How to Avoid Looking Frumpy

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Do you ever pick up a piece of clothing that you’re so excited to wear…but then your boyfriend looks at it and starts to imply that it looks kind of frumpy. And you haven’t even put it on yet! Besides dealing with the fact that he’s being rude, you still don’t want to look frumpy. Since winter is also prime looking frumpy time, I figured now might be a good time to discuss how to not look frumpy.

Everlane The Button-Front Corduroy Skirt c/o (Similar, Similar, Similar)
Halogen® x Atlantic-Pacific Sweater (Similar v-neck, Similar, Similar)
Madewell Transport Crossbody (Similar, Similar, Similar)
Everlane The Knee-High Boot c/o (Similar, Similar, Similar)

Be light on the layers

I think that layering during the winter is where people can get hung up the most. You want to stay warm, so you’ll put on layer after layer and by the time you’re done, you’re buried. So the first way to get rid of the frump? Let’s remove all of the layers and start from the beginning. For a top you really just need a fitted under-layer and one really warm sweater. Or a top and cardigan. Or a top and a cozy scarf. But have you heard me? Two layers. That’s actually really all you need. Once you add that third layer is when you really start to add that bulk.

Now, I should add a caveat here. I’m not talking about when you’re traveling outside. When you’re outside, all bets are off. Just stay warm. We’re talking about inside here.

DC woman blogger wearing Everlane The Button-Front Corduroy Skirt

DC woman blogger wearing Everlane The Knee-High Boot

Remember to balance the loose and tight

I feel like I talk about this all of the time, but one of the best ways to avoid the frump is to balance out your fitted wardrobe. If you want to wear a big cozy sweater, great! I love my cozy sweaters! But pair that sweater with a fitted bottom. For example, with my outfit here, my skirt is a little more fitted, so it’s suited with my loose sweater.

DC woman blogger with Madewell Transport Crossbody

Visit Your Tailor

So many people overlook the importance of a good tailor. Without a good tailor, it’s so easy for your pants and skirts to look like they don’t fit. And when things look like they don’t fit, they look frumpy! I love this skirt, but like most skirts I get, it was too long when I got it. So I immediately took it to the tailor to have it shortened. It instantly looked better! Had I kept it at the original length, it would have looked like it didn’t fit.

Show a little leg

When in doubt, show a little leg! Do I say this too much too? I think I said this in my post about wearing black turtlenecks. But really, that can counteract a layers of frump.