Mumsy

[noddyholder]

What do you consdier mumsy and would never ever wear even if in fashion?I'll start Waterfall cardigans NO NO NO!!!!!!!!!

Oh god. I think those look quite 'smart yet practical'.

Shoes are a problem: I can't wear heels, and have pronating feet which need prosthesis in, so mary janes are about the only option. I also have fat calves, making boots difficult to buy. I've managed it, but they're not the easy option.

Also, what shoes to wear with jeans, when it's cold? Trainers are too cold, boots look weird, as they're just a solid mass.

Another thought: if you're worrying about looking mumsy, are you by default non-mumsy?

Saw a woman at playgroup just now. Baggy white pyjama-type trousers, red fleece, hiking boots, bad hair. Is that mumsy, I pondered? No, just shit. There's a difference!

I agree with Yangy and Tracey re "I don't buy into anyone thing being mumsy - its how you wear it.". And also, I think its both the cut of the item and wearing the right size that can make the difference between looking fantastic and looking frumpy.

Thanks, Yangy and Fleecy - think you're right skinnies would be a bad idea with chunky loafers. Textured tights and skirts/dresses are the way to go.

Or maybe I'll just stick to crippling ballet flats yawn.

bunny You're right, it is the cut that makes something mumsy or not. But the problem is that cuts change imperceptibly over the years. I'm wearing a fake fur gilet (defo not a bodywarmer!) today that I've had since the 90s. What with fake fur appearing to be 'with it'. But it's all wrong. Too short, and too straight. Also, I've got fat in the interim...

Mumsiness is of course neither a crime nor a moral failing. If you look at yourself in the mirror and think "that'll do nicely, an inexpensive practical, smart outfit which will not frighten the horses: Sorted!" then that's fine. People who think about that sort of think will look at you and think "There goes a woman for whom fashion / glamour / sex appeal / cutting edge cool is not a priority", and they will be right. Some of them may sigh inwardly "But she could look so much better / cooler / sexier if she just ......" but they should just keep it to themselves.
The problem arises when someone who does attach a high value to cool / glamour etc accidentally slips into mumsiness, because misery then ensues - but it's often easy to recover: a large bottle of vivid purple hairdye should do the trick nicely.
The other problem arises when someone looks at herself in the mirror and thinks "I am the dog's! I'm hot, I'm cool, I'm all-temperature MILF" while everyone else is thinking "I didn't know Anthea Turner had kids at this school. And hasn't she let herself go?" But even that's not a problem if no-one says anything out loud, and the person in question stays well away from threads like these...

Straight cut tops are a huge no no for me - they must go in at the waist for me or I look fat. Maybe try and wear gilet w longer top underneath and just take gilet in (even roughly w needle and thread - nothing to lose)?

Same here, bm - it's the curse of the hourglass figure.
Anything shapeless doesn't look edgy, it just looks like you've gained 2 stone.

To look mumsy I think you have to be carrying extra weight, or be untoned. Think bingo wings and flabby tummy.

If you're a toned size 10 with a flat tummy and nice arms and legs then you could wear floral shirts tucked into straight leg jeans with a waterfall cardigan you will never look mumsy. In fact, you can probably get away with wearing almost anything and not look mumsy.

You might look like you have no fashion sense if you're in black block boots and a fleece and a lithe tall size 8 with a flat tummy, but if you're a podgy apple shape who's short as well you will look mumsy.

I'm not sure why it matters though. So what if you look mumsy? A lot of mumsy tpes don't seem to care, which is why I think they end up looking mumsy.

Great post MrsVincent, I couldn't agree more.

hotter shoes are vile

DaisyDayDrea there is no difference between a bodywarmer and a gilet.

But, like jeans, they come in all different shapes and styles. Some are very nice and some are very frumpy. They are not just a mumsy item.

Hourglass? Yes, I hope believe that is what I was. And agree that it absolutely does call for form fitting cuts, else look like Humpty Dumpty.

My Auntie Audrey had Pampas grass.
I don't think her or Uncle Clive were in with the 'grass', though

No, they weren't, and this has nothing to do with pampas grass.
Aunty Audrey and Uncle Clive just liked that plant though and thought it looked nice I think.

It was the 80's and please tell me they weren't having fun all over the street!
Not near my Mother at least, who was wearing a blouse with avocado and prawns.
Boot cut jeans too, purple ones with a matching polka dot blouse.

My mother really was a mother, and Mumsy!

It was the 80's and please tell me they weren't having fun all over the street!
Not near my Mother at least, who was wearing a blouse with avocado and prawns.
Boot cut jeans too, purple ones with a matching polka dot blouse.

The cauliflower perm was repermed every month on a Saturday morning.

And the Ecco shoes were comfy.

Ecco.
Purple.
Polka dot.
M%S.

MrsVincentPrice- your post made me grin from ear to ear! V true- and funny.

Never has a brand name been more inappropriate than 'Hotter' for those shoes. They are not mumsy..... They are great-grandmumsy. Seriously, my mum is 72 and has some issues with arthritis. She would wear some of them, which is fair enough, but they are awful!

WhatsWrongWithYou I have those monsoon shoes in grey. I bought them before I was a mum and they were quite adequate, but never great iykwim. Now that I AM a mum they are terribly mumsy. Not just that, the heel height is awkward - neither kitten nor regular heel, making my feet ache after walking in them for a short while. The heel wears TERRIBLY, and of course it's suede, so no amount of re-heeling and shoe polish will make them look anything but shredded suede over a plastic post (which is naturally white ).

MrsVP I felt I was creeping into mumsy a few months ago, so of course my solution was to take a bottle of vivid purple dye to my hair. I quite like it actually. Now I am a frumpy anime character.

I have just realised that I am becoming mumsy and I am not even a mum!
I am fat, have too many cardigans, have boot cut jeans and unshaped hair. Great. My life is over before it began. I do not give a shit what Gok et al say, fat is hard to dress!!

Oh and have I made a terrible mistake?
www.gap.eu/browse/product.do?cid=57374&vid=1&pid=784264

Uuum- I wore my stretchy black boots and my waterfall cardigan today but wouldn't have called the look mumsy! The giveaway is my harassed expression and 2 small people hanging off the cardigan! Mumsy would be any clothes that do not flatter because you have given up trying- I tend to agree with mathanxiety although I do own a Speedo swimsuit for when I try to relive my swimming club fitness days!!

Haven't read the whole thread but IMVHO it's those tops that are a jumper/tank top/cardigan with the blouse collar and cuffs/sleeves sewn in. I'm sorry but I just think 'Why?'

Waterfall cardigans rock! I love mine it takes the attention away from my fat ass.