What screams frumpy?

[bradpittsbathwater]

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

I think for me, it's something that's quite hard to put your finger on but, broadly speaking - a lack of cohesion or a lack of confidence.

For an outfit to be "cohesive" it needs to look intentional. That doesn't necessarily mean everything is "matchy" but just that, there's been some thought given to how everything works together as an "outfit".
An item of clothing that might look "frumpy" on its own could look really cool if styled as part of a "look" that considers colours, proportions, accessories, shoes, bags, coats, fabrics.

For confidence - I honestly feel if you "own" your look and style and wear your clothes with confidence, it's quite hard to look frumpy! I would tend to see a middle-aged woman who dresses head-to-toe in microtrends, tries to emulate the style of Gen Zers and doesn't have a sense of identity and self-confidence in their personal style as quite insecure and "frumpy".

I think women who "own" their looks - wearing classic pieces with trendy "elements" or ignoring trends and "classics" altogether and embracing bold colours and patterns - are far more "stylish" and less "frumpy".

I feel I should add this caveat though:

What I've described is the sort of women whose style I admire, and who I think of as being "stylish".

I've used "frumpy" in quotation marks because, truthfully, while I might consider some women to be particularly stylish that doesn't mean I judge all others as "frumpy". I love clothes and style but plenty of women aren't interested, plenty of women make choices that I might not love but they DO.

I'm not perfect and of course, I might make an internal, involuntary, nasty judgement about someone looking "frumpy" at times. But when that thought pops into my head, I reprimand myself for being horrible and shallow and move on! There are much more interesting and important things about (most!) women that what they are wearing.

Purplehearts9066

Thats the most perfect description on this thread imo.

But they will look dated. Depends what you are going for I guess

I hate the word frumpy. This blogger breaks loads of these "rules" (glasses, bob, cardigans, blouses, breton stripes...) but I think she looks great.

www.instagram.com/alexandra.stedman

It should be possible to discuss clothes and fashion in a positive way without criticising other women.

Come on. Jeggings?

But bootleg and flares are back in.

I feel personally attacked by some of the comments on here 🤣

Tbh though you cant win. Wear something i think looks classy, someone will think its frumpy... try and and be 'fashionable', look like a desperate try hard...
Never giving up my floral dresses though!

Asda jeans, Sports Direct clumpy trainers. Sensible shoes from Clark's.

At 50 I'm going to take the advice of 80% classic and 20% fashion.

I think I'm quite well put together but I'm not going to have the exact same wardobe as my 19 year old Niece.

@Drumbeats what do you wear on your bottom half. I'm honestly curious what different people wear and I do like to try new things.

“What do you wear on your bottom half?”

Knickers 😀!

😁I don't think I'll ever stop wearing them even if they become uncool.

Jealous much? What an awful way to describe your sister.

I agree @henlake7 I am finding if somebody can't pull off a look, than it is conveniently the worst thing to wear. When an opinion is OTT strong about other women's choices, it is mostly always driven, by jealousy. Maybe envious of a nice figure, or confidence, creativity, effortless style, etc etc.

I love a decent pair of jeggings!
For when you want that jeans look but also want to be able to sit down or eat a meal without a waist band digging in!😃
Its all how you style them IMO. My favs are my bootleg jeggings, with some vintage converse and a fitted t-shirt.....I know somebody said 'dated' about bootleg but I think the word they were searching for is retro!

Everything is about how you style it surely? Maybe a floral tea dress might look frumpy with a giant oversized cardie and court shoes but if you are styling it in an authentic 1940s way (hair and make up to match) or with a ton of tatts and DMs?
Then you might not be for everyone but you will be unique and stylish thats for sure!

it is mostly always driven, by jealousy

I always think this is the laziest line in any discussion. People can’t offer an alternative opinion without being told they are consumed by jealousy. My very inarticulate, narcissistic sister used this line weekly when I was growing up about everything and everyone in her life. It’s a very weak argument.

@henlake7 That's how I wear my bootleg/flares. I've had a few compliments when wearing this sort of outfit. I don't wear my boots with them because that makes me feel outdated.

See; I think calling someone narcissistic (unless they actually have a diagnosis) is just daft. You don’t like them: or they have annoyed you: it doesn’t make them narcissistic

See; I think calling someone narcissistic (unless they actually have a diagnosis) is just daft. You don’t like them: or they have annoyed you: it doesn’t make them narcissistic

Unfortunately I’ve been on the receiving end of this too many times to even get into it.
We will have to agree to differ.

Women with a different opinion are not jealous. They simply have a different opinion.

lot of hate for skinny jeans and ankle boots - what do you wear with skinny jeans then?!

I agree! And it depends on the boots, surely? The look may not be fashionable but I wouldn’t describe it as frumpy and it remains one of the better look for skinny jeans.

When I hear word frumpy, my immediate thought is some who wears pastel coloured capris, a short sleeved pique shirt, leather trainers with an extra zip on the side and short hair without any styling.

Or someone who is very matchy matchy, like matching earrings, belt and shoes and not just in tan or black but in acid lime or hot pink.

There is a difference between having a 'different opinion', and being far too concerned about other women's clothing choices. The term 'get a life' springs to mind. And yes in that instance, I do think being far too bothered does come from a place of jealousy/insecurity.

@Bringtheweatherwithyou you did say hardly anybody looks good in skinny or bootleg jeans. You also said your SIL wouldn't look good in any jeans.

If you google celebrities in skinny jeans many images will show that whilst they don't look the height of fashion they certainy don't look frumpy.

Many of my firend & family carry them off well too.