What screams frumpy?

[bradpittsbathwater]

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

Exactly. I've never looked at my friends and thought Woah, look at you with your tight jeans and chunky boots on looking all frumpy.

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

i don't think it is particularly ageist. What I don't like about it is the casual, smug rudeness. It's a meaningless overused word. It adds nothing.

It's smug because it's the person proclaiming it is saying " well you might like that dress but I know better and I have declared it's frumpy" and giving a little self congratulatory preen.

I have pink glittery doc martens, they are the most complimented clothing I own.

I would wear the Cos dress ( I’m 5ft 8) but not the Seasalt dress.

I have big pants and love them.

I know it was all the rage while I was on maternity leave in 2020, but is athletic wear still a thing when you're not working out?

I genuinely only see the obsession with leggings as a daily default garment on here, not anywhere in my real life.

The only pairs I wear are strictly for running, and look it.

I agree! Unfortunately I cut all my beautiful, down to my bum long hair off short to the “mum Bob” and probably the biggest cause of the frumpy feeling! and the biggest mistake! I’m growing it out right now

I just brought some new dresses so hopefully they’ll help switch things up a bit

Copelia I love your list- very evocative.
I always liked to do sort of imaginary theme dressing in my head too. I used to have a long leather coat that I would wear with spiky black heeled boots, lots of gold jewellery and huge sunglasses because in my head I was a young Mafia widow. 😁
I don’t think style is anything to do with fashion and neither is frumpiness.
Helena Bonham Carter has her own style and is wonderful. Ditto Kirsty Allsop. Kirsty was frumpier when younger and dressed like a suburban estate agent. Now she does her own thing, which while may not be my taste, is not frumpy. Stevie Nicks rocked florals and chiffon- bonkers, but not frumpy.
In fact I would say being a slave to fashion is frumpy. I gave in to mum jeans for a while when they were in. Omg terrible on me because I still remembered my mum in them in the 80s and my heart was not in it at all. Now I’m either in denim dungarees with wild hair and a headscarf, because I like to feel like I’m in Bananarama, or a wool maxi skirt and blouse with button boots because it feels covered up but chic. I don’t think I even own anything that’s really in fashion anymore.

In the past I have thought the same. The way some posters went on I had in my mind they looked like one of those rare people who glide past you and you gasp at how amazing they look. Then they post their new purchases on S&B and I think wow - not so amazing, pretty normal - although everyone tells their outfit is stunning (I'm thinking eh?) - so clearly they have convinced someone.

Hurrah

I am the worst offender when it comes to leggings, they have become like my uniform since discovering they were easier to wear than low slung jeans in the mid/late 2000s, That's why I'm thinking my DS might say that when he's older. I wear leggings with pretty anything, and all in neutral colours like black, grey, brown etc. I think they are still trendy now thanks to kardashians and the like...but in 10 years or so maybe they won't be..keep seeing the youngsters of today preferring the 'baggy look'

Not sure about that-on a style and beauty thread, I think it’s fine to have opinions about frump or not. I’m in the frump camp sometimes but don’t feel in the least offended-quite amused by some of the comments.

I’m still waiting for a list of non frumpy shops and clothes.

My 17 year old wears lots of stuff on here classed as frumpy. She is stylish. Shes especially fond of a floral dress. She hates stripey t shirts. But likes wide jeans and dungarees. She looks great.

Just looked at the Cos and Seasalt dresses. The Cos dress would b look like a potato sack on me, and the Seasalt one is v-neck, so being pear shap me wouldn’t suit me.

However, I think the colour of this dress and style, which suits my pear shape figure, us gorgeous.

https://www.fatface.com/women/clothing/dresses/adele-shirred-midi-dress/0001052.html?dwvar_0001052_color=TEALGREEN#q=Adele&lang=en_GB&start=1

@PontiacFirebird I loved your post.

I like it - reminds me of Toast. Wouldn't wear everything but if someone gave me a voucher I'd be happy.

I like Toast. But that American site is horrible. Failing at being Toast,

A cheap cotton printed shift dress with a black stretchy top underneath & black opaque tights & trainers or ugly black chunky shoes.

“Older ladies” god that’s depressing ti be described as that at 51.

This is like those Facebook posts on what makes you look old, (either clothes or hairstyles) followed by every permutation of clothing you can think of, or every haircut any one has ever thought of, which always leave me wondering why I bother to get dressed or comb my hair at all, as there is no outward apparel or haircut that can save me! Frumpy, like old, is a state of mind!

Frumpy doesn't scream, it mutters!

It must whisper. No one has defined what the actual clothes are! Or the shops apart from Bon Marche. Which is an older persons shop so of course it’s frumpy.😏

I taught history of fashion for 15 years. The word ‘frumpy’ was never mentioned. It’s a new thing.

Lmao I love you

Being young doesn’t mean you don’t look frumpy! But kids can get away with wearing things that would look silly on adults. A Disney sweater on a teen is cute - on a woman in her 40s it’s just sad.

I haven't got a pair anymore but I don't think this woman looks frumpy.