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.

Noddy your outfit sounds utterly gorgeous. But I have to say as a mum to a toddler, I couldn't wear any of the things you are wearing! Silk shirt - nope, it wouldn't last a day before needing dry cleaned. Cashmere cardi? Likewise. White jeans? Not even going there

Bonsoir what's your typical outfit like? Am curious, you say structure is important but also that you dress informally.

I do dress with a uniform atm, which is pretty typical of mums who give a crap around my parts - skinnies, UGGs / ankle boots / converse / Ash wedges / Toms etc, and a vaguely fashionable yet easy to wear and wash top. Sweatshirts and baseball tops, boxy knits, oversized tees. Always some makeup even if hair Batiste-d. I'm agreeing with the scarf comments too, and like the way Oranges put it that they are on the downward slope and therefore in mumsy territory. Mums who look 'mumsy' to me are ones who don't care, they're the ones that make me feel inexplicably frustrated and sad for them (in a very minor way - it doesn't ruin my day ) badly fitting jeans, trainers and a fleece. Or worse - the patterned tunic or coloured tights 'kooky' and totally sexless look, as championed by Boden. I hate that, and find it very mumsy even though it clearly takes thought an effort.

Mumsy probably means different things to different folk. To me it's pretty much like orangesandlemons says, a few years behind, like you lost track of fashion for the years you were immersed in babies and small children. And then you emerged with a slightly more practical take on style, and never really caught up with current fashion.

When my sister and I were small, we used to call it 'womany'. It meant mumsy I think. We still use the phrase. We instantly understand.

I'm nosey curious, oranges. What are wearing if you've given up ballet flats and skinnies??

No they won't always be around. A trend lasts about 7 years, but a mega trend can last much much much longer. Skinnies are a mega trend. However, there is always a reaction against fashion. Always. There will be a generation who have never ever worn baggy/flared/ jeans, so they will return. I don't know when though. However, it's already moving now, boyfriends are much much more popular look newer this year. Carpenters haven't been around for ages, nor have really wide jeans with a crease down the front. They may return, don't know when though....

Today I am wearing grey silk shirt white skinnies leopard trainers and a big cashmere wrap

Did you get dressed in the dark, Noddy? Style & Beauty should be renamed Emperor's New Clothes - none of you can bloody well agree what is stylish/mumsy/frumpy/edgy!

Eh?? I thinks body's outfit sounds great!

noddy's not body's. On phone. Fat fingers.

I think Noddy sounds fantastic.

Skinnies I would put on the downward part of the curve. Don't know what is coming up at the other end yet.

I'm wearing a blue jumper, boyfriends and some rather beautiful pale blue brogues.

Skinniest and ballet flats are relegated to slobbing around the house/garden. Even then I just don't feel right in them

I presume mumsy is a housewife thing,given I'm at work ft,I look smart most days

Basically as all parents are wearing skinnies, the younger generation will reject them eventually....

Quit it with the snide anti SAHM digs scottishmummy. I work part-time so spend a reasonable proportion of my time both dressed smartly and in clothes for childcare.

I have a specific work attire,I don't dress for weaning,park or kids at home
I'm not at home
Mumsy to me is housewife

I'm not sure about scarves - think it depends on how you wear them really. If I'm wearing a blazer just now then I probably will wear a scarf cos I live in Scotland and it's bloody cold! I have a pale pink coat which I love the shape of, but the colour drains me slightly so I always wear my Missoni scarf with it (which has a tiny bit of the same pink but is mainly stronger colours)

I also have a couple of lovely silk square scarfs which I wear for work - I very much doubt the look could be called mumsy, probably more Mad Men!

LOL at Scottishmummy-does a radar go off or something when SAHM is mentioned as you and Happymummyofone seems to pop up with alarming regularity with a pith comment?

I am sahm and I don't do casual at all-I do the school run in full pin up/retro clothes and make up. I wear what I love and what I know I suit.

There are so many women I know who look "mumsy" but I think its less to do with what they wear and more to do with attitude. They are the ones always moaning about losing weight,lack of sleep,time etc. I wish I could help them feel more positive.

spring/summer2014, peg tops, baggy, only 1 pair skinnies

The sad thing is that mumsy has IMO come to mean overweight, frumpy and leggings and tunic.

Perhaps we need to reclaim the word to mean chic, foxy and sophisticated. Or something.

I remember really liking the way a woman at work dressed, and then one day listening to all the other women say how 'mumsy' she looked (when she wasn't there obviously). Think mumsy is my chosen style, since long before I was a mum, especially by capitolas definition!
I'm afraid to me, what is classed as stylish these days (skinny fit jeans etc) just looks horrible. Each to their own I say!

I have no idea what Noddy looks like, but I always imagine her to be trendy and stylish. I thought what she said she was wearing sounded gorgeous and a bit edgy.

I however, so determined to not be a White Stuff tunic/Joules gilet/Boden mac mumsy stereotype am definitely guilty of the uniform of skinnies, blazer, massive scarf type of thing.

But scottish you must have taken your kids to the park at some point

What did you wear? 100mm loubs and a power suit??

White stuff is just terrible...

What are mum boots?

I think blazers are passé too, same as scarves! Even my leather biker I bought this time last year feels dated. I need a new spring coat and I don't want a bloody parka, they are mumsy to me. Love the sound of pale pink coat with Missoni scarf. Maybe a boucle one, I love the Isabel Marant look, DMBL40 featured some good ones... /tangent

I think I did get dressed in the dark .

Converse feel mumsy now. As is superdry, abercrombie is just as popular.

Even the mum with visible tattos and facial piercings at the dc's school looks mumsy . I think my fashion radar is buggered....

I'm leaning towards Nike Airs again.

TBH, if you are an awkward shape that doesn't fit with what the average clothes are designed for you have to accept that you might not always be wearing the trendiest shapes and just find a way to make it work for you. There are lots of cuts which will never, ever work for me and I would look infinitely worse being a slave to fashion and wearing them.

But then I think that if done right knowing what suits you and picking up elements of whatever is in style (colours, details, accessories, cuts that do suit) to work with that is chic rather than mumsy.

I've seen work clothes look frumpy, let's not pretend that every woman who works walks out the door looking sharp and trendy. Too loose knee length skirts, ill fitting blazers and shoes that are definitely comfort over style.