The quality of being dowdy or unfashionable; drab, unstylish clothing or behavior.
From 'frump' with the suffix '-ery' (from Old French -erie, meaning a state, condition, or collection of things). The term describes the characteristic quality of being dowdy.
Charles Dickens used 'frumpery' in his novels to describe old-fashioned ladies and their clothes, and the term captures something important: it's not just about being poor, but about being *deliberately* dowdy in a world that values style—it's a kind of social judgment baked into vocabulary.
Denotes unfashionable dress or behavior, historically weaponized to shame women into conforming to narrow aesthetic standards.
Describe garments or styles neutrally; avoid characterizing people or their judgment as foolish based on appearance.
["poor fashion sense","outdated style"]
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