About

Hi: I’m Catherine Summers, AKA Not Dressed As Lamb. Here’s where I explain what’s going on around here.

Me, in bullet form:

  • I’m 52. I cherish every single birthday that comes along.
  • I’m British/English and live with my real-life husband Keith and Suki the greyhound in Devon, South West England.
  • I started the blog to document my style for the 365 days in the run-up to my 40th birthday.
  • A year later and I couldn’t shut my new baby down so decided to continue and not long after made it my career.
  • I’ve super proud that I’ve won a few awards… not least being the UK Blog Awards Fashion Winner two years in a row, 2017 and 2018.
  • My hair is always changing in various shades of red (sometimes pink) and have even been in two TV hair colourant adverts for L’Oréal.
  • I write the blog to encourage women of all ages to ditch those crazy notions of “age-appropriate” dressing (as well as writing about a lot of other stuff about ageing and wellness).

 

How it all started

Once upon a time I had dreams of making it as a fashion photographer. I graduated from art college with a photography degree in the early 90s but never really pursued my dream.

(The dream was, admittedly, killed during a bad work experience stint in a photography studio in London. They were NOT nice to me and the 22 year old in me was NOT prepared to be treated like sh*t on an ongoing basis. So, plans were changed.)

I put my talents to use teaching the subject instead (I loved it but due to lots of different circumstances it didn’t continue and I wound up in lots of retail and office jobs in the following years). On a personal level my photographic skills frustratingly remained underused, but eventually I discovered fashion blogs and my love for fashion photography was reignited. Together with a passion for writing (and a huge wardrobe!) I turned to fashion blogging as a creative outlet in 2011.

I launched Not Dressed As Lamb* on my 39th birthday. It was originally intended to be a one year project to see if I could improve my style as I approached my 40th – and to flex my photography muscles once more. The one-year project simply continued, and I’m now enjoying being a full-time professional blogger. While I’ve been “waving the fashion flag for 40-somethings”, the blog has grown into one of the leading over 40 style blogs in the UK and worldwide.

*See my FAQs for an explanation of the blog’s name.

 

I love clothes.

I love writing and telling stories.

I love great photography.

This blog is those three things smashed together.

 

Achievements and awards

I was very proud to have consecutively won the UK Blog Awards Best Fashion & Beauty Blog in 2017 and 2018, the Thirty Plus Awards’ Most Addictive Blog and the Bloggers’ Lounge award for Best Fashion Blog 2015. To date I’ve been featured in the Sunday Times Style magazine and Who What Wear three times (here, here and here), among others.

 

What to expect on the blog…

I oppose the term “age-appropriate” and encourage the term “occasion-appropriate” instead. I believe that women of all ages should wear things they like, what suits them, and what is appropriate to the occasion – you won’t find any age-appropriate nonsense here. I encourage women to be fabulous at any age! I also cover the following topics:

Personal style and fashion
Health and beauty
Positive body image
The ageing process and being 50+
Blog photography
Better blogging tips

To read a selection of my favourite – and best – posts, click here… I’m sure there’ll be something to whet your appetite for more!

 

A little bit more about me…

Known for my (unnatural) red hair, I’ve been dubbed the “Queen of Clash” due to a penchant for pattern-mixing and a tendency to wear bright colours – I describe my style as “eclectic, erring on the side of preppy-with-a-twist”. I have a passion for keeping fit, people watching, travel, giraffes, the theatre, astronomy, cherry lip balm, freckles and generally seeking out life’s pleasures (read more in my FAQs).

 

If you want, you can…

  • Follow me on Instagram
  • Sign up for free updates – an email every time something new is published
  • Collaborate with me (brands): by email notdressedaslamb[at]gmail.com – check out my PR page for ways we can work together
  • Contact me (readers only): by email notdressedaslamb[at]gmail.com or DM via Instagram @notlamb

 

If you want to know more about me or maybe have a question, click here for my FAQs!

View Comments

  • It's so nice to meet you! I live in north Alabama (USA), am a freelance writer, and really like your use of color.

  • Hi Cathrine,
    I think I did something wrong while I was trying to sign up for your "LINK UP" February the 1st. My appologies If by any chance my whole instagram profile has been uploaded.
    Regards, Renata (from prosperitybyrenata)

    • Hi Renata - no I don't think it's possible, the link up can only show up one thumbnail + link at a time! So don't worry, you can't upload "too much" as it were...! x

  • Catherine, I am so happy that someone has recommended your blog to me just today:). I just started blogging (lifestyle 40+) and actually I decided to do it because I love life, I find pleasure and happiness in small, every day things. Last but not least, I would like all women to believe that maturity is beautiful, intriguing and sexy!
    Regards from Warsaw, Poland,
    Renata

    http://www.prosperitybyrenata.com

    • Wow Renata, thank you so much for the kind words! I think you're a woman after my own heart with that last sentiment (maturity is beautiful, intriguing and sexy) - you couldn't be more right!

      Thank you to you (and your friend for recommending me)! x

  • What a lovely blog! I am turning 48 next month and am always looking for inspirational blogs by women in my age bracket, especially fashion-focused. : )

    • Averyl thank you so much - that's so nice to hear! I hope you've checked out my blogroll (see top), I've recently updated it so the 40+ bloggers are all together :))

  • Stunning photos and love the black and white frock/yellow bag ensemble. When I was a young punk rocker I shocked my pals by buying a similar dress which I wore with red shoes and bleached blonde spiky hair (which I then dyed red to match the shoes!). Wish I still had the dress.

    Meanwhile, many moons later, I'm facing a Big Birthday and there'll be no toning it down for me! ;)

    Emerald

    • Emerald thank you so much for you lovely comment, you sound like a girl after my own heart...! Hope you have a very Happy Birthday - make sure you celebrate big style!! x

  • Just found this after being pointed towards it by an agency I work with. Brilliant blog, and so nice to see something not filled with skinny little pretty things! Not in my 40s yet, but love the content and find it a welcome change to see a blog by a woman-not-in-her-twenties that is focused on things other than the humdrum of bringing up small children.
    Looking forward to reading more!

    • LA that's such a lovely thing to hear - I'm so flattered that I had a hand in inspiring you! The dresses sound amazing, and don't forget it's the confidence you wear them with that will make them look fabulous, not the shape or size you are. Bye bye bland as you said, and thank you for the lovely, lovely comment!! C x

    • Glam not bland .....Catherine, Ladies - have to share as very excited ...have loved following NDALblog over the last couple of weeks, in an attempt to try and pull myself out of my hum drum , tired look . Well really excited to tell you all , that this week end , while visiting Harrogate , went into Suzie Hamilton and bought not just one but two new fab 50s inspired dresses , complete with under skirt and funky bag! Thank you Catherine for not only giving me the courage to try them on , and not just the courage to then buy them but to have the courage to go out and wear them! Despite being a good size 16, the dresses look fab and most importantly I feel fab so I'm really pleased that I dared and hopefully starting to say bye bye bland! - Thank you and keeeep blogging! LA xx

    • Laura thank you SO much - it is good to have a mixture of all sorts in the blogosphere, and that was really nice of the agency to recommend me to you! I guess they say you have to write what you you know, and really that's all I'm doing. No kids, lots of clothes, one underused camera... voilà!! But seriously - to know I'm connecting with people such as yourself (and no matter what age you are) is lovely to know!!

      Catherine x

  • Love your blog. I just turned 40 last week, and whilst my 39th year was awesome in lots of ways, I would say that 40 now needs to be about connecting inside and out. The exterior needs celebrating.... I might start with the eyebrows... And work my way down. Thanks so much for the inspiration.

    See you in more comments

    With gratitude

    Belle

    Oh and merry Christmas!

    • Happy Birthday Belle - and welcome to the club! ;) Good for you for wanting to be even more fabulous - the eyebrows are a great place to start. Thank you so much for your lovely comments, I hope you have a very Merry Christmas too! C x

  • 1. You are absolutely gorgeous, and I love your style (especially the pattern-mixing).

    2. I oppose the term "age-appropriate" too! I'm nowhere near hearing it yet for myself (I'm in my 20s) but my grandmother on my mom's side would never grow out her hair because she said she was "too old" and my grandmother on my dad's side had this beautiful, long, silver and white hair and I thought it looked SO COOL. And that's when I realized "age-appropriate" was a farce! So glad to see a blogger encouraging this in women over 40!!

    3. I almost never read fashion blogs, and I totally love yours and your writing style and all of it. Thanks for being awesome!

    • Samantha what a wonderful comment - you're an absolute sweetheart!! I love the sound of your grandmother's long silver hair... I'm pretty sure that's what I want when I'm older! I'm honoured to be one of the few blogs you read - but please, please please check out more blogs, there are some mighty fabulous ones out there! Thank you so much xx

  • Oh my goodness, I have been on your site for half an hour checking out your " + 40's" posts. I am so glad I ran into your blog. As a 42 year old newbie blogger, it is so refreshing to find you and learn more about other 40+ bloggers! Keep it up!

    http://www.girlinahotcity.com

    • Oh Ivete that's so nice of you - thank you ever so much! I hope you find lots of inspiration! :-)

  • Hi Cathrerine,
    Lovely blog, lovely photos, lovely style! Keep inspiring us!
    Greetings from Greece,
    Vassiliki

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