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.

I don't know what MDAL is anymore now, when I was younger I could have pointed at any number of women and said that is what they were doing. Now at 40, maybe the lines are blurred. Maybe I am a mutton!
I think actually it is primarily ageism - and smacks of something else I can't put my finger on, the gorgeous ladies in that article posted before, I have followed some of them now so thank you to the PP, they didn't look at all inappropriate or 'mutton'- I think the MDAL images or stereotypes are perceived as overtly sexual, so is there a judgement that these women shouldn't be in the male gaze or shouldn't be trying to attract male attention? I don't know. It certainly is another sartorial stick to beat women with, it seems like.

Ageism, pure and simple. And, I think it's a casual put down from men to women when you wear something more fashionable or different to the clothes you normally wear.

Anyone here old enough to remember ZsaZsa and Eva Gabor in their later years? They continued to wear the clothes that suited them as movie starlets into their 80s and looked ridiculous, but defiant.

MDAL is an appalling, hideous phrase. It is so unbelievably offensive.
Misogynistic, derogatory, ageist, judgmental, prejudiced, demeaning, disrespectful, fraught with internalised mysogyny - possibly the worst of it.

Please tell me what is wrong with wearing wtf we want. Tell me what's wrong, and I'll show you internalised misogyny. We need to address this and stop passing it on to the next generations.

Someone upthread said the equivalent male version is 'having a midlife crisis'. How on earth is that equivalent? No meat mentioned, easily applied to both sexes, not derogatory in the same extreme way, ageist possibly. But it applies to all aspects of a life, not just clothing.

Stop with this internalised misogyny. And as the Rosemary46 linked article says, wear what the fuck you like.

What a depressing thread!

and I would argue that Jennifer Anniston (49), looks as good as, if not better than most 25 year olds in short shorts... not that I compare women anyway

What is wrong with wanting the 'male gaze' when you're older anyway?

I may be 41 but I'd like to meet a nice man - & for decent men in the approx 35-45 age range I'm competing with much younger women as well as women my own age.

I'm not going to catch the eye of a nice man looking like a frumpy mess- I looked frumpy in my 30s when I had serious MH illness & never met anyone or got past the first date.

Now I've lost weight & improved my dress sense & got highlights I'm getting compliments again and I like it!! If that makes me Mutton I actually don't care!!

I'm still fighting the illness so anything that cheers me up is worth doing & that means looking after my appearance.

OP:

I think it is used to denote an older woman who dresses like a teenager or a much younger person. Usually the women wear

New Look type clothes, are thin, and seem not to know that just because they can get into the skinny jeans does not mean the look is acceptable. It makes me pity them for their lack of awareness.

I think it is used to denote an older woman who dresses like a teenager or a much younger person. Usually the women wear New Look type clothes, are thin, and seem not to know that just because they can get into the skinny jeans does not mean the look is acceptable. It makes me pity them for their lack of awareness.

pity them...mind your own business

The 50 year old referenced earlier does not have to be overweight. Usually the mutton women are not: in fact, they are pretty skinny but not in a good way. The clothes look ridiculous on them.

Body shape changes as people age. Older women look wrong in clothes which are designed for a young body with an entirely different look.

It’s not about being “vile” to other women, it’s about being realistic.

As if you’d pity a perfect stranger based on what they wear. As if people actually care enough to think badly of someone based on their clothes alone?! I honestly can say if I see an outfit I like I think oh that woman/man looks nice, and if not I think, oh I wouldn’t wear that. But that’s the end of it! I think it says a lot about you as a person if you judge someone so harshly on outward appearances.

Also, who’s to say what looks ‘wrong’? You personallly might look at someone and think they don’t look great but the person behind you might notice their slender arms, great ankles, good hair cut etc.

Im nearly 39, and today I'm wearing an a line denim mini-ish skirt, supergas, and a t shirt. I just look normal I think. My legs are still fine (if anything better than when I was younger as I'm not as fat now), and I wouldn't say there is anything especially racy or mutton ish about it. Just normal, easy summer casual clothes to me.

Oh come on, now. Her legs look dreadful and her skirt is schoolgirl in style. She looks ridiculous:

i0.wp.com/fabrickated.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/BM10-e1494868226674.jpg

It’s kind of strange how some people jump to see a negative thing. I think she looks amazing - toned, she obviously takes care of herself and looks strong and self assured.

RoseWhite, apart from the belt (which I just don’t like but that’s purely my taste), she looks pretty fucking dynamite.

Love that article @Rosemary46 as well as the attitude!

Thank you.

Rosewhite, may I ask, how old are you? Are you having a confidence crisis yourself, that you feel the need to comment about other women and make derogatory comments? You don't sound balanced or happy at all

I’m having no confidence crisis! Lol
The balanced or happy stuff is pure Mumsnet bingo. 🤣

To be fair it’s a fair comment. You don’t sound like a very nice person.. and those sorts of people usually aren’t happy for some reason..

Haha well my skinny jeans are from Dorothy Perkins not new look so is that ok by you Rose

Well I am happy - sorry to disappoint you all. Probably, though, I am more honest than many of you.
Imagine, for instance, applauding what Macron’s wife wears. Many professional style writers disagree with you too.

What is Dorothy Perkins, please!?

I’m not disappointed you’re happy. I’m glad. I don’t enjoy seeing other women down and out.
I’m not sure why you think it would matter if you or a professional style writer disagrees with me though,