What screams frumpy?

[bradpittsbathwater]

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

But surely they'd look exactly the same in branded sports or outdoor wear, only with a brand name written on the garments?

What is your prescription? Mine is -4 and I wear contacts as glasses are like looking in a fish bowl and make me so dizzy.

Alexa Chung often wears ballet flats. If she put them together with a tunic and leggings (and a waterfall cardi in her Birkin in case it got chilly) she'd probably still look edgy and cool. Or would she look frumpy?

It’s pretty bad, about the same l think. I wear thinned lenses though.

As a frump, obviously, as most of my wardrobe is Fat Face and Nobody's Child, and White Co, because they fit me, and are natural fabrics, and last for years, what is the opposite?

Fashion victim? Sad trying too hard older lady? Slave to Fashion? Wasteful consumerist......

Honestly, so much judgement. I think anything goes, as long as you feel comfortable wearing it. If you are happy in something, it shows. You walk better, with your head held high, and that makes all the difference.

For me and I know this will sound a bit mean, but there was a Weightwatchers coach who deputised for our usual one a few times last year. Lovely woman, but her hairstyle, and dress just screamed frumpy yet she was really attractive. Same with another of the WW members, hair in a long bob, sort of 'don't care' attitude about clothes, I get sometimes it's time and money which stops people with clothes/style.

By contract the WW leader and her DM who was in her 70s, well her DM looked absolutely amazing! Wore denim jackets, long floral dresses, nice tops (could see one was a few years old, an Aztec print but it suited her) and had a nicely coloured and layered short hairstyle.

Even my own DM at 82, she tends to wear Lucy & Yak dungarees with Jigsaw long sleeved striped tops, I buy her things like Whistles denim blazer, Whistles navy blue with exposed zip jumper (I bought it for me but it looks much better on her), and when H&M did nice tops in 2010-ish I got her those. Some White Stuff too. She also wears Adidas gazelles in bright colours. It's her 'style'.

For me, frumpy is where clothes don’t suit your body shape, and colour seasons. Also, old, worn, or too large clothes can make you look frumpy.

I am getting confused between mumsy and frumpy but do think its age and attitude dependent. Someone who is 20 or 30 might wear something her peers may consider frumpy but a 50 or 60 year old may disagree.

Anyway away to reach for a coral or top. But I am late 50’s so think thats ok but maybe not.

From what I can glean from people on this thread, "frumpy" is anyone who dares to be female, over 40, overweight, and not wearing the latest trends. How depressingly misogynistic.

I personally think its little touches. I'm a size 12, I think I dress well but I put effort into it, think about what I wear and buy new items most seasons and re-use older ones and also think about accessories too.

Both my best friends, one is size 16-18, 5 ft 10, she has a smart style for work but a great casual style for out of work and because she's tall can pull off certain styles I can't, maxi dresses look better on her than me. Another is 5 ft 2, size 18, she really suits florals, Joules floral tops, pale stripes. I got her a pale pink M&S Baker Boy hat which she loves and it really suits her, I'd look ridiculous in it. She's also got the most amazing clear skin, peaches and cream and lovely hair.

Frumpy sometimes isn't about clothes. Some women's figures are perceived as making them look frumpy , like the weight gain/ body shape changes some get after childbirth or menopause.
On the contrary, tall , statuesque women are less likely to look frumpy .

Literally what is left to wear?😂

Your dm sounds like she has a great sense of style. I hope to still love clothes in my 80s. I'd look god awful in dungarees though

Me, too. I am currently wearing a FatFace quarter-zip with turquoise details.
<goes to sit on the frumpy step>

Male frumpy: grey joggers! With or without a black padded gilet.

Yep.

I don’t really give a fuck what anyone thinks. I’m 60. Won’t wear manmade fibres. This means l may occasionally wear Seasalt. I don’t wear FF,or WS though.

Mostly wear Cos or Arket. If someone thinks I’m frumpy thats their problem. I don’t waste time thinking about it. Who cares?

Well, this is a Style and Beauty board, it's about discussing what looks good.

Depends on the man. If a fit muscly young man wore it they wouldn't look frumpy

I think Princess Anne dresses frumpily.
Not always but usually.

So if Fat Face and White Stuff etc are considered frumpy by some (I like some of their stuff, but see that I might consider a lot of it safe and boring and perhaps frumpy), what labels are less likely to frump me please?

No, because it's the manner in which you carry yourself that makes it look frumpy.

Crikey. This doesn't leave a lot! And all glasses? Surely not?

I know of someone who always wears a hand crocheted beret, a hand knitted cardigan of many colours, with a longish hippy skirt of many colours (predominantly green, beige or murky purple) with three gathered tiers. Footwear is generally ankle boots of the floppy variety. She has long, naturally blonde hair, and wears enormous glasses. Her hair is magnificent, as is her bosom which hardly ever sees the light of day. This lady is in her early forties and could look stunning

Sounds like she has her own individual style and is happy in her own skin.

Who would she be pleasing if she dressed as you'd have her dressed and got her bosom out?

Well said, I totally agree 👍
The judgemental attitude towards women is sickening, no thoughts being given towards the many reasons why many women can’t dress like the posters on here think they should 😵‍💫, lack of money, time etc for example.
….discussing what looks good… fine but slagging off those who don’t conform to your particular style is unnecessary and nasty.
Yes, I’m probably a frump, I don’t give a toss what others think but some of the remarks on here could be hurtful to some people.