AIBU to think in the UK women generally dress in quite a frumpy way and to wish we wore period clothing.

[NCJaneDoeNut]

Just that really. People don’t seem to make an effort and if you do you end up looking ‘overdressed’.

The reason I say UK is because that’s where I’m based and other places I’m seeing as a tourist or on tv, so maybe not a realistic impression. Not that they are worse than anyone else.

RavenLG

biscuit ffs

Lol

Are you confusing what people in cities wear to go to work (hanging out at Canary Wharf would make anyone feel under dressed) vs. what people wear every day to pop to the supermarket?

Because I've lived all over, and outside of work clothes, people wear roughly the same sorts of stuff - in fact, there are places that are way more casual still (Balkans, I'm looking at you and your tracksuits)

No I don't think UK women dress in a frumpy way, and that's not a nice way to describe how women dress no matter what they wear IMHO.

I do think some European countries put more effort in what they wear, both men and women. Italy springs to mind. I went to the US and Canada last year, and I felt overdressed there by comparison, but I do wear lots of colour.

The OP is fishing. Boring

I love casual clothes but frumpy is just unfashionable which I guess could have happened with period clothing in their time too. I'm sure their were dowdy matrons in Jane Austinland. Conversely you could be dressed casually nowadays, but be the height of fashion.

The OP is fishing

I bet she'd turn up overdressed to go fishing too!

I blame clothing retailers. M&S sure do lurve frumpy style. It's like they fear garments that aren't the same shape as a BOX. Also clothes mass produced by sweatshops generally look quite as cheap as they are after two weeks - by design, you're supposed to buy more.

And OP, I do like a spot of period pastiche - 50s, or maybe 60s style .. so I will join you on the wild side 😀

I don't want to spend my money on beautifully made summer clothes. I get to wear them about 5 times a year. Floaty Primark trousers and a t shirt it is!

I’m not in agreement re period clothing or frumpiness. However I do think we are not great at summer dressing myself included. We do seem to do the casual/street thing well & dressing for rain.

I think it’s largely because the shops offer so much shite.

I mean people look so rumpled and scruffy. It affects me in that I have to look at it.

Oh dear, we all tried so hard to impress you and make a nice backdrop for your life, very sorry we failed.

I think it's a myth that European women all look stylish. The French women I've seen (not in Paris) seem to wear old floral pinnies and headscarf. People in America - Fruit of The Loom t-shirt, stone wash jeans and hi top trainers. It was also the first time I had seen chunky highlights and a back perm since the Eighties - on everyone - men and women. I quite like the way we dress in this country, we are far more individual than other nations.

I saw two young French girls on a bus last year (tourists visiting the area from their conversation). They made me look smarter than usual. I think casual is becoming more prevalent amongst the younger ones?

I love picking out outfits and styling myself but it is time consuming so doesn't surprise me most people don't bother, I have my hobbies, they have theirs. Chill out op.

You obviously haven't visited the US op where sliders and socks (preferably odd ones according to my niece and nephew) rule.

I have several pairs of shorts and several Tshirts. All plain, in olive, blue etcetc.

In summer I look like Lara Crofts older asthmatic sister, with my long hair in a plait, combat shorts, olive T- shirts and shades 🤔 In autumn I add a jumper and in winter I swap the shorts for jeans. Throw in some jodphurs, and my work uniforms, and thats pretty much my wardrobe... 🤔

Sometimes I wish I were more adventurous, but the thought alarms me somehow. The thought of anything different brings me out in a cold sweat - I suppose I have my own issues...

You obviously haven't visited the US op where sliders and socks (preferably odd ones according to my niece and nephew) rule.

Not in my part of the US!

IF, IF it matters, the man in the photo is not wearing a suit. He's in some sort of denim/other very tough cotton jacket and work-stained crumpled trousers.

I do think, however, that modern cheap/exploitatively-produced fashion does not look good OR feel good to wear. And is such poor quality that it's usually false economy, except, perhaps, for fast growing children.. And it often does the people who wear it very few favours. But it's everyone's choice to wear what they want to wear. I'm not the clothes police...

Smeaton 😂😂

I from S.London I can confirm that sliders & socks were a thing in the 90s & have also returned along with other dubious 90s trends.

Why can’t you wear what you want OP, why try to ‘fit in’? Maybe you need to work on improving confidence in your preferences

I'd rather be comfortable than fashionable.

I have an ‘up do’ today. A bun. To do the weeding.

Who calls it an ‘up do’

Well I've got my period pants on. Bloody comfy in this warm weather

I agree with OP. Where I came from, everyone from toddler up wears jeans and a hood and anorak. Old people wear pastels and beige. It's ugly and depressing to look at all the time.