What's the difference between 'mum' and 'mumsy'

[MissRead]

I have decided I am too old and set in my ways to try and be something I'm not. I'm a mum, I work from home and I like to be comfy. There's a reason why I live in jeans, t-shirts and Converse and that's because it suits my lifestyle - I love the idea of pretty dresses and more funky clothes but I can't really afford them and I don't really need them. But I do want to look nice and have a horror or sliding into mumsiness without realising. I'm not feeling the need for mum boots and slightly short jeans yet (and although I do own a waterfall cardi I don't wear it very often) but I have recently found myself liking the shoes in Clarks which I find rather worrying. What are the other real no-nos if I want to stay semi-trendy and attractive mum and not mumsy frump?

These threads often end in tears - someone posts a list of their no-nos and a load of indignant people pile on saying 'I wear that and I DO NOT LOOK MUMSY!!'

Having said that.....

Personally I don't think there is anything wrong with some (carefully chosen!) shoes from Clarks.

I think the biggest thing that can age a person and make them more likely to look frumpy and mumsy is carrying a lot of extra weight. Before I get flamed - I am not saying that everyone should be a 6 or an 8. I know that there will be fresh faced youthful cool people out there who are also overweight. I just think (as a broad generalisation) that carrying extra weight does age people.

Other than that, I honestly think it is different things for different people. Plucked eyebrows help - as does avoiding Per Una .

Not going to say a thing because, as notyummy says, these threads come along quite often and always end in tears ....

(Do agree on Per Una, though!)

....but not OVER plucked eyebrows. They have the opposite effect.

That's fair enough notyummy but aren't there certain things that are just complete no-nos (like slightly too short jeans) rather than just a matter of taste?

I agree about the weight thing and also just general grooming which I guess covers the tidy eyebrows!

I wear Peruna [stroppy] I don't look mumsy though. I think it depends how you wear the clothes and what with. I certainly dislike most clothes from peruna but some of it is ok.

I think three quarter length jeans and flip flops look mumsy, as do denim skirts with floral shirts.