Men in their 40s: what should / shouldn't they wear?

[TomPinch]

Well, life has slipped by and I have become that man.

And I guess I would be very grateful for any help in checking that my fashion ideas aren't ridiculous, out of date, too young, too old or whatever.

The reason why I am here specifically is because the Internet in general isn't much help. Articles on men's fashions are either about chiselled businessmen in black suits, white shirts and enormous status watches, or cool 20somethings from New York with massive sunglasses, ie, not ordinary people. Which is why I hope you won't mind me asking here.

My view of generally OK is:

Classic jeans
Suits with ties for formal occasions or in office, but otherwise not.
Classic haircut
No tie ever, except with a suit.
Plain T-shirts
Plain jumpers
Leather jacket
Shirts with patterns
Brogues (but not with jeans)
Lyrca if cycling, otherwise no
Any of the above that is a bit worn out.

My idea of generally risky / bad is
(maybe) baseball caps
Skinny jeans
Any trousers where the crotch is halfway to the knee
Ponytail
Football top
Corduroys
Cargo pants
Blazers
Polyester slacks
Short-sleeved shirts
Aviator sunglasses
Onesies (except in private)
Any of the above is OK for an individual if it works for him.

I'd be most grateful for any comments

I'm 49 and it's normally jeans and either short or long sleeved T-shirt's, I do have casual trousers as well. I do t do jumpers, but have a pretty good selection of sweatshirts.

When I go in the office it's a suit, but skip the tie. Client visits, it's always a tie.

Not a chance I'd wear aviator sunglasses, but I do like my Kimoa's.

Not a chance I'd wear skinny anything. Whilst I'm slim, I'd look like an ageing golf club.

No Lycra has ever touched my body and never will!! 😓😓

White trainers

White socks

Shorts unless playing sport or on the beach (definitely not in the supermarket or around town. Very naff.)

Short sleeved shirts

Slip on style shoes

Anything polyester

T shirts with logos

Any sportswear that is not on a playing field/ golf course/ tennis court (eg rugby tops with a logo)

I would say where what you like, but wear it with confidence, make sure it fits properly and is clean and that you smell nice. These things are way more important IMO than the actual garments.

Socks. Please wear socks.

I'm all for wear what you like.
Except socks with sandals (men or women).
And anything too see through or mesh. Also men and women.

I'm baffled by no shorts or no short sleeves. Poor men shouldn't have to suffer in the heat.

DP is 49 and I think he dresses really well. Slim dark jeans with trainers. He’s quite into trainers so has a real collection including Jordan’s and air Max but they do look good. He wears plain tshirts with a v neck jumper, polo shirts, plain navy and black button down shirts. He does wear hoodies but they fit him really well and look really good. He also sometimes wears a plain baseball cap which despite my reservations actually looks pretty good

I would say you can wear anything as long as it fits well and is clean.

I can’t stand jogging bottoms on a man, the jersey type with the cuffed ankle. They leave nothing to the imagination and should be binned. I also can’t stand white trainers.
My dp is 49 and wears jeans, printed tshirts, hoody’s and trainers. I think he’ll be wearing what he found comfortable in his 20s when he’s an old old man, and why not?!

Might I suggest 'May' rather than 'Clarkson'?

Thanks everyone for the replies.

I'm relieved to realise I'm not looking absurd or fusty. Some things that are worrying me though:

Leather jackets - I will admit to having owned one that has lasted me for over a decade. I'd be annoyed at having to stop wearing it because of bloody Jeremy Clarkson, particularly because it'll probably last me the rest of my life (otherwise). It's cut like a suit jacket, just made of leather.

Patterned shirts - since the death of ties, they're the only way of getting a bit of colour into an outfit. Are they bad?

I have an wool overcoat that I hardly wear now. I think they've completely gone out?

Completely by the by: I don't have a moustache but I've noticed younger and younger men with them. I suspect they're coming back.

Nonmaquillee your DP's Rolex sounds ace. I make do with a Tissot but it's very classic. But I think smartwatches and phones are taking over, leastways where I live.

No, don't do the moustache.

No plans to. I'd look like Begbie from Trainspotting.

I think the suit cut leather jacket went out of fashion about 20 years ago (sorry)

@Tuesdaysintheazores

I also think baseball caps are fine. So long as they're dark coloured ideally eg not white or red. Aviators can also look good eg on Joe Biden. All of your list looks fine.

To be avoided imo is those long shorts you sometimes see 40s age men in, 3/4 type shorts. And short sleeved shirts. T shirts with stupid logos or names on like Superdry or GAP. Leather bracelets or those coral necklaces. Wraparound sunglasses and reflective/mirror sunglasses. Spiky gelled up hair. Pork pie hats. But it doesn't sound like you would be wearing these things OP

Cracking up - where do you see such characters?!? I am imagining the full ensemble

Like this list.

My dp does a bit of Gant and has a lovely v necked Gant sweater from a few years back.

I think what matters most is a good haircut and then enjoying what you want to wear.

I'd tend to agree that wearing things you like that are really you is best (within limits like cleanliness and not obviously inappropriate for the setting). Stuff whats "on trend" and what people think is naff. Some of the most attractive men do not dress in conventional fashions.

I think cords are OK too (might be biased as I wear lots of corduroy myself)

Would rethink the levver jacket though.

If showing toes check you don't have criminails first (I find men tend to overlook their feet)

If you're balding embrace it.

Mainly wear whatever clothes make you happy - if that may be green sequins and clashing patterns. Life's too short to choose your clothes based on what other people find appropriate.

@TomPinch

Thanks everyone for the replies.

I'm relieved to realise I'm not looking absurd or fusty. Some things that are worrying me though:

Leather jackets - I will admit to having owned one that has lasted me for over a decade. I'd be annoyed at having to stop wearing it because of bloody Jeremy Clarkson, particularly because it'll probably last me the rest of my life (otherwise). It's cut like a suit jacket, just made of leather.

Patterned shirts - since the death of ties, they're the only way of getting a bit of colour into an outfit. Are they bad?

I have an wool overcoat that I hardly wear now. I think they've completely gone out?

Completely by the by: I don't have a moustache but I've noticed younger and younger men with them. I suspect they're coming back.

Nonmaquillee your DP's Rolex sounds ace. I make do with a Tissot but it's very classic. But I think smartwatches and phones are taking over, leastways where I live.

No smartwatch or Apple phone watch .... the horror 😊

Woman starts thread "Women in their 40s... what shouldn't they wear"
Cue hundreds of responses about ageism and how there are no rules and you should wear what you are comfortable in.

Man starts equivalent thread
Cue answers giving examples of what men in their 40s should and shouldn't wear.

Are the double standards because it's the opposite sex being asked? (I doubt a group of men would tell a woman off for being ageist)
Or is it because the way women look and age is so much more of a big deal to society, so any discussion is going to be more charged?

I'm genuinely interested :)

BlairWaldorfLovesShopping

I agree.
I wonder if it's the same women who tell each other to wear what they like who also say no to men in shorts.

I often wonder why it is socially acceptable for women to show their soulders or quite a bit of their chest, but men have to cover up, say, in a restaurant.

I'd say T-shirts only for very casual. If you're going to the pub with friends, a shirt looks better I think, even if it's just your local.

@AnaViaSalamanca

I think baseball caps are ok. Leather jackets not so much.

I'm the other way around. Baseball caps are just really casual and more for Americans or teenagers. You can always recognise American tourists.

I don't like some of the posh stuff recommended here (blazer and jeans, chinos), but then I'm not an average MNer obviously. It's something to consider if you live somewhere ordinary though OP.

@BlairWaldorfLovesShopping

Woman starts thread "Women in their 40s... what shouldn't they wear" Cue hundreds of responses about ageism and how there are no rules and you should wear what you are comfortable in.

Man starts equivalent thread
Cue answers giving examples of what men in their 40s should and shouldn't wear.

Are the double standards because it's the opposite sex being asked? (I doubt a group of men would tell a woman off for being ageist)
Or is it because the way women look and age is so much more of a big deal to society, so any discussion is going to be more charged?

I'm genuinely interested :)

It's just because it's still in Style and Beauty. It's only once a thread like this gets popular and is seen in 'active' that you get all the complainers. S&B is here precisely for this kind of thing.

@Spodge

Socks. Please wear socks.

With sandals?

@BlairWaldorfLovesShopping

Woman starts thread "Women in their 40s... what shouldn't they wear" Cue hundreds of responses about ageism and how there are no rules and you should wear what you are comfortable in.

Man starts equivalent thread
Cue answers giving examples of what men in their 40s should and shouldn't wear.

Are the double standards because it's the opposite sex being asked? (I doubt a group of men would tell a woman off for being ageist)
Or is it because the way women look and age is so much more of a big deal to society, so any discussion is going to be more charged?

I'm genuinely interested :)

Absolutely. There’s huge lists here of what men shouldn’t wear in their 40’s but threads always saying to women that age doesn’t matter one jot. Either double standards or women don’t really believe they can wear what they like at any age