Women's "jumpers": do you see them as paragons of modesty, or just plain old frumpy?

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I’d never wear a jumper that looked like that unless that’s all I had to wear.

I had a jumper a few years ago that was very cute and it looked NOTHING like the ones in those photos - it was rather straight, it was plaid, it buttoned down the front, and it was just right at my knees. I always got compliments on it, and it didn’t make me look frumpy - it actually made me not look so chunky.
 
mizznicole said:
Phew! I’m glad to see that frumpy is not applauded on this site! I see a LOT of jumpers on conservative women…eeeeeee…

But I’m not into the maxi dress trend either. I don’t think it’s flattering on short people, and is generally too hippie dippie for me.
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You know i thought so too, I’m 5’4" so I thought they be automatically out for me, but then I tried one on and was pleasantly surprised. Of course the one I ended up getting isn’t as long as the ones I posted, which are practically like a ball gown floor length. They seem to all have those silly spaghetti straps though that you can’t wear a decent bra under, but I just put a shrug over it. It feels really nice and airy and flowy for summer, since I don’t wear shorts or short skirts, usually wear pants all summer. They have lots of non hippie dippy patterns too:thumbsup: I think the ones that just have a square neck and straight straps so look like that, but the nice empire waist with rouching looks much nicer imho.
 
We call those “dumpers” around here. The only jumpers I think are cute are the school uniforms on little girls. They are at least drop waist and being worn by children under the age of 10.
 
Sarabande said:
It’s funny that you say that. When I was younger, I always pictured my grandmother (the ideal SAHM) wearing the 1950s/60s dress, raising 5 wild boys and 1 girl and doing all her cleaning and cooking in a dress. It was so stereotypical of what I’d see in the shows from the time or advertisements. One day I finally asked my grandmother what she wore most of the time around the house. Dress? Are you kidding me? She said, it was just so impractical to wear a dress. She almost always wore jeans and a shirt with sneaks. The pics of her in her dresses, suits, skirts were when she went out or to church - never in the house when she did her work.
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*Aw, that’s neat that you could ask her that! But I bet she still looked so feminine…women ‘back then’ always were mindful of their authentic feminity.

I see pics of my mother, even just around the house, she was dressed crisply…pretty…feminine…she wore white gloves with a pretty summery dress, in pics that showed her heading off the church. I love how women AND men dressed years ago. I remember my dad always dressed with khakis, and/or dress shirts…just to sit around the house, or something! He was always dressed up when we went to church. Now, I see how young men dress…heading out on dates…so slobby. I say we bring back the days of dressing up just for no apparent reason! 👍 After seeing those pics of my mother, and having lost her at such a young age, I kind of feel closer to her, by wearing some of the things that I think she might have worn. (time period appropriate though! lol) Does that seem weird? 😊*
 
Aramis said:
That one looks ike a mondernized sarafan.
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I agree. I really love this dress…I have a similiar one not from macy’s…a little shorter. I love all the variable styles out now for women who live in hot hot climates! 🙂
 
shannyk said:
You know i thought so too, I’m 5’4" so I thought they be automatically out for me, but then I tried one on and was pleasantly surprised. Of course the one I ended up getting isn’t as long as the ones I posted, which are practically like a ball gown floor length. They seem to all have those silly spaghetti straps though that you can’t wear a decent bra under, but I just put a shrug over it. It feels really nice and airy and flowy for summer, since I don’t wear shorts or short skirts, usually wear pants all summer. They have lots of non hippie dippy patterns too:thumbsup: I think the ones that just have a square neck and straight straps so look like that, but the nice empire waist with rouching looks much nicer imho.
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I like the empire waist ones also…they’re nice. 🙂
 
*Okay, then. Thanks Liza. :o I just really love how my mother dressed, even casually…she always looked put together, and wanted to look nice for my dad when he arrived home from work…I remember those days even though I was so young. She had bouts of depression, and some days she stayed in bed…but when she was out of bed, she tried to always look put together.

The styles are of course different, but I have a feeling my mom would be wearing these dresses (that I posted) if she were my age, and in this time period. *
 
Totally frumpy. Reminds me of those crazy FLDS women. Modesty is one’s demeanor, manner and way of life. Clothing is a part, but dressing like a frump just draws attention to the frump.
 
leonie said:
My grandma used to own two house dresses. She’d wear one every other day and wash it in between. She was pretty poor.

To me, the jumper seems like a house dress. It’s usually of durable fabric. It’s comfortable. And, it’s inexpensive. And, it’s easy to care for jumpers–wash, dry, hang.

I don’t think jumpers are pretty, but neither were house dresses.

You know, to a lot of women, fashionable clothes aren’t really that important. So, to these women, jumpers are really a nice option because of the practicality. And, the fact, that it takes the decision and hassle out of taking care of clothes. All that energy can go to something else. 🙂

But, if dressing cute is a priority, I agree that the jumper doesn’t really fit the bill. Also, it’s just impossible to nurse in one. I know that to those who are really sensitive to fashion and dress, the jumper is an abomination. :eek: These fashionistas can’t understand why anyone would not be horrified by the plainness of it.

I sometimes wish I was more in tune with fashion. But, it’s just not that important to me. But, when I see a mom my age who dresses cute, I’m usually struck with admiration and a little jealousy.

I don’t own any jumpers. I use the plain dresser alternative: jeans and a tee. But, I know that’s not very feminine. I kind of admire my friends who are determined to dress like girls. It’s just too hard for me. 🙂

I
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I agree!!! 👍👍
My grandmother always wore house dresses. I look at pictures of her now (when I am the age she was in those pix) and I think, “gee, very practical, and I bet it was nice & cool in the summer time”.
And I have a cousin who lives in jumpers…and is one of the classiest looking ladies you ever want to see. She says they are comfortable & very practical. Me?🤷 I would look like a beached whale. (But those house dresses, now…:hmmm:)
 
I’m going with “depends on the style of the jumper”. I have one or two myself, but they were tailored to fit me and actually look good on me. However… some jumpers I have seen, I would not want to be caught dead in and which probably catch the attention of everyone as much as a micro-mini skirt and one of those blouses with a plunging neckline, which I personally refer to as “boobie blouses” – because you’re a boobie in the old sense of the word for wearing one.
 
Zooey said:
I agree!!! 👍👍
My grandmother always wore house dresses. I look at pictures of her now (when I am the age she was in those pix) and I think, “gee, very practical, and I bet it was nice & cool in the summer time”.
And I have a cousin who lives in jumpers…and is one of the classiest looking ladies you ever want to see. She says they are comfortable & very practical. Me?🤷 I would look like a beached whale. (But those house dresses, now…:hmmm:)
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I went estate sale shopping with a friend last summer. We found a sale where the woman obviously had a shopping addiction (my she rest in peace). There were dozens of ADORABLE 1960’s and 1970’s house dresses in so many cute fabrics, with cute buttons, my gosh they were so cute!! She bought about ten of them at like $3 each or something crazy. She wears them in the summer and gets tons of compliments. They really were not sun dresses either, just cute funky house dresses with cute zippers or buttons up the front.

~Liza
 
They look like something from “Little House on the Prairie”! Come on! :o
Does being modest mean you can’t be fashionable? A nice button down shirt and capris or bermuda shorts are modest and comfortable even though they don’t cover you from head to foot. And they look nice!
 
livnlern said:
They look like something from “Little House on the Prairie”! Come on! :o
Does being modest mean you can’t be fashionable? A nice button down shirt and capris or bermuda shorts are modest and comfortable even though they don’t cover you from head to foot. And they look nice!
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Not on everyone!! I look HORRIBLE in bermuda shorts and capris with these hips!!! :eek: Give me a skirt any time.

~Liza
 
I live in capris and bermuda shorts in the summer. But I wear a skirt to church. I used to wear jumpers, but i look dumpy and pregnant in them.
 
I had to comment when I saw this one because I’m wearing a jumper today and it’s definitely not frumpy. It is modest. I picked it up at a garage sale for $1. It’s definitely dated (my husband said it looks like something Rachel would have worn on the early years of friends, which was my exact thought when I tried it on) but it’s flattering. Not all jumpers are shapeless and unflattering… Then again, I do probably seem frumpy to women who wear next to nothing…:o
 
flyingfish said:
No offense but those particular jumpers (and other items on that site), remind me of the polygamist Mormon communities where all women and girls dress alike.

There are plenty of modest outfits that don’t look like you escaped from the FLDS, but forgot to go shopping.
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:rotfl:
 
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