Too old for trends? Our dress-for-your-age style tips for guys
The shell suit. Socks with sandals. Speedos. There are crimes of fashion, and then there’s this – embracing a trend when you are clearly not in the appropriate age bracket.
We’re talking back-to-front baseball caps, drop crotch jeans, and Hawaiian print shorts amongst others. So forget making a major fashion faux pas this season and step out proudly knowing you’re getting that look spot on for your age.
20-somethings
Ah youth. Bouncy-as-a-puppy-dog youth. It’s the time to make mistakes, find out who you are, and have a whole lot of fun while you do it (and have it all documented on Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest for as long as you keep your account active).
Your 20s are a total trend-a-thon. One week you’ll be sporting that oh-so-in moustache, the next minute you’ll realise it’s all about the beard (Moustaches? So 2012 btw).
You can get away with most trends in your 20s – those drop crotch jeans, Hawaiian print shorts, and edgy 80s-inspired back-to-front baseball caps are all yours my friend. Knock yourself out on trends because it won’t last forever…
30-somethings
By the time you hit your 30s you’ll have a) worn a onesie on a night out, b) bleached your hair at home, and/or c) wondered whether you can pull off ‘grunge’ the second time round…
Whatever has gone before, hopefully by now you’ll have found your feet. You’re still young enough to pull off the latest styles, but – guess what – you probably won’t want to.
In fact, with all your fashion confidence, you’re more likely to be dictating the trends than following them. But if you do fancy trying a few of this season’s key styles, have a go at the Rockabilly look with slim-fitting printed shirts, and mixing it up with a bandana instead of a tie.
40-somethings
Gary Barlow is 43. Need we say more? Did he look great in Take That? No he did not. Does he look great now? Yes he does. Channel your inner Gary Barlow and you can do no wrong. Seriously.
So with that in mind, look out for sharp figure-fitting shirts, clean cut lightweight suits for summer, and the Gary Barlow special – the grandad collar shirt.
50-somethings
You’re a proper grown-up now and there’s no pretending you’re still in your first flush of youth. But at the same time there’s no need to embrace a pipe and slippers just yet (although a London-based informant tells us this is exactly what all those East London scenesters will be sporting come AW14).
Don’t ditch fashion just because you’re over 50 (George Clooney hasn’t). Add colour to vamp up outfits, invest in a pair of shoes with personality (two-tone brogues for starters), and always have a classic white, well-fitting shirt in your wardrobe. The key is simplicity, good cuts, and no printed t-shirts.
60s-and-over-somethings
Trends? What are they? Who cares about trends when you’re this age?
By God man, you’ll be setting the trends yourself. If you want to go out in a neon yellow suit do it (and tell us where you got it from please).
Pictured shirt is the Remus Uomo Farrell stripe slim fit shirt at House of Fraser, featuring a grandad collar; currently £45 (correct at 5 July 2014).
