What qualifies as 'mutton dressed as lamb'?

[SinclairSpectrum]

Just wondering in a light hearted way what everyone thinks?

Definitely this.

Watching with interest as it's my worst nightmare.
Rather think I've gone the other way and dressing like a 90 year old.

Cripes what age do you become mutton?

Watching. I always worry I'm a 1664.... Have grown hair from a pixie to long and am 53. That's a bit mutton for me thinking of having the chop again when you see someone with high heels, short skirt long locks and when they turn around, they're my age!

I can't wear high heels, thank God. Flats for me.

I think too much cleavage and too much leg at the same time looks like mutton.

Not sure when you become mutton.
I am early 40s, but am stuck at around 17 in my head.
Started pondering the age appropriate thing when dress shopping yesterday, I think its a tricky balance.
Eg I wouldn't wear shorts above mid thigh now but is it appropriate to wear a very short dress if sleeves are long etc? Or would I be turning heads for the wrong reason?

I think it a cruel saying and who does it apply to? Someone in their twenties looking like they are 16 or so on and so forth. Dressing too young for your age, i expect.
I met a woman, she must be late forties. She had on tights, denim cut off shorts a tee and looked really hip!! I thought well why the hell not?? Some would say she was mutton. I think some would also not admit that they were just jealous of someone that doesn't give a shit and dresses for herself.
I wear all sorts. I wear short skirts [not pelmets - about 18 inches are my shortest]and biker boots, docs etc. I am 47 a size 12. I look in the mirror and if i think it looks fine, then i wear it!. I wear my clothes carefully and tastefully with thick tights etc. Its all about putting yourself together. I am careful not to put too many young looks together.

I'm 47, and my favourite decade was the 90's. Still living there. Think I'm in danger of it now, since the same stuff seems to be coming back in. Damn it.

The concept I think is meant to imply wearing things that are too young for your age, but I think more in terms of fit and style, colour, etc., I wouldn't wear the same things I wore as a child but that's partly because of the criteria above, which I didn't develop until I grew up.

Well now that I'm most likely classed as mutton, I think that people should be able to wear what the hell they like.
This phrase is never aimed at men by the way.

Probably me

I agree with everyone who's said we should be able to wear what we like.

But to answer the original question, when I hear 'mutton dressed as lamb' I always picture someone looking like Dorian from Birds of a Feather.

I'm 57 and probably wear what most 40 year olds would, I find it quite scary that I am nearing the age of M&S Classic, Bon Marche and EWM, I need at least another 20 years before I shop there.

I wear tights, shorts and a tee. I'm 37 and size 6, under 5 foot. Worry I look like mutton.

watching with interest...am well over 40 and although I don't look anywhere near my age, and dress accordingly, I like to think I can get away with it...hope I'm not deluded

I agree with BernadetteMatthews. Too much leg and cleavage on show at the same time.
I thought of one person when I heard 'mutton dressed as lamb'.
She's 43, which I am not saying is old or anything, but I suppose it doesn't help that she really does try to fit in with her 23 year old sons friends! She is very slim and has had a boob job so in the Summer she wears low cut strappy vest tops with shorts/skirt. Her hair is also quite long which she colours herself a very very dark brown which can make her look a bit witchy and older than her years, but I'm sure she thinks she looks like Kim Kardashian .
In the winter it seems there is no dress sense at all. Neon jumpers with tight leather look leggings

I think I've gone too far the opposite way, I'm only 27 but it's only recently I've decided to stop dressing like a student and I'm now super confused on what people my age wear.

My mum always looks super stylish in an ageing hippy sort of way, and she moans that I buy boring clothes.

RL20 to me that just sounds tasteless more than age inappropriate, maybe that's the key factor in the "mutton" phenomenon: tastelessness

I never wear anything tight, low cut or short, I just don't wear things like round neck cashmillion jumpers, fleeces (Cotton Traders is another shop I don't want to shop in) and the very beige stuff that women of my age are expected to wear, though I think when the next big birthday is 60 that is what is expected of you.

I agree it is a horrible phrase. There is no male equivalent. Wear what you like and feel happy wearing. Grow old disgracefully! I wear short skirts, Docs, etc. Shop in vintage shops, topshop, urban outfitters.

I don't wear heels and tight, low cut clothing but I never wore that kind of thing when I was younger. If I had and I wanted to I would!

Though I did read an article on Buzzfeed yesterday about a trend on Instagram for "old lady hair". Basically young girls dying their hair a lovely shade of grey. I am toying with the idea. Would that make me mutton dressed as mutton?

I thought it was about Ladies over 35 wearing skirts/shorts over the knee and tops designed for teens.

It's an ageist, sexist phrase used to shame women for not becoming invisible.

(Ignores "lighthearted")

www.buzzfeed.com/ryanhatesthis/grannyhair-is-the-hottest-new-hair-trend-on-instagram?utm_term=.vmajazYYZ