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.

I have a duffle coat in a colour that really suits me! so it might be officially frumpy but it's a good colour for me.

The whole 'what colour are you' thing can be very frumpy I know, if it's the only thing considered, but I think of other stuff to.

I agree with what pinfrocks said, find your own style but maintain a respectful NOD to fashion.

Surely it's been laboured here a million times that Boden and White Stuff are frumpy if you wear them head to toe and for their look.

I have quite a bit of Boden and WS but I doubt anyone could tell because they consist of jeggings, velvet jeans, plain T shirts, plain-ish jumpers to wear with skinny jeans- and that's about it. I don't buy anything from Boden that is patterned with stupid designs and screaming colours and I don't like the 'aged hippy' style of WS because I am old enough to have been a hippy first time round. But I have picked up the odd basic plain cardi and a pair of their smart- casual trousers for work.

Being frumpy is not about where you shop but more about how it's all put together and dressing in a way that is flattering and not defined solely by your age. Demographically I ought to be in Alexon and CC or M&S 'Classics@ etc whereas I never even look at those brands.

we sound like twins LaQueen

how frumpy is this outfit!

I mean, I wouldn't judge (or think anything) if I saw somebody wearing it but it does seem a bit odd to see the two together for sale.

I do like some of the neck lines on the t-shirts though.

eg

I like this so much I might buy it

I don't do patterns at all the odd polka dot or stripe but no jazzy colours. I still like a bit of edge at times as that has always been my look and I think people would wonder what had happened if I changed too much! But like streamlined and well fitting. I am 50 this year and sometimes think I do have a bit of a 'uniform' at times but probably won't change now!

Pinfrocks, not trying to persuade anybody to shop in CC, but I think it's worth a look, at the very least

I'd wear this with dark jeans

they did get in on the biker asym zip trend too!

90% of CC's stuff is too old for me, but what the other 10 % can be quite classic with a twist, or a nod to the 40s or 60s.

I got a really nice bardot neckline t-shirt there last summer. I'd never buy anything full price from that shop though.

I think frumpy is totally dependant on the person. Things that look frumpy on me can look fab on other people.

I was wearing a jumper dress, tights and flat boots yesterday. An outfit I've seen a million times in various places and it looks fab. On me, it was frump city.

I'm wearing a White Stuff blue and white striped jumper today with straight leg jeans. While it's not the height of fashion (I've been dog walking) I don't feel like I look too frumpy.

Personally, I suit more plain coloured, fitted, tailored clothes. Anything too floaty, baggy or patterned and I feel frumpy. I feel frumpy in casual dresses or skirts, unless it's summer as I just can't pull them off.

ah, this t-shirt, got loads of compliments on this country casuals tshirt last summer. and nobody my age shops there!

i'm thick skinned enough that if yall say it's frumpy I'll shrug

I feel frumpy in bright colours too.

I tend towards greys, oatmeals, browns, blues, those sort of colours.

Bright colours, anything patterned (other than a really minimal pattern like a cable in a jumper), frills, statement necklaces, contrasting buttons, embellishments or anything like that makes me feel frumpy.

I can go for an exposed zip on the back of a slouchy but still fitted jumper but that's it

But a friend of mine looks fab in colours and patterns, in her world the frillier and flouncer the better and she looks amazing all the time. I'd look, or at least feel, a complete frump

Agree re weight and I think too much make up and too many accessories Anything 'fun' or 'jaunty' lol

I think if you are overweight (as I am), you need to make sure that your clothes are exceptionally well cut to avoid the frumptastic look. Which, I think, means avoiding all of the "plus size" shops like the plague, recognising that you are going to look like shit in a very short skirt if your legs are porky and cellulitey. I do have a couple of "semi floaty" dresses, but they avoid the walking tent look by being quite fitted on the top, and floating out over my stomach. And I tend to wear them with eg a wrap cardigan, which pulls the look together more, or a fitted jacket.

I wear pearls with a boat neck quite often.

I can't do patterned clothing at all. I look and feel frumpy in anything wth extraneous buttons, frills, appliqué - anything that's not fairly plain really.

If I wear anything patterned it's a scarf or occasionally a dress.

I like teal though.

Large tits = frumpy unless you work v hard. With my 30Jjs I fight a daily battle against it. Luckily have good legs so usually get them out to try and draw the eye away from the kazongas as much as poss.

I am busty but have learned how to dress and you defintiely need to keep weight down to look stylish.

oh yeh, too much jewellery. There's a woman at my work, and I feel bad typing this because she's lovely, but she wears patterned stuff with a waterfall cardigan and big chunky long necklaces. She's only about two years older than i am but people think she's older and people assume that i'm younger. I dress much more simply of the two of us. Simply but not frumpily i hope

I have a Seasalt waterproof jacket (that has seen better days), when I bought it, I loved it. Now is screams frump, alas I don't have enough cash to get a decent winter jacket at the moment. Can one do non-frumpy on a budget and in a size 16?

I feel your efforts dressing those large boobs. I am only 158cm and it's harder work. Not impossible, but you do have to consider things a bit more. I laugh when I read that Kate moss for example has been vote the best dresser. I swear to god, I probably have to work a lot harder. She pulls any old thing on and it looks fantastic. I'm constantly balancing efforts to appear taller and slimmer against working with colours, cuts, fits, fashion...... I deserve that goddamn award

I had a look at those seasalt raincoats. Not for me, but I saw somebody yesterday wearing a yellow rain coat and it looked very good. She was all navy apart from that with nice hair. And slim. Definitely not at all frumpy. Is yours yellow?

I'm the opposite of busty. I wasn't even in the queue when boobs were being handed out

I'm very fairly tall but straight up and down so need to be careful or I stray into matronly territory as I have no curves to give anything shape

seasalt yellow rainmac £140

no more or less frumpy imo from landsend for £90

I think it's the having the chutzpah to wear a yellow coat that makes it not frumpy. I'd do 'bright raincoat' but only in red.