What screams frumpy?

[bradpittsbathwater]

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

I've been reading this thread and wondering about glamour. It's not my thing, I think it's a bit tacky, it looks sticky and uncomfortable and i imagine smells of stress. However, anyone wanting to glam up for an event is encouraged. Women not wanting to dress primarily in "flattering" clothes that "suit them", i.e. make them more attractive to others, are not equally encouraged. I don't need encouragement, but it's weird to me that when I'm out someone might be looking at what I'm wearing and thinking critically of me for not making more of a feature item out of my tits. That's really really weird.

Pretty much what people are wearing on every British high street then.

Too short dresses on plump legs.

Cheers for that! The last two are pretty regularly worn by me 🤣🤣🤣😭😭😭

I reckon frump is more of an attitude than anything else. If you like what you wear and are confident in it then rock it and be proud.

I don’t think any of these are frumpy!
I would call these personal taste and these looks are fine on some people.
I like long vintage floral dresses eg Laura Ashley, I get many compliments but you might think that’s frumpy!
To me, frumpy is simply wearing clothes that don’t suit you or are clearly too small.

They go up to an 18 in some things.

S&B threads where people actually post photos of themselves are really illuminating. So many people are very confident discussing fashion and sound very persuasive until you see them and they don't look awful but if you saw them you would never think they had any interest in clothes.

I think the threads reflect typical MN posters who very much represent the average middle, both in terms of disposable income and clothing choices.

I think I might collate this thread and send it to my very stylish dd and dil. I haven't done enough to destroy their confidence recently....

All of my clothes are ‘ill fitting’, I hate tight fitting clothes, my entire life in the winter is cardigans, long ones past my knees but still cardigans and I wear skinny jeans and flat ankle boots to work everyday. I don’t think I’m frumpy but probably am but I do like comfort over style.

Most things I see advertised on mumsnet to be honest. I’ll wait to be vilified 🫣

If you're so offended why read? You've commented a few times now.

I am very happy snapping up all the waterfall cardis for peanuts on vinted, glad there's not much competition for them! I just got a lovely wool and alpaca mix one, lovely, so cosy!

Anything linen just looks a creased mess to me.

Summer scarves

In general the clothes at Cos and Arket are more modern and not frumpy.

I have just had a look at both sites and have not seen anything I like the look of. The clothes I looked at looked shapeless and ill fitting and very unattractive.

Can we take a minute to consider Iris Apfel? Proof nothing is actually frumpy if worn with conviction and to the point of excess. It's how you wear it...

😂😂😂 they can try but I assume she’s taking her fashion tips from her v non frumpy Mama

I'm making a list of crimes to take into consideration.

Boatneck tops
Waterfall cardigans
Super long cardigans
Three quarter length trousers
Knife pleat skirts - so dowdy
Puff
I'd like to plead guilty to boatneck tops & 3/4 length trousers. M'lud. Round necked tops look shit on me.

Knickers that come up to your waist in a colour resembling cardboard!
Not waist high, but beige underwear is less noticeable under white clothes.

Knee-high boots. Especially over jeans.
Proud that I can still wear knee high boots over jeans in my mid fifties.

Anything over 10 years old
One of my winter coats worn with the above boots is older than me.

For me frumpy is an outfit totally from one of the White Stuff/Joules/Seasalt type brands.
White Stuff knee length floral skirt ☑️
Seasalt dress ☑️
Currently wearing a wierd fish t shirt dress ☑️
The Seasalt dress is a plain button through in a plain colour and needs jewellery & contrasting wedged sandals or it would look dowdy, but it's a linen dress with pockets that's smart enough to wear to big meetings when it's boiling hot.

I wouldn't be seen dead in some of the examples posted of dresses that are deemed acceptable though. Some posters really do need those glasses along with their mirror.

Asking what is frumpy!! Owning it is never frumpy!

Speaking for myself only …my body ! One and a half stone up from precovid and all outfits scream “middle aged frumpy plump woman “ sad but true ! 🤣

I am almost certainly frumpy.
I wear mostly black - comfortable trousers and t shirts and fleeces or jumpers. In summer, plain linen dresses.
Little or no make up, long white hair.
But who actually cares? I thought/hoped we were beyond all that.

Wearing black or navy all the time...too big clothes.
Too matchy matchy.
Maybe wear clothing that has colour, suits you and fits is less grumpy.

I don't care if I'm frumpy!
I dress for my own comfort, nothing else.

Oh no! This is me! I sort of know Ive become frumpy but in denial. I just can’t be bothered to shop for new stuff and now pregnant again seems pointless