Seasalt..is it all considered frumpy?

[RejectedFleece]

I have developed a particular love for Seasalt clothes..not the patterned things, but the basics like knitwear, trousers (the wide legged cords), the boots, the more tailored blazers etc..is it all considered frumpy? I'm also a Dr Marten, Kin etc kind of girl, so I try and mix it up a little.

[AuntieJoyce]

@Myotherdogsaballboy I usually end up in anthropologie with a plate. Having set out for a jumper

[moggerhanger]

@trailrunner85

People find Seasalt an easy option because it's so "safe." Like Boden/Joules/White Stuff/Fat Face, the clothes are cut generously and are accommodating of wobbly bits.
And those brands are also safe in terms of style - with the vibe of "outdoorsy" clothes for people who don't do any exercise once they're outdoors, aside from perhaps pottering to a tea room or round an NT property.
You can't move for Seasalt tunics, leggings and clumpy boots in the centre of Keswick, for example (often teamed with huge earrings and/or a scarf to look a bit "jazzy"), but they're never actually seen up a fell.
I can absolutely see the appeal - you can walk into a Seasalt shop, buy something in your usual size, and know it will a) fit, b) wash well and c) go with everything you own. There's something very reassuring about that.

Well no, of course you wouldn't wear it up a fell. That's for your Mountain Equipment/Patagonia/ Craghoppers/North Face/Rab stuff. But if you wear it to mooch about town then you get accused of frumpdom then too. Us outdoor lovers can't win 😉

[xogossipgirlxo]

For me, their products look frumpy or are styled wrong way. Some dresses are nice, but I see them more with heeled shoes over comfy flats and I think that's why.

[RejectedFleece]

I do have a Roberts radio, but no jazzy earrings or floral scarf 🙃

[MotherOfPuffling]

Oh and yes, I’m from Cornwall though have moved!

[MotherOfPuffling]

@Neverendingdust

It’s definitely a ’look’, not my style but certainly not frumpy. I see a lot of it whenever I’m in Cornwall (funnily enough). I Associate it with conservative liberal artsy people who go to festivals and antique fairs, shop in both Waitrose and Aldi and would have a Roberts radio in the kitchen? Likely to be married to Dom a lecturer who also has had a few books published? Their kids Ava and Max have higher than average reading ages.

Well this is embarrassing, you’ve basically described my life to a tee! (Well, before ex sodded off, but the less said about that the better) and my wardrobe is, yes, full of Seasalt 😂

[RampantIvy]

@tsatr

I like the plain items but wish they did cooler, brighter colours too. Also I agree with pp’s about the cropped jumpsuits being flattering on me. Teen dd has several of the patterned shirts and wears them under dungarees.

I agree about brighter, plain colours. Although it would be dangerous for my bank account.

[trailrunner85]

People find Seasalt an easy option because it's so "safe." Like Boden/Joules/White Stuff/Fat Face, the clothes are cut generously and are accommodating of wobbly bits.
And those brands are also safe in terms of style - with the vibe of "outdoorsy" clothes for people who don't do any exercise once they're outdoors, aside from perhaps pottering to a tea room or round an NT property.
You can't move for Seasalt tunics, leggings and clumpy boots in the centre of Keswick, for example (often teamed with huge earrings and/or a scarf to look a bit "jazzy"), but they're never actually seen up a fell.
I can absolutely see the appeal - you can walk into a Seasalt shop, buy something in your usual size, and know it will a) fit, b) wash well and c) go with everything you own. There's something very reassuring about that.

[User1754983]

I wear the patterned tunics because I am tall and old and they are easy to wear, I wouldn't have worn them in my younger days but they fit me better that most stuff, they also sell taller sizes which is a bonus for coats, dresses and trousers

[User1754983]

I shop there and I'm mid 60s, I don't think they are really sized and styled for the younger woman so might look frumpy because of that

[tsatr]

I like the plain items but wish they did cooler, brighter colours too. Also I agree with pp’s about the cropped jumpsuits being flattering on me. Teen dd has several of the patterned shirts and wears them under dungarees.

[Myotherdogsaballboy]

AuntieJoyce. That's my local one too. I start in Anthropology where I can't afford anything and everything is too long or too cropped. Then I look round Seasalt, try stuff on and it looks all wrong on me, then to And Other Stories where I try stuff on and it looks all wrong on me. Then Cos where the same thing happens, I Skip Tommy Hilfiger as that's too expensive and not me either, skip Russell and Bromley because that's also too expensive as is White Company. I
then end up in John Lewis where I generally do a bit better.

[StridTheKiller]

It's considered frumpy on here, but not in real life.

[woodhill]

Some of the midi dresses look quite nice, are they any more "frumpy" than what is being sold by M&S etc

I'm not keen on the tunic look

[AuntieJoyce]

@PuppyMonkey

Ah, you know it’s changing season out there when the obligatory slagging off Seasalt thread appears.

Are we playing Seasalt Thread Bingo yet?

Frumpy.
Sludgy.
Middle aged.
My 90 year old mum likes it.
Shapeless.

And all the people slagging it off declining to say where they do shop?

House!

It’s a ritual I tell ya.

There is one in Leeds right next door to And Other Stories. As a woman in my early 50s I know where I’d rather shop

[dudsville]

Frumpy is defined as dowdy and old fashioned - what I like about seasalt is there kind of reto-ish shirt dresses, so I guess they wil by definition be old fashioned. The one this year in a rust colour with 50's era fish design is wonderful!

[TheOGCCL]

My mum channels the Seasalt look, she looks nice, vibrant for her age (76) but not fashionable.

I think maybe it’s all the colour and pattern. I am really into colour analysis and seasons and it can be hard to find colourful things so it’s good they offer variety.

But in the main chic and classy involves wearing minimal colour - grey, camel, white, black, navy. This is not the Seasalt vibe.

They also sell too many horrid tunics - this is not a chic look: www.seasaltcornwall.com/st-agnes-clay-ramie-cotton-tunic

Everything looks slightly off to me, and I’ve never had anything from them but very pleased to hear the stuff lasts.

[PreColumbian]

I wore it for a couple of years but then it did start feeling frumpy, tbh

[VivX]

Honestly (and without judgement) I think their clothes are for people who want to look presentable and 'nice' but who have little interest in style or fashion

This is me, too!

I've never shopped in SeaSalt but I've just had a quick look at their website and it looks like "cosy" clothes.

It also makes me think of FatFace and White Stuff.

I don't think any of them are frumpy. But they aren't "fast fashion". They sell the sort of things that would carry on for years.

[Izzy24]

@Namechangefail123

Not a fan... And a lot of their stuff is made in China, and find it overpriced.

Yes, and none made anywhere near Cornwall which is the vibe they put out.

[KingCharlespen]

Great trousers and really good knitwear. The tunics do nothing for me as I'm too short but their cord products are always great.

[RampantIvy]

@Divebar2021 I should have added "in terms of colour". The colours were more fresh and vibrant. I often see clothes I like in Seasalt, but in colours that don't suit me.

[Neverendingdust]

It’s definitely a ’look’, not my style but certainly not frumpy. I see a lot of it whenever I’m in Cornwall (funnily enough). I Associate it with conservative liberal artsy people who go to festivals and antique fairs, shop in both Waitrose and Aldi and would have a Roberts radio in the kitchen? Likely to be married to Dom a lecturer who also has had a few books published? Their kids Ava and Max have higher than average reading ages.

[Seaweasel]

Honestly (and without judgement) I think their clothes are for people who want to look presentable and 'nice' but who have little interest in style or fashion

That made me laugh! You are completely describing me - not interested a jot in fashion, no judgement against people who are but I go in Seasalt and buy stuff because I want to look presentable at work amongst the general public. No way do I want to be buying new stuff every couple of months, life's too short, so I can wash and wear this stuff to work for years and no-one comments.
**

[Doorhandleghost]

Sea salt is my favourite shop, I buy most of my clothes there. The proportions and cut of the clothes suits me perfectly.

My favourites are the jersey dresses - it's hard to find good quality fabrics at decent prices these days and seasalt never disappoint. I dress the dresses up for work or down for other days - I get lots of compliments.

However some of it is a bit weird - one jacket I tried recently made me look like I'd got myself a Waitrose uniform jacket for working in the freezer section. Some of the tunics are an odd cut/odd length and by and large I'm not enjoying the sludge green colours this season!

I also really like the staff in my local branch, it seems like a nice place to work!