my office do and they look odd (the boots, not my colleagues!). Like their legs are cut in half, iykwim.

I know court shoes aren't the cutting edge of fashion, but I didn't realise they were
frumpy. I thought they were ok.

Tangerino i don't know what Helga from Allo Allo looks like but I guess it's not good......