Mumsy and Frumpy

[HelenSkeleton]

I hate the terms mumsy and frumpy and am using it for convenient shorthand. I don't know how else to describe it.

What makes people think someone dresses in this style though? It's more than wearing old fashioned clothes as there's stuff in the shops that look dated. Vintage and old fashioned aren't the same.

How do you avoid it?

I think the only place anyone should wear leggings is to the gym.

Most people look terrible in them and I don't understand why some women wear them under dresses.

I agree.
We are not allowed to wear them at work, but there is an exemption to wear them under dresses for modesty reasons, which some colleagues do.
People wear them as an alternative to trousers.

Its an awful shop. Everything looks like an old tee towel and it's expensive.

I don’t really get that to be honest. A strapless sun dress and leggings and a puffer coat. Why would anyone do a full flight wearing a puffer coat, that would feel really uncomfortable and you need to carry it at the other end, and strapless dress too. Plus if you go for something fo eat or drink at the airport you’re sitting there in a big puffer coat.

im considering wearing a sun dress, never done that before, a long sleeveless one with a wide midi skirt as part of it, for my holiday flight in a few weeks, but if I did i would wear a nice oversized slouchy cashmere jumper over the top, which means It keeps me warm on the plane but I can take it off and it folds away easily. And it would mean I just look like I’m wearing a skirt and jumper and be very comfy

the other option is wide leg trousers, elastic waist, vest top or cami, then slouchy jumper over the top. Layering is key on a plane when going from a cold fo hot destination.

not sure, will decide at the time, but I wouldn’t wear a puffer coat, strapless dress and leggings. I can’t imagine that would look good, be practical or be comfy. Frumpy becomes irrelevant really as so many other issues.

Yes, I certainly wouldn't wear that very odd combination, but I don't think it falls under the category of "frumpy"!

I think if even models can't make clothes look good, they're best avoided!

If anyone wants to protect their modesty while wearing a dress, wear a longer dress! Or don't bend over and show your knickers- honestly, what on earth is that about?

I don't recall women wearing leggings under dresses in the 40s, 50s or the 60s (especially the 60s when dresses were just covering their bums!)

What on earth is that about? It's an amendment to the staff dress code to suit Muslim women for whom that is a choice.
It really isn't a problem and doesn't impact anyone negatively.

You didn't say it was for Muslim women. There are women who wear leggings under dresses who are not Muslim. That's the bit I don't understand.

Yes, to be fair ..just had a look at the websites and the winter stuff doesn't look too bad.... perhaps it was because I looked when it was summer. I found all the colours and prints really awful. Like toddler clothes in adult sizes. So many primary colours I'd have felt like a kids TV presenter and I really dislike prints in general

No, I didn't, because I really didn't think it was necessary.

I’m sorry the poster is right, plenty of non Muslim women wear legging sundae dresses, so yes it was necessary,

Really interesting posts. I have lost a huge amount of weight (over 10 stone ) I am now a size 10. I was a size 24. But the biggest wow moment was going for a bra fitting. I wore one of the bras straight away and the difference to the outfit I was wearing was remarkable. Wearing the right bra has changed the look of all the clothes I wear. If you do one thing for yourself get fitted for a bra as the clothes you already have and enjoy wearing will look better.

😂😂

Well I don't think it was. I said some women are allowed wear leggings under dresses for modesty purposes.
How odd that that I need to be explicit about their religion/culture.

Just because Gen Z are wearing it, doesn't mean it isn't frumpy.

Absolutely. I teach teenagers and you should see some of the stuff they wear to school - flared joggers and those cropped ugg boots, and the ubiquitous longchamp bag. So frump!

(Ugg autocorrected to ugh which is about right)

If it were the case of them just not caring what they look like, more power to them, but they still have elaborately coiffed hair and plenty of make up, which doesn't make sense to me when they're effectively wearing pyjamas and bedroom slippers.

The only gen Z thing I love is the acne stickers. I wish those were cool when I was a teen

@KatyaKabanova They look great if you are lean and toned. Most people wearing them aren't lean or toned.

Wide legged or gentle flare jeans or trousers, , a midi dress or skirt, in.a good material, current colours and shape, that fits , an over sized cashmere jumper, a silk sleeveless top, an oversized chiffon blouse…for colours, muted , creams beiges, taupes currently, or all one colour, ie all navy or black, a fitted leather jacket,
I wouldn't wear any of those.

True, they just never look right to me.

@JaquelineHide , they look slightly baggy and shapeless on the models, and I'd look baggy and shapeless in the clothes.

Absolutely, and just because a gen z can wear it doesn’t mean someone 3 decades older can and not look frumpy. We can all wear what we wish, but pretending age, build etc doesn’t impact our appearance and our dress is nonsense.

there is lots of stuff younger people wear, but older would look rather mad in. It’s always been the case, back in the day teens wore puffball mini skirts and leg warmers, but if your 60 year old gran wore it declaring herself the height of fashion you’d think she’d gone slightly mad.

Things I have learned from this thread:

1. I hate the word slouchy

Mumsy/ frumpy to me is another way to say a lack of trying to look sexy / stylish / put together and means someone doesn't care/ have time to think about fashion or styling, usually as too busy/ knackered focusing on getting through life. Implies someone is a bit out of touch or has 'let themselves go' and should be making more effort! Chucked on (but clean and tidy) comfortable and practical clothes that are probably 5+ years out of date without really considering the fit or how they go together.

There isn't a male equivalent, middle aged men aren't expected to do anything more than be clean and tidy!

Horrible though these words are, they wouldn’t exist if they didn’t chime with something. There is such a thing as frumpy, however we try to spin it. But these terms mean different things to different people and inHATE. The (usually male) interpretation of frumpy as ‘not sexy’. No - that’s not what it means.

Over many years (in which I’ve certainly been frumpy at least half the time) I’ve come to the bitter conclusion that it’s more about body shape than the clothes. I have stocky legs and I’m a pear shape and frankly look awful in jeans, so I’ve not worn them for years. I like loose, flowing palazzo styles instead. I love the idea of ballet flats and similar, but I look better with a heel, unfortunately.

I like unfussy but ‘statement’ clothes in unusual plain colours with simple but bold accessories - scarves, jewellery etc. Things like Toast and Plumo, but not their most extreme or crazy manifestations. I agree that a good haircut and a confident attitude go a long way. It’s about finding what suits you and definitely not about following fashion.

I rarely find things on the high street and I don’t mean that to sound snooty, but mainstream things look awful on me. I get great stuff from eBay - in good quality luxury fabrics which last me for years and years.