Are dresses and leggings frumpy?

[Whiterabbitears]

I'm 36 and a big girl, 6ft tall. I am the queen of tunics and wide legged trousers which I am sick of, I wear them because they cover me up. I want to start wearing knee length dresses in a modern style and I feel the need to cover my legs as its winter and I'm too scared to bare. I'm wondering though if I'm just moving from one frumpy style to another? Also what footwear do I need as I don't have a clue! I am the dreaded black flat shoe wearer, comfort over style.

I live in thick leggings. Just can't stand tights. If the leggings are good quality, and worn with boots so you don't get the flesh strip at the ankle, I don't really see the difference between them and thick tights.
As a way of avoiding get the whole tights/leggings issue, have you considered a midi length dress/skirt? Or cullotes that fit nicely at the true waist?

Something like these could be a nice voice, would go with any dress/tights and they come in wide fit too if you need.

www.clarks.co.uk/c/Taylor-Shine/p/26111965

Choice not voice!

I love those boots! They don't look clumpy at all. I'm going to a big Clarks later today so will try them on. I've never tried midi dresses as I assume they are frumpy on me, although I like them on other women. On me they tend to fall just below my knee. Maybe I need to try one on and see.

Glad I could help! Think they would be ideal for what you are after. Definitely try the wearing an extra pair of pants on top of tights for keeping them up by the way! 100 denier tights are nice and warm and much more flattering than leggings, especially as tights tend to be a truer black than leggings.

Generally Chelsea boots look very odd with dresses unless you’re 18.

I’d go for a longer boot if you’re self conscious about your legs.

I love ankle boots with dresses, most Of my friends wear them rather than long boots. And we are definitely not 18 (more like double that!)

I really like those boots and think they would work well with dresses. I'm tall and sound like have a similar build, I quite like a shirt dress with thick tights and boots.

I've been known to buy maternity tights as they come right up under your bra and don't budge! Next do good ones.

Forgot to say- also black suede ankle boots are v flattering with tights and below knee dresses

I would say Leggings and dress=frumpy. It makes me think of the year 2008, I'm not sure why.

M&S tights are great. I'm plus size too and I have a couple of short (proper short/just past bum) leggings in black that I put over my tights and under my dress, you can't see them as my dresses cover them and they aren't bulky at all. They keep the tights up all day (plus won't flash my knickers at soft play!)

It very much depends on the dress and the boot. Minidresses look ok with ankle boots. But there are a lot of women wearing ill-advised dress + ankle boot combo.

I would actually be so proud of that height if I were you. Its so cool to be so tall. Anyway, since you sounded bothered about it, I found an article that would be helpful for your here

Yours - have got some lovely size 9 (me too!) over the knee boots in right now. They’ll look great with dresses and tights

I am also tall am wear Tesco ‘s Velvet touch tights ( black or navy) in XL 100 denier and keep their shape. Add Clark’s “Orinoco” spice boots and take it from there! Forget about fashion and wear whatever makes you feel good!

Thank you ladies for all your input! Its been really helpful and I feel like I have some direction now

I’d say that tights are definitely far far frumpier than leggings, especially worn with ankle boots. It’s the whole business of wrinkling down from the feet, saggy crotch etc, plus the eventual bobbliness of thick tights. Decent leggings under a dress will stay put and look barely any different to tights, especially if you wear them with knee high boots. M&S do some good quality leggings with a wide waistband, which is pretty forgiving around the middle.