What's your definition of frumpy?

[stripytees]

I don't know if this is an MN thing but I'm always seeing people saying clothes from brands like Boden and White Stuff are frumpy.

I don't understand.

My definition of frumpy is someone who dresses very plain and quite old-fashioned - like black or navy work trousers (probably badly fitting) with a plain t-shirt that was bought 10 years ago and got a bit out of shape, with a cardigan that is slightly too big and probably in an unflattering colour, worn with very sensible shoes like those from the Clarks UnStructured range.

Boden and White Stuff and other similar brands on the other hand sell short, colourful dresses and skirts, scoop neck tops, bright prints, high heels and colourful flats... the opposite of frumpy! But maybe I'm odd because I don't even consider M&S clothes frumpy although I think it's also possible to buy frumpy clothes from M&S.

FWIW I'm in my early 30's.

Unkemp greasy hair snatched back in a low pony tail.
Dirty unpolished nails
Unshapen eye brows.
No make up
Fleece tops
Tracksuit bottoms

Aren't the first two things on your list skanky rather than frumpy?

I had to go through password reset to say this - elasticated skirts and velvet hair bands = frumptastic!

To me it's nothing to do with the brand. It's when you look at somebody and think 'you could look better'.

I never buy from boden or white stuff but I have bought from Country Casuals (!) for work, but still, and I'm right now wearing a sweatshirt from Landsend.

wellieswithaholein that's a good list though!

Fleece is automatically frumpy (but warm!)

I've never seen a stylish thing made out of fleece

I think you can get away with one 'frumpy' item like bootleg jeans if the rest of you is stylish. You can even wear 'mum boots' if you're wearing the rest of your outfit stylish.

I'm definitely veering towards frumpy as I wear cardigans every day but the rest of me has make up and nice jewellery and scarves.

I had to post because 70isaLimit really did just list all my favourite looks! But mu Mum does always say high heeled courts with tight trousers is 'common' so I only do that to actively rebel.

I think pretty much everything looks good on someone, as in some people can get away with all the examples people have listed here. I have even seen people look great and totally unfrumpy in fleece, they just need to be the sporty outdoorsy-looking type. I would generally think someone looked frumpy if they were totally mismatched, as if they had dressed entirely for comfort without a thought as to what they looked like. But there isn't necessarily anything wrong with that!

So...is there a failsafe outfit that one can wear in order to avoid looking frumpy? Once you've eliminated all scarves, cardigans, potential mum boots etc, what is actually left to wear?

I look at American Apparel and I just see frumpy - it's frump worn ironically isn't it? Tell me it is because I just don't get it.

Silverjohn - it's for hipsters. The hipster raison d'etre is frump done ironically cos it's the only thing left to do.

I'm reading these lists and thinking I need to throw my entire clothes collection out . I never was into fashion and can't really put an outfit together to save my life.

One thing guaranteed to make any outfit look frumpy imo is if a top is the wrong length, especially if too short (unless crop top, for the under 18s, natch). Especially if with shit trousers (ie not fitted at the top properly, no shape), or ditto skirt. But even if you've got good trousers/skirt/jeans, if the top is the wrong length the whole thing looks dreadful. Even worse if some sort of pastel patterned monstrosity

Length of jeans/trousers also key. Properly cropped ones with the right shoes = fine. Ones accidentally a cm too short with medical-style shoes = frump.

This thread seems rather more judgemental and finger-pointing than the last 'define frumpiness' one, which got quite philosophical. I don't like the implication that unshaped eyebrows and 'dirty, unpolished nails' are 'frumpy'. Dirt is just that, dirt, and I think the implication that to look as you naturally do - unpolished nails, natural eyebrows - is somehow wrong is depressing. Are we really suggesting that a certain level of time-consuming grooming, as well as dressing a certain way, is necessary to avoid the dreaded frumpiness?

Also, what is the male equivalent of the frump?

An old fogey?

Frumpy is one of those things I only ever encounter being discussed on mumsnet.

What are mum boots like?

OP, I like Boden (but not all of it) and The White Stuff. M&S does have a lot of frumpy stuff and have you seen their latest collections? Not "frumpy" per se but neon pink, orange, green etc and some hideous florals in blue and brown on a black and white background that no one seems to have bought.

Actually I think big florals are frumpy.

And waterfall cardigans.

Frumpy for me is black leather mid block heel ankle boots, too short boot cut jeans, polyester scoop neck top with a little ditsy print, a fleece or a waterproof jacket. An unflattering short bob cut with fringe.
IRL I only know one person who dresses like this regularly. And I understand why she does, 4 young children, not earning a wage and little social life.
Only on MN do I hear this being regularly debated.

I would define it as looking old for your age. One of my work colleagues is exactly the same age as me but wears stuff my mum would reject as being 'old lady-ish', and it does age her. I am guilty of it sometimes, today being a good example - I was expecting to go to a really cold building so wore a fleece, slightly too big trousers and boots - frumptastic! (didn't even have to go in the end so was baking hot as well as frumpy)

Another thing may be wearing types of stuff that doesn't really go together, court shoes and jeans, or formal trousers/skirt with a t-shirt or casual strappy top, or sweatshirt.

I've never seen a stylish thing made out of fleece

I'll admit to being a big fan of fleece, in an appropriate situation, but do think it's ruined by attempts to make it look feminine. A bit of shaping is fine, but leave off the embroidery and scalloped edges. I have a workhorse Berghaus fleece that I wear for school runs in the spring or autumn (or much of the summer for that matter) purely because it's warmish, easy to wash and can be shoved in my backpack if the walk home again brings me out in a glorious middle age sweat without coming out looking like it's been jumped on.

I don't know what mum boots are, mind, so have no idea if I wear them. I have to wear flat footwear, though, because my feet and knees are too knackered for anything else.

"Today I am wearing wellies, leggings, wax coat and woollly hat."

I have been completely distracted from the thread by the picture of you in this outfit, NimpyWWindowmash And hoping that you are wearing something else as well, otherwise I am seriously hoping that the wax coat remains zipped up . . .

Agreeing about M&S colours this season. So garish that they just emphasise the polyesterness of everything. They have nothing even vaguely suited my rapidly cooling winter colouring, apart from some bland dusty pinks in the Indigo range.

I have a bright red cyberpunk / rave style fleece miniskirt, sadly very much past its best now, but was a thing of glory in its younger days

Who cares? seriously I couldn't give a toss what somebody dresses like. I wear flat boots and clarks shoes as I have a bad back and I spend a lot of time on my feet. The fact that there are women out there judging me for my choices I find rather sad.

i DON'T know what mum boots are either?!

I agree with the poster who said that some frumpy clothes are trendy if they're worn ironically, by a 22 year old girl, who weighs 8 stone, and still blushes if her mates say 'you still in to zach?'

If you don't still blush, you're too old for ironic frump. IN MY HUMBLE opionion

Frump for me is floral mid calf skirts, beige tights, teamed with a hiker's jacket suitable for the world's toughest conditions...and an Arts & crafts-patterned oilcloth shopper as well as a small black shoulder bag. I hate those bags!
Of course everyone has the right to dress as they wish- I'm just poking fun at no one- but I do think it's sad when you see that someone has lost confidence and let themselves go.