Frumpy

[JaneJeffer]

Can people please stop using this word to insult people who don't want to wear what you would wear. I'm fed up of seeing it.

'Mumsy' is another one.
And mum boots 🤢

Im sure we can style it out. It'll be the next big thing, I'm sure.

I'm musing on the idea of "La Frump Parisienne" There's a Vogue spread in that, I reckon!

I love frumpy

It’s galling when someone calls something you like “frumpy”, but you can’t see them and have no idea how you’d judge their clothes. Chances are they favour things you wouldn’t be seen dead in, so why would it bother you if the feeling is mutual? Style is inherently about subjective judgments that are positive about some things and negative about others.

I invented Mum boots back in the day
We all know what I mean

Doesn't make it ok, it's never been used in a positive way, it's always a sneer.

So what, sometimes people look fucking frumpy
Get out of your leggings brush your hair and sort yourself out

Frumpy is preferable to "ageing" or "grannyish". It's an ageless insult

Don’t we all just have to deal with the fact that not everyone likes our clothing choices and some people might commit thoughtcrime by thinking “that sweater is a bit frumpy” or, gasp, posting on an anonymous forum that eg skinny jeans are frumpy? You can’t stop people having opinions.

Scoot over to the thread where a poster (who might not be entirely serious) is asking for opinions on a skirt. Some posters have opined that it will make her look like a cheap hooker. You can jump in Theere and start telling them off, if you like. Unless only criticism of modest clothes is offensive.

@Ohmycron

So what, sometimes people look fucking frumpy Get out of your leggings brush your hair and sort yourself out

Perfect example of what I'm on about.

Theere? There, it should say!

Tbh I don't know why people post for others opinions on some item, everyone has different tastes.
If you have to ask strangers it's not for you.

Reminds me of The Flumps. I loved The Flumps.....

Mother flump’s headscarf was a bit frumpy.

Reading this, I've said "frumpy" in my head so many times now, it's lost its meaning.

I love the word frumpy, we all know what it means, what word would you suggest replaces it? How about dowdy? do you find that less hurtful?

It's not the word @AmberLynn1536 it's the way it's used.

Well to be fair it’s never going to come across as a compliment no matter how it’s used, same with any other term, dowdy, dull, boring.

I find it a useful word. Some people claim it's ageist but I don't agree because you can have frumpy 21 year olds. When I apply it to myself it's usually because the length of something is off, whether that's the hem of my trousers or the length of my hair, making me feel a bit plain and dowdy.

Nothing wrong with the word, why do you have such a problem with i

Can you give us a better example, @JaneJeffer - I'm still not getting why it bothers you so much, but I'd like to!

@Innocenta for example the skirt thread that @Iamthewombat mentioned people were trying to advise the OP about alternative skirts that were more tasteful and someone then stated they shouldn't listen to any of the advice because everyone on MN is frumpy. It's just a ridiculous statement.

@JaneJeffer that is quite bizarre, I agree!

I agree that you can’t decree everything from say Boden as frumpy, it’s how you put things together. I also think there is an element of women being expected to not be frumpy when they can wear whatever like like.

But, this is a style and beauty forum and some women want advice on avoiding being frumpy, especially if they have lost their way after kids. They are specifically looking for slicker and sharper, for themselves. They are specifically looking for advice. Frumpy is quite a good shorthand for something we broadly understand. I think it’s ok in this context.