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Style and beauty

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What is wrong with looking mumsy?

363 replies

bouquetofpencils · 15/03/2014 11:19

Just that really.

What is mumsy? I associate mumsy with being comfortable. In which case I was mumsy long before I was a mum.

OP posts:
dunsborough · 15/03/2014 11:36

I'm curious as to why you posted this in Style and Beauty...

VeryStressedMum · 15/03/2014 11:39

Nothing. You can look/dress any way you want. But most people equate mumsy with frumpy and that's the look they want to avoid. Comfortable is not mumsy.

eurochick · 15/03/2014 11:42

Nothing. Dress any way you want.

To me mumsy=frumpy and I would prefer not to think of myself as frumpy (although at 38 I am past some of the most cutting edge fashions).

Floisme · 15/03/2014 12:11

Once you get past 40 you're going to be called either 'mumsy' or 'mutton'. I would ignore them all and wear whatever you want.

WipsGlitter · 15/03/2014 12:22

I think of mumsy as dated and frumpy rather than comfortable.

Ergo the ubiquitous "mum boots", sensible slacks, frumpy haircut, jolly colour schemes (red top, trousers and shoes), comfy squashy soled shoes.

I know of two women, one younger than me, other of undeterminate age due to said mumsy-ness, who both just look mumsy.

RedPencilPot · 15/03/2014 12:40

What are mum boots?

RedPencilPot · 15/03/2014 12:41

Also what would a frumpy haircut look like?

FrugalFashionista · 15/03/2014 12:56

I think we exhausted this topic last year - see old thread.

Lots of old threads on mum boots, just search for them.

Wearing mom jeans as I type Wink

MaeMobley · 15/03/2014 13:02

Mum jeans? I see that the US president is accused of wearing mom jeans.

bunnybing · 15/03/2014 13:03

I may well look mumsy but I like to think I have always dressed this way. I can't even wear my mum boots these days due to injury - have had to buy 'comfort shoes' - aaaghhh!

Doyouthinktheysaurus · 15/03/2014 13:10

Mummy is another word for frumpy in my mind.

I wear comfortable stuff always, can't cope with heels or any clothing which is not comfortable but I try to avoid frumpy!

Millyblods · 15/03/2014 13:28

Wow Floisme that is just not true. Women in their forties look amazing and often better than when they were younger. Not just forties either 50 60 even 70 year olds embrace style and look amazing.

Floisme · 15/03/2014 14:22

Millyblods what isn't true? Of course there are loads of fabulously stylish 50+ women - I am one of them Grin What did you think I was saying?

bouquetofpencils · 15/03/2014 14:27

duns borough I love Style & Beauty. Just got some Lanacane anti chafing gel for primer as recommended here. Brilliant.
Genuinely curious and wanted some definitions I suppose. I didn't think of mumsy = frumpy. Angelina Jolie was described as mumsy at this years Oscars on this board. I just thought well she is a mum and I thought she looked ok.
I suspect I veer to the slightly frumpy side of stylishness if that is not an oxymoron.

OP posts:
Millyblods · 15/03/2014 14:35

Floisme sorry and apologies Sad. read that wrong as you can tell.Smile

Ktay · 15/03/2014 14:36

Isn't the mumsy look coming back in now anyway with this 'normcore' thing?

Millyblods · 15/03/2014 14:38

I'm in my 50s too so went on defensive overdrive. Grin

bouquetofpencils · 15/03/2014 14:53

Just reading thread linked above.
Bob - tick
CBA Mousy - tick
Boot cut jeans - tick
Boots with kitten heels (low heels) - tick

OP posts:
Floisme · 15/03/2014 14:55

Millyblods no worries at all, the ageism on Style and Beauty (though not in this thread) gets to me sometimes too!

Having said which, 'mumsy' isn't really age specific; it's just an insult for daring to - well look like a mum Grin

Capitola · 15/03/2014 15:03

To me, mumsy means frumpy, ie bootcuts, tunics with leggings - that sort of look.

noddyholder · 15/03/2014 15:11

Mumsy equals frumpy and a bit dated Not really an age thing I def look better now than when ds was little!

Meglet · 15/03/2014 15:20

Angelina did look mumsy this year. I can't put my finger on why.

I stopped wearing mum boots a while back when I realised how frumpy they were.

Floisme · 15/03/2014 15:30

But why do we say 'mumsy' rather than just 'frumpy'? I do it myself so I'm not having a pop at anyone but talk about self loathing Grin So what's going on?

TheZeeTeam · 15/03/2014 15:33

Angelina's was a horrible dress. It made her boobs look saggy and made her look a bit fat. Note to designers, if you make Angelina bloody Jolie look large, it's time to go back to the drawing board.

TheZeeTeam · 15/03/2014 15:34

Flo that's why I hate the word, "Mumsy". It's just another way of bashing women on the way we look.

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