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?

So unfair....tall, thin women have to really put the effort in to look frumpy whereas the shorter, wider ones struggle not to!😄
They don't to put in an effort but they have an advantage.

Well I have realised as an average height size 14 with a Zara budget I am destined for frumpville no matter what :(

Not true. The thinnest tallest woman I know looks an absolute fright.

I agree with so many of the things that have been said - almost anything from 'outdoor' shops especially in the aforementioned hideous teal blue or fuchsia pink colours. And sadly, big boobs.

But I disagree that it's always about weight or money. Or certain brands - I've got some really nice items from Fat Face, Seasalt and White Stuff but you do need to be selective. They're generally natural fabrics and decent quality which helps.

To me I think it's getting the balance between trying too hard and not trying enough because both can look wrong - almost impossible to work out where the line is though!

I don't travel every week, but I wouldn't say I don't travel much so I can say quite confidently that airports are often cold and planes are also often cold and yes I would wear a puffer jacket to both of them. It also frees up space in the bag.

Maybe she really puts the effort into it?

I agree with so many of the things that have been said - almost anything from 'outdoor' shops especially in the aforementioned hideous teal blue or fuchsia pink colours. And sadly, big boobs.
I think things from 'outdoor shops' can be fine, but you need to stick to certain colours, and it helps if you are outdoorsy.
I have things from brands like Regatta and Rohan, but like WS, SS and FF, the quality is fine but you need to be selective.

And sadly, big boobs. Yes. I'm not going to look anything other than frumpy in a lot of things because I have boobs. Stripes, cables, logos etc make me look huge

I know some very stylish women who are not model-shaped. They tend to have good posture.

@User5306921interesting. Would you mind sharing the name of the instagrammer, I’d love to have a read.

I think wearing outdoorsy stuff is absolutely fine as part of an overall outdoorsy look.

It looks a bit - odd, not necessarily frumpy but definitely incongruous - to mix it with smart casual clothes. Eg. dark tailored jeans, leather boots and bag, hair and makeup done then a Decathlon rain jacket thrown over the top. I see that look a lot on what I assume are tourists who didn't have the luxury of packing a range of outerwear.

I think outdoorsy stuff is only ok when doing outdoorsy things, and it seldom looks anything other than frumpy, but if required for outdoors activity then the aim is not stylish it’s practical.

i also don’t think big boobs are what make us look matronly or frumpy. It is sadly big boobs and a large tummy, both together is what causes the look. Big boobs on a flat size ten stomach don’t. Big boobs and say a size 16 tummy or bigger often do. It’s the big tummy and big boobs that’s difficult to dress stylishly. It’s not big boobs on their own,

Sorry scrub that, I think it’s the big tummy full stop, irrelevant if boob size. Large chest isn’t the issue to make us look frumpy, it’s a big tummy irrelevant of bust size.