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.

Isn't frumpy when you dress too old or inappropriately/unfashionably for your age?

Such as - empire line or bouffant maxi dresses when you are skinny.

Or - Gok Wan style large belts with everything, so 5 years ago.

I think frumpiness is a combination of being ungroomed along with wearing very unstructured clothing. Together they seem to suggest an ethos of 'I just gave up trying.!'

Ungroomed meaning just looking a bit disshevelled, hair not cut well, riots growing in badly etc and little attention to makeup. As for clothes it's primarily loose clothing, nothing particularly tailored or structured like a tailored work jacket. Highlights include the hallmark waterfall cardigan or the per Una tiered skirt. Clothes like this can also look a bit wrinkly adding to the look.

I think certain footwear can look super frumpy like kitten heels or block heel boots and if your shoes look ratty at the same time that adds to it.

While I don't think it's in any way about slovenliness some of the frumpiest people I know did look like they picked their clothes up iff the floor from a dirty pole and threw them on. Sometimes their clothes just looked dirty and in other cases they wore clothes which were so knackered they should have been thrown out ages ago.

Yikes my post sounds mean. Was just trying to remember in detail about those that I thought were kind of frumpy.

Elastocated waist bands, dirndl skirts, fleeces.

Enough said.

I'd also like to know what boots are considered 'mum boots'? Please put me out of my misery!

There is no strict definition of mum boots. It means different things to different people so I wouldn't worry about it!

Mum Boots - are they boots with a 'moulded sole'? Like these: www.marksandspencer.com/leather-riptape-ankle-boots/p/p22341733

I feel we need a definitive answer, so I can make sure I don't inadvertently buy some (new mum!)

I can't find a picture but my Mum Boots are from Clarks. They are black leather and they reach 2-3" up my shin. They have a roughly 2½" heel. They are clearly designed to be worn under bootleg trousers.

Mine are so old I can't find a picture of them. I'd chuck them out but they are waterproof.

These are the nearest things I could find on the clarks website. Mine aren't ruched though.

They are even called "Matron Ella"

Flesh-coloured tights.

Leggings under a dress.

T-shirt under a strappy dress.

Generally just dressing old for your age, with no sense of personal style or confidence.

Blimey QueenGeraldine those are Grandma Boots!

Someone must have a picture of some mum boots?!

baloonslayer

I've asked this before but never got an answer - what cut of jeans is suitable for the 'larger' figure. I am a size 18 and much prefer boot cut jeans to any other style. I think fuller figure ladies look absolutely ridiculous in skinny jeans or jeggings .

Or perhaps we should avoid jeans altogether?

and boot cut look so good with my mum boots

combats with tapered legs worn with a fleece & those walking boot/trainer things.

Calf length, button through, a-line, floral skirts.

Mum boots - as in fairly flat, but not completely flat block heeled black ankle boots.

Puffa jackets especially if combined with mum boots.

I've accidentally reclaimed boot cut jeans though - ordered a pair by accident & decided I actually really like them.

But you know what, each to their own. I don't care what people wear if they're happy. I just care what I wear.

What I dislike though is when people are a bit sniffy and imply wearing make up is some kind of crazy indulgence - takes less than 2 mins & most of my make up is super drug or freebies. Same with styling hair - it takes me 10 mins to wash & dry and about an extra 1-2 mins to pull the straighteners through.

Clearly my taste for denim skirts!!!!

ragwort I think boot cut are and have always been more flattering than skinny or straight. As long as they're not baggy on the arse or thighs, but are snug and slim fit there and just widen at the bottom, and are long enough to cover most of your shoes, IMO they look better than skinnies on anyone over a size 8. Nothing to do with trends or frumpiness, just style and flattering-ness made up word

My fave jeans are A&G Juliette boot cut, not cheap but outdo every pair of skinnies in my wardrobe by a mile.

Another vote for flesh coloured tights.

Also Ugg boots, especially the pale gold ones that go grubby really quickly.

Scarves tied a la 70s airhostess

Louis Vuitton handbags. What do they do to the leather to make it look just like PVC?

KatieKaye - Vogue would disagree with you about Uggs being frumpy, they are back in fashion!

GreenGardenPixie - I'm following you around! In that case we are frumps together.

KatieKaye - 70s air hostesses are the fashion inspiration du jour, seriously.

Tomorrow I am going to wear my denim skirt with a knotted air-hostess scarf and it will look DIVINE darling!

Frumpy is an attitude

Not any particular outfit or item of clothing

Cara deLevigne could wear anything listed on this thread and it not look frumpy.

Frumpy is wearing clothes that don't suit you, and not caring about it.

QueenGeraline - you simply must give your fringe a nice "flick* to complete the look. And maybe a little dab of Charlie behind your ears. Or should that be Tweed???

A pp said that frumpy was the sense of 'you could do better'. For me, a piece of clothing is often discarded as 'frumpy' if it looks great on the hanger, but once on manages to emphasise my shortness and cling on only to the unflattering curves. So, for me, 'frumpy' is the word for clothes, once on, that make me feel especially unattractive. For that reason I wouldn't apply it to any one item of clothing in the abstract, because I think it completely depends on the person wearing the clothes. What is frumpy for one person is not frumpy for another.

A lot of Fat Face summer dresses - thin, clingy, jersey fabric - have this effect on me, and I often think that White Stuff has a similar vibe with its summer clothing, to touch on the brands mentioned in the OP. I've never tried Boden!

For some reason, this thread is making me think about this Dustin Hoffman interview clip

Fleeces and crocs.

I had a needlework teacher at school who was definitely frumpy. She wore home-made tweed suits (she was probably about a size 18 or so) which had obviously been really carefully made but didn't flatter her, and I still remember the hand-sewn hems you could see a mile off because the stitches pulled the heavy material inwards. Oh, and she wore loafer-style shoes with it. And a rigid helmet of curls for her hairstyle.

Actually, knitting, crochet and dressmaking pattern manufacturers should all be pulled up for frumpiness. The so-called 'easy' patterns are the worst for turning out tops with all the flattering fit of Gran's old teatowels, and 90% of the patterns I see in craft magazines feature garments I wouldn't wear to take the bins out. It's difficult to put my finger on exactly what makes them so disastrous style-wise but I suspect it's something to do with the journey being more fun than the destination.

For me, the opposite of frumpy is not high fashion or 'bang on trend' but someone who doesn't show a passing nod to latest trends. In other words wearing clothes that were 'in' 10 , 15 or more years ago but are not yet retro. Usually the clothes are too big and cover up their figure rather than showing off the good bits.
And not making any effort at all to look their best. That often means no make up even though they'd look loads better with a bit of foundation, blusher and mascara, a decent flattering hair cut, and some grooming.

My neighbours are a bit frumpy. They are early 60s and wear the same things as my mum and her friends who are 80+ - ankle length flowery skirts with a T-shirt in summer, thicker skirts or bootleg jeans in winter, frumpy flat shoes- like Hotters- beige anorak type coats, or fleeces or Gortex as everyday wear, white socks with jeans, half-mast jeans....