As Team SG’s resident dad style-whisperer, there’s nothing I love more than helping a mature male styling client fall in love with clothes.
It’s especially satisfying dealing in style for men over 50.
Figuring out how to dress in your 50s (and beyond!) can feel like a challenge, but I’m here to tell you it’s totally doable. And since I cannot personally counsel every guy out there finding an AARP membership in his mailbox, the next best thing is this—a definitive guide to dressing for mature men.
Now, if you’re new here, you might be wondering: Caroline, you’re a 29-year-old woman whose primary hobbies include watching Nordic crime shows and perfecting homemade macaroni and cheese. What could you possibly know about the style trials and tribulations of a man closing in on early retirement?
Well for starters, I love a well-dressed older man.
My first crush was the Professor on Gilligan’s Island! To this day, my hall pass remains Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island (if you’re reading this, Shelly, let me help you pick some new ties!)
Beyond that, I’ve done the work. I’ve interviewed some of the most renowned costume designers, tailors, and stylists about style for men over 50.
The woman who dresses Larry David? She told me all his must-have items. The tailor who made all the suits for the cast of Billions? He shared the tips and tricks those guys use to look their best. I even spent two months interviewing male supermodels over 50 about what style means to them.
…I know, it’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it!
Any time I watch a show or a movie my eyes are trained on what the older men are wearing. How are their clothes tailored? What colors complement their grey hair?
But here’s the thing. Age really is just a number.
Maybe your hair has gone grey or you’ve lost it completely. Or your body doesn’t look the way it did when you were in college—honestly, it would be crazy if it did—but I bet you’re not sleeping on a mattress on the floor anymore, either!
Bottom line?
Growing older doesn’t need to make you less fashionable, or less cool.
And look, what a man over 50 needs in his wardrobe changes by the guy. Maybe you’re looking for casual clothes for older men, or want to know where to shop in your 50’s. Fashion for older guys can be as fun and varied as clothing for guys in their 20’s.
Don’t know where to start? Don’t worry.
Below, 7 tips on nailing mature style for men:
1. Get a tailor
Every single person I’ve spoken to who works in style for men over 50 (and men in general for that matter) says one of the main things that distinguishes “a guy wearing clothes” from a “well-dressed man” is good tailoring.
Building a relationship with a tailor is a really important part of being a well-dressed mature man.
So, think about your tailor like a doctor for your clothes. You have a dentist to take care of your teeth, an internist to check your blood pressure, a dermatologist to check out that weird mole on your back. It’s time to get a tailor on call to make sure your wardrobe is in good health, too.
And I know what you’re thinking: the clothes I own fits me just fine!
Well, not quite.
No man – and I mean not a single one of you – fits into clothing perfectly off the rack.
And no, you don’t need to have your t-shirts tailored, or all your sweatpants hemmed – but the sleeves on those button downs you wear everyday with jeans or chinos? Have them tailored to the right length.
And those jeans and chinos, too!
Or how about the blazer you wear to dinner with your spouse every week? Could you have it taken in or let out to fit you just a little bit better?
RELATED: Wardrobe Essentials for your 50s
Again, think about it like going to the doctor – you don’t go every single day for every little thing that goes wrong, but the big things? You want to bring in a professional.
2. Aim for leveling up your personal style instead of chasing trends
Here’s a secret: this is also advice I give my younger clients–but older guys especially look their best when they dress for who they are and not to keep up with the latest and greatest trends.
By midlife, you’ve seen a lot of trends go in and out of fashion. This just means it will be that much easier to figure out what cut of trouser looks best on you and what colors and textures complement your aesthetic.
Like, what kind of clothing best suits your lifestyle, and what pieces don’t really make sense for a guy like you.
Try not to think about this guideline as limiting. After all, every guy, whether he’s a buff 20-year-old or a first-time grandfather, can think of clothes that make him look his best, and clothes that don’t look quite right on him.
Instead, consider this as a permission slip to skip trends. That’s a luxury!
As men age, they get more distinguished – the nickname“silver fox” is a compliment for a reason.
Allyson B. Fanger, the costume designer for Netflix’s (criminally underrated, IMO) Grace and Frankie, told me that one of the joys of dressing older characters like Robert and Sol, played by Martin Sheen and Sam Waterston — both in their eighties! — was that these are men who have lived a lot of life.
The show followed two lawyers who leave their wives for one another after their kids are grown, and their style? It’s on point.
Robert and Sol aren’t evolving any further in their style, and Fanger told me that’s what made dressing them so enjoyable.
The two characters had their favorite brands, their go-to color palettes, and their own unique points of view when dressing.
Robert was traditional; he likes his button downs and his chinos – a Brooks Brothers guy through and through.
Sol, on the other hand, was a hippie at heart. He loves his Cubavera camp shirts and his comfy Tommy Bahama linen pants.
The two are actually a perfect example of how, no matter what your taste is, no matter what your style – there is a way to pull off top-notch personal style at any age.
Knowing who you are and being confident in that is the most important part of any man’s style and it’s a lot easier to achieve when you’ve spent decades learning about yourself.
3. Invest in forever pieces
Forego fleeting trends and you can invest more money in your clothing. Why? Because you know you’re going to wear whatever you buy for longer than just one season.
This means, instead of buying a bunch of inexpensive shirts and trousers, buy one or two of each staple item for your wardrobe. Then, have those items tailored to perfection. The last step? Embrace the ease and simplicity of having a signature personal style!
Look for brands that put a premium on craftsmanship and quality.
You might not have the liquid cash to splurge on every item in your closet, so be strategic about where you spend your money.
Think about the items you spend the most time in. If you only occasionally wear sweaters but live in blazers, like a post-presidential Barack Obama, prioritize accordingly when you’re budgeting.
4. Adopt a wardrobe uniform
Larry David, 76, is a big fan of uniform dressing. We often think about men adopting a daily uniform as the traditional suit and tie, but David gives us a great example of how versatile and freeing adding this kind of sartorial structure can be.
He’s a casual style king – in fact, if you are on the hunt for casual clothing for men over 50, the Curb Your Enthusiasm star offers a great blueprint.
His go-to wardrobe staples consist of crewneck sweaters and zip ups, AG 5-pocket chinos, and soft shoulder blazers.
If you’re the kind of guy who gets overwhelmed at the thought of picking out outfits every single day, you’re a great candidate for this approach to dressing.
Build a capsule wardrobe with a few pieces that you love. Your favorite pants, a few shirts that make you feel your best, some knitwear or a jacket.
And don’t be afraid to buy items you love in multiple colors! (This is something else David does.)
This way, every morning you can reach in your closet and know whatever you grab will likely go together.
5. Lean into a Monochromatic Color Palette
Monochromatic dressing involves pairing pieces that are all in the same color family to create a cohesive look. Dressing this way elongates your body and keeps you looking sleek, modern, and put together with minimal effort.
On Only Murders in the Building, the character Steve Martin, 79, plays is often rocking a monochromatic ensemble. Think: blue jeans a white shirt, with a blue knit sweater or overcoat.
When it comes to style for men over 50, these types of outfits are easy to put together, and even easier to look like a million bucks wearing.
You can do monochromatic a few ways, but our favorite here at team SG is to go the black and blue route – stick to saturated deep blues like navy – or the earth tones look, like tan chinos with a chunky oatmeal rollneck sweater.
6. Focus on the finishing touches
When it comes to presentation, one of the things that separates the men from the boys is that extra attention to detail that you might not notice right away, but that makes all the difference once you do.
RELATED: Grooming Essentials for your 50s
Those finishing touches apply equally to things like a groomed beard (and nose hairs!), clean nails and cuticles, and making sure you smell good, as they do to what you wear.
Like the smart tie and coordinating socks that Stanley Tucci—aka the most stylish man of 2023 as voted on by Style Girlfriend followers — is wearing above!
Truly, accessories are such a great place to up your style for men over 50.
A beautiful scarf can elevate a simple blue overcoat. The right shoes can make a whole outfit…just like the wrong ones can break it.
Accessories are also a great place to invest in your wardrobe. You’ll never grow out of a timeless pair of glasses and if you spend money on pieces that are built to last, you’ll wear them for years to come.
I want to give a special shoutout to timepieces: it’s one of the first things I notice about a man, if he’s wearing one, and if he is, what is it.
But let me make this clear: You don’t have to break the bank with your watch, though if you’ve got the cash for it, few items are worth investing in like a good timepiece.
Even an affordable tank style-Seiko will make you look that much more polished and distinguished.
7. Be yourself
I know it seems silly at the end of a list of style rules to be like, oh and by the way just accept you for you! Because you might be like, well, me is a ripped sports jersey and Crocs. To which I reply: okay, change yourself, please. (I kid.) (Or do I?)
But what I actually mean is, don’t get too in your head about dressing for a certain age. These style tips are great if you feel like you don’t know where to start, or want to improve your style game, but if you’re someone who’s already got a signature look or you like dressing outside the box, don’t for a second feel like you can’t because there’s a 5, 6 or 7 in front of your age.
The best way to be well-dressed is to show up as the best version of the man you actually are.
As we’ve established, getting older just means you know who that is a little more with every passing year.
Take male model Lono Brazil, above. Brazil is dominating the mature model game right now and he’s the furthest thing from a Larry David dupe or a Brooks Brothers dad when he’s out and about. He loves to rock architectural and avante garde pieces from top designers. And it works, you know why? Because that’s who he is.
So dress for you you are, and you’ll always be in style.
Where to shop for clothes in your 50s and beyond
Below, check out a few of the brands I often pull for my clients who are looking for better style for men over 50:
Todd Snyder
One of my first stops when shopping for a mature man. The clothes are impeccably designed, and well-priced for most budgets. Snyder himself is 57, and it’s clear from his own personal style that the seasonal collections are as much for him as for his customer.
Mr P.
The Mr Porter website is a great stop for any man looking to upgrade and elevate his wardrobe. Their in-house line, Mr P., offers up elegant, foundational pieces at a price point that’s on the more affordable end of the spectrum for a website that also sells a $3,000 Balenciaga hoodie.
Alex Mill
A newer option on the scene, Alex Mill sells clothes that will remind you of Banana Republic or J.Crew (in fact, the founder’s father is Mickey Drexler, former J.Crew CEO) but I’d bet good money your friends aren’t wearing…yet.
Perfect style for men over fifty looking to freshen up their wardrobe without breaking the bank.
Shop mature men’s accessories
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