6 Simple Fashion Rules for Men Over 30

Since yesterday was Father's Day, I thought I'd share a few of my thoughts on men's fashion. How we dress ourselves in the morning says so much about us, but many men are saying "I don't care." Men's fashion changes so little (really, when was the last time someone introduced a new neckline for men?) that if we make smart, simple decisions when we buy, our wardrobes can last a long, long time. With basic colors, most of the items in our wardrobes can also go with almost anything else, making it easy to get dressed in the morning, even in the dark!

BUY THE RIGHT SIZE.

Try it on. It doesn't have to cling, but it certainly shouldn't hang. If your pants won't stay on without a belt, they're not the right size. If they're loose in the waist but tight in the thigh? Not the right fit or not the right brand. Keep looking. Different brands fit differently, and some retailers offer 10 different fits! There's one that will look great on you, and this applies to t-shirts (some of my favorites are from Target,) jeans (I like Gap and Levi's) and khakis (Banana Republic is a great basic place to start.)

NO ABERCROMBIE

Or Armani Exchange. Or American Eagle. Or any other brand with logos larger than an inch. As a man of 30+ years, you have moved beyond Abercrombie & Fitch’s target audience. Though their clothes may fit well, you do not need to give them the advertising space stretched across your chest. Think twice about any shirt that splashes a brand name across your chest in 6” letters. Are you wearing your shirt, or is it wearing you? (Holding on to that last t-shirt for your gym workouts? Someone at the gym is thinking, "he's too old for that." Get a simple Nike Dri-Fit tee for your workouts and toss the Abercrombie. Trust me.)

OWN 2 PAIRS OF DARK STRAIGHT LEG JEANS

Mindy Kaling says in her book, “Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?”: “Don’t get bootcut, don’t get skinny – just a nice pair of Levi’s, without any embellishments on the pockets. No embellishments anywhere. At all. Nothing. Oh my God.” Believe it or not, you can buy a good pair of jeans that fits well for $50-$90. I love the Straight Fit Selvage Jean from Gap. Levi’s Slim Straight are great too. These jeans can dress up for an evening at the theater, or down for a Saturday baseball game. If you’re really thin, or still a bit trendy, own some skinny jeans in addition to the straight, but straight leg jeans will look great with almost any loafer or sneaker.

OWN AT LEAST 3 PAIRS OF SHOES

1.    BROWN: This should be a more casual pair for use with khakis. I recommend a suede driving loafer or Sperry boat shoe. Great for weekend brunches, casual parties, etc. Looks great with shorts, jeans, or khakis! My dad wore a pair of penny loafers almost every day of his life, and though we used to make fun of him for it, I now respect the simplicity of the look!

2.    BLACK: A simple dress shoe. I recommend a simple cap-toe oxford or wing-tip. It can dress up with a suit or down with dark jeans and a dress shirt for dinner out. Avoid trendy styles with super-pointy toes, monk straps, or other flashy details.

3.    SNEAKER: Think, “I would never wear this for exercise.” Converse are a great basic. A simple gray or navy blue pair looks great with shorts, jeans, khakis, and anything else you own.

OWN A GOOD WATCH

Good is relative to income, but when casing out a man’s taste, my eyes immediately go to his shoes and his wrist. A decent dress watch can from from $100-$100,000, but at our age, we shouldn’t be wearing a rubber Ironman watch outside the gym. Get a neutral gold or silver band, about 1” wide (avoid the huge 3” trendy watch faces,) and it will go with everything you wear.

NO PLEATS

EVER. ON ANYTHING. Flat front pants (and shorts) make you look slimmer and trimmer. They look better whether your shirt is tucked in or pulled out. This should take very little explanation. If you have pleated khakis in your closet, throw them out now.