How to dress well in your 40s and 50s (and beyond)

First, a disclaimer: Despite the title of this post being “Senior Style,” being over 40 doesn’t mean you’re old.

Also, being older doesn’t mean you have to dress a certain way.

The way you dress is influenced by your lifestyle. What kind of work do you do? Do you follow a specific dress code every day?

So it doesn’t make sense to say “men over 40 should dress this way ……” and “men under 40 should dress this way …… ” are meaningless.

First, assuming you don’t want people to think you’re trying to look younger, here’s a list of some specific things to avoid:

Faux old jeans (any type of rips, fading, or stains)
Graphic t-shirts
Sandals or flip-flops
Baseball caps (worn at least backwards)
Clothing with large logos or obvious branding
Hooded sweatshirts
Denim shorts
Basketball sneakers/ tennis shoes
Overly fashionable hairstyles
Tight clothes
Loose fitting clothes
Come to think of it, most men should avoid most of the things on this list. But there are some things (like super-fake old jeans) that are particularly unsuitable for older, more mature gentlemen.

Questions about how to dress in your 40s
Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about dress codes for seniors:

Should men over 40 wear jeans?
Yes, men over 40 can and should wear jeans. Just make sure they are slim, straight and tapered (not skinny or baggy) and don’t have any rips or visible imitation of age.

Are skinny jeans appropriate for men over 40?
Men over 40 should avoid wearing skinny jeans unless they have skinny legs. Instead, wear slim tapered jeans that are not tight.

What should a 40 year old man wear to a nightclub?
Be sure to check the dress code for any club you are going to. Generally speaking, slim dark wash jeans or slim chinos with a casual button-down shirt work well for nightclubs. Wear minimalist leather sneakers or Chelsea boots and use a nice watch, necklace and/or bracelet.