What screams frumpy?

[bradpittsbathwater]

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

I don't think isn't always down to the items of clothing but how they're worn. I'll fitting whether to tight or loose doesn't flatter anyone.
A decent hairstyle, clean and tidy works wonders with any outfit.

"Frumpy" is often chucked out on MN in the first sense. Clothes which don't "show off your figure" are often called"frumpy". And often said about non- high street, non mainstream, a bit out there brands which are fashionable.

At the same time brands which, to my eyes certainly, are not fashionable are praised for doing exactly that.

@W822xp is that you in that pic? You look amazing. So not frumpy. And I really like that bag.

Those things are currently fashionable? - I’ll get my coat!😂

Wearing glasses, except sunglasses.

Utter tosh.

@Itsabouttimeformetogetonthefloor supermarket T-shirts/tops are usually a bit out of my price range.. I get mine from Primark 😂 I fear this may not be considered a win.

I’ve just been laughingly telling my husband about this thread and how my entire comfortable/low budget style of dress has been completely assassinated by the Mumsnet collective. He is unsurprised as he thinks Mumsnet is a “cess pit of hatred” 😂. I explained that it wasn’t personal.. or aimed at me in any way.. but he’s taken it v personally on my behalf, bless him. He says I look “damn fine” in my skinny jeans (apparently even with my size 16 arse).

I told him “cess pit of hatred” was a bit strong.. it’s just that the average Mumsnetter is very middle class and many (not all) posters come over as quite judgemental as well they might on a faceless platform that invites honest opinion.

He suggest I minimise my use of Mumsnet because he’s worried it will negatively affect my self esteem and increase my menopausal anxiety needlessly.

Even though I told him that other threads in other areas can often be full of kindness and support.

I love my DH. 😊

I assumed it was also code for 'old and fat'.

He suggest I minimise my use of Mumsnet because he’s worried it will negatively affect my self esteem and increase my menopausal anxiety needlessly.
Christ on a bike

Non-branded trainers or pleather boots.

Bless you. There are plenty of fugly trainers out there but I'm really not sure that branded vs non-branded is the thing that splits frumpy from non-frumpy.

Meanwhile, on the what shoes to wear to work thread there's a lot of posters who are earnestly suggesting Mary Jane's. Despite my many crimes against fashion, even I haven't sunk that low.

I tend to think of it as wearing clothes that are ill fitting, shapeless, or shapes that don't work on a specific figure (wrong lengths for your body.). Saggy hems.

Or items where the color / pattern style are really mismatched and don't work with other parts of what you are wearing.

I’m watching Motherland. I detest the word frumpy. But if l cared to l could define who was like this on there!

Not sure who posted Reece Witherspoon's clothing line up thread, but I LOVE it! If that is frumpy, I am ready to embrace frump as a look whole heartedly. Love the cardis, love the dresses, love the colour, love the cheerfulness and freshness of it all. I'm done with following what cut of jeans are or aren't acceptable. A lot of what I see young people wearing at the moment is so bland. There doesn't seem to be any youth culture anymore. I'm not in London or a major city so maybe the fashion is more interesting elsewhere.

I can only imagine your DH does not spend much time on literally any other SM platform.

Every other SM platform - oodles of the most extreme porn including rape, CSA images etc, constant harassment and belittlement of women posters.

MN - they'll give you some grief if you wear a waterfall cardigan.

No offence. But you’re slim and good looking with lovely hair. So it’s not like anyone will think you’re frumpy

Which one is the frumpy one?

Exactly this! I don't know why anyone is taking this thread so seriously. I am going to continue to wear my cardie because I can take it off on the Tube when I get too hot. It's not waterfall though...

I am suspicious of men who want their wives to minimise MN usage and think it's a "cess pit of hatred".

An interesting question, because the character who actually wears the largest number of frump-shamed clothes mentioned on here is actually Liz, followed by Julia, but I bet most people think of Anne as the frumpy one.

Unfortunately not @WhereAreWeNow and @Ninahaen . Neither photo is of me; I took them from pinterest.

But I suppose that goes to show that self care goes a long way <books hair appointment and dashes off to the weight loss chat> 🙂

I can recommend the bag, it's my new everyday favourite @WhereAreWeNow .

This is what l thought. But Liz is the coolest by far. She had DM’s on on the episode l watched tonight.

I've read on here that Amanda - Lucy Punch wore frumpy clothes even though I couldn't see beyond how attractive she is. It proves we all see different.

@DetectiveDouche one of the best comments on the thread!
Snobbery is at it's finest on here. News flash to some, that people may not be able to afford brands, or want to advertise them for free, even if they can. I really think it comes to something when you're eagle eyeing footwear to look far labels; I'd rather be poor!! 😂
In RL I don't know anybody like some of the posters on here, I must live in a <shudder> working class area, out and proud in the supermarket clothing aisle. I feel like this thead should be renamed TOWIE!

Don't like the word 'frumpy' as it's usually directed at women of a certain age.

And threads like this ALWAYS get peoples backs up. Some posters seem to feel personally attacked. And that it's bitchy. As if it's some sort of no go area. And directed at other women rather than how you might feel about yourself.

Personally I think discussing an OP like this is totally reasonable on a Style& Beauty Board. And quite interesting.

I know what makes ME FEEL frumpy, myself.

I don't speak for anyone else. But the following do.

When I look in the mirror and my hair has an aura of all those sticky up flyaway bits especially at the parting ( and I thought it was all smooth and swishy. )

I felt frumpy in skinny jeans today. They just felt that way. Good Luck to anyone who feels great in them.

Bobbly jumpers.

Dark socks with white trainers a la Andy Murray.

A bad bra.

T Shirts that have stretched at the hem.

Cropped trousers that end at my mid calf. And shorts that end at my knee.

A tiered Amish type dress. Some people rock them, not me, I feel a drab.

Unkempt eyebrows make me feel frumpy. If they don't for you, fab.

Ditto for unpainted bare toenails. Mine aren't very nice.

If I wore court shoes with a skirt I would feel frumpy . Just not me.

So would a brooch. No idea why. Just looks wrong on me.

A black handbag with everything. It would FEEL frumpy.

Run down shoes feel frumpy to me. Except for my wellies which can be as grubby as they like.

I would feel frumpy in a matching earrings and necklace set. Wouldn't feel right. Some people would look grand.

Wearing too many colours makes me feel frumpy. That just applies to how I personally dress. I like a simple look. Someone else would hate it probably and feel the opposite.

A wool type coat that is creased.

Thin Black turtle neck neck jumper under everything. Looking at you Mum.

Nothing ish jeans. Mid blue. Shapeless. Too tapered. I def feel wrong in the wrong jeans.

I don't consider glasses frumpy at all. The opposite I'd say. But in fairness it was only one actual poster who said it.

I think the equivalent for Men is the Dad prefix.

Dad jeans. Dad trainers. Dad T shirt etc

It's a completely deranged comment by a ranging misogynist, but you do you.

@MissLucyEyelesbarrow 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 that’s hilarious. He’s not a misogynist -he’s genuinely not and I know a few - even though his view of Mumsnet is skewed. You are very defensive of MN when I think it can take care of itself.

DH meanwhile is defensive of me. I described how every single item of clothing I wear and am prone to wearing has been repeatedly dissed on this thread… which I am feeling pretty lighthearted about because hey ho.. it’s just clothes. But he’s protective of my mental health with good reason and said he doesn’t want me to “feel shit” about myself because we can’t afford labels. I don’t so it’s fine.

And I certainly wouldn’t be minimising my Mumsnet use because someone else thought I should 😂.

YY to this.