How can I make this skirt not frumpy?

[fishladder]

I do like the print but worried it looks a it frumpy on me as not as svelte as the model? Can it be made cool?

Bella Hadid and Elle Fanning have both been photographed in Westwood in recent years. Both were born in the 90s, so are practically children.

A skirt like that needs either DM type boots or a slim high heel like the one’s on KM’s boots upthread - two ends of the style spectrum. To be fair though, it also needs relatively long legs.

It’s great that being young is apparently a marker of acceptability. God forbid anyone over the ago of 50 be considered stylish or on trend.

Why does any thread with the word "frumpy" in the title always attract a throng of posters whose sole aim is to tell the OP that item X is indeed irremedially frumpy and there's no way to make it stylish? This is nonsense on stilts. All clothes depend on the wearer, the other things they're worn with AND the subjective opinion of a beholder to decide where they end up on the "frumpy-stylish" spectrum. IE it's all subjective and more to do with whether you feel good or bad in any particular combination.
This skirt has lots of potential stylish-ness and the S&B regulars have posted lots of good suggestions.

Personally, I don’t like it, and the styling is horrible, but I wouldn’t say it’s inherently frumpy. I’d suggest a thinnish plain wool or cashmere round-neck jumper, probably in navy blue. Try Uniqlo. Brown knee-high leather boots, with a heel - I think a stacked heel would look good. You could also wear with tights and shoes, perhaps black suede? But I don’t really like too much black with tartan (unless it’s really dark like Black Watch or something). It could also look good with a white shirt and a chunky cardigan. I would avoid wearing anything too neat/fitted like the Duchess of Cambridge’s cardigan.

My post suggested long or ankle boots and other ideas. It was helpful. I clearly stated it wasn’t frumpy. I also know what my stylish DDs wear and it isn’t VW.

I’m over 60. VW is rarely channeled by anyone on a regular basis. The models do for a bit of retro fun. Zara is a better yardstick than VW regarding trends. There are so many up and coming designers now that are full of fresh ideas. Why would anyone need to look like they are from the Kings Road in the late 70s? Unless you are wearing your mum’s VW of course. That’s different but a Boden skirt isn’t it!

Well I would definitely prefer to channel VW than Zara any day of the week. ( I saw that spotty dress all over London, Berlin and SF this year... utterly depressing). And VW still produces tailoring in a similar tartan to the Boden skirt. It may not be the OPs style though which is also fine. The aim isn’t to be a clone of every other person walking the streets

www.starstyle.com/product_brand/vivienne-westwood/

Zara, as mentioned previously, currently have several tartan skirts. And several of those certainly have the spirit of Westwood.

Who gives a toss what the 'young' are wearing anyway (whoever that collective group might be. I don't think it exists). The OP likes the skirt and wants to wear it.

Some 'young' and 'old' people will also like such an item and want to wear it. Wherever or not it looks 'frumpy' (whatever the fuck that even means) will entirely depend not only on how they style it, but how confident and comfortable they seem in their own skin as well as in the skirt.

This thread is ridiculous.

OP - wear the skirt and enjoy it. Life is too short to attempt to please everybody, and I'm sure it'll look great on you.

Not frumpy at all

Well I actually wore it today for work with a black polo neck, black opaque tights and tan suede boots and got lots of compliments! Have a denim shirt and slogan t shirt that I think it would go with outside of work too. But thanks for some great advice on here and interesting debate!

Would be great with a leather jacket too (so many things are!).