Photo Credit (Pixeles)
What’s the quickest way to get older-looking? Wear something that is no longer in style. (Looking at you, men who have owned the same suit for decades.) The Huffington Post suggests this simple test for males in their article titled “The Six Signs You’re Not Dressing Appropriately for Your Age”: You should be able to fit your fist from your chest to the lapels when your suit jacket is buttoned, as they are becoming more and more tailored. Your suit jacket is overly large and of an outdated style if it still fits.
Wearing clothes that are appropriate for one’s age requires a method of elimination in addition to the significance of fit. Here is some style advice for men in their 30s, 40s, 50s, and beyond, including what to avoid and what to wear instead.
In excess of thirty
To start, the editors of Who What Wear—a worldwide fashion content portal owned by Future, a media production firm located in London—strongly advise against wearing cargo shorts. We here at Peter Manning think that cargo shorts tend to be too lengthy and baggy for shorter men. Complete candor: As with the rest of our collection, the most important thing is to get the right length and fit when you add cargo shorts to your shopping cart. It is important that the hemline of cargo shorts not go below the knee.
Also, Gen Z should be the one to handle anything with shredded detailing or major damage; light-wash jeans are great with polished separates. Denim with a medium wash and straight legs is another popular choice. Unnamed image They are perfect for working remotely or for a more relaxed Friday in the office because of the sophisticated look they give. And instead of windbreakers, choose a bomber jacket—it will be in style forever.
Basketball shorts are one more thing that shouldn’t be worn, according to Who What Wear. Swap them out for thin jogger pants for a weekend outfit that’s just as sporty and casual, but with a little more class. Avoid tank tops in favor of plain t-shirts for a more basic interpretation of laid-back style; they’re great for the beach or the gym, though.
Wearing gear with a fraternity theme is also inappropriate unless you’re going to a game at your alma mater. Wearing pullovers with an athletic motif is more sophisticated and on trend.
More than forty
In general, when it comes to clothing, it’s best to avoid looking too youthful or too elderly by finding that sweet spot in the middle. It doesn’t imply a fit 40-something man should wear low-slung slacks with his boxer shorts exposed—a style obviously meant for Gen Z—just because he can. (You can’t doubt that he shouldn’t.) Also, pleated pants might make you look older and more weathered than you actually are. Plus, the extra fabric that comes out of pleats can make you look bigger and shorter, guys. The solution that never goes out of style: fitting pants with a flat front.
For men over the age of 35, Rodale, Inc.’s Best Life offers a wealth of information on style, personal care, and more. The most egregious example of a fashion crime is: Completely pastel outfits make one think of an Easter egg, but lighter shades complemented by darker ones work just as well.
Wearing pajamas in public was also deemed a fashion “no”; according to Best Life, “There’s one person who could ever get away with this look, and his name was Hugh Hefner.” The trend of glittering “club shirts” has also been phased out: “If a shirt looks like it’s been pre-treated with Vaseline or you can’t look at it directly without wearing eclipse glasses, it’s not something that belongs in your closet anymore.”
Adrian Clark, a British men’s fashion editor and brand consultant with over 50 years of experience, has worked with Jasper Conran, Topman, The Independent, and Loaded magazine in the UK. Several of his fashion rules for older guys were highlighted in a recent interview he gave to The Guardian. “Proper no-nos” would be to avoid pants with excess fabric, excessive embellishment, or pockets. Style your pants in a way that’s neither too dressy nor too casual; in other words, something in between pajamas and a dress pant. Not to mention that chinos will never go out of style, but as Clark pointed out, “Don’t cut them too short at the ankle, like the young kids do.”
“Another mistake men make is to hold on to things for decades in the belief that they’ll come back into fashion,” Clark added, referring to the obsolete suits. We are currently experiencing a renaissance of the ’90s, so in theory, it is correct. However, a younger demographic is the target audience for these resurgences. The little ones look adorable in anoraks, bucket caps, and fleece shirts. Nevertheless, males of a specific age will “simply look like that guy who got stuck in the Britpop era,” rather than exuding the air of being up-to-date. Baseball hats and Hawaiian shirts are among items on fifty-something men’s “to ditch” list, according to Clark.
There has been a general decline in the relevance of the trend following among men over the age of 50. According to Clark, “less is more” when it comes to style and quantity. Instead of amassing a plethora of low-quality products, it’s wise to invest in a few high-quality pieces that will endure for a long time. He was an advocate for less stuffy, less formal blazers made of softer, more relaxed fabrics as an alternative to the conventional business suit. To that, he emphasized that “fine-gauge yarn knits” ought to be considered fundamental. They are an excellent method of incorporating color into your attire.
Garments that are excessively large or loose don’t flatter anyone, regardless of age. Developed with the “not-so-tall” man in mind, Peter Manning’s unique sizing system takes into account weight, height, and body type. As Clark put it, “You should be giving the impression that you’re in control and confident.” This applies regardless of your attire.
