What is wrong with looking mumsy?

[bouquetofpencils]

Just that really.

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

myrealname just ignore,most of this thread,there is nothing wrong with skinnies,parka,flats..etc,
IMO frumpy is ill fitting clothes,in crapola cheap fabrics,its all about the cut,body shape,and good shoes,if you can master these requirements ,then you can look great in anything,

No judging?

There's loads of it going on on this thread

As the OP, reading this whole thread and getting the general consensus, I can declare

SKINNIES ARE NOT MUMSY

There.

Very little is Mumsy if you wear stuff that fits and feels comfortable. Find clothes you like and wear them. fleece is for crusty dog walking

The only exception I make is Bon Marche. If that's your shop of choice it's time for an overhaul.

utterly depressing thread, what people are really saying is that there is something wrong with being a mum, and having the lifestyle of a mum
This sums up what many on style and beauty feel about other women.

I hate seeing the threads asking for opinions on low value, mainstream items as I know it will often turn into a don't buy that, buy this 10x the £ item, otherwise you'll be mumsy.

Why does mumsy equate with not looking after yourself? Surely if mumsy equates to having high lighted hair, nice but sensible clothing and unadventurous make up, they are looking after themselves. Just not in the latest fashion/style.

I find it dispiriting that women are so awful to other women. If its not the way we parent, if we stay at home or leave the house to work, its how we look, or how we dress.

flange bon marche have had a style update don't you know

Cambridge I feel the same. I find this sort of talk very depressing.

In the UK I wore a suit for work or fleece and wellies at home. Fleece is still the height of fashion in Swaledale.

Re dresses: I find it hard to avoid looking frumpy with dresses and flat shoes (a bit easier in the summer with sandals). I like to wear dresses and high heels to work - but I think I avoid the loose women look.

actually, it's easier to look frumpy with flat shoes full stop - at least it is for me, as I have short stubby legs and they just look shorter and stubbier with flat shoes.

And overweight or curvy/busty people have to work harder (if they want to of course ) to look un-mumsy than very slim, athletic looking people.

when I first had my children, I did look awful. I wore ill fitting, comfortable clothes. I had my hair cut into a bob. I wore boden. I didn't wear any make up at all. I wore lots of brown and sludge. I loved White Stuff and Fatface.

I wore M&S to work. On my days off I wore mostly gap long sleeved tops and bootcut jeans (it was the early 2000s) with camper flat shoes or converse.

I think I looked pretty bad actually - and would probably fall into the definition of mumsy.

BIWI, I don't think it's been a judgy thread overall - the general feeling is that everyone has different interpretations of the same word, and it doesn't matter if something is cutting edge/5 years 'out of date' if the person is wearing it well and is happy in it.

Different things suit different people and different body shapes - models are tall and androgynous for a reason, that body type can wear anything, as most people are not that body type we adapt and develop our own versions.

As mums and as a group of women who encompass a large age range, and cover a large geographical area, there will always be someone who defines something as mumsy that others agree with whilst others don't.

Everyone has agreed that frumpy is the look we are actually avoiding, 'mumsy' is not the right word to use - and what looks stunning on one person can look frumpy on another, regardless of price/cut/style.

Well said!

Hello beattie!!! You are so NOT mumsy or frumpy (hope things are good x)

Complete hilarity at the idea that a FT job somehow conveys sartorial elegance and style upon a person as claimed by one poster.

They need to come spend a few days stalking the Central Line.

Yes it it sad that Mumsy actually has a whole other subtext, the same old same old Women hating, ageing hating subtext.

As for Kate Moss and blogger style pronouncements upon the undesirability of becoming 'Mumsy' - well if you are going to make comments like that, better check you have updated your own look recently. Trying to work the Marianne Faithfull / Talitha Gety look only really works of you are Marianne Faithfull or Talitha Getty.

Beattie, today I'm wearing a dark grey t-shirt with a pair of faded blue bootcut jeans from years ago, with my slightly platform skechers flip flops that I've had for a couple of years - I also have bobbed hair.

I don't think I look mumsy at all, my hair is an inverted bob that suits my face shape way better than all the other styles I've had over the years, the bootcut jeans are perfect for wearing with my flip flops and whilst comfy, are not 'shapeless', and the t-shirt is totally unfussy. The only accessories I will be wearing when I go out in a while are a handbag and some sunglasses (both high street, but look pretty - handbag is bright red).

Some people may look at me and think 'mumsy', whilst I will look at overtly styled and accessorised people and think 'mumsy' - it really doesn't matter to me at all. I know what suits me and I try new things out, but I am not bound up in what's 'in' and 'stylish'.

aw thanks Noddy! Yes, I'm fine thanks

monicalewinski - I did look frumpy in bootcut jeans - they made my short legs look shorter and my hips look bigger. A bob made my round face look rounder! I agree with whoever it is that said upthread that it's what looks good on you that's the relevant point. It took me until my late thirties to work that out.

That said, there are some people who wouldn't be seen dead in bootcut jeans now as they are just not fashionable and they would see them as mumsy. My teenage daughter for example. then again, she's wearing Mom jeans so what does she know?

Beattie, what I was trying to say was don't be so hard on yourself (when I read it back it sounded a bit school ma'am, sorry! )

X-post!

Re the mom jeans - this is the most horrific development in Jean fashion to me! There is no way I will be seen dead in that cut of Jean, no matter how fashionable they are deemed to be. I am cringing at the thought!

Marianne Faithful. Wasn't she from the sixties. Pixie Lott does a good impression.

Bootcuts are stylish and lots of stylish women wear them. Elle McPherson wears hers regularly on the school run.

It's not what you wear but how you wear it.

Elle McPherson could wear a sack and look better that 99% of women on the school run? Lol! not a great example...

Iman (the real Mrs Bowie) always wears bootcut jeans and looks amazing.
I have to say I can wear them as I'm six feet tall but don' t have any at the moment. Had some amazing Citizens for Humanity ones which I wore till they fell apart.

Oooh, MrsDavidBowie you've just reminded me, I had some Citizens of Humanity bootcuts too. I got found them at a posh jumble sale and, if I say so myself, my arse looked phenomenal

The school run? You need to forget that if you don't want to look mumsy Stay in bed. Pref with a young rock star