This is 40 : Catherine from Not Dressed As Lamb

You are in a for a real treat today as I introduce you to one of my favourites from across the pond, Catherine from Not Dressed As Lamb.

Not only is she a stunner but she rocks the brogue shoe like nobody else. 

She refers to herself as an "unnatural redhead" but seriously, I don't think it could suit anyone better. Nor could I envision her in any shade but this one.

And also, her eyebrows? So fabulous, they have their own twitter account. 

Love. 

Welcome, Catherine! 

blog // facebook // twitter // instagram

1. How has your style evolved since getting older?

I don’t think my style has evolved as a result of getting older - I’ve always changed my look from one year to the next since being young; I guess that’s more to do with my interest in fashion, even though I’m no slave to it. I think it’s due to having a blog that I’ve become more adventurous and more aware of what suits me - when you study photos of yourself all the time wearing different outfits you learn more quickly! However, I’ve weaned myself off wearing a lot of black and I would never have worn so much pattern or colour 10 or even 20 years ago, so my style has definitely become bolder and brighter since getting older.

2. Anything you would have worn when you were younger but absolutely wouldn't dream of wearing now?

Leather trousers - I had a pair in the early 90s. I may be the same size I was 20 years ago, but now I just cringe at the thought… I wouldn’t be caught dead in a pair now, even if they have made a comeback!

3. Any looks you regret?

No - I’m not the type to regret wearing anything. If I liked something at the time then that’s good enough for me. Plus in years to come it makes old photos of your younger self more hilarious if you made a few “out there” choices! I’m hoping what I’m currently wearing on my blog will give everyone a laugh in 20 years from now, in the same way we look back at pictures of our parents in the '70s and '80s.

4. What do you know now that you wish you had known then?

That a full length mirror is your best friend, and a camera is your harshest critic.

5. Who is your favourite 40+ inspiration and why?

I’m totally crushing on everything Kristen Wiig is wearing at the moment - she gets it so right every time but doesn’t look like she’s trying too hard. And Dita von Teese is a total inspiration. I couldn’t possibly dress that glamorously every day (the sheer effort would be too much for me), but I love her polish and sophistication, even on her dress-down days. 

6. Best advice you would give to your younger self.

Go and get yourself a proper bra fitting! I was the classic girl that didn’t know her real bra size, and you can see in old photos how the ones I wore did nothing for my boobs. I’m slim but quite busty, and since knowing my real bra size (which was a massive shock by the way) I have been amazed how much better clothes fit and flatter me.

7. Anything else you want to share.

I’m very anti “age appropriate dressing” - I can’t bear the term. It implies that a 40 year old woman can’t wear a skirt above her knee even if she has amazing legs, or that a girl in her late teens should be wearing mini skirts even though she may love a full-skirted midi. I think that everyone should be wearing 1. Things that they like 2. Things that suit them and 3. Things that are appropriate to the occasion. So women of any age can wear jeans, but to go shopping or take the kids to school - not to a church wedding. I’m encouraging everyone to stop thinking “age appropriate” and think “occasion appropriate” instead...!!
Thank you so much Susan for asking me to take part in this series - I’m very flattered you asked :)

And a dear friend of mine, who is a personal shopper at a high-end department store here in Toronto, taught me the very thing you share above.
 T.P.O.
Time. Place. Occasion.
Dress this way and you can never go wrong.

Thank you so much for being here today and sharing wonderful you with us!
And it is I who was flattered when you agreed to participate. 

See previous This is 40 posts one, two + three.

Winner of the Hodoostory Giveaway is Brittany Harrison. Congrats! I will email you today.