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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Is this dress style too young? *Title edited by MNHQ*

236 replies

User8971 · 14/01/2025 21:38

I bought this and love it but I'm having doubts - I am 50 - is this mutton dressed as lamb territory?
I am size 10 and 5'2" so it is almost knee length on me, fits very well but but but....
https://sea-ny.com/products/drea-mini-dress

Drea Mini Dress

The Drea embroidered mini dress features embroidered detailing throughout, flutter sleeves, sheer accents, scalloped hemline and mini silhouette. Details: self-100% cotton lining-100% cotton combo-100% nylon embroidery-100% polyester lace-100% cotton i...

https://sea-ny.com/products/drea-mini-dress

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
User8971 · 15/01/2025 07:51

RedPalace · 15/01/2025 04:51

I'd actually quite like the top on its own with worn-in denim and boots. I think it's the top and shirt full skirt that makes it feel very frou frou.

Is there a specific occasion in mind. It feels very summery for opaque tights and flats, I'd see if more with flat sandals and a good tan on holiday.

I like the top and would like it as a top but it wasn't available in my size.

OP posts:
User8971 · 15/01/2025 07:51

ForAzureSeal · 15/01/2025 00:01

I like it @User8971 . It's making me think of fancy imperial Japanese armour at the top (in a good way!) So I'm imagining it with maybe an ankle boot with a heavy sole if you're going with a toning it down option. Enjoy wearing it!

yes, this is why I like it. I like the shape and embroidery.

OP posts:
ThatAgileLimeCat · 15/01/2025 07:52

I disagree with most on here. I am similar age and wouldn't wear it as I'm tall and no longer have the legs for it. Also, the cut outs would just highlight the extra weight I'm carrying. You are a lot shorter than me and you say it fits well on you so I really don't get what the issue is. It's a pretty black dress that looks good on you so why shouldn't you wear it?

Disclaimer: I am neurodivergent (not sure if that is relevant) and have never understood why you wouldn't just wear or do something you enjoy so long as it doesn't harm anyone else.

goodgirlclassicthing · 15/01/2025 08:11

I think it's a pretty dress and I'm also size 10 and 5'2". I would wear it with black tights and some nice flats from Hot Chocolate Design shoes. Ignore the comment re teen on top/librarian on bottom, what nonsense. You sound like you have a similar style as me (I'm approaching 50). I get a lot of compliments on my dress sense and I have no plans to switch to dull chic just to appease judgy people. Wear it and enjoy it OP, it's lovely.

MsWintertowne · 15/01/2025 08:17

kdramaqueen · 15/01/2025 07:31

It's a beautiful dress and I would say go for it ... if your skin is still youthful looking. So no wrinkled elbows/knees and it needs nude legs too.

So despite loving the dress you still feel women should be ashamed of aging and should hide all visible signs of doing so?

I honestly don’t know what to say …

Except that - setting aside places where women are not always free to dress as they please - vast swathes of the world are hot, and women who live there wear clothes that expose their skin for their entire lives. I’m related to a fair few of them - and I’ve never seen them apologising for becoming wrinkled and elderly.

fluffyblanky · 15/01/2025 08:21

I love the dress and I would wear it ! I am 42. In fact I wish it was in stock as I would have bought it.

I think it will look lovely on you.

RaspberryBeretxx · 15/01/2025 08:24

I’m 45 and think it’s lovely and I’d wear it. I’m just not sure where I’d wear it to! That’s my problem with getting older, not that I want to dress differently but that I dont go to the places that need anything very dressy!

Soontobe60 · 15/01/2025 08:24

MagicalMystical · 15/01/2025 00:00

That dress is so cute! To hell with ‘rules’ about what age, body, accessories etc are right. You do you. If you feel fabulous in it, it’s the right clothing for you.

Cute? My granddaughter looks cute in certain dresses - shes 4. Grown women arent ‘cute’ FFS.
OP, if you like it, wear it. From the website the front looks as revealing as the back. I cant be doing with boob exposure TBH.

Justyouwaitandseeagain · 15/01/2025 08:35

Take age out of the equation. If you like it and feel good, wear it. Societal 'rules' only hold people back, by arbitrarily deciding what you 'can' and 'can't' do.

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 15/01/2025 08:41

User8971 · 15/01/2025 07:50

I'm sorry to have caused such offence. I am a sheep farmer in Scotland and it never occurred to me as anything more than mutton is an old animal and lamb a young one - I am a feminist and didn't see that at all so sorry.

Good point re the tights
I have bought it but not from the US site - in the UK so I can return it if I want.

It's a horrible expression. I don't know how anyone can claim to be a feminist and think it's an acceptable term to use. MN edited your title but it's still in the body of your post.

I grew up on a sheep farm in Scotland and I'm older than you. Your explanation doesn't even make sense. Mutton is dead, not just old. Wear it if you want. I don't think it's a very nice dress. The top is too fussy.

kdramaqueen · 15/01/2025 08:42

So despite loving the dress you still feel women should be ashamed of aging and should hide all visible signs of doing so?

That was quite a reach getting SHAME from my comment which was specific to how I feel about* *this dress. Am I not allowed an opinion? If I felt women should hide all visible signs of ageing, (which I don't), I would have advised the OP to hide under a blanket.

Why is it all or nothing? Being aware of yourself and wanting to look your best/highlight your best points does not mean you are 'ashamed'. The OP herself, in her unedited title is aware of how the dress could possibly look.

You are looking for a fight where none exists.

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 15/01/2025 08:57

kdramaqueen · 15/01/2025 08:42

So despite loving the dress you still feel women should be ashamed of aging and should hide all visible signs of doing so?

That was quite a reach getting SHAME from my comment which was specific to how I feel about* *this dress. Am I not allowed an opinion? If I felt women should hide all visible signs of ageing, (which I don't), I would have advised the OP to hide under a blanket.

Why is it all or nothing? Being aware of yourself and wanting to look your best/highlight your best points does not mean you are 'ashamed'. The OP herself, in her unedited title is aware of how the dress could possibly look.

You are looking for a fight where none exists.

I agree with MsWintertowne.

The qualifier to your comment does read that way.

SwaylerTwift · 15/01/2025 09:03

I think if you look good you look good. I never had a size 10 body, always big and flabby i couldn't wear this not even as a teenager. If your back skin is good go for it.

MorrisZapp · 15/01/2025 09:04

Can MN not just ban 'am I too old for this' threads? Especially from people who claim they love the item and look great in it. Love the sheep farming spartacus moment though.

CharlotteCChapel · 15/01/2025 09:08

I'm 60 and if I HD the figure for it I'd wear it. It's seriously pretty.

kdramaqueen · 15/01/2025 09:09

@IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle

And I disagree with you. Other pp have talked about 'having the figure/legs' etc. Why not pick on them too.

edited for spelling

pizzaHeart · 15/01/2025 09:15

I think it’s a very “teen style” dress. I can’t imagine how anyone older than 25 can look good at it and I prefer shorter styles myself. It might sit ok but the vibe would still be quite odd with all its details: shape, length, sleeves, underarms, the waist line.
I don’t think the slogan “you can wear anything you like and age doesn’t matter” is 100% true. Of course you can, it’s not forbidden but you might look plain silly in some things. And I suspect it’s the case with this dress.

Snowmanscarf · 15/01/2025 09:17

If you’ve got the figure (and the legs) go for it!

Unfortunately I’ve got thunder thighs and middle age spreads so it would look hideous on me.

unlikelywitch · 15/01/2025 09:19

Sorry, OP but I don't like it.

There's nothing special about it and black opaque tights and flats would just add to the drabness. In fact, throw in a sock bun and statement necklace and you'll look like you've time travelled from 2012.

There are so many fabulous dresses you could get with your budget.

goodgirlclassicthing · 15/01/2025 09:19

@Soontobe60 was the FFS really necessary? You may not feel comfortable referring to yourself as cute and that's fine, as a 'grown woman' (now there's a term that always makes me cringe) I have no problem with being referred to as cute. Grown woman always sounds so loaded, like there's a level we must reach to be deemed acceptable as adult women. I've always been called cute at any age. It hasn't held me back in any area of my life though 🤷🏽‍♀️ CEO of my business and very well respected professionally, just happen to be fairly cute too.

Mencia · 15/01/2025 09:24

@User8971 I would wear it. In fact, I am your age/height/etc and love Sea NY, have plenty of dresses and tops from them.
It is quite difficult to find the full collection in the UK so I would be very grateful if you could tell me where you have bought this particular dress, even if is by private message. Thanks!

Juliagreeneyes · 15/01/2025 09:33

The phrase “mutton dressed as lamb” comes from the practice of butchers or restaurants passing off the meat of older sheep (mutton, which was cheaper and an everyday meat) as lamb (which was more expensive and eaten more rarely). Back when mutton was a cheap meat eaten very widely in stews, etc.

The use of the metaphor to apply to women might be sexist and outdated, but it in itself is rather creative and descriptive (think of the old-fashioned habit of serving lamb ribs with paper frills on - that’s the “dressing” of the meat!) And it’s still common that lots of meat sold in some stews and curries as “lamb” (for example in ready meals) is actually technically mutton. (Mutton actually takes the flavour in stews and curries better.)

Anyway, OP, I’m 46 and I have to say I probably would have worn it when I was 20s, but not now - I’d probably have thought it was a bit young for me in style in my early 30s to be honest - not for any ageist reason, but for the fact that I think ruffles and frills are intrinsically a bit silly and meant to look like a stereotypical idea of little girls’ clothes. Yes women should wear what they want, but isn’t it also a bit sexist for women’s clothes to be designed to look like little girls’ dresses? (those flouncy long dresses upthread are awful btw!) Not that little girls have to dress like that either! It’s a nice dress, but isn’t it intrinsically a bit weird for a dress for adult women to look “cute”?

CharSiu · 15/01/2025 09:33

If any woman puts on that dress she better have an amazing figure, saying what size you are is almost irrelevant as all sizes are not created equal. There is that site where women write their dress size and then post a photo and the differences are startling.

Being totally honest if you are only 5ft 2 and a size 10 then I doubt you are petite enough. It’s the kind of thing I would have worn when a size 8, I’m a 10 now and I just wouldn’t. I do ascribe to Asian beauty standards though which are very different from British ones.

Turnups · 15/01/2025 09:38

Yes, afraid it is.

JustWalkingTheDogs · 15/01/2025 09:41

I think you'd look fantastic on you. If your dh is anything like mines if he thought I looked like mutton dressed as lamb, he'd tell me

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