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And I guess I would be very grateful for any help in checking that my fashion ideas aren't ridiculous, out of date, too young, too old or whatever.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

@XingMing

TBH, I think it's all about your body. Are you thin? Then you can wear most things you want. If you're chunky, you do NOT have the same range of choice. Welcome to the reality of a woman's perpective.

I mean, you can fuck off with that all the way home. So thin women get to wear what they like but 'chunky' women can choose between kaftans and empire line dresses?

Thanks to everyone who has replied.

In answer to XingMing, I have the body of Michelangelo's David. 5'6 & 10 1/2 stone, so a shrimp but a fit one

@ILoveShula

And they look good in ties.

I would never wear a tie without a jacket, and my feeling is that dressing in a jacket and tie is overdressing unless it's work, a wedding, a funeral, or some other occasion that everyone understands requires dressing formally.

Hence my question about shirts. I'm know a man who wears a lot of quite loud, floral shirts, and istm that now ties are rare, that's the only way for a man to get a bit of colour or individuality into his outfit.

Not Hawaiian shirts, more like this
EAIaIQobChMI8s6PwNaz8AIVSa2WCh2FTw-LEAQYCiABEgLi7PD_BwE

I'll try that again:

m.lightinthebox.com/en/p/men-s-casual-daily-simple-all-seasons-shirt-geometric-shirt-collar-long-sleeve-polyester_p5934599.html

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.

Suits look better without ties full stop. Leather jacket is a no from me. Also shirts with patterns are not good, depending how offensive the pattern is. Oxfords not brogues, surely!! And good god, no lycra or cycling please. 😂😂 And not just jeans/ suits. It's possible to wear trousers without being fully suited and booted.

Well fitting, good quality clothes are the main thing. And colours that suit you.

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.

On most of this I agree with you. Also jogging bottoms or trainers are not appropriate (unless doing a sport/ going for a walk etc). Blazers look great in the right situation, why do you dislike them? Onesies should never be worn by a grown man with other people present! Aviator sunglasses depends on your face and what suits you.

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.

Hideous. Whatever you do, do NOT do this!!

Also foot all shirts are fine, when watching your team play.

*football

HalcyonSea, thanks for the comments.

I'm iffy about blazers as I associate them - rightly or wrongly - with generations older than my own. Aviators are generally too big for my face, but I understood they were going out anyway.

Don't you think a suit without a tie is a bit bland? Dark suit - single colour shirt, probably white - don't you think it's a bit too much like a uniform?

Moustache - definitely not having one - likewise no plans to have a mullet, despite my seeing them around more these days. Yes, really. Mullets seem to be striking back.

Hahaa the '70s revival will die out very soon: mullets, moustaches and brown will all be equally embarrassing second time around. Bluuueeergh! No need to be a fashion victim or pay any attention to that. Just wear what suits you.

In terms of what to wear for different occasions, it totally depends on the event. So unless part of the wedding party, a nice suit with no tie for a summer wedding somewhere hot is lovely. Maybe a winter wedding in a formal UK venue would require a tie. For work, ties may be needed for external meetings but even in the City now most men aren't wearing them just to sit in our office with colleagues.

Blazers look great over a well-fitted t-shirt or casual shirt with jeans or trousers.

Sunglasses have to suit your face! You need to try them on and figure out what works.

You can't go far wrong with smart/ casual as a man, it is all so simple, classic. Good quality trousers/ jeans, casual shirts/ t-shirts under a jacket or a good quality jumper. Good quality shoes (NOT trainers, or brogues). Just keep it simple.

Also casually you could wear a different colour shirt with a blazer and jeans/ trousers (not a matching suit, and not crazy patterned shirt) so it isn't like a uniform. Matching suits I'd wear for formal events or work only. A white shirt is great with jeans if you wear it in a relaxed way with the top couple of buttons open but agree it's too formal with a matching suit trousers and jacket for most social occasions - that would look like you are working/ have just come from work.

Re blazers, absolutely fine, just not the kind with the brass buttons. Hideous 1980s Jag in the golf club car park pink faced bore connotations.

@ILoveShula

Is that you TheSandman? It didn't look too bad. There's probably a time and a place, if you wanted to wear it.

Sadly not. I'm older, greyer, and a bit more (though not irrecoverably) 'dad-bodied'.

Do not ever wear skinny jeans or trousers or you will look like this -

Always wear socks. Leather shoes worn without socks should be a punishable offence.

Nowt wrong with being older and greyer, and I doubt that you are 'dad-bodied'. I would suggest a pair of shorts for swimming, although the much maligned speedo-style trunks are fine abroad.

With colleagues I have guessed whose wife is pregnant by their descent to dad body.

Not right under any circumstances unless you are an athlete or dancer - jogging bottoms, especially baggy arsed skinny joggers.

Just came on to say that my sons (20's) have had lots of use from classic tailored coats/jackets. They don't work in formal jobs, and pair them with jeans. tshirts/hoodies/jumpers, but it always brings them up a notch in the grown-up style stakes.
This kind of thing www.marksandspencer.com/italian-wool-revere-overcoat/p/clp60470776?color=BLACK#intid=prodColourId-60470776&gid=1&pid=3

And for the love of god if you MUST wear a baseball cap - wear it right with the peak at the front. Only morons and Americans move it around to the back. What do they know???!!!

I have a lovely old Crombie overcoat. I hardly wear it now, but might did it out when the weather gets a bit colder... Delphinium's sons are on the right track, I reckon.

[quote DelphiniumBlue]Just came on to say that my sons (20's) have had lots of use from classic tailored coats/jackets. They don't work in formal jobs, and pair them with jeans. tshirts/hoodies/jumpers, but it always brings them up a notch in the grown-up style stakes.
This kind of thing www.marksandspencer.com/italian-wool-revere-overcoat/p/clp60470776?color=BLACK#intid=prodColourId-60470776&gid=1&pid=3[/quote]
Agree that a smartish coat like this works with a t-shirt and jeans. Not with hoodies though!

I love a nice jumper on a man. Jimmy Perez wears some nice jumpers in Shetland and of course the infamous pea coat. He also wears a Barbour jacket.

Jeans depend on your build. My husband is about 6' and very thin and wears skinny jeans from Uniqlo which on him are a relaxed fit, if he wore a pair of 501s they'd be the worst kind of ill fitting dad jeans.

Jumpers are lovely, especially if they are made of something like alpaca. Husband gets most of his in TK Maxx.

Definitely a smart tailored coat, but leather jackets on men are really a bit marmite and personally I'm not a fan. I've just had a look at the All Saints website and struggled to pick one I liked. My dad used to have a brown one from the 70s that was cut like a sort of oversized blazer and was amazing, he passed it on to my ex who is still wearing it to this day and it's the coolest leather jacket I've ever seen. Maybe have a look at vintage.

I hate to see a suit without a tie. It looks like you're on the walk of shame home after a heavy night.

No man should wear a cardigan!

My 47 yr old husband lives in -
Jeans
Chinos
Fine cords
Stripes or checked shirts
Flowery print shirts
V neck lambswool or cashmere jumpers

He likes mainly Gant clothes.

He looks gorgeous!!!

I've not commented before op because you haven't given us very much to go on - all 'I'm 40' tells us is your age, not how you look or what kind of things you normally like or your lifestyle. But you've pushed me too far now. You've got a Crombie coat and you don't wear it? What are you thinking of man?Get it out of the cupboard right now. Or give it to me.

My other advice is that, if your body is actually starting to thicken and slacken (I doubt it at 40 but like I say, you haven't told us anything) then well fitting, well cut tailoring is your friend. Think Cary Grant.