OK. Define 'mutton'.

[AFierceBadRabbit]

Because I just don't get it, unless we're talking a 60 yr old wearing a mini bodycon dress with low neckline?
'Booty' shorts on the over 50's?

If you have the figure who really cares?

Isn't it just another way of looking down on someone - similar to having so-called 'chavvy' tastes?

Or is it a deeply ingrained fear of shocking someone from the front after tempting them from behind?

I think it is a derogatory term that I can't imagine ever using against myself. Why do women even engage in this?

Well yes, I suppose a 20 year old teacher wearing that, I wouldn't think it was appropriate or professional either.
But that's not the issue we are discussing here, is it.

The age thing is relevant. And I do not think it's actually an ageist thing. But a 60 year old woman trying to dress like they are a young 18 year old, with clothes so tight and fitted, that it is almost spray on?

That fits the idea/definition of : mutton dressed as lamb, doesn't it? Which is what the OP asked.

No. You couldn't see the ankles!

It often seems to have sexual connotations too - like 'tight' clothes, showing cleavage, short shorts, etc. As if a woman over a certain age DARE NOT show any interest in her sexuality or expect any man (or woman, whatever) to cast his eyes upon her hideous ageing flesh.

Ok, I mean I personally wouldn't dress in an overtly 'sexual' way, but then I didn't at 20;) The point is, I should be ABLE to without doubting myself.

But like this:

I have a SIL in her mid-40s who likes to wear knee socks and princessy-style hairclips. It gives me the creeps.

To be fair this would creep me out on anyone over 12, though.

Lovely in a nightclub but maybe not suitable for Y8 or Y9 boys, in any subject except biology.

Well it is what we're discussing. I appreciate you are simply answering the question in the OP and I'm not sure if it's your opinion or not but plenty of people are making wider points about how people form opinions on how women in particular dress.

I'm just making the point that you can dislike or have a negative opinion on an outfit for any reason at all. "I don't like it" is perfectly reasonable. Likening a woman to a bit of meat which is past its best is unnecessary.

Also, mutton is actually really delicious. Great in curries.

Women have enough shite thrown at us without self describing as a cut of flipping meat.

Wear what you like and let others enjoy themselves.

To be honest, at 43 I find myself a fair bit more confident and accepting of my body than I did at 20.
So sometimes I will wear something that I didn't have the guts to wear then, just for the hell of it, like form fitted stuff and shorts, a Nike cap in summer, etc.

I remember really over-thinking all this crap in my 30's. Since then there have been so many lightbulb moments where I'm like 'fuck this, I'm enjoying what I've got'.

If something doesn't sit right, whether it feels 'young' or 'mature' I won't wear it.

I'm just making the point that you can dislike or have a negative opinion on an outfit for any reason at all. "I don't like it" is perfectly reasonable. Likening a woman to a bit of meat which is past its best is unnecessary.

Yes yes yes.

I agree with dexter - second post here

So, 6 years later, we have learned nothing.

I'm just making the point that you can dislike or have a negative opinion on an outfit for any reason at all. "I don't like it" is perfectly reasonable. Likening a woman to a bit of meat which is past its best is unnecessary.

Brava, taybert.

The phrase 'mutton dressed as lamb' is misogynistic shite.
And I hate mutton. Even in curries.

Not commenting on the woman who wears the clothes. At 60, I am well past my best but TBH, if I was advertising my charms

As long as you have the figure for flesh showing there is no issue. It's when you cringe for the person it gets difficult.

Don't get me wrong, beautiful figure, nice outfit, but appropriate in school? No. For any age? No.

But why would a 65 year old woman want to dress as though she was 21? She's not. She can still dress beautifully, classily? Sexily. But why would you want to dress 40 years younger?

. Likening a woman to a bit of meat which is past its best is unnecessary.

So, Sleep, what is the required figure to show flesh?

Or rather, why is there a 'required figure' to show flesh??

Is this the required figure?

Oh wait, there is NO required figure for men.
And no "ram dressed as lamb" (even though that rhymes!)
And even if there was 'ram' has positive, strong connotations as opposed to the poor mutton, pathetic as she is.

Got to say I have heard (and read) this phrase used about men as well - I was shocked to see the dictionary definition making it purely about women.

Also... "mutton" can be meat from either a male or a female sheep.

Obviously I'm guessing the phrase is used more often about women than it is about men - but I would put that down to the fact that women are more often evaluated on the basis of their appearance and/or perceived attractiveness. So a problem with societal attitudes in general, rather than a problem with this specific phrase.

Yes, it is simply a (tiny) symptoms, not the disease.

Not sure that having the figure is the point. You could be Venus personified and still dress inappropriately. Clothing is chosen for what you are doing that day so my dog walking outfit, even if stylish, would not cut the mustard for any business meeting in London. Clothing is chosen for the event, not the person or the body.

Hmm. I'm torn on this one. While I think that people should be able to wear whatever the fuck they like without fear or judgment, there is a bit of me that worries I'm trying to dress like a 20 year old in my mid 40s.

I've always seen the expression 'mutton dressed as lamb' as more symbolic than pejorative towards women though. When I've seen 70 year old men in tight Superdry t-shirts and skinnies (and you see that quite a bit where I live), I've also thought 'mutton'.

I suspect a lot of it is not so much what you wear but the appropriateness of where you wear it.

But mutton isn't used to define a woman wearing clothing that is inappropriate for leisurely or scholastic pursuits.
It is used solely to make her ashamed of being older.

Even if I wouldn't want to dress 40 yrs younger, why would I disparage someone else who did? How does it affect me? Not one iota.

What does it say about us if we judge other women this way?
Are we harsher judges than men....
It may have begun with men, but women do seem to have embraced it and kept the misogynistic home fires burning if you ask me.

FierceBadRabbit, I agree but women are usually the harshest critics of other women. Mutton men are equally laughable. I would prefer an aesthetic response, divorced from approval, personally.

I've a friend same age as me (late 50's), who has a gorgeous figure and who loves clothes and is in the lucky position to be able to afford to dress as she wishes. We work in the same organisation and I've heard both the "mutton..." comment and "wow she always looks great" - but always from other women. We are our own worst enemies.

Many of us struggled in our earlier years to figure out what our "style" was. I know I spent a small fortune buying items which never saw the light of day as, much as I loved them, I lacked the confidence to carry them off. Now that I, and my friends, have got into our style stride we are enjoying the process of adapting trends for ourselves.

Being judged by others says a lot more about the judge than it does about the person being judged. Whenever I hear the "mutton..." comment I think, just you wait, the day will come when you realise that we only get one go around on this earth and we might as well enjoy it!