What makes a person frumpy?

[Ladyfoxglove]

I'm feeling decidedly frumpy at the moment. Whilst trying on some old clothes the other day, I caught sight of myself from the back in a full length mirror and I look just like my mother did twenty years ago horrors!

The trouble is, although I'm looking at all the nice new clothes around about now I can't decide what to get. I get my hair cut and highlighted regularly (shoulder length, straight) and I'm 5' 7" and reasonably slim, instead of the effect I'm after (sophisticated, slightly edgy but natural), I'm more average 46 year old frumpy, boring woman from the Midlands. I can't pinpoint where I'm going wrong.

I look similar to Kate Winslet but I'd rather look like kristen taekman (sorry for Real Housewives reference but that's the look I like).

Any suggestions?

Librarians can be sexy: pencil skirt, silk sheer blouse possibly with a pussy bow, killer heels, cat eye glasses just waiting for a man to remove and say 'Why Miss Moneypenny'...

Who knows with men though BravePotato. I get the most admiring glances when I wear my dungarees!

IfNot is right. The stuff in the shops right now is dreadful. Remember Oasis, Warehouse, French Connection, Monsoon years ago? Even GAP. And Topshop. I still have old things from them (if only they still fitted). Silk shirts, wool skirts, leather shoes.
It's all polyester & viscose now. The only thing that hasn't changed is the prices... I find it impossible to get good bras & knickers nowadays. Don't get me started on expensive plastic shoes - Carvella? Kurt Geiger? Dune? They all used to be nice once upon a time.

Ifnotnow, yes, also when I am hungover and feel a bit rough.

I only ever get chatted up if hungover and bit rough looking.

Maybe they think I'd just be grateful

I think with Per Una, can only go by a glimpse on the way to the food hall, is that they take a sludgy colour and add some embroidery. Then add some more. And a bit more. Then add a bit of a waterfall/frill/flouncy bit. Add a bit more embroidery. Then stand back and think. Then add a shitload of sequins. Job done.

But I was in Topshop a couple of months ago, it's ok I had a 16 yr old with me, and it was shit. I don't mean 'oh how shocking' but really really shit. All the worse things about the 80s and they had it. It was like the £1 bargain bin in Chelsea Girl. Even the girl serving in cut off stonewashed dungarees looked embarrassed.

Topshop & Marks have both seriously lost their way.

I so agree alkeycat!

Hate hate hate polyester

Hate it.

Mint velvet used to be all nice.

Then I spy a lovely snood.

100% acrylic!!!!

Bastards

"Then I spied a lovely snood..."

Step away from the snood! Leave them with Nik Kershaw in 1985!

There's a thing, retro fashion. If you ever wore it first time around DON'T even go there again

With regard to the ongoing Boden debate...

Wtf is this?

And this?

And this?

99% of Boden is ghastly - they have become rather ironic ( or something) over the years.

But if you look carefully there might be one or two items that are suitable.

Retro fashion! I have a theory that it's all actually the same stuff. It's been languishing in a factory in India for 20 years. Factory owner offers job lot to hard up retailer. Retailer gets hot fash mag editorial. Suddenly it's in "fashion". I swear the stuff in Urban Outfitters is the same as I wore in the 90s.

But there always has been a lot of crap around.

Maybe some of you are old enough to remember Etams, Richards, and C&A?

All rubbish but staple shops of many a teen and early 20s woman.

Not so much retro fashion as retro hotel curtains...

I don't want to look like a hotel curtain, even ironically...

God those Boden 'clothes'! And here we were laughing at 70s wallpaper on eBay last night! Sorry, we don't get out much

How about the fanny mac instead of curtains?

www.boden.co.uk/en-GB/Womens-Coats-Jackets/Coats/WE452-PNK/Womens-Pink-Retro-Print-Rainy-Day-Mac.html

Did you miss that thread?

Even Mildred would have drawn the line at that.

Twinklestein, those are costumes, or 'fun' / 'fashion statement' items, or simply in the case of the deer print, clothing for women whose inner child does their clothes shopping for them.
Each item would wear the woman, not the other way round. Guaranteed not to flatter, and therefore frumpy.

That mac! He's got to be taking the piss eh?

THAT mac! Indeed.

Some very imaginative- or unimaginative- designers on his team.

I'm fully aware of the attempt at 'fun' it's just that people are laughing at you rather than with you...

Twinkle thanks for your second link in particular - good to see the Boden Fanjo print (in the memorable 'hibiscus lady garden' colour-way) clock up another MN's appearance. Will try and find link to previous thread.

Wtf that's one yonic mac.