There's an argument to say that most men's dress sense is basically the same as what it was when they turned 30 ish, with the odd tweak. Hence, at 43 I default to good jeans (denim shorts in the summer), a plain sweater or hoodie and a pair of nice trainers (more often than not, Nike Air Max 90's). Swap the trainers for some boots and the sweater for a casual shirt and I'm sorted for most occasions.
So I think TJ that you've got to make a conscious decision as to what you want to look like and what you will and won't wear as most people won't consciously make that change.
The Graham Hall look isn't a bad start point, though clearly it's not for everyone. And I don't think it's a million miles from what you wear now of the odd pic is anything to go by.
Reading this while sitting in joggy bottoms and a old cheap fleece jacket. Though my tasks today have included driving to the tip and picking up flooring for our new bathroom.
Nothing much wrong with the old bathroom but it's a quid pro que for me getting a month touring later this year.
So its red trousers, Vans or deck shoes, check shirt, tweed jacket, cravat and hat? Is that right?
🙂
Ive recently got one dark green and one brown corduroy overshirts/light jackets. I like them. Nice and soft and warm.
Distinguished intelectual, or alcaholic burnt out geography teacher? you decide.
For quality UK hand made clothes, there's always Old Town. Made to measure, in the fabric of your choice
Daft pictures aside, they're very well made clothes, and last for years
^ hahah, thats more burned out sociology teacher than burned out geography teacher hehehe.
How about a sleevless cardy over a light weight denim shirt?
And FWIW, I'm still older than you and can normally be seen wearing shorts, or Keela Scuffers if it's sub+zero. Team that up with a hoody and t-shirt, some subdued trainers and I'm sorted.
I do like corduroy tops, but I wouldnt go full corduroy trousers and top.
I do hope the recommendations above are tongue-in-cheek and that none of you would actually be seen dressed like that. I also hope that TJ knows you're just taking the piss
That first photo from @petec, I thought it actually was TJ for a second.
So its red trousers, Vans or deck shoes, check shirt, tweed jacket, cravat and hat? Is that right?
In seriousness, I was going to suggest a hat. I reckon you'd rock a decent hat.
More people should wear hats. Just look at James Bore:
https://fashionunited.uk/press/fashion/recoding-your-wardrobe/2023042569180
Uniqlo be aware that their sizing has changed considerably. Son has stopped buying from there cos their clothing was "like a tent". I've bought several items within the last couple of months, despite sizing down they were massively wide. Also, their fine merino knitwear ain't what it used to be and definitely poorer quality yarn. Have given up after many years as a loyal customer.
There used to be an app or website called thread I think whereby one could state what styles they liked or disliked as time went on and so it gradually learnt what you liked and suggested related alternatives. I think they got bought out by a high street brand so hopefully they're still around in some form.
I do hope the recommendations above are tongue-in-cheek and that none of you would actually be seen dressed like that
Old Town are excellent clothes; they manage to make their promotional images turn every model into a numpty.
But as you can choose your cloth, and they can alter the fit to suit (extra half inch in the sleeve sir?), they actually look a lot better in real life. And you don't have to stand exactly like the models do.
It's all Monty Don-esque. A https://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/style/monty-don-signature-horticultural-style-absolutely-loathe-jeans /">Telegraph link I'm afraid. But he "loathes jeans".
So its red trousers, Vans or deck shoes, check shirt, tweed jacket, cravat and hat? Is that right?
Well, no. There's is those options.
Or jeans and a sweater/hoodie.
Or chino's/slacks and a polo or casual shirt.
Met a guy on a kayaking trip on a Sunday morning, he had i his pin stripe suit, white shirt and tie as he was expecting to go to church, (he did have a cag on over the top.)
I am 65, sat here in my tracksters, nothing wrong, spend your money 💵 n cycling.
In seriousness, I was going to suggest a hat. I reckon you’d rock a decent hat.
I have a selection. Fedora, panama, chilean sombreo, flat cap, bucket hat, might get a pork pie hat or a trilby
I do hope the recommendations above are tongue-in-cheek and that none of you would actually be seen dressed like that.
I fear some might!
I also hope that TJ knows you’re just taking the piss
What? On here? never!
Absolutely nothing wrong with Denim apart form the Jezza Look from Top Gear/ Grand Tour
Whole world of interesting Selvedge Denim to look into maybe starting with below.
Though this being Singletrack I’m sure someone will be saying how much! I get my jeans at Tesco and others will agree with the 2 brands mentioned and recommend other independent Selvedge Jeans manufacturers
I’d also look at Iron Heart Jeans 😎
Its all way too late.
Admit failure and move on.
Beige elastic waist trousers then?
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Maybe invest some of the below trousers tj
Tesco jeans? I haven't given up that much!
cyclists legs and arse tho – slimfit trousers that fit my legs and arse are baggy at the waist
You need these then, accentuate it as a positive
Seeing as yo lot are all for jeans perhaps I should up it a notch and go for the Canadian tuxedo?
I’m 60 and pretty much live in jeans t-shirts and hoodies. If I want to smarten up a bit a check shirt does it for me. OH is in her mid forties
I can't believe we were all so focused on taking the mickey out of TJ we missed this stealth boast...
Dead easy to order a few bits and return what doesn’t suit or fit. Lots of size and girth options to get a spot on fit and I like all the bright colours they do, fit the first post well.
Good slightly stretchy trousers/jeans and they offer different waist and thigh sizes to fit whatever shape legs/arse/waist. Quality is good, think “John Lewis”.
They always have some codes on too, if they don’t I’ll find my referral code.
@rockbus He cheats. He works for himself and his clients are mostly bike/outdoor recreation industry. If they are the sort of person/business that wants him in a suit, he’s probably not the sort of client he wants to have. He just wears a shirt with a collar and his cleanest carhartts, has a shave and brushes his hair. I suppose he’d wear a suit for court, but that’s not really his field.
Apparently age appropriate but I don't get it. Also expensive.
https://universalworks.co.uk/blogs/articles/peggs-son-in-conversation-with-universal-works
I do like
https://www.privatewhitevc.com/
vxaero
the first of those is just awful The hat is hideous and untucked shirts showing below the jacket? Just no!
The prices on the second lot - errmmmmmmmm. You could buy a bike for the cost of an outfit!
Ah, I do miss living down in Gloucestershire, cultural home of the red trouser
A pair walked past me at House of Bruar last week, complete with mustard jumper and beige Harris Tweed jacket.
He looked just like the 5 mannequins in the window behind....
I'm proud to say I've just 'invested' in a couple of corduroy shirts, which seem to have gone down well with mrs_oab and some colleagues commenting on how good they look.
I too also take the 'buy a decent, classic brand, and at least it's cut well and made well'.
Suits. Skip the tie if you want to dress down.
I'm a "gentleman of a certain age" and I've just walked in from the pub - I'm wearing a T shirt in green, white and orange bearing a slogan made famous by a certain Irish mixed race musician, together with a Jack Wills hoodie, jeans and Adidas trainers.
I think that I'm rocking it and I will not be accepting questions at this time.
The more mature gent can't get away with cheap clothes BUT you can wear one expensive piece combined with cheaper bits. Uniqlo currently are doing some reasonably priced nice corduroy shirts and marino three button sweaters.
For the more expensive bits I'd say Magee for tweed, Schott for leather, Edwin for jeans, Northampton makers for shoes, Carharrt WIP is good but Carharrt US is better. All expensive but classic styles that last literally for decades and don't make you look like mutton dressed up as lamb or someone who's just been released from a long stretch in the jug.
Surely this situation is ideal for a STW premium feature where TJ cycles to Hebden Bridge to undergo a fashion makeover courtesy of Brant and HebTroCo?
LIke it Cletus. Now thats a challenge. *checks map*
https://spoke-london.com/
/blockquote>Errrrrmmmm. Bespoke clothing, 'spoke, clothes that speak to me.... Find your fit... Nope tooo much.
Well, for me and my legs they’re one of the few places I can easily get long enough trousers that also fit my waist. I like they do longer body short sleeve stuff too, which is very rare.
I have a pair of Spoke jeans and also some chino type trousers - but technical fabric that work for my Brompton commute.
I'm very impressed - not cheap but quality seems good to me.
good luck with this. it can be a bit of a minefield and you can get a bit carried away easily. take your time. decent shoes or boots that take a polish well (if you want!) and are comfy. a nice shirt. a decent pair of trousers (could arguably be jeans but if you buy pre-ripped you're probably going off-piste at your time of life - no offence intended) sports jacket - why not?
i spent a lot of money on a pair of brogues i wasn't too sure about that ended up going to charity. they were never comfortable and i never really liked the style. at least the shoe trees were worth keeping. i have a pair of clarkes now and they are comfortable and look nice. i'm sure the sophisticates will judge but they can **** off. Patagonia isn't a bad shout but they tend to size up. good ethics, good quality, expensive but not overly so for what you get. nice casual brushed cotton shirts if that suits. wearing a pair of their cords now. finisterre i found poorly designed, cheaply made, lasted no longer than next stuff. YMMV. howies make decent stuff but i wish they'd do brown cords again.
tk maxx does have some decent stuff, also sales from quality outlets can yield some great deals and if it's not quite fitted a decent alterations place can be a massive boon for not much additional outlay. during covid i picked up a suit from JL in wool that fits like a glove down from 350 to 75 quid.
you'll be golden if you enjoy wearing what you buy but if you're not sure about it just put it back. there's another day. we all know that fundamentally it's what's underneath that matters but if what you're wearing makes you feel good you'll rock it like a boss.
I have not owned any since my 20s when the quality available went to pot. prior to that it was levi 501s red label only
I’ve got several pairs of Japanese selvedge denim jeans in unwashed indigo blue, that cost me about £35/pair, not so long ago. Mine are regular straight leg, with a profile almost identical to 501’s, the only difference is there is no fancy stitching on the pockets, or logo labels. Get them from Uniqlo. I’m currently wearing a pair of grey shorts, a Curve band tee shirt from the 90’s, with a dark red plaid flannel shirt, also from Uniqlo. When I went out earlier, I had a Lee Stormrider 101 blanket-lined denim jacket on over my flannel shirt, with a Uniqlo ultralight down gilet over the top, and a grey tweed six-panel duckbill cap, and a pair of old black Vans skate shoes I’ve recently had resoled.
Come July, I’ll be 69. I dress for myself, not for the opinions of anyone else.
Sue me.
I wouldn't discount jeans at any age. They can be particularly good if you need somewhere to stow your piece.
You cannot have a blanket statement about age and jeans.
The way Simon Cowell wears his is not the same as how Iggy Pop wears his. 🙂
Just don't tuck anything into them for god's sake .
Whole world of interesting Selvedge Denim to look into maybe starting with below.
https://hiutdenim.co.uk/
Though this being Singletrack I’m sure someone will be saying how much! I get my jeans at Tesco and others will agree with the 2 brands mentioned and recommend other independent Selvedge Jeans manufacturers
I linked a nice pair of selvedge jeans for £40 on page 1.
Plenty of nice, good-quality options in between Tesco and the aspriationally priced hipster fodder.
I dress for myself, not for the opinions of anyone else.
So does everyone else in the entire universe. I admire the cognitive dissonance of the very acutely fashion aware folks have about their choice of clothes in so much that are extremely particular about whet they wear and the signal that those choices project, while continuously proclaiming the fact in the face of all the evidence that they are not conscious at all about their style or choices and that they are anti fashion.
I honestly couldn't tell you that brand of any of my clothes without checking the label (apart from my pants because I'm particular about a brand that are comfy for me) but all of it is high street.
