Where do your stylish 40-something men shop?

[CambridgeBlue]

DH is not that into clothes (and even less into spending much money on them!) but he does need some new stuff and we're at a bit of a loss as to where to look. He wears smart casual for work and similar but less smart at weekends, and our lifestyle is fairly low key - country walks, shopping and errands, seeing friends and family, occasionally cinema or eating out.

I think the problem is that at late 40s I feel he feels he is a bit old for surfer t-shirts and hoodies but he doesn't want to start dressing like his Dad! He normally gets clothes from places like Tesco/Sainsburys, Matalan or outdoorsy shops but I think maybe he could try somewhere different.

Any ideas for new looks to try or places to shop? Nothing too pricey though, I will never persuade him to spend much on clothes (never mind, leaves more for me!)

I think the light chinos/ dark jeans work well with tshirt and v neck/ crew neck knitted jumper ( ie thin jumper like merino wool) for casual and ok with swapping tshirt for shirt as smart casual.
So say dark denim jeans, with a shirt ( not white), and a dark coloured v neck cashmere/ merino jumper over = good for evening out with friends in restaurant for example

Tan chinos with casual t shirt and same jumper or lighter = good for everyday

Mocassions/ leather boots/ leather shoes depending on weather and location

Oh and:
Woolovers - online good for woollen mens jumpers
Uniquo - good for jumpers
Zara/ h/m / prob supermarkets - good for chinos/ jeans
River island - surprisingly does good men's jeans
Tshirts- anywhere
Shirts - somewhere like hawes and curtis or tm Lewis often does deals of x5 shirts for £75-£100. Sounds pricy at first but that's £15-£20 each and they will last for ever. Get casual/ dark/ smart/ striped etc for range of occasions

Most can probably also be found in most supermarkets etc if you look carefully

M&S for work, Ted Baker or Reiss for going out/smart weekend. Next can be ok sometimes too

Zara can be ok sometimes too

Not sure offhand but my brother got a lovely Schott grey hoodie (smart casual!) with fleece lining as gift recently. it was expensive but looks quality.

he likes the odd Next/Zara trouser bit but also lives in black t-shirts (prim ark etc) - he also gets nice cardigans (smart Beckham type ones) but no idea where from, will ask him.

Woolovers are good for jumpers and yes Uniqlo too. I wouldn't discount Fat Face if only for younger stuff that is comfy and nice and good for kids/weekend etc.

I tend to get my brother stuff from Joy the store - they do nice stuff which is a mixture of younger trendy stuff and slightly different stuff too. I personally think it doesn't look too young/old etc. you can get nice printed tees there.

no idea re going out. oh - if you want to wait for sales then Joseph I think do nice menswear (investment pieces) and I think Jigsaw also do menswear - that'd be a step up - e.g. mix of smart/casual etc. but with a definite style vibe with the Joseph.

I will also say this - men have told me the same - it can be very hard to get nice stuff for men that is cheap and doesn't look it. you CAN get gems in Zara/Next/H&M etc but you have to look and maybe have an eye for it. how about Massimo Dutti (sister company of Zara) too?

also be careful - my stepdad recently got some Tu jeans - he thought the fit/material/feel was awful and defected to Levis or wherever he got jeans!

you could point out to DH (which is true) that a classic white shirt (or twist on it) and jumper etc will last longer than a cheaper, more omn trend item. My stepdad likes Jaeger too for smart and casual stuff - try sales they do good ones.

DH loves Massimo Dutti.

Thanks, lots of good ideas here. I like the dark jeans, nice shirt/t-shirt and jumper with leather boots look and it's not too far away from what he currently wears.

We did go shopping yesterday and I persuaded him to have a look in a few places he wouldn't normally go - he thought Zara was too trendy (have to agree, nobody is going to look good in a pleather sweatshirt are they?!) and Gap too contrived (?!) but he did like some stuff in Next and a few other places.

I'm trying to convince him that 1 or 2 decent things will make all the difference compared to a wardrobe full of supermarket tat and I think it's sinking in! I'll get him some bits for Xmas anyway so one way or another I will get my way :)

DP gets most of his stuff at Debenhams but it's mainly because they do a decent range of not-too-expensive slim fit suits. He's got an awkward body shape (quite tall, fairly thin built and long arms) - M&S etc does not fit at all.

Although he tends to buy sweaters when we're on the continent now as hard to find decent quality ones here without spending £££.

Not very helpful, sorry.

My dh clothes shops more than me- all online.

He likes www.zalando.co.uk

Dh likes Fat Face. Comfortable, fairly plain, well made and reasonably priced. He is 43.

MissHC that is good advice.

why not use shops abroad?! sometimes they do have better brands than us or nicer ones for certain stuff though I mourn when Euro wasn't doing well against £ as got some fab bargains in Mango/Zara et al!