Dappered

Affordable Men's Style

The 10 Style Benefits of Getting Older as a Man

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1. Hats of all kinds

Fedoras, driving caps, a trilby… whatever.  It usually takes a certain age to successfully pull off a hat without looking like you’re trying too hard.  But once you hit that point, it’s game as well as hat on.

2. Grey hair looks awesome

Women freak out about grey hair.  They spend boatloads of money dying their silver strands away.  For the guys who sometimes reach for a box of Just for Men… don’t.  George Clooney.  Anderson Cooper.  Roll with it.

3. Bald can also be awesome.

Thanks Bruce.  Thank you Jason.  Captain, Kelly, Djimon.  Jordan… you started the shaved/close cropped thing so you deserve a thanks, but c’mon man.  It’s time to step your game up in the clothes department.  (Full marks to Arts & Culture Correspondent Ben Madeska for passing along this as well as the link to the Jordan lack-of-style tumblr.)

4. Double Breasted Blazers and Suits

Over 40?  Make sure it’s well cut and in an un-musty fabric and you’ll look pretty damn dapper.  Over the age of 65?  Wear a Fedora, and your look will be straight up nuclear.  Boom.

5. You’ve had enough birthdays to aquire a collection of great Scotch.

Time + gifts = a daily top shelf nightcap till the grave.

6. The unironic moustache.

Sam Elliott’s moustache should be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

7. Your favorite power suit becomes invincible.

Keep it well tailored, keep the shoes shined, wear a great watch, and you can scare people if you want.

8. Reading the paper while getting your weekly shoe shine at the local cobbler.

Come to think of it, why aren’t we all doing this?

9. People stop asking “why are you so dressed up?“

Because you look like you own the place.  And if the actual owner sees you, he might assume you’re there to buy it out from under him.

10. The bar is set so… so low.

As long as you stay in decent shape, have a better sense of style than comic book guy, and you’re polite, chances are women of all ages will think you’re pretty darn handsome.

Top Photo Credit: Conor Lawless

Comments

  2. great post… Things do start changing noticeably after age 35 (which is older than most people on this site; but, certainly not old), especially if you are careful about how you dress and conduct yourself. Of course, a big part of that change is that most of us have a hell of a lot more money than we did when we were in our twenties…which doesn’t hurt….but, the major reason is that most of us feel a lot more comfortable and confident in our skin.

  4. Blaine Stewart, I am 68 this coming April and yes you can wait to get old. Live every day like its your last, savor every moment. My 50th Highschool reunion is this Summer and it really does seem like yesterday. On the plus side you can have a lot of fun experimenting with different “looks”. One day I look like a Professor all done up in tweed and flannels. The next like an ageing biker in leather,boots and jeans. And the next, well we will see. It was a great post.

  5. I’m turning 26 on Friday, and must admit I felt a little down because
    I’m no longer in the “carefree years” (in my opinion ages 18 to 24) but this post and the comments therein really put a smile on my face. Thanks everybody 🙂

    I also recommend Dr. Weil and his books on positive living and healthy aging. Joe, are you familiar with him?

  6. I’m just looking forward to going grey.  I’m already balding (and embracing it with a close cut), but bald + grey > bald + dark brown.

  12. I’m 47 and just started dressing better about 8 years ago. I keep myself in good shape and the women do notice all the time because most guys dress like crap. So be it.

  13. Regarding #5, has anyone ever had 10 year-old cask strength Laphroaig at 111 proof? Holy crap, that shit will put hair on your nuts even if you shaved them five minutes ago…

  14. Sorry, but I have to call BS on #1.  Obvioulsy I am biased because I have been selling fine headwear for 13 years (I’m 36), but there is absolutely NO age limit to the ability to wear a hat.  It comes down to choosing the correct hat for you.  The same way you would choose a suit, you should take those same considerations when choosing a hat: proportions.  Also the same way you would buy a suit, don’t settle for any shop that sells hats, look for a fine, reputable, store.  Such as Salmagundi in Boston or JJ Hat Center in NY, or Optimo in Chicago.

  16. Um, @OnlyShawn:disqus . I hope you’re using this as part of your Joe collage. I didn’t realize the top of his head was white, but men’s style blogging is probably stressful.

  17. Age 26 is golden, so don’t miss it by looking back with regrets.  BTW, a man doesn’t reach the height if his powers until age 37

  18. Made me laugh out loud! 

    I have a great scotch store near me (Wades Wines in Westlake Village, Ca) which has a ton of cask strength scotches.  I might just have to give this one a try.  I’m not shaving first though…

  19. Yes, maybe people will stop giving me grief about wearing a pocket square (or “hanky thingy” or any of the other daft things people say when pointing at it like it’s a dead mouse)…

  21. Have you ever bought scotch on the internet? I find that klwines.com has good prices and reasonable shipping if you buy in sufficient quantity. Unfortunately you will get hit with sales tax as they are in California. Their scotch prices are substantial cheaper than those at my local Supermarket Liquors but their bourbon prices are just okay. 

  24. I saw an older gentleman in a full-on seersucker suit at church a few weeks ago – a difficult feat to pull off. I’ve got to say, though, he pretty much nailed it. I don’t see how anyone under 70 could pull it off, though.

  25. I’ve often said that I’m very much looking forward to get old in the respect that I’ll be able to over-dress as much as I want and use a cane even though I won’t have to.

  27. In the novels, James Bond was in his late 30s. In the movies he’s late 30s – mid 50s…always looking, well, dappered. 

  28. age is nice till you’re aged!  enjoy where you are at…dont rush a dam thing.  it will come soon enough!  45 in Feb and its the first bday i’m twitching about.  45, really!?  

    but I know the guy who’s 55 is laughing at me…so it goes.

    Thanks for a great site!

  30. Avoiding gold buttons (actually, avoiding gold altogether-watches, chains, teeth, etc.) is a good idea for all suits and sport jackets-single or double breasted.

  31. I am 52 and I am loving every minute of it. I’m a haircutter, and I tell my clients if you stay in your best shape, every year that goes by gets better and better. To me the beauty of aging is that it’s happening to everybody…even to that 25 year old that things he’ll stay that way forever.

  35. Yeah, but It doesn’t get as cold here so style rules based on season aren’t nearly as strict. Dressing for cold weather often just means putting a jacket over what you’d otherwise be wearing the rest of the year. Long coats don’t sell well here. 

    Case in point – I’m the only person I know who owns a single wool tie (and I’ve got 3). *shrug*

  36. What’s the deal with buying liquor on the internet? I guess it’s probably no different than buying anything else online, right? And it’s cheaper because that states sin taxes are lower?

  37. A few things to know about buying liquor on the web:

    1. Some states (NH, for example) do not allow liquor shipments. 

    2. Sales tax will not be applied if the vendor does not have a “physical presence” in your state.

    3. You will have to sign for the delivery, so you may want to have it delivered to your work address if possible. It will not be left on your doorstep. 

    Otherwise a lot like buying anything else. I usually type what I am looking for into the google search engine, then I click on the shopping link on the left and then sort by price. Some very good bargains to be had.

    Lagavulin 16 scotch, which usually retails for $80 and up plus sales tax, can be had for less than $60.

    http://www.bottlebargains.com/sku151632.html 

    Price has gone up actually, it was $50 when I bought it several months ago. 

  38. Forgot to mention…

    One box actually had a label that said: “Do not deliver if customer appears intoxicated”. 

    LOL and WTF.

    Now I understand if I were picking the box up at a UPS center and had to drive home. But if I am drunk in my own house what does it matter?

    My $.02…

  39. Awesome, great info! I sorta figured it’d be like buying anything else, but I’d never really considered it before. I wonder why they force the signature? They don’t seem to do that with tobacco products…perhaps credit is enough to validate 18 but not 21? Prices are much better than my local liquor stores so I’m sure I’ll be doing this in the near future.

  42. Being around 30 is great imho. You’re young enough to do anything you want still but old enough to get taken seriously by everyone and you have the confidence to try anything. So if there’s something in your life you really want to do (hike a long distance trail, learn to fly) start making it happen now!

  43. I am 53. I wear wing tips, pin stripes and fedoras regularly. I also collect vintage time pieces and have amassed well over 200 watches of different types. I shave my head and have since 1997. And I keep my weight within 20 lbs of what I weighed in college. I was raised to be a gentleman, show manners and respect (both of which are in dire supply now). And I was taught to always treat a lady as such. She was to be treated as your equal, your help mate, your companion in life. You treated her as you wanted her to treat you. You bought her flowers, chocolate or jewelry, and expected nothing in return. We were raised to be gentlemen, and as I was raised, so was my son.

  44. Used to work in a large insurance company and this dude (probably in his early 50s at the time. This was a long time ago) used to come in every day dressed very dapper. French cuffs, tailored wool suits, creases you can slice bread with…immaculately groomed. Never knew what he did. He wasn’t a senior exec as he had no office (these were the days when you had office after a certain level) but I’ve never forgotten him and the way he dressed. I’ve forgotten pretty much everyone else of that time. This would be at least 30 years ago!