the upside of frump
Frumpy – it’s not the most body-positive word around, is it?
Nope, it’s just one of the numerous negative ways we describe and view women’s bodies in contemporary society. Wherever it appears, whether it be a fashion magazine or in office conversation it is always used as an insult. It equates to a woman that is ‘unsexy’ and therefore who doesn’t shape up to the ‘ideal’.
But you know what? Sometimes, I actually want to look frumpy. Like on purpose. And I really had hoped that in 2011, you know, the apparently progressive time we live in today people would understand that. But they don’t. And this attitude just shows me how much the majority of women’s fashion is still based upon how others judge us.
As corny as it sounds fashion is a passion of mine and has been since the age of about seven. I love clothes, both the risqué and the modest type. I love the idea of fashion and styling as a way to moderate your appearance, giving individuals the means to explore, reveal, conceal and celebrate their bodies as they see fit. This is the great side of fashion. The freedom-of-expression-sparkly-hippie-rose-tinted-glasses way I view fashion.
However, there is a dark side.
There still seems to exist a distinct difference between what we are supposed to find ‘fashionable’ on a woman and ‘fashionable’ on a man. Have you ever noticed what fills women’s fashion magazines – other than the huge amounts of advertising that aim to make women feel inadequate?
Endless ‘dressing for your shape’ guides.
You know the ones. Those how-to’s that tell you which clothing will look ‘unflattering’ on those ‘lumps and bumps’ we are all told to hate so much.
Our glossy fashion Bibles teach us about the fashion crimes we are all supposed to avoid, helping to rid us of the heinous ‘frump’.
If we wear baggy garments, ensure there is some leg or cleavage on show.
If we wear garments that conceal us, ensure they are tight fitting.
Never wear a maxi and a baggy t shirt.
And the list goes on and on.
While I love to wear traditionally sexy clothes, and have on many occasions worn tight-fitting hyper-feminine dresses, giant heels, tiny crop tops, transparent lacy shirts with my entire bra visible, short shorts, leather mini skirts and corsets and even gone braless (gasp!) I also love baggy layering and Cosby jumpers just as much. And I shouldn’t be told by magazines or my own mum for that matter that this is weird, unsexy or unacceptable.
When I walk out of the house in a flouncy midi skirt and full length tights I’m reminded by my family and pretty much everyone else that I bump into that what I chose to wear this morning was ‘interesting’ – translation ‘abnormal’. (Generally people try not to make you cry and at least attempt to hide their hegemonic prejudices). This attitude – which is by no means held by everyone – just proves to me that fashion is still geared into what an ‘ideal woman’ is supposed to look like.
What’s even more infuriating is that men aren’t held by these rules. They can wear a baggy tee and some relaxed fit jeans and still be viewed as attractive, totally normal and even sexy people. Whereas my maxi skirt and blouse combination is being branded a ‘fashion mistake’ and has me looking like a frumpy, prudish extra on the set of Big Love.
While I’m not an advocate of taking anything too seriously – I mean I realise that in the end clothes are just pieces of material – I do think that we should be using fashion to celebrate difference, to express ourselves freely, to break rules and to challenge expectations placed upon our bodies and gender identities.
So my fashion advice to the women (and men) reading this, is to please recognise that women’s fashion doesn’t have to be solely focused on the right ‘silhouettes’ and ‘shapes’, the fun of fashion is found in the ‘mistakes’ and risks you make.
Oh and listen to Fashion Rules by Chicks on Speed.
Do it.
– Roxanne Groebel
