What qualifies as 'mutton dressed as lamb'?

[SinclairSpectrum]

Just wondering in a light hearted way what everyone thinks?

Mutton dressed as lamb could apply to both sexes though, couldn't it? Gender neutral .

TondelayoSchwarzkopf I wouldn't really pass comment in real life either. It was just a reply to a previous poster who gave such an extreme example of dressing. Each to their own I say!
All this "dressing like a hooker" talk is sexist and distasteful too. Again there's no male equivalent. No man gets told he can't go out wearing that because he looks like a rent boy. Plus my office where I work is close to the red light district. If I ever work late I sometimes see some of the sex workers about. They dress for a cold Scottish night. No great amount of flesh on show.

People do comment on men like that though - we have all seen the type on the edge of the dance floor... Looking like a total joke. Why would any self respecting person (male or female; young or old) put themselves in such ridiculous attire that it makes them the butt of someone's jokes?

Dafty, you are right, no one ever tells a man " you can't go out looking like that", but any girl knows what a "himbo" is...

I think I am also heading in the opposite direction, as have a worrying interest in fleece at present. Of course, I counter balance that with converse on my feet. I recently met a French friend of mine, and she was wearing fleece too. Of course she paired it with an elegant scarf. If fleece is good enough for the French.....

The butt of someones jokes? The someone is the problem here not the person dressing to suit themselves! Horrible thread

Dafty I completely agree and was also responding to that poster. I too used to live in a red light district and when people say "dressed like a prostitute" I think "you mean jeans and trainers then?"

I'm out of here - too depressing to be reminded that some women seem to get off on ridiculing the taste of other women. .

Horrible and offensive phrase. Nobody uses it about men. It perpetuates the attitude that women should dress for other people's visual or sexual preferences. On top of that it adds in a bit of ageism - that if women are too old to be attractive (in the eye of the person viewing her - so not an actual age, it depends on the sexual prefences of the cunt doing the judging), then basically, she should just disappear. Sorry, but it's not really light hearted, it's a pretty shit problem with our culture, which we should be trying to get rid of, not promoting it with 'light hearted' discussion on what's acceptable to be seen in and what isn't, as a woman of [whatever age].

Agree, it's a horrible, misogynist phrase. Fortunately, I think it is dying out. My grandmother used to use it a lot in a judgey way.

I'm late forties, love clothes and wear what I like and what I think suits me. For example, I've never got on with pencil skirts, they make me look dumpy. Much prefer short or skater style ones. Never really felt I suited jeans either. Much prefer the winter shorts (with tights) look on me.

I disagree and think the phrase is s good one. A woman I know was recently described as such. She is a teacher, near retirement and I think the way she dresses is totally inappropriate.
Everything is like spray on - as tight as physically possible. Tiny mini skirts, pixie boots, with an almost see through top , and a vest underneath - the top had long sleeves, but, the whole thing is just too much. Inappropriate.

I think that so much revealing clothing and the way it is put together is just too much.

That is what I think fits the mutton lamb description.

It is a horrible expression, but if pushed I would say Dorien Green from Birds of a Feather as a pp said - overly tight nylon-type clothes, trowelled on make up, fake tan, lots of gold jewellry, that sort of look..

It's not used to describe men, but oldest swinger in town, himbo, man ho (that one was from the teens, it was a new one on me) all do the same thing.

So comparing women - of any age - to meat on a butcher's slab is lighthearted? And presumably if you object, you have no sense of humour?

I see.

Disagree Chaise. If the teacher you describe is wearing those clothes to school it's probably inappropriate - for a teacher of any age - and maybe she should tone it down. But again, that would apply to a younger woman too.

If she's dressing like that on a night out then "So what?".

And just because we can find (a few) instances of horrible things being said about men because of the way they dress, doesn't mean it's alright to continue doing the same to women.

Every day to school. I think it's inappropriate.

Chaise: So a teacher nearing retirement wears tight fitting clothes?
Presumably her clothing isn't inappropriate for work, otherwise the HT would have commented on it.

Why have you mentioned her occupation? Should 60 year old teachers be shuffling about in hotter shoes and american tan tights to fulfill your personal stereotypes?

And what on Earth is wrong with a woman nearing retirement wearing pixie boots?

I'm perfectly entitled to my opinion. I think it's inappropriate. Presumably so did the professional who described her as mutton. Presumably the Head doesn't. She too is entitled to her opinion.

I am all for teachers, of all ages wearing what they want. I never said otherwise. I don't want all teachers wearing fuddy duddy stuff. But I expect them to be professionally attired and appropriate, as I do too when I go to work.

Who decides what's appropriate? you?

tbh that would be inappropriate for anyone at work

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

(Ignores "lighthearted")

Damn right!

Just wondering in a light hearted way what everyone thinks?

I think people who use the term, even in a 'light hearted' way, ageist, sexist twits.

It's not suitable attire for any job I agree although tbh I think the poster is exaggerating as it's unlikely a teacher would dress like that but is a suitable anecdote for these views.

People with confidence don't give a shit what other people think of them and what they wear.

Enough of these "Mutton" threads.

Boring.

I find it a mean expression and hate it when people use it as a way to sneer at others.

'Mutton dressed as lamb' is very different from someone dressing inappropriately for work.

I'm in my 50s and generally have no idea about what's stylish and what isn't but I would hate to think that people were laughing or bitching about what I wear.

Exaggerating noddy? How do you know that? I can assure you that I am not.

Ivan. Wake up. Coffee. Smell