Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

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:
Thread gallery
33
ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 05/03/2024 23:01

Don't feel sorry for me if you are me at parents evening or in Tesco with my frumpy clothes on because I'm aware and wearing them gladly and I haven't given up on life, far from it.

I love that @SpeculatingRooks

I think the statement by pp (cba to scroll back to who it was) that people wearing particular clothing looked like they had given up on life just cos they weren't dressed to her approval was one of the worst posts on this thread.

niteklub · 05/03/2024 23:03

Anything with an elasticated waist (except leggings and joggers).

IHaveNeverLivedintheCastle · 05/03/2024 23:24

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.

That's just a list of things you don't like. I could post my list of things I don't like but it's pointless.

spiritualawakening · 05/03/2024 23:50

frumpity frump

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 06/03/2024 00:01

The Cos dress is much nicer.The fabric is better, it drapes much better and the style is more streamlined. It’s the proportions of the Seasalt dress that make it look boring. The hems and sleeves look much more expensive.

silvergarden · 06/03/2024 00:55

Maybe some of us don't want to look 'expensive'.

IloveAslan · 06/03/2024 02:00

Catsfrontbum · 05/03/2024 08:45

Frumpy to me- and I do not like that word. Skater dresses, opaque tights, ballet flats. I think the Zooey Deschanel character in New Girl was often dressed in "nice" clothes but looked very frumpy and missed the mark often where I think the producers were going for quirky.

Ballet flats with ankle skimming trousers- chic. Very hard to pull off with dresses IMO.

Also leggings and tunics, and I am not talking the well put together looks from seasalt, joules or white stuff etc, but the god awful cheap thin leggings worn with a horrible primark vest or one of those cold shoulder tops. Shudder!!

My SIL doesnt give a hoot what she looks like and wears the most horrendous outfits, Bootleg embroidered pocket jeans with a football jersey and a fleece, odd socks and a pair of leather ecco type shoes.

I lke the sound of your SIL. She sounds much nicer than you tbh.

CurlewKate · 06/03/2024 03:32

Good to see the misogyny continues apace.

IloveAslan · 06/03/2024 03:52

I love a bootleg jean. They really suit you if you are abit curvy. I wear mine with a vest top or T and some tennis shoes or baseball boots and you have an instant kinda cool 70s style vibe!

Me too. I often see bootleg jeans on young girls - are they frumpy?

IloveAslan · 06/03/2024 03:54

PrimalLass · 05/03/2024 15:07

There's nothing like these threads to make you feel paranoid and shit about yourself.

There is no need to feel that at all. Mainly it's just a bunch of randoms listing clothes they don't happen to like. No doubt if they were to post photos of what they wear many of us fall about laughing.

Stand proud and wear what YOU like, feel comfortable in, and look good in.

IloveAslan · 06/03/2024 03:56

TrickyD · 05/03/2024 15:09

Everything for sale on this site is frumpy. My American niece recommended it. https://artemesiamade.com/collections/apparel-shop-all
Does anyone like it? Not cheap, either.

They look fine to me, and I would wear most of them. I much prefer boxy, oversized clothing to tight stuff.

mathanxiety · 06/03/2024 04:22

The male version is the "Dad" look.

Mopsybunnycheesestringsnotcarrots · 06/03/2024 05:11

Frumpy to me isn’t wardrobe specific. It’s wearing clothes that don’t fit your body shape. Lots of people are saying florals. Hippy vibe things and skinny jeans with ankle boots?? Strange. I love a nice skinny Jean with ankle boots I also love flared or bootcut. Florals don’t suit me because I don’t feel comfortable in floral. It’s about clothes that fit well and make you feel confident and yourself. Good question though.. skinny jeans, flared, classic is always good and I’m a bit of a weirdo with too many clashing things put together.

What screams frumpy?
IHaveNeverLivedintheCastle · 06/03/2024 05:40

There's nothing like these threads to make you feel paranoid and shit about yourself.

Quite the opposite with me. I like my clothes. I like the way I dress. I know, because I've been told before that posters think it's "frumpy". In real life I get lots of compliments. If something I own gets slagged off on here I just think the poster saying it doesn't have great taste.

PanadTe · 06/03/2024 05:47

OhItsOnlyCynthia · 05/03/2024 08:47

I think Bon Marche when I hear frumpy. Slacks and a top, maybe a cardigan. I think the male equivalent is Mountain Warehouse, fleece and utility trousers. It's when people buy clothes because they need clothes - they don't have a style or think about what suits them, they pick something suitable and basic.

This is me. I am the male example in your post… although I’m female.

I am a mountain leader by trade though. But I struggle to wear alternatives even when not in work

IHaveNeverLivedintheCastle · 06/03/2024 05:48

IloveAslan · 06/03/2024 03:56

They look fine to me, and I would wear most of them. I much prefer boxy, oversized clothing to tight stuff.

They look fine to me and I would wear it too. It's a bit like Oska Ischiko or the stuff these shops sell, which I really like.

Oska
Envoy of Belfast
Dick's Edinburgh

OSKA UK - Spring/Summer Outfits For Women | Slow Fashion

Discover the OSKA Spring/Summer collection: Natural linen, lyocell & more ✔ High quality slow fashion ✔ Produced according to EU standards ► Shop online!

https://gb.oska.com/en/products/shop/oska-spring-summer/?_gl=1*16082n9*_up*MQ..&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0rmjtPfehAMVGZdQBh1bAgkLEAAYASAAEgLkz_D_BwE

PanadTe · 06/03/2024 05:51

bradpittsbathwater · 05/03/2024 09:07

My FIL wears walking boots/shoes everywhere. They do look awful

Omg so do I 🙈

StarlightLady · 06/03/2024 06:12

Fifty shades of beige!

AliAtHome · 06/03/2024 06:28

Frumpy isn’t about any particular item of clothing. It’s about lack of style or panache. How clothes are worn, colours/patterns combined, palettes chosen and accessories. For example a buttoned up shirt can look frumpy (geeky on men) - but also very chic/edgy. Knowing (and caring about) which to do is the difference between looking good or frumpy. Likewise wearing some random bright colour (as described by PP) or accessory because you think that makes you look quirky/cool/edgy rather than being part of a stylish look IYKWIM - basically if you have to think about/plan being quirky … you’re not, you’re frumpy.

IloveAslan · 06/03/2024 06:46

IHaveNeverLivedintheCastle · 06/03/2024 05:48

They look fine to me and I would wear it too. It's a bit like Oska Ischiko or the stuff these shops sell, which I really like.

Oska
Envoy of Belfast
Dick's Edinburgh

Exactly. I have a rather oversized linen dress which I bought from an Etsy seller, and which I love. Slow, minimalist, clothing.

Maireas · 06/03/2024 07:34

CurlewKate · 06/03/2024 03:32

Good to see the misogyny continues apace.

Indeed. One of my favourites? "Wearing glasses" 🤓 !
Do we think men would ever compromise their ability to see by removing their glasses?!

Withinthesewalls · 06/03/2024 07:35

PanadTe · 06/03/2024 05:47

This is me. I am the male example in your post… although I’m female.

I am a mountain leader by trade though. But I struggle to wear alternatives even when not in work

What is a mountain leader?? I have images of you taking mountains from place to place with a very long dog lead… but sadly that seems unlikely.

HesterRoon · 06/03/2024 07:35

I like both the Seasalt and the Cos dress. I would wear the Seasalt because I’m only 5’3 and size 10. The Cos would look frumpsville on me because I’d look like I was playing dressing up. If I were tall, it’d look fab. I do buy things from Seasalt but avoid their patterned stuff-so much of it is hideous. Much of frumpy is wearing badly fitting or worn out clothes and clothes that don’t look right on your body shape.

bradpittsbathwater · 06/03/2024 07:40

I wouldn't wear cos dresses. They would just look like sacks on me. So bloody expensive too. I think they suit taller women. So beige as well.

OP posts:
Itsanothermanicmonday · 06/03/2024 07:52

Dear goodness what a judgey thread.
So what if you have failing eyesight really can’f see and can’t wear contact lenses.