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What screams frumpy?

995 replies

bradpittsbathwater · 05/03/2024 08:30

What makes something/someone frumpy? It's hard to define. I know MN can get upset at this word.

OP posts:
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33
bonzaitree · 05/03/2024 20:25

Essentially if you’re wearing things that were in fashion 10 years ago you’re going to look frumpy.

10 years old fashion is old enough to be tired but not old enough to be retro.

Compash · 05/03/2024 20:31

bradpittsbathwater · 05/03/2024 19:27

I think v neck fitted tops are much better on big boobs. I am quite big busted and I look so much nicer with a v or wrap neck.

Yes, a thousand times, but can I bloody find them?! Everything everywhere is crew-necked and boxy! 😫

Compash · 05/03/2024 20:34

Also, black just flattens me - navy is my black, but it's a) harder to find and b) not as adaptable - a black leather jacket or rock chick or Gothic look doesn't work in navy.

ClaudiaWrinklemum · 05/03/2024 20:35

Cookie77777 · 05/03/2024 09:24

Anything that could be described as a 'blouse'.

Anything made of that viscose/crepey type of material.

Most patterns.

Colours that are slightly 'off': mauve, turquoise,mustard, petrol blue... I think of them as Fat Face/White Stuff colours.

Tunic dresses.

Dresses and leggings.

Ballet flats, however they're worn. Ditto Mary-Jane's.

Anoraks worn as everyday coats, as opposed to for hiking etc. Ditto walking boots.

Cap sleeved t shirts when you're rotund of arm.

Patterned handbags or tote bags or umbrellas.

Brightly colored tights. Low denier tights. Any tights that aren't opaque and basic colours!

The type of themed clothing that Seasalt/Joules et al sell e.g. seaside woman/country cottage woman. Toast is bad for this as well. All the pinafores and dungarees and Breton stripes. It's contrived and it's become a woman-of-a-certain-age stereotype.

Big handbags full of stuff.

Doc Martens, especially the coloured ones.

Wearing glasses, except sunglasses.

Brighter pink lipsticks and nail varnishes.

Sportswear as everyday wear unless it's that Varley-type athleisure look.

Round-neck buttoned cardigans. Waterfall cardigans.

Chunky beaded jewelry. Brooches.

Radley bags.

Chiffon scarves.

I've obviously given this way too much thought! I helped my mum (70s) sort her wardrobe when she downsized and these are the conclusions we reached.

It’s like you’ve actually been through my wardrobe 😂

Devilshands · 05/03/2024 20:38

bradpittsbathwater · 05/03/2024 19:27

I think v neck fitted tops are much better on big boobs. I am quite big busted and I look so much nicer with a v or wrap neck.

That's definitely true.

But if your boobs are huge (I'm a G/H) and you're not on the larger side then it is actually really hard to find a middle between looking good/not frumpy and not looking like a hooker.

Sadly not something I've mastered yet.

RenoDakota · 05/03/2024 21:04

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 05/03/2024 19:10

But they sell basics. Like wide legged jeans. So wide leg jeans from Zara are ok but not Seasalt?

Because l have a degree in fashion and was a pattern cutter for years. And l can’t see much difference in the cut.

I wasn't thinking about the cut, just the ugliness. Like this:

www.seasaltcornwall.com/mainland-long-sleeve-jersey-midi-shirt-dress

SadnessInMyIntestines · 05/03/2024 21:17

RenoDakota · 05/03/2024 21:04

I wasn't thinking about the cut, just the ugliness. Like this:

www.seasaltcornwall.com/mainland-long-sleeve-jersey-midi-shirt-dress

It’s not my style (and I don’t like how they’ve styled it with the shoes and socks), but what makes that worse than half the stuff you get from Cos etc? Just looks like a normal, slightly boring, dress.

RenoDakota · 05/03/2024 21:19

SadnessInMyIntestines · 05/03/2024 21:17

It’s not my style (and I don’t like how they’ve styled it with the shoes and socks), but what makes that worse than half the stuff you get from Cos etc? Just looks like a normal, slightly boring, dress.

It's all about personal taste, really. I am guilty of many of the 'crimes' on here: Floral dresses, dresses with clumpy boots and black tights, skinny jeans with ankle boots.
Each to their own.

hotpotlover · 05/03/2024 21:23

RenoDakota · 05/03/2024 21:04

I wasn't thinking about the cut, just the ugliness. Like this:

www.seasaltcornwall.com/mainland-long-sleeve-jersey-midi-shirt-dress

The right person can pull that dress off though.

Some people can walk around in a potato sack and make it look like high fashion.

Appalonia · 05/03/2024 21:31

My God I hate threads like these. Just find out what colours and styles suit you personally and wear that! Most clothes in the shops are cheap polyester tat anyway, what could be more frumpy than that??

NOWorNeverNowhere · 05/03/2024 21:34

IHaveNeverLivedintheCastle · 05/03/2024 18:01

I don't know why you're lecturing me. I never describe anything as frumpy.

It's meaningless.

🙄

stickybear · 05/03/2024 21:34

I like that Seasalt dress Blush

IHaveNeverLivedintheCastle · 05/03/2024 21:38

RenoDakota · 05/03/2024 21:04

I wasn't thinking about the cut, just the ugliness. Like this:

www.seasaltcornwall.com/mainland-long-sleeve-jersey-midi-shirt-dress

I don't think that is an ugly dress. It's a bit tamer than I might buy. I'd prefer something a bit longer and fuller. I could imagine buying that in a situation where my luggage didn't arrive and I needed something quickly to wear and then finding it more wearable than expected. It wouldn't be my first choice but I would wear it- especially for mucking around at home where I don't want to wear one of my better dresses.

The dress below features regularly, with great approval, on wedding guest threads. I really, really don't like this dress- that and the Dancing Leopard Dove dress. I wouldn't ever want to wear either of them but I still wouldn't call either of them "frumpy". They're just dresses I don't like.

Yumi dipped hem dress

Floral Print Green Kimono Midi Wrap Dress

If flowing through the event and turning heads is your thing, then add this to your cart immediately. With kimono style sleeves, a stunning tiered hemline and a cinched waist, we can’t get enough of this best selling dress. Available in multiple...

https://www.yumi.co.uk/yumi-floral-print-green-kimono-midi-wrap-dress-p9151/s53805?utm_medium=ppc&utm_term=yumi-floral-print-green-kimono-midi-wrap-dress-colour-green-size-8-colour-green-size-8-ym3080009-b&utm_campaign=froogle&cid=GBP&wi=off&glCurrency=GBP&glCountry=GB%20&wi=off&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrq7mjojehAMVDqKDBx2V9A0aEAQYASABEgIyFPD_BwE

IHaveNeverLivedintheCastle · 05/03/2024 21:40

hotpotlover · 05/03/2024 21:23

The right person can pull that dress off though.

Some people can walk around in a potato sack and make it look like high fashion.

The "right person" is anyone the dress fits. It's a plain, but wearable, every day dress.

bradpittsbathwater · 05/03/2024 21:42

@Devilshands I'm an E/F. More an E at the moment and a size 10-12. Wrap necks and v necks are still quite flattering on me but I have to be careful on how low cut they are!

OP posts:
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 05/03/2024 21:44

SadnessInMyIntestines · 05/03/2024 21:17

It’s not my style (and I don’t like how they’ve styled it with the shoes and socks), but what makes that worse than half the stuff you get from Cos etc? Just looks like a normal, slightly boring, dress.

It would be modelled in a much more oversized cut. With sharper sleeves and a different neckline.

Pudmyboy · 05/03/2024 21:46

bradpittsbathwater · 05/03/2024 08:44

@Memyselfandtheothers oh no I'm actually wearing a mid length wrap dress today (not floral) cardigan and ballet flats!

Well I bet you look great!
Why are skinny jeans and ankle boots frumpy? And waterfall cardigans? Is it because they are not the latest fashion, or is it something else?
To my mind frumpy is scruffy quilt-type coats, scraped back hair in a high ponytail ('Essex facelift') and ill- fitting leggings, more because the image they give is 'just can't be bothered'
So I suppose it depends on the definition of frumpy, from the posts I have read it seems more like 'not the latest fashion' whereas I tend to think of it as clothes that don't flatter the wearer, or emphasise unflattering parts. Suppose it is all subjective. Certainly I would be considered frumpy by some posters but I don't think I am, I am just not keen on the latest fashions.

SadnessInMyIntestines · 05/03/2024 21:47

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 05/03/2024 21:44

It would be modelled in a much more oversized cut. With sharper sleeves and a different neckline.

I much prefer that Seasalt dress to any I’ve seen on Cos. To me, Cos epitomises ugly dresses, but MN loves them.

This to me is much worse than the Seasalt one

https://www.cos.com/en_gbp/women/womenswear/dresses/product.deconstructed-wool-midi-shirt-dress-blue.1221884001.html

drumbeats · 05/03/2024 21:49

Sadly I think people look frumpy when they dress to cover bits of themselves rather than because they've put together an outfit.

So baggy t-shirts, waterfall cardigans, loose tops with 3/4 sleeves being worn to cover arms rather than because it's a nice top. Maxi dresses on anyone with a bust

Pudmyboy · 05/03/2024 21:49

NoCloudsAllowed · 05/03/2024 14:46

Frumpy is a term used to malign women who are slightly fat and want to be comfortable, and can't be arsed with the whole thing.

Take three stone off a frumpy woman, still in same clothes, and she'd be called boho chic or something.

To me it is a word that means 'you're not demonstrating enough effort in your appearance to be worthy of my respect'.

It's a sexist, ageist, sizeist, belittling term.

This is spot on!

IHaveNeverLivedintheCastle · 05/03/2024 21:54

SadnessInMyIntestines · 05/03/2024 21:47

I much prefer that Seasalt dress to any I’ve seen on Cos. To me, Cos epitomises ugly dresses, but MN loves them.

This to me is much worse than the Seasalt one

https://www.cos.com/en_gbp/women/womenswear/dresses/product.deconstructed-wool-midi-shirt-dress-blue.1221884001.html

I like the Cos dress and the Seasalt dress, although the Seasalt one would be an at home dress. I couldn't wear the Yumi dress.

Withinthesewalls · 05/03/2024 21:57

drumbeats · 05/03/2024 21:49

Sadly I think people look frumpy when they dress to cover bits of themselves rather than because they've put together an outfit.

So baggy t-shirts, waterfall cardigans, loose tops with 3/4 sleeves being worn to cover arms rather than because it's a nice top. Maxi dresses on anyone with a bust

So people with big tits should wear short dresses? How does that follow?

I always thought frumpy meant ‘without sex appeal’ but it seems on this thread to just mean ‘clothes I don’t like’.

Either way it’s a load of old bollocks.

coodawoodashooda · 05/03/2024 22:10

Pudmyboy · 05/03/2024 21:49

This is spot on!

Exactly

JofraArchersFastestBall · 05/03/2024 22:30

What I love about these threads is that, if you wait long enough, every possible style or item of clothing will be mentioned. Turns out everything is frumpy 🤷‍♀️

Perhaps we should stop using loaded, casually ageist and sexist terms for inoffensive items of clothing?

maeveiscurious · 05/03/2024 22:56

I think wearing clothes that fit is the the only thing that matters