Is the trendy mum look the "new frumpy"?

[YorkshireTeaGold]

There's often threads on s&b about what makes something frumpy. People talk about bootcut jeans, fleeces, flat shoes, lank Bob etc. This is probs my definition also.

BUT... there does seem to be a kind of "mum uniform" that is very much not traditional frumpy but could by definition be described as mumsy. So Breton top, skinny jeans, ash jalous or converse shoes. All the fash blogs on here seem to have a similar style... Always skinny jeans, equipment shirts, that type of thing.

Argh, maybe I'm not explaining it well but I wonder if this look is the "new frumpy"? I've dressed like this for years and always felt fairly stylish, but now I'm done having dcs and wanting some new stuff I don't want to end up actually looking mumsy by default.

......I'm not even "new frumpy" :(

so where are we standing on outdoor style?

I.e I wear a lot of Merrel, Marmot, north face, Jack Wolfskin, berghaus sort of stuff - I occasionally even treat it to a walk in the forest or up a hill. very comfy :)

So if boot cut is out and skinny's going out of fashion, what jeans can we wear? I do wear boyfriend fit but they make me look short and fat ( even though I'm a size 12 ) though I do find them comfy . I don't wear dresses or blouses, I do dress for comfort but try and be trendy at the same time.

I think the look you describe is definitely a modern mum uniform, although when I dress that way round here I feel quite edgy and on trend as most of the other Mums I know are either into White Stuff/Boden style (floral tunics and button necklaces) or don't seem to give much thought to how they look.

I wouldn't call it a mummy look though, even though it tends to be worn by mums. Mumsy describes a very specific look imo, which has been much debated on here (I think it crosses over with the current 'frumpy' thread as well).

As a pp said we are all wearing a uniform of one kind or another unless we are a really unusual dresser. Whether it's Lady V style dresses or skinnies and Converse we're conforming to a particular look or image that we want to create.

A brilliant comment I read (think it was by Kate Fox in Watching the English) was that the most rebellious and eccentric dresser in this country is the Queen because how she dresses is completely unique to her and very unlike what most people wear these days :).

Wear whatever Jean style suits you, within reason, and what you feel comfortable in. If the jean style you like isn't trendy right now there are other ways of looking on trend. Pick out elements of current trends that do suit you (accessories, prints, colours, shoes or boots, whatever) and use them to make your outfits pop.

Hey that is pretty much my look BUT I am desperate to widen my wardrobe to include casual trousers/jeans that are not skinny jeans. Have got as far as one pair of tight black trousers, almost thick tights and that it is. Any suggestions???

I think skinny jeans are starting to look a bit frumpy, partly because they are so ubiquitous and boring now, and partly because they don't flatter that many people.

The strange thing about bootcuts is that when they were in fashion they didn't look frumpy!

Big bums and leggings are in again at dcs school.

Is the Queen's headscarf back in?

I honestly don't think 'frumpy' can apply to a particular item; it's much more about how a combination of items are out together etc.

What looks frumpy on one person can look trendy on another.

I wish I could do the tea dresses, cardie and brogues (the Brora catalogue basically) look but it just wouldn't suit me and would make me look frumpy.

Skinnies or boyfriend jean, breton and ballet flats, on the other hand, suit me (or maybe I am deluded).

I bet Gisèle Bundchen could rock the fleece, Boden top and bootcut jeans look.

I've been thinking of just outright declaring it with one of these tshirts (worn with jeans and converse of course) - will try and do photo:

www.selfishmother.com/mother-tee/

Frumpy is defined as old-fashioned and dowdy, so I think mumsy may overlap, but doesn't necessarily mean the same thing.

I definitely dress/look as if I have other things on my mind at the moment (I do!).

Like others I looked around the school playground this afternoon to do a frumpiness inventory.

Well, the majority of mums (and dads) look frumpy. There was 1 stylish woman standing there in heels and a fitted dress and long freshly blow dried hair and she looked ... out of place.

Mostly badly fitting trousers (so many people wear baggy too short trews!) and nondescript tops. Paired with flat broad nondescripts shoes. Black ones.

I felt almost fashionable in my skinnies and grey ankle boots , ...almost

Tbh I'd still wear bootcuts if I had any that fit me. I'd just dress a bit retro to make a statement with it.