Hah I do use the word cool... but not for people. Usually things or events (and the occasional garment). Didn't realize that, also interesting!

I found a list of the work used in literature.

In literature:

I think the best synonym I can find is unstylish.

Yay, Deb! Good job finding a literary reference!

I think style is in the eye of the beholder and also depends on the happiness factor of the person wearing it.
What may be frumpy to some may be stylish to others.
There is a lot of interpersonal variation and also personal day to day variation.
Try wearing one of your high happiness outfits on one of your good days and also on one of your bad days. Although the good outfit can help you feel better on a bad day, it will never look or feel the same way it does on a good day.
Everything is relative, there are too many shades of grey.
I agree with what Griffin said. Plus, what is wrong with old fashioned? I also love old fashioned with all the history that it includes. Plus, these days there is a lot of 70s in the prints and in the shapes of garments. Is that old fashioned, too?
I also agree with Runcarla when she says that people on the forum ask if their own outfits are frumpy. The word is not used as a qualifier for someone else's outfits and that is all in keeping with the supportive environment that defines YLF.

Hmm, while I do appreciate Gaylene's thoughts about how "frumpy" is non-specific, subjective and unhelpful, I think we all have similar connotations for the word. Of course, it always helps to have a WHY about anything, including more general statements, but it isn't always necessary. For example, people here often tell another poster that an item isn't "you", or it "isn't fab enough for you" without specifying why. While the OP often seems to understand the statement, it still isn't any more helpful than a declaration of "frumpy".

And it treads perilously close to the idea that no outfit can be spoken ill of. I am fully in favour of tact and being polite, but there are some outfits that say "frumpy" all over and there isn't necessarily a better description. I used to work with a young woman who wore knit polyester pants with a sewn-in seam down the front and an elastic waist, and t-shirts, sweatshirts or sweaters with appliques on them (what kids in my high school used to call "teacher sweaters" or "grandma sweatshirts". She always wore flat brown comfort brand shoes, and while this may not be fair (as Angie specified the outfit as on a mannequin), her hair was the stereotypical over 40 haircut (shortish and permed). Everyone was sure she was in her mid-40's. When I found out she was younger than I was (a college student), I could not believe it.

I never would have offered any opinion on what she wore or the way she wore her hair. She definitely had a style, but it happened to be one that had people thinking she was 20 or 30 years older than what she was. I am not sure that any ONE item of her look or outfits could be pinpointed, but her overall look, every day, was "frumpy".

So sometimes I do think that "frumpy" is simply the best descriptor available. Everyone's definitions here are all in the same ballpark; despite our protestations, we DO know what it means, almost universally. I absolutely object to the term being gender-specific, as there are without doubt frumpy men.

sjchicago: I cannot escape the Dr. Seuss connotation to "schlumpy". Perhaps no one else remembers poor Mr. Bix who has his Borfin to fix...

I think "frumpy" is a term that is often used by women to put other women down. I am not saying that is how it is always used or that is how people use it in this forum. (I think people are very considerate here.) But I think it does suffer from that association. To me it means an outfit that is both unattractive and makes the wearer look or seem older. I think it is frequently used by younger women to describe older women or their peers for the purpose of claiming superiority in the style stakes. Similar to younger women describing older women as "mutton dressed as lamb" or older women describing younger women as being dressed in a way that is trampish or sl***y or as a fashion-victim. All these expressions can be particularly nasty and insulting. The alternatives, such as "unflattering", seem more tactful and non-judgmental.

Just to add, I often use "schlubby" to describe that same feeling - like when I hang around all day in sweats and feel like a slob. But that's not the same connotation, perhaps.

Oh, dear. I've taken to using "dowdy" instead of "frumpy," because I thought the latter seemed to be so fraught. (I will say that I don't apply the term to someone else's specific outfit; I think usually I'm using it as a description of a look I'm trying to avoid.) But nnow I'm getting the idea that "dowdy" is just as bad a word to use--i.e., can be taken as inexact at best and misogynist at worst. And "cool," too, which I use a lot, is not helpful. Hmmm, I think I'm full of meaningless drivel! Hopefully my intent comes across; usually what I'm trying to do is compliment someone on an outfit and to give some indication of what it is that I find pleasing about it.

Echo, I'm in no way saying that outfits can't be evaluated negatively, just that the person giving the judgement ought to be able to express what is behind the judgement, or, at a minimum, express the judgement in a way that clearly indicates its entirely personal nature--as in "I don't like it ". Calling something "dowdy" with the implication everyone, except possibly the wearer, would agree with the judgement just seems, as Brooklyn so aptly put it, to imply a superiority in the style stakes which may, or may not, be warranted.

As for alternatives, I'll offer up Mr. Gaylene's "Well, that outfit is headed east, while you, my love, are definitely a woman who looks westward." Cracks me up every time as I beat a hasty retreat back to the closet or dressing room.

Gaylene - please tell Mr. Gaylene he hit it out if the park with that one! Must steal that line. As Oscar Wilde said, "steal and steal boldly!" That made my night, many thanks!

I go to bed and wake up to an indepth discussion here.

I just wanted to put a little argument in for, in the forum at least, people feeling free to make the occasional negative comment without having to back it up or qualify it. I know we are pretty much a tactful and polite group here but sometimes people don't have much time, and a quick comment about something might give a bit more realistic feedback than requiring every single negative comment to have to be qualified and explained. I guess the yay/nay voting buttons do that, but I don't see them being used that much these days.

I do realise that it would be frustrating to have a whole thread consisting of negative comments without any explanation or suggestions for improvement, but the odd one in there, interspersed with more constructive comments, might give more balanced feedback.

I also know that I am rarely sure enough about my judgement to make negative comments!

I know that is a slight veering away from the discussion of the word in question.

I tend to use the word 'daggy'. It's possibly an Australian slang term.

Ok, just looked it up in urban dictionary.

"Australian origin.

adj. not stylish, out of fashion, not trendy, not cool, untidy, unclean, not neat.
v. to have no style."

I never, ever want to look daggy....lol

First thing that came to mind was shlumpy (Yiddish, gender neutral). I associate it with letting it all hang out. Unrestrained, no artifice, no attempt to gloss over one's natural state. Then as I skimmed I had to ask myself why all these words sound similar (frumpy, shlumpy, shlubby, dumpy). I will read the thread more carefully when I am more awake.

Don't worry, Sharan. Your comments are ALWAYS kind and helpful.

Anne, it's true. Constructive feedback takes time, that is at a forever shortage. I mentioned that too.

Aida, you are fab.

Echo, very interesting. I'm not sure how to respond. I'll think about it.

Gaylene, I'm not sure about the, "I don't like it" response either. But hubs is hilarious. No more outfits that head east for you, young lady.

CocoC, daggy sounds like a great word - and is the first time I am hearing it.

Shevia, we use schlumpy in this house too. But it's to decribe a look that is sloppy and not dressy enough.

I, of course, being Australian, know the word "daggy" and I'm sure used it growing up.

I hear "you're such a dag" as affectionate teasing or self deprectory, more, these days.

I have no idea how to add to this post but I have really enjoyed reading it. This happens to me often!

This thread cracks me up.

While I can appreciate the indignation of all those who don't like the word "frumpy" (nobody wants to hear it applied to herself!), I think the English language needs it. There is no other word that means precisely the same thing. This is true of most useful adjectives. English is such a rich language because it has so many synonyms, all with delicate shades of meaning. "Frumpy" does imply a sort of blocky middle-aged feminine dowdiness. RoseandJoan makes the point that the word should be more equal-opportunity, but we don't use it that way. We use it to describe women. And it's insulting. It's always meant to be dismissive or hurtful -- which is why, I'm guessing, so many women take exception to it. But then, EVERY insult is meant to be dismissive and hurtful. Why get rid of only this one?

I think those under 20 might use the word "basic" for "frumpy"

I really don't mind the word frumpy - that is, I don't mind it being used to describe an outfit or a "look." When someone says that an outfit is frumpy, I think I know what they are talking about - it might be dull, a bit scruffy, colorless (or, not a good color for the person wearing it), ill-fitting, or the proportions are wrong. I don't think of it as a judgement of the person dressed in a frumpy manner - rather just a description of a certain type of look. I would really miss the word "frumpy" in my vocabulary if I had to give it up!

For me, the core of frumpy is lack of care. Style needs intention.

Basic is very different from frumpy.

But wait... Don't we assume a little frump in men's fashion... And when they dress too stylish, doesn't that make people laugh nervously?