To ask if I look frumpy

[keepcalmanddance]

Do I look frumpy in this outfit? I’m early 40s. Also do I look like I’m slightly pregnant?

I, too, am an ex-athletic apple. You're not wrong but I take issue with the whole precept of trying to make one's body look a different shape. If you aren't wearing industrial-strength scaffolded underwear, your body will not look a different shape. The best you'll achieve is to confuse the viewer's eye with an overall impression of "much clothing, nice chest and/or legs".

This has its place - I wear a lot of oversized dresses with necklines for exactly this effect. I also wear fitted clothing - or fitted-ish, as nothing I can afford will actually fit a body like mine. I don't tuck tops in because one cannot enhance a waist that isn't there. I can still come off as a 'neat shape'. My neat shape has a tummy. Boo bloody hoo 😏

And I love wide-legged trousers! Love 'em. High-waisted only: apart from the fact this looks more proportional, low waists fall right off me due to the lack of expected curves. I'm sure I do look rectangular in them. These trousers are meant to create a rectangular profile. I am rectangular! It's a win!

Here endeth my fortnightly Ted Talk on "Dress YOUR shape, you'll be glad you stopped trying to disguise it."

Deleted as they've sold out since yesterday.

Yes.

Nothing wrong with the skirt, though an inch or so shorter might look better (on the knee or just above rather than below the knee) but the jumper is just too big, shapeless and baggy. Save it for cold days with jeans.

See to me @Starling7 OP has broad shoulders and narrow hips and adding some volume on the bottom would balance that out. An apple shape wearing a tight fitted skirt would also only emphasise their bigger top half.

No one will notice good legs if everything else looks awful.

@keepcalmanddanceif you are going to pay for one thing have your colours done. Then you can go through your wardrobe get rid of the stuff you shouldn’t wear, sell it.

Then book yourself in for free styling session at John Lewis and buy a few things from selling the clothes that don’t work.

Pop over to the style section on here for advice on specific items.

The whole look is very dated and frumpy - sorry 😔

Black thick tights, knee length skirt and thick jumper just aren't doing you any favours and a horrid dull colour for the jumper too.

Lighten up the whole look

Do you remember the Trinny and Suzanne show where they talked about the importance of a good bra, good underwear and obeying the principles that flatter your body type? I think a rewatch of those shows would help a lot here.

I am more pear than apple-shaped so I know nothing about dressing for an apple but I think if you researched it all you could find a capsule wardrobe that was flattering.

I’m pretty sure one poster on this thread is trolling us.

If that’s what gets them through the day, who am I to judge …

But if they turn up on a board I care more about I will report.

The other top is still shapeless and saggy. It’s ill fitting office wear from over a decade ago by the looks of it.

This. I actually rather like the jumper. Perfect to wear with jeans / trousers when doing some autumn gardening (or whatever OP likes to do in her spare time). But the combination is incredible unflattering.

Try a French tuck which can work with many of your existing tops, OP. Works wonders for showing you actually have a waist but doesn’t look as severe as tucking fully in.

Sophie Clare White on Instagram is great for outfits for sizes 12 and up.

Knee length skirts are coming back into style, so contrary to some of the other posters I don't think the skirt is the problem here. Knee length can look more fresh and current than midi/maxi if styled properly. As others have said, the proportions of the outfit are wrong and the skirt would look much better with a more fitted, structured blouse or top.

If you’ve got good legs then get them out! I would wear a jumper like that with a mini skirt. You’re quite busty so I think a v neck or cardigan shape would suit you better. I’m a similar shape and I find v necks a lot more flattering. The chunkiness of the jumper just makes you look bigger than you are. Have a look on Instagram. Emma Paton is a good one to follow off the top of my head.

It does seem to work for people who actually do have a waist! Side-to-side works slightly better on me than front-to-back, but it still only works from one angle. And looks stupid, basically.

This is because I have no discernible waist. Can't show something that isn't there (see also: belts to define your waist).

If I wanted to fake a waist via clothing, I'd need a bloody enormous, bloused top cinched in to an even more enormous gathered skirt. I'd look like a circus tent lost a fight with a medieval peasant costume.

I think part of the issue OP is you’re looking for quick wins. I totally get this in today’s busy world. Non - iron shirts rarely exist and again, it’s a short cut, if you want the crisp shirt look, you’re going to have to iron.

And if you want your top half to look slimmer, there are absolutely better outfits to wear (as others have suggested) but ultimately you’re always going to have the boobs and belly you have - there’s no way of avoiding that. Changing your diet and lifestyle will eventually reproportion you but I get that’s not the objective here.

I personally think the most attractive body shape, and easiest to dress, is hourglass - well proportioned whatever size always looks great. A size 16 hourglass usually looks better than a size 10 apple for example. Therefore, your aim isn’t to show off slim legs despite a big bust and waist as that’s going to send your body shape off - you need to view your body as a whole and not individual parts.

As another poster said, I think you should try a knee or just about the knee length A line skirt. With a slim V neck blouse and pretty undone cardigan or casual blazer or jacket.

V necks because it breaks up your chest area so it doesn’t look like one big visual chunk (people with small busts can get away with round neck but larger busts need V neck). Slim fitting so that when your cardigan is falling over the top, your top is faking a smaller waist.

But there’s only so much fashion can do. I have a smaller apple shaped body and it’s a nightmare to dress. The only real way of making it easy to look good is to shift the tummy weight (which im currently working on as I’ve had enough of it!).

Non - iron shirts rarely exist and again, it’s a short cut, if you want the crisp shirt look, you’re going to have to iron.

Have you heard about polyester? It's quite new, only invented in 1941. It can make you a bit sweaty, but that's rarely an issue with a lightweight, loose-fitting shirt. Wash it and hang it to dry. Miraculous stuff!

The skirt teamed with black tights are fine…….but NOT with that sweater! You need a much ‘smaller’ top to complete the ensemble, perhaps a fitted shirt or a long sleeved smart tee shirt thingy??
The sweater would look better teamed with slim jeans - think walking the dog, playing with the kids in the park, slobbing on the sofa on Sunday afternoon.

Sorry to say this, but yes to frumpy. The jumper is baggy, shapeless and unflattering and the skirt is dated. You need a bit of a revamp and bringing into 2025 🤗 Have you considered personal styling at John Lewis? If you like your legs, how about dresses? There are some nice shift dresses that you could wear over a thin jumper.

Get some good shapewear from M&S.
The whole look is very frumpy and needs to be sent to the charity shop immediately.
I’m 54 and could not imagine wearing any of these colours or items. Sorry OP!

I think the jumper and skirt are dated. The jumper is too long and not a nice colour. I’m 70 and would not wear either item! I agree with pp invest in a good bra and some magic knickers. I don’t think skirt and jumper combos look good on many people. Try a skirt with a nice blouse with a jacket or cardi over the top for a layered look. Send the current outfit to charity.

It’s not to do with age is it? I have friends in their 60s, 70s and 80s and they look fantastic and still like to wear a version of the current trends. It does take some effort though. You can’t just stick on an old shapeless jumper and a dated skirt and expect to look good.

I would start from scratch op and you have had some good suggestions. Save the outfit for gardening or chuck it. I think the second top is too big and too much of a contrast with the tight skirt and the skirt is the wrong length. Just because you have nice legs doesn’t mean you should wear a short skirt but if you do, get a whole new outfit that looks good together.

Sorry op. I’m early 40s and wouldn’t dream of wearing it. Yes it does make you look frumpy. I don’t like the jumper at all.

Dresses are easier OP than skirts and tops. It’s one decision. Get a pencil dress.

If your concerned about stomach area pop a jacket / suit jacket over the top and off you pop.