Frumpy Moms Unite (FMU)

[bananiem]

I would say I'm so hoarse it sounds like I went to a concert, screamed my head off while smoking a carton of cigarettes!!!!!!!

Now that's a lovely visual...

 

[ckay87]

There's a lady named Gloria Vanderbuilt who is my best friend. She makes mid-rise jeans with ELASTIC pieces tucked into either side. Bless her. And there is always a good amount of "give" in the fabric of all of her pants. I love Gloria.

Seriously I love that brand - they always fit and always look good on me. I'm a 12 which is a size that can look really good or really bad, depending on how you do it. I've finally realized that and am working on unfrumping as well.

One secret I realized about mid-low rise jeans....they do NOT make you look heavier. It works the opposite, in fact. They make you look and FEEL skinnier. It has something to do with not being pinched at the waist, I think.

Shoes are probably the single way that you can unfrump. I go for as much heel as I can tolerate, but I have a painful bunion so unfortunately wide and low feels best. I push it though.

 

[DisneyPhD]

I would like to shower....once a day. That is a good goal, right? Oh, and get dressed before 10 am.

Today I did go out and buy bras, a khaki jacket, a nice shirt and a pair of heels. I'm so very tired of my blah nursing bras, but he's not weaned enough for me to fit in my pre-pregnancy stuff. And I need to start wearing better shoes (I wear flip-flops all the time...even in the snow.)

I plan on going to the gym several times a week. I have about 35 pounds of baby weight I want to lose. I know it won't happen by my college reunion in May, but it's time to get started! Oh, and I guess I shouldn't eat those Hershey Kisses next to the computer...

Buying new bras is something I did for myself back in Dec. It was a quest. (I don't have much time for shopping formyself, I had to use Christmas shopping time.) It makes a big difference, my nursing bras were so streched out, no support at all. Also it helped me to cut her down on nursing more, if I wasn't wearing a nursing bra I wasn't as willing to let her nurse off times. (I think 17 months in those things are long enough for me thank you very much.)

Now I wear Lands end all weather and summer mocs. They aren't tenny shoes, but they are comfortable. I wera crocs too (is that hip or not???????)

I did finally get a great pair of strapy sandel high heels for dressy ocasions. I love them.

 

[malibuconlee]

Good luck on your interview! Don't dress frumpy or wear Mom pants.

Thanks!! Don't worry, my dress pants aren't tapered.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

I don't consider myself frumpy (most of the time), but I would like jeans without holes in them!

 

[Jenn Lynn]

I have one tip...do not wear tennis shoes. Wear boots or pumps in the winter, sandals in the summer...nothing is frumpier then tennis shoes...unless you're in tennis or work-out gear, or are 14 years old. I'm a 44 year old mom, really cheap...a $90 pair of boots three years ago has made a huge change. I'm going to need a new pair next year though, have worn these out.

In WI in the winter heels are not a good idea when you have to carry your baby on an icy driveway at your DD's school. I wear tennis shoes alot. Mine are silver/black with a pink Nike swoosh. I have gotten lots of compliments on them. I have heels, but those are not for everyday, chasing around kids, walking around in Wal-mart. I do wear sandals in the summer though.

I am not joining the club either. I have almost lost all of my baby weight (3lbs. to go) and am back in a size 6. I spent last month buying myself a new wardrobe with clothes that fit properly. I couldn't live with myself in my 'frumpy' clothes any more. It's amazing what a new wardrobe will do for your self-esteem. No Mom jeans here. I bought Gap, Levi's, and Ralph Laurens. It took me FOREVER to find some that were the right color, style, fit, but it is worth it.

 

[Michie]

I don't care what anybody says, starching and pressing your clothes makes anybody look more polished.

 

[AMcaptured]

To the women worried about thin hair, try a good volumizing shampoo and try rogaine for women, it won't work overnight but in about 4 months you will notice your hair is getting a bit thicker. Also, many times balding in women is due to a hormonal imbalance. See an endocrinologist, most primary care physicans just don't know enough about the endocrine system to help you.

 

[welovedisneyx4]

I'll have to join b/c I have let myself get so frumpy. I have got to start putting on make up again. (Not a lot, but some consealer, mascara and blush) I have gained a lot of weight over the winter and it really needs to come off. However, I love food and exercise isn't a high priority for me. I really need to do something!!!

We have a very casual dress code at work, so I can wear jeans everyday if I want. (And tennis shoes-but I do have cool tennis shoes!)

I am hoping things will improve w/ spring coming. I don't wear jeans as much in the warm weather and usually have on sandals. I am also hoping this carries over into some exercise and a bit of a tan.

I just got DD's softball schedule this morning and between her and DS playing T-ball, that is going to keep me busy, so maybe I can find some improvement w/ all the running around we will be doing. I won't have time to eat!!

 

[luvflorida]

There's a lady named Gloria Vanderbuilt who is my best friend. She makes mid-rise jeans with ELASTIC pieces tucked into either side. Bless her. And there is always a good amount of "give" in the fabric of all of her pants. I love Gloria.

These are the jeans I wear, so maybe I'm not really wearing Mom jeans. I don't think they are mid-rise, though. Most of my jeans button right at the belly button. Does that make them Mom jeans?

I tell you, it's almost impossible to find jeans that FIT when you're barely 5' and have gained a few pounds over the years. I'm not really overweight, but I could stand to lose a few pounds around the waist. If I get jeans that fit in the waist, then the hips, seat, and legs are too big. If they fit in the seat and hip area, the waist is too tight. If they fit below my waist, it just doesn't look, um, pretty. I've given up trying to find jeans in the right length; even most of the supposedly petite, short jeans are still too long. Why can't someone make a really nice looking pair of elastic waist jeans? Okay, stop laughing!

So, any suggestions on where to find jeans that fit such a proportionally messed up person as myself?

Oh yeah, I can't stop wearing sneakers, either. They're comfortable! I also wear boat mocs, (like they sell at LLBean, Land's End and Dexter Shoes).

Is there hope for me, or am I too far gone?

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I wouldn't call myself frumpy, but I also wouldn't call myself polished.

Most DISers who know me know that wearing non-mom jeans was my big step towards non-frumpyhood. Not that I was wearing mom-jeans--I'd stopped wearing those, but didn't know that there was an alternative.

I am working at losing a little weight. I've lost a couple pounds, but have 10 pounds that I really need to lose--15 that I'd like to lose. So I guess the weight is a goal. Not to mention walking and exercising more to be generally healthier.

 

[tiff211]

Not quite frumpy but I definitely need some "improvements" I need to lose 25 lbs of baby weight. I never have worn "mom" jeans. I did come close with a pair of shorts that DD said would make me lose all my cool points, so I returned them.

Target's Levi's jeans fit really nice, I love mine and get lots of compliments when I wear them. I have to wear jeans with stretchy material because my badonka-donk and my waist size don't match up so reg. jeans that fit everywhere else are too big in waist.

I have never worn makeup as I have been blessed with great genes and have really good skin. I will put on gloss to liven up my face.

Great to have the moral support.....sign me up!

 

[CathrynRose]

So, any suggestions on where to find jeans that fit such a proportionally messed up person as myself?

Alright - Im linking again. These come in short, average and tall : http://www.gap.com/browse/category.do?cid=12099&mlink=5664,565920&clink=565920

 

[motherhen17404]

I guess I will join the club! I have never been a clothes horse. I don't wear makeup, it just does not look right on me. I am 43 years old, but most people think I look 30. I have had makeup done by several people, including a movie makeup artist. It all looks the same on me. As one guy put it, "You look like a little girl who was playing with mommy's makeup". And yes, God forbid I wear mom jeans. I am pooh size, and due to a medical condition I can not lose weight. For a large woman I am shaped funny. I don't have thick legs or arms that most large women have, nor do I have a butt to speak of. So I wear a brand of jeans that are made for funny shaped people like me. They are made by a company called Mustang. I get them at Boscov's. I usually wear tee shirts or polo shirts. And the dreaded tennis shoes. For me it is comfort. I have heal spurs and I just can't handle walking very long in anything else. But I have never left my house in anything sloppy like sweat pants. I hate when large women do that.

I do have my moments- DH and I go dancing every Friday night and I wear very sexy, low cut short dresses with very nice heals. I love dressing up, but don't want to do it every day.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Alright - Im linking again. These come in short, average and tall : http://www.gap.com/browse/category.do?cid=12099&mlink=5664,565920&clink=565920

And when I walked into the Gap and the guy asked if he could help me, I was brutally honest with him and told him I needed some non-mom jeans. It was pretty funny, actually. I told you I'm pretty much the same in real life as I am on the discussion boards. And he gave me a Jean 101 course and I got some wonderful ones and I need to go back for another pair.

 

[buddy&wooz]

I was pretty frumpy 5 years ago and I've been pretty successful climbing out but I still have a ways to go, especially with my wardrobe. I don't have a huge budget but I realized I've been buying too much cheap clothing that doesn't last past a season. I pulled out my spring/summer clothes and stuff I bought last year looks completely worn out .

So I'm going shopping at the mall instead of Target & Old Navy. Not going high-end, but I'm starting at J.Jill, Banana Republic, and the Gap. Maybe I'll treat myself to one designer item if I manage to have enough $$ left when I'm done!

 

[DisneyPhD]

These are the jeans I wear, so maybe I'm not really wearing Mom jeans. I don't think they are mid-rise, though. Most of my jeans button right at the belly button. Does that make them Mom jeans?

I tell you, it's almost impossible to find jeans that FIT when you're barely 5' and have gained a few pounds over the years. I'm not really overweight, but I could stand to lose a few pounds around the waist. If I get jeans that fit in the waist, then the hips, seat, and legs are too big. If they fit in the seat and hip area, the waist is too tight. If they fit below my waist, it just doesn't look, um, pretty. I've given up trying to find jeans in the right length; even most of the supposedly petite, short jeans are still too long. Why can't someone make a really nice looking pair of elastic waist jeans? Okay, stop laughing!

So, any suggestions on where to find jeans that fit such a proportionally messed up person as myself?

Oh yeah, I can't stop wearing sneakers, either. They're comfortable! I also wear boat mocs, (like they sell at LLBean, Land's End and Dexter Shoes).

Is there hope for me, or am I too far gone?

JJill has very good jeans for petite women. They also have petite shirts, I like that so they aren't too long. Low rise actaully works a bit better will a few extra pounds around the middle, because they don't go around the middle. Just be sure not to let them muffin top, keep your shirts down, but not around your but or you look pregnant. After being pregnant twice that is the last thing I want to look anymore. (unless I am.)

I wear those shoes too.

http://www.jjill.com/

 

[wide awake]

Boots do not have to have high heels...I'm 5'11", I don't need more height. I do have cute tennis shoes, two pairs actually, but wear them only on my walks or if I'm wearing jean shorts and going to the grocery store. As for jeans...I've been wearing the Eddie Bauer boyfriend jeans for the past two months...I absolutely love these, so comfortable and flattering, and I just noticed that they have them in white for summer. Any of you w/ long legs may want to try them, my inseam is 35" and the tall size works great for me.

 

[punkin]

I have one tip...do not wear tennis shoes. Wear boots or pumps in the winter, sandals in the summer...nothing is frumpier then tennis shoes...unless you're in tennis or work-out gear, or are 14 years old. I'm a 44 year old mom, really cheap...a $90 pair of boots three years ago has made a huge change. I'm going to need a new pair next year though, have worn these out.

I wear clogs year round. Brown, frumpy, comfortable clogs.

However, I just bought a pair of adorable ballet flats from Barneys and they are so cute I've worn them twice despite the fact that they hurt my bunions.

 

[katerkat]

Buying new bras is something I did for myself back in Dec. It was a quest. (I don't have much time for shopping formyself, I had to use Christmas shopping time.) It makes a big difference, my nursing bras were so streched out, no support at all. Also it helped me to cut her down on nursing more, if I wasn't wearing a nursing bra I wasn't as willing to let her nurse off times. (I think 17 months in those things are long enough for me thank you very much.)

Heck, I'm done with the nursing bras at 12 months, so I know how you feel! It's annoying, though - he's down to twice a day, so I've still got some milk, but not enough that I fill out anything, but enough that I'm not shrinking back to my pre-pregnancy size. Does that make sense? I've already decided that when we're finally done, I'm treating myself to a fitting at Victoria's Secret, but I needed something for "in the meantime."

Today, I only had one bowl of cereal for breakfast, and I'm going to go shower now. (It's swim class day, so I don't shower until we get home from the pool.)