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.

I apologise for the wankery last night. T'was a little tipsy. As you were.

Mrs Devere ends discussion

bangs gavel

I've just read the whole thread and I am exhausted. I now have no idea what to wear for anything ever, except for pyjamas as they don't seem to have been mentioned. I'm going back to bed.

Im late forties, long highlighted hair, skinny as a rake so can wear most stuff. I stick to skinnies, Breton tops,white shirts half tucked in, good jeans, good boots, battered but good belt, messy bun, little jackets - sort of casually put togethet but clearly well thought - good foundation, mascara, liner and blush and gloss.

I think that women of my age wearing cheap and very trndy stuff look more mumsy as much of it is not cut for women of my age and it all ends up looking a bit cheap which I find more aging that dressing more classically.

I'm sort of with Noddy - decent stuff worn casually alwys always lworks.

I agree whine you sound like most of my mates. Under rather than over done. I wear basic make up like you and decent quality.

I do have some Boden though - some of their sixties neck 3/4 length boxy tops are great especialy if you layer long sleeved tee underneath.

Actually I have to agree with whine - cheap fabrics and poorly cut 'fashion' garments do look frumpier than simple good quality stuff. Particularly if, like me, you're large and/or if you're not in first flush of youth
But that obviously raises the question : great if you can afford good quality, but what if you can't.

Oh my goodness but there's some pretentiousness and pomposity on this thread.

Wear whatever you are comfortable in ladies, don't be dictated to by people who clearly have £2k to spend on an outfit.

2k where?

That's the thing cattypuss. I'd love to wear things that haven't been deemed mumsy by the fashionistas but as I don't live in London and am not willing/able to drop £200 on e.g. a pair of trainers that would no doubt be deemed unfashionable 18 months hence, I'll just have to stick to Esprit and White Stuff.

Awkwardsquad wear what you like and what suits you. Wear clothes that make you smile and are comfortable and suitable for the life you lead. There is a vast difference between fashion and style.

2K? Hardly. Decent quality basics last for years - I have shirts and jeans I've had for years and years.

Far cheaper than spunking £20 here on there on cheap and nasty tat that looks crap and gets thrown away a few months down the line.

fish I live on a farm in the country - far, far from London. doesn't mean I want to look like a sack of shite , though.

I would LOVE to upgrade my wardrobe to classic pieces that are more ££ but stand the test of time (quality and fashion-wise). I think I might try to endeavor to replace one tatty cheap thing a month until I have 12 things I can wear forever. First up, a decent pair of jeans!

Someone way back on the thread mentioned boasted about the designer outfit they had on that day. I checked out all the prices and designers and it was a c£2k outfit, assuming it was all bought at full price. For most people, that's unrealistic. Everyone is busy slagging off the high street, and even what I would consider mid-range (Boden, Jigsaw, White Stuff, etc.) but they all do nice items (you do have to pick and choose, I think) and some of us really don't have the option of high end cashmere or designer handbags. It's incredibly snooty to say that you can't dress well without spending a fortune, although I do agree that sometimes it is worth spending a little more and buying a quality item (although over £100 for a basic t shirt is more than I could stand to spend).

Don't forget the third twinset wearer: Nigella Lawson.

It's a very interesting debate re how the different generations define themselves. Nobody wants to identify with the older generation I suppose. My DS is only 3 so I can still pretend I'm the younger generation at 42, but I'm on a shaky peg. As soon as he's old enough to assert his own style, I'll be relegated to a supporting role.

Ebay is your friend, you can buy several brands above what you could normally afford. Charity shops and boot fairs too, plus second hand is generally several seasons behind so you don't run into anyone else wearing the same thing. I buy a lot of true vintage too, the quality is cracking though you have to go up a size or two as sizing has changed.

I buy a lot from Sainsburys too. They use a lot of natural fibres. I'm 50 and proud. I don't think I look mumsy ( if such a word exists) people tell me I look late 30s/early 40s.

I avoid tunics, calf length boots, leggings, and overly tailored items. I never wear trainers, and never have done. All over prints can be a bit scary too. I do have a fondness for florals unfortunately, and have to be very careful with them

Well then.

When I started this thread it was mainly because of bewilderment at reading other threads and seeing items of clothing/celeb outfits being criticised as being mumsy and just wondering why mumsy is a bad thing. Referring back to the Angelina Jolie outfit, it was said her dress made her look larger than she is and that seemed to be what made it mumsy. As a new mum I do feel a bit frumpy sometimes due to saggy tum but I try my best and don't beat myself up about it as it's all very natural and there are far more important things to worry about.

So this is what I have learnt :

Everyone has a different definitions of what mumsy is.
Mumsy is frumpy. We could just say frumpy instead of mumsy.
I own mum boots. (I wear them to work.)
There are fleece bikinis in this world.
And scarves are quite controversial and probably deserve a thread of their own

Here in rural craptown there is a distinct 'mumsy' uniform:

Dyed, straightened hair, - blonde or dark with a hint of red.
Knee or high calf boots - muted tones or wacky 'red'
Carefully co-ordinated skirt/skinny jeans top combo
Black runnning gear two days a week to show that your mum's looking after the baby and your going running rather than going back to bed.

It's groomed, expensive looking but dull, dull, dull, every generation has it's version.

Either side of that there's one group who wear clothes and have hair but appearance is not a priority that day or their in work attire. The other group are individuals, stylish and hard to predict what they'll wear but have a 'look' individual to them.

I judge by appearance the middle group but find the other two groups to be more interesting, less judgy about life more willing to live and let live. The gossips and the bitchy falling out seem to be more prevalent in the 'mumsy' conformists.

Mumsy to me is a shapeless fleece, bootcut jeans and sensible shoes , no make up and a mousy nob.

I think "Mummsy" is an attitude. I know that in the wilderness years of childrearing I definitely lost "me" and looked Mummsy. Once they got to ages 11 &12 respectively, I started to find myself again and who I was and what excited "me". I became interested in the world again and joined it as an individual rather than as someone's Mum. Don't get me wrong here, I loved those wilderness years with my kids when we were cocooned in our own world and striving to make sure that they were happy but now I love this new phase too .

Where does one wear their "mousy nob"?