What screams frumpy?

[bradpittsbathwater]

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

I like both the Seasalt and the Cos dresses too. Maybe a bit plain, but can be made more interesting with accessories. My own personal taste always leans towards monastic cotton dresses. Sometimes oversized make me look pregnant though.

Not keen on the Cabbages and Roses dress linked above, but that's just my own personal taste, not cos it's frumpy.

I liked the sound of SIL too! Just from that description.

One man’s “expensive” or “stylish” can be another’s idea of “chavvy” or “overdone”. We are all different.

I love my skinny jeans and ankle boots and my cardis. I'm not going for high fashion though.

The epitome of male frump is smart shoes worn with shorts, or smart shoes worn with long jeans. See the "jeans and sheaux" account on insta https://www.instagram.com/jeans_sheux/

I’ve thought of another one! Knickers that come up to your waist in a colour resembling cardboard!

Nothing says ‘chic’ like falling over your own feet and walking into walls regularly, dahhhhling!

Preach it. Mine are a kind of magnolia. I've just bought a sparkly purple pair of boots 💜which are all kinds of wonderful.

I'll just put my glasses on and finish reading what other crimes I'm guilty of (I'm very regularly complimented on my style/outfits) 😁

And me. I’m on a few days city break , wasted suitcase space packing shoes , they are still in the suitcase, the walking shoes have stayed firmly on the feet :)

Just bought 6 pairs 😭

@PanadTe you sound very cool, not frumpy at all!

I actually agree with this list. I think it’s a very spot-on response to the OP’s question. Especially the part about Fat Face/White Stuff colours, I’ve always felt frumpy in their clothes and I do think it’s mostly because of the colours they use.

And the waterproof anorak thing as a regular coat!

I thought she sounded lovely too! Distinctive.😂

I think this all sounds fabulous. But im
currently wearing tartan pjs and an old tshirt because I’ve got tonsillitis and feel crap.

I love the COS dress and would think anyone wearing it was very stylish. I agree about Skinny jeans and boots looking frumpy just because they look so old fashioned now. As for waterfall cardigans, can you even buy them now? Very frumpy.

Or maybe they aren't bothered about fashion? There's a bit more to life!

😂 I just read that as Kickers and thought we were talking footwear. Thats my failing eyesight. I better go and get frumped up to go out.

Incidentally, one of my old bosses had umpteen pairs of colourful DM’s and still wears these in her late 60’s. She was a short colourful lovely funny warm feisty and stylish character and about as far away from funky as you could imagine.

Really? At all?! Come on! 😩

I think frumpy means different things to people from different generations. To my mum (a boomer, early 60s) it means anything resembling what my nan wore in the 70s, so m&s nightdresses, twin sets, long coats with ill fitting pencil skirts, silk blouses etc. For me (milennial, early 30s) its the sort of stuff my mum wore in the 2000s when she really couldn't be bothered, and the before segments of what I saw on those programmes like 'what not to wear' and 'how to look good naked'...so I guess big anorak, old and worn jeans, hiking boots like you get from millets and looking like you're going for a day on the farm/hiking/camping when you're not doing those sorts of activities and it's now become a thing for everyday. When my son is older, he might say 'athleisure' and 'leggings of any kind, looking like you're going for a run when you're not' 😂

I wear this combination as a short arsed size 12/14 and it does look good on me. Loose fitting but structured enough.

I wear bootleg/flares in summer but I don't agree that skinny jeans and chunky ankle boots look frumpy especially if the wearer has good legs. You might think they look frumpy but I don't think many men would say they were.

I feel frumpy at the moment having had two babies in the last three years. All of my clothes don’t fit quite right and are faded and boring. All my tops have to be able to breastfeed in and my boobs are odd so can’t wear anything nice really!

Someone came to see me yesterday wearing a pair of tartan docs - they looked great. I may look for a pair myself! They will go with my frumpy glasses 🤓

I also have a full-length puffa coat and it’s awesome, I love it. I am so warm on the school run now 😊 and I still wear skinny jeans all the time because they’re the most practical thing for dog walking with wellies. Which is what I spend a lot of time doing. In my Mountain Warehouse jacket…

This! My DH hates baggy jeans and much prefers me to wear skinny jeans and boots and says he couldn’t care less if it’s not in fashion anymore.

@IntoTheMild
I had two under 2, it's hard going but you can prioritise yourself; nice haircut, some good basic clothing items, no need to forget yourself because you have babies.

I've just looked at the Fat Face website. What is with the hate? Some of the clothes are colourful but there are a lot of clothes that are neutral/dark.