https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/realization-about-extreme-frumpiness-probably-not-going-to-happen Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Fri, 24 Apr 2026 23:28:56 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/realization-about-extreme-frumpiness-probably-not-going-to-happen#post-505178 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:55:25 +0000 Amy 505178@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great post! It's great that you could give yourself a proper talking to :)</p> <p>That poor lady. She needs some TLC. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/realization-about-extreme-frumpiness-probably-not-going-to-happen#post-505138 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:13:45 +0000 Suz 505138@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great post! I love the way you turned your thinking around and reversed the negative self-talk! And you're so right that decent looking items CAN be had a a lower price point, if one only makes a small effort. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/realization-about-extreme-frumpiness-probably-not-going-to-happen#post-505126 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:03:53 +0000 Anonymous 505126@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Mander, way to go! You caught yourself in a negative thinking pattern and reversed it. Everything Imogen says is true. Just the fact that you have a frump-detector will keep you from ever entering 'the frumpy zone"! You're so right that it doesn't take a ton of money to take care of ourselves and dress decently. It just takes a little self-respect. And a little people watching will always make you realize that you are doing a pretty awesome job at dressing fab, right? Thanks for posting this! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/realization-about-extreme-frumpiness-probably-not-going-to-happen#post-505121 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:58:56 +0000 Jem 505121@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great post! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/realization-about-extreme-frumpiness-probably-not-going-to-happen#post-505096 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:30:17 +0000 Angie 505096@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Mander, great post! A KILLER realization and I am pleased that you shared it with us. Rest assured that your never-frumpy-self will look and feel fab most of the time </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/realization-about-extreme-frumpiness-probably-not-going-to-happen#post-505045 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:43:26 +0000 JennyAnne 505045@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm glad you got your mind back on track. I'm sure you'll always put in the effort. Your frumpiness fear is like my "mom-dressing" fear - a sea of khakis or baggy jeans and boxy sweaters, or worse, sweats every day. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/realization-about-extreme-frumpiness-probably-not-going-to-happen#post-505043 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:35:01 +0000 Mochi 505043@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You know I love reflective posts like this. Thank you for the message; we can all take comfort from it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/realization-about-extreme-frumpiness-probably-not-going-to-happen#post-505039 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:14:02 +0000 Sveta 505039@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think this is a great inspiration, Mander. If I learned anything in my life is that everything is coming from within and our outside is simply an extension of our inside. One doesn`t need a lot of money but she needs to care and not to give up on herself does not matter what she is going through in her life...<br /> So I think you are quite safe from this frumpiness </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/realization-about-extreme-frumpiness-probably-not-going-to-happen#post-505035 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:23:20 +0000 Mander 505035@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I just read an old post on Inside Out Style about not being mutton dressed as lamb, the key point being that for her clients, "if that thought ever crosses their mind, it’s NOT GOING TO HAPPEN and they can put the thought out of their mind." This reminded me of some musings I had the other day as I was observing some of the older women I saw around town, but in reverse. That is, I saw some extremely frumpy outfits, worn by women who clearly had given up, but who could probably have looked better without too many changes.</p> <p>In particular, one woman who was not far off my current size clearly had some medical issues, as her ankles were hugely swollen. I felt very sympathetic, imagining that her legs must be terribly uncomfortable. But I also noticed that her skin was very chapped and calloused, and her double-knit trousers ended somewhere between mid-calf and ankle, and she wore no socks in the frigid and windy weather. Her coat was one of those long pastel cheap knit jobs that are quintessential old lady.</p> <p>I was having a bit of a depressing body-hating day, so I thought to myself "that is what you will look like in a few years". But immediately after that I reminded myself that it was complete baloney. First of all, I would never wear double-knit trousers, certainly not at that length, and definitely not a coat like that. And I am far too wussy to go sock-less in chilly weather. </p> <p>Right at this moment I have a pair of flat leather zip-up boots in my closet that would have fit over her ankles and kept them protected from the elements, and a pair of soft, stretchy knit boot-cut trousers that would have fit her nicely. And pea coats or similar structured coats are pretty much always available, because they are classic and popular. Granted, these items might be a bit more expensive than what she was wearing, but not necessarily -- I have seen lots of similar items in the right size in the discount and thrift stores in the last few weeks. </p> <p>At any rate, it's sort of a reverse inspiration, but at least my brain wasn't willing to accept that I would dress that badly, no matter how large or medically complicated I may become.</p> <p>The post that got me thinking:<br /> <a href="http://www.insideoutstyleblog.com/2009/03/how-not-to-look-like-mutton-dressed-as-lamb.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.insideoutstyleblog......-lamb.html</a> </p>