This tunic - frumpy or not?

[polyhymnia]

Just that really. Here:
www.seasaltcornwall.co.uk/clothing/new-arrivals-clothing/calmwater-cotton-tunic-top_leaf_frond_raven.htm

Am a bit ambivalent about Seasalt. Great that they go up to my size and have bought a couple of nice simple summer striped tunics from there. But I find some of their prints a bit too much and frumpy in an 'art teacher' kind of way. No offence to art teachers.

Quite liked look of this one in the 'leaf frond' for everyday casual wear because its colours are subtle and the pattern not OTT. But I may be wrong ...
Views, please.

Totally agree there is currently a dearth of V necks, which will always be my favourite and most flattering. I do have a bit of a stash of these accumulated from Boden over the years, though some are getting worn out.

I think when I tried on the Seasalt one today I was a bit more forgiving of a higher neck than usual because it's so damn cold!

Sadly I need a bigger size than an 18 which is what that White Stuff one goes up to.

Being really honest, I think anything from Seasalt, Boden and Joules is never going to be height of fashion and therefore to me always seems a bit frumpy. That doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with that as such, they’re good quality clothes that hang well and wash well and look expensive - but that’s about as far as it goes.

Fashion wise you’re always going to find prettier, more fashionable things in places like Zara, H and M, New Look and Next.. (even Next being a bit hit and miss). Generally I think if they don’t have the same things in those stores that they do on Boden and Seasalt style wise then it’s a good indicator that whatever’s on Seasalt and Boden is a bit frumpy.

But at the end of the day, fashion isn’t everything is it? We all have different styles. There’s a definite middle class, wealthy and comfortable “look” to the clothes from Boden, Joules and Seasalt that has its own following really!

Those tunic tops aren't fashionable and are worn to hide the body. It's invisible clothing even with the loud patterns. But as a PP said the brand is expensive enough that it has a certain cache although you're safer with the simple harbour tops than a tunic.

I'm not normally a fan of tunics so didn't expect to like it but actually I do. I'm quite bored of the whole body-con look and to me, that shape, along with the higher neck look quite modern. However from what you've said about your height and shape, it may not be flattering on you, although I think a wide neck can sometimes work with boobs nearly as well as a V.

I've been guilty of writing off Seasalt in the past but there's a concession opened near me and I've been pleasantly surprised by some of it. I've yet to buy or wash so I can't vouch for the quality but the fabrics are often heavier (e.g. their linen) which means the clothes often hang better than average high street. And although I'm not into prints, I like their plain colours. I agree with mrs that they don't always get the cuts right which is a shame but I've seen enough to realise it was silly of me to dismiss them out of hand.

The fabric is nice but it looks like it’s designed to sit out from the body - I’m an hourglass and that would make me look huge because it would just hang from my boobs. So I wouldn’t go for it - I like clothes with a waist.

I'm tall and I like it, it is the sort of thing I would wear as I am long bodied, it looks the sort of thing that wouldn't date over the years either.

Tooextra, I also hate things that fall straight from my huge bust like a tent but in fact this does go in and out at the waist on me.
Floisme, yes I too completely dismissed Seasalt for a long time but have now seen there are a few good things there.

I quite like it. I don't like the wors frumpy either.

I don't really like the label 'frumpy' either. Though it's better than 'mumsy', which I'd never use, or ageist descriptions, which I abhor.

I suppose it's a sort of convenient/ lazy shorthand for boring, dull, unflattering and, as one PP said, 'don't look at me'.
I don't see it as synonym for 'unfashionable' because I'm not looking for high fashion in this case, Though don't want clothes that aren't current at all!

Anyone got any better ideas for a word to replace frumpy?

Frumpy seems to be used for anything which isn't high fashion, whereas I would call something like some old fleece that is just pulled on with no thought frumpy, fleeces never seem to wear out just end up looking really bobbly and horrible

I would say the top looked comfortable.

I really quite like that top, do Seasalt have 20% off days like Boden do or are they like Next and just do the normal sales.

I hadn't really ventured onto the Seasalt website.

No, unfortunately no 20% off codes, just sales.

I've thought about 'frumpy' before and personally I don't mind it as long as it's applied to clothing, as it is in the op, and not people. I don't think it's inherently misogynistic like 'mumsy' (mocking women just for being who they are). I also think it can be more expressive than 'unstylish' or 'dull' because to me (is this only me?) it denotes a certain kind droopiness and lack of shape that can be very apt for some tunics. Linen trousers are another case in point.

What I don't like is where it's used to describe a person or their personality or, even worse, when it becomes a noun - always female, middle aged and every lazy stereotype therein.

I think worn the way you describe it would be good casual wear, and a top in an of itself won't say 'don't look at me'. Hair, makeup, shoes and carrying yourself with a bit of presence is a lot more important IMO. Although I did get the dress-maker to turn a round neck into a scoop recently, and for £7 it transformed how it looked. I actually find seasalt good quality as well. I certainly prefer the darker colour.

floisme, - absolutely agree.
Ilove, agree too about importance of the whole presented. Like to think (hope not deludedly) I usually do carry myself with a bit of presence.Many thanks for the reminder about the neckline. My local alterations lady did in fact turn one of my striped Seasalt tops into a scoop neck in the summer, so could ask her to work her magic on this too.

Seasalt really irritates me. It's one of the few places around with relatively affordable natural fibres, but nearly everything is blue, and I bloody hate blue. And yes, it's all generally droopy too.

It's ok but not worth £50

They did some lovely reds last summer Remus - I can't remember if you like red? There was a red linen shirt I had my eye on (and I usually can't abide linen) but it sold out before sales time.

I do like red (well, some reds) but not linen.

Yeah it was an orangey red which was probably why I hesitated as I'm more of a purply/ burgundy kind of red wearer. But it was striking and the shape looked quite modern - one of the things that made me think I might have written them off prematurely.

For me, the sleeve length would put me off. I have skinny wrists and my arms would look like toothpicks.

Seasalt stuff is really well made. But the cut doesn't seem to suit me. It makes me look like I have bigger hips and a bigger stomach than I do and the length is a bit off. I've still got a few things but I don't feel fashionable in them. You have to try it on.