Mutton

[NigellasGuest]

Following recent posts I've noticed on the S&B board, I would really love to know what is mutton dressed as lamb? As in, can anyone actually define it or post a picture of someone who is mutton dressed as lamb? To my mind it doesn't actually exist, and is just another way of saying "badly dressed". People seem to use it as in, I need an outfit but I don't want to look like MDAL but what do they REALLY mean by this? if a dress doesnt look right on you then to my mind it's because it's too short or too long for your proportions or you have the wrong shoes with it, or another reason like that. This mutton thing is just lazy talk I think.

I'm getting on in years - in my 50s - and if I get dressed and don't like what I see, I don't think I look like MDAL. I just think I'm badly dressed.

Ripped jeans are for young people. They look absolutely ridiculous on older women or men. Yes it does look desperate, at most, or misguided at best.

That's quite a strong emotional reaction to a pair of someone else's trousers?

Comedy gold!😂🤣😂🤣😂

MDAL - instantly thought of ripped jeans

The thing is a woman needs to look in the mirror and know it is herself who is staring back at her, whoever that person is, whether she likes wearing ripped jeans or cigarette trousers is irrelevant, what is important is that she is happy enough with the reflection in the mirror.

Some of you seem quite troubled and judgemental people.

It’s normal to sometimes notice another persons outfit and think

“ I don’t like that / the colour / style / fit doesn’t suit her “
“ That’s a nice dress but would be better with different shoes “

What is WEIRD is deciding all these things about the person’s character and motives from what they wear or being nasty because a 50 yo woman has the skin and body of a 50yo woman or a person isn’t size 8.

Eg she’s desperate for a man, trying too hard, she’s a tart / whore , MDAL, dressing too young

Or expecting everyone else to abide by your own fashion rules

Eg no ripped jeans over 25
No short skirts over 35
No nice clothes ever if you are over size 16, only bin bags

If your rules work for you, then great! But trying to impose your own arbitrary rules on the other 30 million women in the UK and judging them harshly when they don’t is just BONKERS.

I went to a touristy place the other day full of young people (thousands of them), many of the young women were wearing ripped jeans. Fair enough.

But, I see the photo of Felicity Kendall (both photos actually, because even if you don't like the style of the second pair, she looked good in them) and compare the image to the ill fitting, excessively ripped jeans which exposed incredibly badly applied fake tan and there is no contest. It's nothing to do with age, it's style, knowing what suits you and being confident enough to wear the clothes that you like regardless of what society tells you you should be wearing (whether that be fashion or some set of arbitrary rules) which make a person look good.

Rosemary46

It is possible to be judgemental but not “troubled”. You are talking pure Mumsnet Bingo. 😂

I don't think it is being a misogynist to discuss women and age and clothes. FGS lighten up!

Men are also accused of having bad taste- think of comb overs, toupees, Just For Men, flowery shirts that scream 'Im 60 but want to look 30', overly tight jeans (yes we know you have a lunchbox dear), pointy pointy shoes, spiky gelled hair on men 50+, etc etc.

It's not about age per se but women who are of a certain age cannot get away with the fashion faux pas of teens or women in their 20s.

If a woman wears something that is a disaster, fashion wise, for her shape, or whatever, it is a million times worse if she is also sporting crepey skin, badly applied fake tan, and has rolls of sagging flesh.

I understand other women saying they can wear what they want and they don't give a damn what anyone thinks. That's fine, Go ahead! But it's also completely unrealistic to think that in RL women will not look at you and have an opinion.

I think anyone who says they have no opinions at all about what other people wear are either being dishonest, or are of a tribe who genuinely has no interest in clothes and looking as good as they can.

I wear a short wool skirt in winter- about 3 inches above knee- with thick tights and boots. I have good legs. I am over 50. it's not about age but about what you look like. But some styles are always associated more with younger women because they are the ones who tend to wear them most. When I was young in the 1970s I'd wear skirts that just covered my knickers. I don't do that now but adapt the style to suit my age.

Equally I have friends who are younger than me who don't wear short skirts because they have what they think are 'bad legs' mainly fat or shapeless. (Their words not mine.)

Parading sexist or ageist judgments is never a good look, Folks.

Yes, a lot of prevailing ideas in our culture are quite hostile about older women. That doesn't mean it's Ok to join in. You have a choice.

Your post is a little contradictory @QueenoftheNights you seem to be suggesting that this description it is a million times worse if she is also sporting crepey skin, badly applied fake tan, and has rolls of sagging flesh relates specifically to older women but go on to say Equally I have friends who are younger than me who don't wear short skirts because they have what they think are 'bad legs' mainly fat or shapeless. (Their words not mine.) which implies that age is not the issue.

Of course it's mysoginistic.

Yes a man with a comb over or a bald head may look bad. But here's the crux of the matter he has and universally referred to as a cunt or twat or other derogatory term.

The words slag, slut and mdal are used to put females, and only females down and stfu and get back indoors where you belong. They generally describe females who are dressed in what the other person defines as sexy .

Females who aren't dressed in a sexy manner according to the name called are called frumpy, dowdy or mumsy.

You cannot win.

There is no equivalent terms to depict males, absolutely none.
A 'dad bod' which I have never heard anyone use ever, is not insulting fathers is it?
I know fathers with fantastic bodies. Having a child does not alter a man's body the same way as it alters a womans.

Think about the language you use.

Once again we don't use 'cunt' to specifically identify someone who has a comb over or is bald do we.

I've never shouted cunt! At a random man because he is bald, yet I've been called slag by strangers for rejecting their unwanted advances.

he has and universally referred to as a cunt or twat or other derogatory term

And look at those words used an insults for men, they are words for the vulva.