We've all seen them, middle-aged men wearing a tight shirt that shows their fat beer belly, thinking they have still got it.
They look comical. And they look comical because they have transgressed the first rule of fashion: dress for your age, not the age you wish you still were or — for that matter — the age you'll one day become.
If you're in your 20s or 30s, you might assume this rule doesn't apply to you. You're fit, youthful and in your prime — you can get away with wearing anything, right?
Wrong.
Whatever your age, you need to take years into account. The rules aren't rigid, especially when middle age is still a distant speck on the horizon, but you do need to think about your changing status, your position in life, and the ever-increasing distance from the carefree days of your youth.
As Roger Martin, founder of men's fashion retailer www.stand-out.net, says, "the way a man dresses tells us his status, his attitude to life, his personality — all of which change and evolve as he gets older — and contributes in a major way to his attractiveness."
Twenties — do as you please?
Martin believes when a man enters his 20s, he should begin to develop his own sense of style.
Sarah Gilfillan, founder of men's personal shopping company Sartoria Lab, says much the same thing. "A lot of guys in their 20s haven’t figured out their own style yet. So they dress like their mates to fit in, regardless of whether it suits them or not."
If you're 27 or 28 it's a long time since you left university, so a wardrobe stuffed with oversized printed t-shirts, hoodies, baggy jeans and scummy trainers is starting to look like a desperate attempt to avoid moving on.
Similarly, as Sarah Gilfillan says, "it's common to see 20-somethings that feel the need to wear every detail in one outfit — ripped jeans, t-shirts with garish prints, boxy leather jackets..." You won't be surprised to learn that Sarah does not regard this as a good look.
The good news is that you're in your 20s. A good physique and a tan mean that you can carve out your own sartorial niche with a few simple, classic items, well put together.
"You can do skinny jeans if you've got the legs but, if not quality jeans with a good 'bum enhancing' fit are essential," says Gilfillan.
Close fit, fine knit cardigans or sweaters work with many outfits and for many occasions. "If you want to wear a hat, go for it," says Roger Martin. "Your 20s are one decade when headgear does not arouse suspicions of hair loss."
The final touches are up to you. "You can then add your own spin and personality," says Sarah Gilfillan, "whether it's rolling the jeans up, doing the top button of the shirt up, or adding some cool accessories."
Thirties — act your age?
"When a man hits the big three-o, he should address his wardrobe or face looking ridiculous," says Roger Martin. The fact is, when you get beyond your early thirties, skinny jeans and super-tight t-shirts can have 'trying too hard' written all over them.
But Sarah Gilfillan identifies another worrying trend. Thirty-something men are often stuck in a fashion rut — buying the same things from the same shops over and over again. "And because they think they can't wear the more trendy things anymore they start to dress in really safe things that their dads might wear too," she adds.
So how do you strike a balance between dressing too young, and not dressing young enough?
First off, don't be in denial about your body. You may have put on weight. You may be less of an athlete than you were 10 years ago. So don't emphasise what needn't be emphasised. If it wobbles, cover it up better than a Kings Cross detective.
After that, the change from your 20s wardrobe can be more subtle than you think. For instance, Sarah Gilfillan suggests replacing novelty print t-shirts with more subtle, fitted t-shirts. Get rid of ripped or bleached jeans and replace them with dark jeans in a good cut.
If the skinny jeans have to go — and unless you're Russell Brand they probably do — think about branching out into flat front chinos or trousers.
Similarly, hoodies are fine for casual but they shouldn't be ubiquitous day wear anymore.
After that, it's up to you. Just remember, your 30s can be the most stylish decade of all. You're not 21 anymore, but nor are you 50, so go for luxury over comfortable and avoid blazers and high waist tapered jeans like the plague.
Hugh Wilson and Saxon Cheng
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