What does mumsy look like?

[appletarts]

What do you think of when you think mumsy? I'm interested in opinions and pics if anyone finds something quintessentially mumsy. It's my fear, looking all mummy.

It depends on the trainers.

9/10 people in skinny jeans look terrible. I work at a university and this equally applies to the young. Give me bootcut any day even if the fashion victims think they're mumsy.

there is a lovely girl in my office, she has no kids BTW

But she lives in bootcuts and mumboots!!!

now I understand my comnplex feelings about her, thanks S&B!!!!

It's probably already been said but is an unfashionable, functionally dressed man, 'dadsie'?'

I walk my dog straight after the school drop off most days. So I wear waterproof jacket, old jeans, muddy wellies, fleece and minimal makeup. I do get smarter as the day goes on, depending on what I'm doing.

Some people are more interested than others in what they look like, just as some people are more interested in cooking, art, celebrity gossip, sport or whatever.

I think a lack of interest in fashion is just that. Mumsy is such an unfortunate term for it.

I think the way you wear something makes the difference too - when my DD saw me wearing a new purple cardigan, with a white t-shirt and straight legged dark jeans she advised me in no uncertain terms that 'that cardigan's all right when you wear it with jeans, but if you wore it with a flowery skirt it would be sooo grannyish'. Luckily I don't own a flowery skirt!

And this is why Style and Beauty stays hidden
ffs, really?

I think Next is mumsy because all their clothes are oversized and baggy. It's the opposite of the likes of Zara.

I mean that's what I believe the hate crowd thinks. It's the opposite of being sexy and slim.

I'm very mumsy and only wear comfy shoes. I can't stand ballet pumps or heels.

Bunbaker I was going to say exactly that about ballet flats. There's not a ballet flat in the world I could walk 2 miles in without being grumpy and a bit footsore. Skinnies are great for tucking in boots in winter, IMO, but v unflattering on most for summer wear, and can only really work with ballets, plimsolls (no support either) or flimsy strappy sandals that I would class as instrumens of torture.

The faux loathing of bootcuts is ridiculous. I bet there's not a person on here who 10 years ago owned any jeans OTHER than bootcuts. And I doubt any of them could give a better explanation for why they suddenly worship only at the altar of skinnies beside 'oh well, the fashion industry told me they were cool, innit'.

Next has gems like every single shop on the high street. You just need an eye.

Fortunately the brief attempt to whip up a counter sympathy fest for the yummy mummies (based, rather oddly it seems, on one persions one-off RL experience more than anything on this thread) seems to have died the death.

But in answer to the question Yoni put to me. No, I don't internally sneer at Mums who've made an effort. That's one of the reasons why I find the sneeriness on the thread so particulatly repugnant. I might, on the odd occasion have an opinion about someone's priorities when they seem fairly extreme and self-damaging (my mother, for instance, spends a minimum of 3 hours a day putting on or removing makeup, yet also complains, on a daily basis, of a lack of time to do things she wants to do . I have an opinion about that. Mainly that it's batty).

Santa,your comment thats just very superficial and can only be described as an act of pure jealousy. Really, anyone less glam than you, who has any kind of opinion about your appearance, is solely motivated by the inevitable jealousy they feel for you? I'm not even sure what emoticon I want for that. Here, have a few

I cannot understand why people come onto S&B threads and announce " there is more to life than fashion you know"

Do they come onto the beekeepers threads and post " do you care more about bees than staving children in Africa? "

Or ask the gardeners " who cares about the best clematis for a south facing wall? I am happy and healthy and I have no climbers at all "

If Kate Moss or Alexa Wotsit rocked up in a pair of bootcuts and shod in low heeled black ankle boots then the fashionistas would be down to M&S as quick as their ballet shoes could get them there ... mark my words.

cannot understand why people come onto S&B threads and announce " there is more to life than fashion you know"

Yes, but it's not just any old S&B thread, is it? It's one where people with different priorities / tastes have been mocked and pitied. Why the effin almighty hell should they NOT come on and defend themselves? I wouldn't come on any random thread and state my point of view. That, as you say, would be annoying and silly.

Ballet shoes are SO last season, dahling

Kristina - this thread made Discussions of the Day; didn't realise you had to be a fashion obsessive to contribute to it. Surely all women are allowed an opinion?

Quite Kristina.

And woozle there is often sneering in S&B at those of us who like clothes I've been on here long enough to have seen many threads where people who like clothes are regarded as being shallow creatures who spend all their time putting on make up rather than playing with their children.

You see the same with regards to people who sneer at those who like a clean and tidy house.

But I don't think I was trying to create a sympathy fest. As I've said numerous times I don't like the term mumsy either.

I agree that people with different taste should nt be mocked or pitied. Not should one assume what someones motives are for dressing in a particular style. Some people don't care about clothes the same as others don't care about gardening . Of bees. It doesn't make you a better or worse person

Wow, have been dipping and out of this thread with great interest. As someone who used to model (catwalk) and then worked in a profession where the default outfit for women was a dark suit with a white/cream shirt, I've had my fill of wearing what I am supposed to wear.

Nowadays I work as neither and just please myself when it comes to clothes. Today, for instance, my outfit includes very long bootcuts and a long space dye waterfall-esque cardigan (the latter from Next). I think I look pretty good but I don't give two figs what other people think. I dress to suit my daily life and, yes, I suppose also some image of "me" that I have in my head. It's sad if some people feel they can't do the same without feeling judged by others for following the herd/not making enough effort/making too much effort etc.

I'm 40 and don't care what anyone else wears. I care what I wear though.

I think the school run thing is way overstated on here - bloody Cod and her 'schoolrun dress'

I do notice when people look nice though and compliment them which probably makes me very strange.

If Kate Moss or Alexa Wotsit rocked up in a pair of bootcuts and shod in low heeled black ankle boots then the fashionistas would be down to M&S as quick as their ballet shoes could get them there ... mark my words.

Kate

And woozle there is often sneering in S&B at those of us who like clothes

I am???? .

I seriously think you're thinking of someone else. I've only ever been on a handful S&B threads, and I certainly haven't done that, either on this thread or any other. I'm really really confused as to why you would think (or say) that I do that.

Wreckitralph I'm not much younger than you and although I can't say I have a 'thought through' outfit every day, I always 'do' my hair and make up before leaving the house - and I am just as interested in fashion as I ever was. I feel happier and more confident that way so it works for me.

And what's wrong with having a flash house and a flash wardrobe?

And I'm sure you could get your DS a little 'I go to Kumon' t-shirt if you looked hard enough...

Woozle - I didn't say you said that - I meant in general there is often this attitude on here.

Just as there is an attitude of moral judgement if someone spends more than £500 on a handbag.

I don't disagree with what you're saying at all - in fact I think we agree that using terms like mumsy just denigrates women and is a bad thing. And if you're interested in clothes well fab and if you're not - that's fine too.

God - I really need to go and remove dead mouse from lawn and cut it - no wonder I'm procrastinating on here