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 shite.
Sorry Ormirian.

I did say that though, and your cardis are fine.
I'm just talking any old arse, worried about my fat face and cardi because my new boots are killing my feet, and I don't even like the cheese cashews I bought.

That's quite a mix, I know.

I do like my new boots though......

Just have to agree on Radley bags - something intrinsically frumpy about them which I can never explain.

Knee length denim skirts fine by me - was thinking about those flared mid-calf ones.

On make-up, still think obvious badly done make-up worse than none at all.

Twin-sets completely out for me - but I do have a big bust and am 'mature' so can't really hope to make them look ironic.

thefirstMrsDeVere Wed 10-Nov-10 21:02:12
Mumsy isnt an outfit, its an attitude.

Quote Of The Week anyone?

Also, wearing glasses but not choosing from the vast range of great modern frames that are around in these days, when glasses can be a style statement.

I think 'mumsy' is also 'neither one thing nor the other'. So, necklaces that come to the top of the cleavage, neither long nor short; two-inch heels on shoes or boots; jeans that are neither skinny nor really straight, or even proper bootcut... Maybe it's about hedging your bets through a lack of confidence, or not being able to afford to change your necklace/shoes/jeans every season.

I think I narrowly escaped the mumsy trap the other day. Wanting some ankle boots to wear with leggings, I was tempted by these at M&S when looking online, but in the flesh they were a compromise from frumpsville.

So I bought cheap funky numbers from Top Shop that I can get rid of when they fall apart, about the time they go out of fashion.

"from the vast range of great modern frames that are around "

Ha poly, you sound like an advert for Specsavers

Mumsy is the dressed for comfort look, the look that shows you can't be bothered to make an effort or you don't have the time to.

Taking care of your appearance, putting on makeup, wearing more fitted less comfort oriented clothes, higher heels, nice jewellry and a good regular haircut is the opposite of the mumsy look.

I am guilty of the mumsy look at home, but always change to go out. I have fleeces and the dreaded waterfall but wouldn't dare wear them outside the boundaries of my house.

Mm, I see what you mean, but I don't think it's just 'dressing for comfort' or the opposite of 'making an effort'.

On the contrary, can easily imagine people who'd definitely 'made an effort' in their own terms but still look mumsy - eg, wearing the latest Per Una cardi or lurex sweater, wearing high heels but in a frumpy style(of which there are plenty in high as well as low heels), wearing itsy bitsy gold jewellery, and dated make-up.

Agree though that a good haircut wouldn't ever be a mumsy-looking one.

Totally agree, you have to have a degree of style consciousness as well.

ormirian - not a PR for Specsavers, though agree reads like a press release!

Just feel strongly on this because it used to be really hard to get stylish glasses in my youth (therefore wore contacts all the time), but now there are loads of stylish designs around - in fact, have seen glasses with plain lenses marketed as a fashion accessory.

So it always surprises me when women wear the sort of safe/ boring/ aging/ mumsy styles they might have worn decades ago. That's all.

Actually I don't think that lacking style consciousness and not bothering makes you mumsy. I think that can be quite liberating. Mumsiness comes from not wanting to stand out, to look 'nice, not from not giving a shit.

Oh I agree. Glasses have to look right and there are some good ones

Agree.

agree
naff jeans
waterfall

Ormirian, are you saying that the mumsy look takes effort then, to take the time so you don't stand out? I can't believe women who take pride in their appearance would like to not be noticed for it.

A lot of tiny prints are mumsy

long sleeved v neck jumpers a a variety of colours. worn with navy bootlegs and black boots.Or worse black bootleg trousers

oh and nice to see nodders starting a thread ABOUT TIME

Yes, if course it does. You choose clothes that you like, that you think suit you, you get your hair cut a certain way, you choose your delightlful little gold earings. Just beacuse it isn't stylish doesn't mean it takes no effort.

"I can't believe women who take pride in their appearance would like to not be noticed for it."

can't you?

Well I spent most of my early 20s being a little mouse who went out of her way not to be noticed by anyone. I didn't want anyone to look at me. My clothes were quiet, unexeptional, I called them 'classic' but actually they were dull. I was almost certainly mousy but as I wasn't a mother I'm not sure I could be called mumsy

Giant rucksacks on back that some mumsy types with pushchairs INSIST on carrying. What the hells in them?

Indeed. I think it reinforces my 'middle of the road' point. Don't scare the horses - choose something from that nice M&S.

Short hair = lesbian, long hair = strumpet, Anthea Turner hair = just right.

So the mumsy look equates to lack of confidence then? Wanting to be part of the pack. The Boden and M&S brigade, afraid to push the boundaries of fashion.

Yes, I think that must be it. Dressing up means 'looking nice', in a safe, Per Una, type of way.

Must grow my hair - I want to look like a strumpet!

I think weight definitely makes it harder not to look mumsy. I wore a fake barbour jacket on the school run today (driving rain). I was trying to channel Olivia Palermo. But since I'm built more like Sarah Ferguson pre-weightwatchers I think I looked more like... Sarah Ferguson pre-weightwatchers.

Ho hum. Salad for lunch for me then.

(ps was wearing barbour with navy breton stripe cashmere sweater, skinny dark blue jeans, huge cream loose knit scarf and brown biker boots. And my hair is mid-length - oh the shame...)