When do you become mutton dressed as lamb?

[puff]

I tried on a lovely skirt in Next a couple of days ago - black, just below the knee, with a v full skirt. it was really flattering and would look lovely with some black suede boots I have. But I didn't buy it in case it looks too young for me. I am 40 (I know, not that old!) but just don't want to look a twit.

Mutton dressed as lamb is - leopard print tops, make up that makes you look like youve been tangoed, gold handbags, and wearing 6 different designer names at once. To sum up - looking like bet lynch from corrie!
The skirt sounds fine - treat yourself!

when someone mistakes you for beverley Callard i think

don't think anyone is old enough on mn to be mutton dressed as lamb possible to look like other things though

but
you will look lovely Puff

I don't think you can impose an arbitrary age on this...but I did see a really attractive 40+ woman who looked just ridiculous because she was kitted out in Top Shop styleee. She would have been stunning in something a little less edgey (however not suggesting she should get out the cashmere just yet)

About 35. Then important to dress appropriately. Vital after that age to buy a few good quality classic items and wear them well. you cannot get away with New Look after the age of 35 in my opinion. Just looks wrong and pitiful.

pmsl @ 'Beverley Callard'

By the way that skirt sounds nice and Next clothes are pretty 'careful' anyway. Might be an idea to take a wide girth round Miss Selfridge though.

Flum, watch your step I am 37 and wearing New Look trousers

They are however just simple black work appropriate trousers.

How old are you out of interest?

if you still care what other people think of what you are wearing then you're too young to be mutton dressed as lamb.

lol re Beverly Callard dilly!

Message withdrawn

argh you're all Mutton gerrrrrilllls

I however am a tasty morsel of lamb noisette as am a yufffull 33.

The cut off age I use is always just a few years older than me allowing me some breathing space.

lol Flum too - I'm going to readjust my cut off age to 43 etc etc

Hi joolstoo,I am too still in jeans over 40,and still the same size levis as when i was 18,my bum does not look big,a levi cut is cool,flattering and they do long inside legs!! some ladies take too much notice of the media

I'm still in jeans over 40 and that's my hips as well as my age

Yes, I'm definitely carrying on with jeans into my 40's - gawd I've lost all this weight and it's v exciting to be able to wear them again!

Maybe we could form a group of over 40s jeans mums!!!!

Puff - have lost track of your fantastic weight-loss as have not really been around recently. And I think it definitely sounds like an image issue rather than age one. I'm having the same problem and think everyone is staring at me just because I am now wearing clothes that are not cover-the-whole-body baggy-black-sacks. Skirt sounds lovely, just avoid the leopard-skin thigh-high boots and bunches in your hair (which I do think can look a bit ridiculous in us, ahem, more mature ladies). Enjoy your new-found slinkiness!

Thanks moonshine.

It is like becoming a completely different person - OK I've been this weight before, but life has changed immeasurably in the 5 years since!

I keep taking bigger sizes in to the changing rooms too - still convinced that I can't possibly get into a particular shop's size 14, then realise I can. It is great, though it's taking some getting used too!

I will really celebrate when I get into a 12 though!

How are you doing btw - you did so well with your weight loss too.

Can you imagine Elle Macpherson in it? She never looks remotely muttony IMO and she's over 40. Or Yasmin Le Bon. I think they are superb role models.

Yes, good thought Aloha - I'm not quite as gorgeous as them , but especially like Yasmin Le Bon's style.

I'm still in jeans too - and in Top Shop more often than I should be...mind you in the Oxford St one there's more women of a certain age than teenagers sometimes. At 9.30am it's empty apart from mums with buggies

Another jeans wearer here.

Oh, everyone wears jeans.
Especially scuzzy mummies!

Well Puff you cannot be far from target then. You might even have to start taking size 12s in soon - you may surprise yourself at them fitting.

I am doing ok. Lost over 8 stones and got to target (have never been this slim - am even wearing size 8 skirts although bum is decidedly not!) but, as I knew I would, am finding it hard living in the 'real' world of 'normal' eating (whatever that is). I think there will always be a fat girl in me struggling to expand out again, but the trick I'm trying to learn is to not let my weight fluctuate more than a few pounds so that it doesn't all go pear shaped (literally!).

And I am 39 and have bought things in New Look, River Island and Primark and I don't bloody care! What are the 'approved' MN shops anyway for us potential muttons?