Comments on: Some Thoughts on Frump

By: M-C

M-C — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:58:53 +0000

Purple Violet is totally right :-).

Now I don’t have a colostomy, but for years I had very large fibroids, so I think I’ve had similar issues, apart from being more symmetrical :-). I basically ended up with modified-maternity. First, never tuck anything in, ever! Which to me, tall but with very short legs, basically means fairly cropped tops, like below the hip rather than below the butt. Jackets can be that length too, as more length doesn’t really disguise rotundity. Then I’ve also gone to and still practice all-elastic-waists pants. Between the fibroids and the post-op feelings, I could never stand any tightness, in addition I’ve kept a shape that just looks weird and functions badly with the low-slung waist fashionable for much of my adult life. The trick? Good fabric. I sew, so I can make myself waist-high elastic-waist pants in very sharp wool gabardine, and read more Katherine Hepburn (one can dream :-)) than early Roseanne Barr. It also helps that I can make a smaller size, and just add to the belly, rather than wearing the potato bags that my largest point would otherwise warrant (read the other articles on this site on the travails of large-busted women and dress shirts for similar problems). That said getting inspiration from the cool maternity wear of the moment does point to which styles you can wear comfortably, and which will look good too. Empire waists are getting a bit dated, but they were great while they lasted, for instance.

I’d recommend a good personal shopper, if you’re in a large city. Or better yet a good custom dressmaker, at least one as a complement. The cost will probably come out about the same. And you don’t need that much variety, just to update something in style every year or so. You’ll be much happier with clothes that fit your special needs comfortably, not to mention you’ll also feel better physically.

By: M-C

M-C — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:27:55 +0000

Actually, all this going on and on about hose (or not, and color or not) just means that what is considered cool changes frequently. Just about every year, in fact. But that’s OK, because hose is cheap and disposable, unlike suits. Make a point of reading something every Fall about what’s cool this year. Go out and buy that for the rest of the year. End of story.

By: M-C

M-C — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:24:00 +0000

Actually, it’s being a couch potato that’s unhealthy, not being fat. Get over your ignorance. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19744231 and http://newsroom.melbourne.edu/news/n-674 for instance.
As to obnoxious, it doesn’t even begin to describe you. I wish all the best to the poor people who actually have to work with this walking specimen of toxic stereotyping… The main consolation I can offer them is that with this kind of superior attitude she’s probably already developing high blood pressure, which is at least twice as bad as obesity :-).

By: M-C

M-C — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:55:23 +0000

All this stuff about grey hair looking frizzy or yellowed, and especially about bad texture, is all about evaluating hair that’s recently grown out of a long dyeing period. It’s not representative of reality. Real hair, when it turns grey, may get a bit thicker individually, and may change texture some (for the better, in my case) but it does not get dry or scaly or anything reprehensible, that’s from dyeing.
And if you want it to be a nice color, just make sure you fend off the hairdressers who think you won’t notice when they dye it vaguely pink so you look like a proper old lady. Harumph.

By: M-C

M-C — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:49:28 +0000

Totally right. Just like it can come out the same to use a personal shopper for good buys rather than shop too much in discount places, it can be more efficient to have something custom-made and perfect rather than try to force your body into whatever ready-to-wear’s harebrained idea of the year happens to be available.

By: Barbara

Barbara — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 03:26:17 +0000

FWIW, I used to color my hair, but about a year ago I let it grow out to its natural gray. It turned out to be a nice, silvery color, and with conditioners, it’s quite silky & shiny. I can even wear it below shoulder-length. I’ve never before had as many compliments on my hair as I do now.

By: Kari.

Kari. — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 20:00:05 +0000

wow, what’s wrong with Dansko clogs? I love, love, love them — and I don’t think I dress all that frumpy. Sometimes, I might be called frumpy, but that’s usually by my standards, and not by somebody else’s

By: Lovely Links: 2/18/11

Lovely Links: 2/18/11 — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 21:25:48 +0000

[...] shares her thoughts on what makes something appear frumpy. Do you agree with her criteria? (An older post, but interesting [...]

By: Jeanne

Jeanne — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 21:21:30 +0000

ITA. Big, bold jewelry almost always looks (and is) cheap costume jewelry.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 17:43:13 +0000

Agree. The business model for Tj’s isn’t “leftovers” … it’s excess stock that the store didn’t need to begin with, so the same items may be selling at Nordstrom’s and TJ’s at the same time.

TJ’s also has Runway locations here and there that have designer goods at marked down cost. I’ve found some amazing deals there. It’s hit or miss so I don’t have the time to build a wardrobe around it, but they’re good for the occasional under-the-blazer shell or a good pair of boots now and then.