Among our readers, I was delighted to see that we were followed by men from all walks of life and of all ages.
However, we have a rather young team (under 30) and if our content is aimed at everyone, it was time to make an article dedicated to forty-somethings!
So yes, I'm not yet 40. To reinforce my point, I asked three well-known people in our columns to give their advice on how to dress after forty. They are Hugo Jacomet, who needs no introduction (with a video interview please), Patrice Brandmeyer, who has already written a few articles for us, and finally, Guillaume Cadot ( whose brand I tested a while ago ) and its style with Italian influences.
You will see, it is a long file (I have just broken the record for the longest article ever published on BonneGueule ), but I wanted to give you the best possible answer to this eternal question:
How to dress after 40 for a man?
To answer it, I will first leave you in the hands of Hugo, Guillaume and Patrice, then I will take the floor again to give you my vision of a men's wardrobe after 40 , not without having addressed the crucial question of YOUR state of mind!
It's dense and complete but rest assured, it's (very) illustrated. I even took my graphics tablet to draw things for you! Don't hesitate to tell me in the comments what you think of the length of this format, because it requires a lot of work from us.
Dressing at 40… by Hugo Jacomet
Dressing when you're 40... by Guillaume Cadot
At 40, it's time to streamline your wardrobe. We've had twenty years to experiment with clothes! Each of us has our own style and must find ways to express it as best as possible to feel good in our body and mind... and therefore in our wardrobe.
A gray world today #grey #flannel #cadot #primojacket #style #fashion #instacool #instamood #picoftheday #ootd #outfitoftheday #likeback #shopping #dress #instafashion #twelveskip #dapper #gentleman #menwithstyle #menswear #menstyle #instastyle #luxury #elegance #coolstyle #gentlemandriver #racingwithstyle #racingstyle #nofilterneeded
One of the many outfits that Guillaume Cadot posts on his personal Instagram.
Elegance is not measured by quantity. I knew an old gentleman who, for the last forty years of his life, dressed in a three-piece navy blue suit, white shirt and grenadine tie midnight blue silk.
His office uniform, his daily outfit for going to work. He was plump, he had found his style, he was one with the outfit. It was actually several suits of the same color, with shades of fabric depending on the seasons; ditto for his shirts and ties. Another era but a great lesson in style.
What are the five essential pieces that a 40-year-old man should own and make last today?
A real jean
Not a label jean - leave that to the young and their mistakes - but a jean that fits you , in which you move well. A nice fabric, a nice cut and you will easily know how to renew it.
No need to look for another one, just pray that your brand doesn't discontinue the model! Wear it on yourself, live with it. Day and night. It will naturally develop a patina like your good shoes.
Pitti Uomo day two #pittiuomo #vitalebarberiscanonico #style #fashion #instacool #instamood #picoftheday #ootd #outfitoftheday #likeback #shopping #dress #instafashion #twelveskip #dapper #gentleman #menwithstyle #menswear #menstyle #instastyle #luxury #elegance #coolstyle #gentlemandriver #racingwithstyle #racingstyle #cadot
A photo posted by Cadot (@maisoncadot) on
This is how Guillaume wears faded jeans at Pitti: he goes all out with patterns and textures!
The power of the blue blazer
Then, a blue blazer or rather a navy blue sports jacket, that is to say without the gold buttons option. A nice, slightly heavy material like wool twill, herringbone, thick flannel...
This will be your denim jacket, 40 years and older! A sartorial refuge, your Proust madeleine. Dressed up or down, your outfit will always be magnified. And you can duplicate it at will: straight or double-breasted, in wool, cotton, cashmere or linen. Choose it with little structure, or even without padding for maximum comfort and casual elegance. That's how beautiful it is!
Blue #shirt #pocketsquare #knittie #slackjacket #style #fashion #instacool #instamood #picoftheday #ootd #outfitoftheday #likeback #shopping #dress #instafashion #twelveskip #dapper #gentleman #menwithstyle #menswear #menstyle #instastyle #luxury #elegance #coolstyle #gentlemandriver #racingwithstyle #racingstyle #cadot
The blue blazer, in a "slack" version, that is to say unstructured, is one of Guillaume's favorite pieces.
The right coat
A pea coat also seems essential to me. Coming from the military world, it has an aesthetic and a function, the key elements of what we call design.
Less conventional than a Chesterfield coat, more modern than a trench coat or a Mac in the rain, it is easy to wear and reminds us that Robert Redford in Three Days of the Condor had a hell of a look. Buy a beautiful product, you can pass it on to your son!
Which casual shirt to choose?
The denim and/or chambray shirt should also be in your closet! A piece of clothing that will remind you of your youth without looking like an old fool once put on (with your navy blue jacket!). From the western version to the chambray button down, these shirts are your comfort blanket to move forward in life.
Spring. #style #fashion #instacool #instamood #picoftheday #ootd #outfitoftheday #likeback #shopping #dress #instafashion #twelveskip #dapper #gentleman #menwithstyle #menswear #menstyle #instastyle #luxury #elegance #coolstyle #gentlemandriver #racingwithstyle #racingstyle #Cadot #doublebreasted #tailoring
A photo posted by Cadot (@maisoncadot) on
The denim shirt is one of the most underrated pieces in a more formal look. Here it is worn with a double-breasted blazer, a recurring "gimmick" among Italians.
What about sweatshirts?
Finally, a grey sweater in Merino wool . With or without cable. Good quality so that it lasts a long time. Plain, in a bright medium grey, you will never wonder what or when to wear it with.
Casual shoes with style
We will add a pair of Chukka boots as accessories. In suede calfskin, the Crockett & Jones version is a must-have in terms of quality and price.
There you go, you can go out on the street, you're 40 and looking great! You'll see, you get used to it very quickly and you forget that before, you wanted to be fashionable!
Dressing at 40… by Patrice Brandmeyer
The most important thing in life is not your age, it's what you do with it!
If, like me, you are part of the highly envied and exclusive club of - young or old - forty-somethings, keep this adage in mind. Know that your age is much more of a blessing than a constraint to be elegant in all circumstances and adorn yourself with the most beautiful clothing finery.
After the age of forty, a man, it is almost a proven fact, enters the prime of life. Confidence, maturity and energy are all qualities that characterize him and thus facilitate the choice of his outfits.
Giving in to the sirens of youthfulness for the sake of an "adulescent" obsession would therefore be a gamble and an incongruity. This propensity would inevitably lead you to make style mistakes: you can stay young in your head without playing the eternal teenager.
A cotton suit, a shirt worn without a tie, and you have a look where you can't better mix elegance and relaxation! Here is the article from which this photo is taken: how to wear the Neapolitan jacket ?
Nor is it a question, under the pretext that your temples are turning grey, that you are becoming overweight (a little!) or that your hair is thinning, of displaying a neutral and dull style which would grant you a lifetime subscription to the "Vermeil card" 20 years in advance.
So, to remain yourself while being chic, here are a few essential rules that I advise you to apply... without moderation:
Don't skimp on the quality and finish of materials
Above all, they must be natural : cashmere for sweaters and cardigans; Scottish thread for socks; light flannel for suits and trousers; selvedge for jeans; moleskin, tweed or palatine for jackets; Egyptian poplin for shirts...
The nobility of the fabric or the reputation of the material for a suit or a jacket (Vitale Barberis Canonico, Loro Piana, Zegna, etc.) represents a long-term investment for any forty-something looking for a timeless image.
Gray flannel suits all ages! Don't be afraid of light grays!
Opt for basic and sober tones…
…in keeping with your image of a mature man!
For suits, deep navy blue and medium grey or tennis stripes that slim the silhouette; blue, white or pink for shirts; but also black or dark brown for shoes are safe bets where you won't make a mistake.
However, this doesn't stop you from adding a little touch of color to your outfits and your complexion by, for example, pairing a red, purple or light blue turtleneck with your suit or jacket. Don't deprive yourself of a burst of radiance!
Wearing a long-sleeved polo shirt under a suit is possible, and it is explained here: how to personalize your suit?
Be demanding and even uncompromising about the cut of your clothes
Choose fitted outfits that are comfortable but not too slim or too loose, which in both cases would alter your look.
For example, you can find well-cut, half-measure suits from tailors in Paris or the surrounding region, at reasonable prices (around €600-700).
The Neapolitan or natural shoulder (see my article how to wear the slack jacket ) is also a good alternative for your jackets. which will highlight your build, without necessarily resorting to padding which is not always successful. It will give confidence and harmony to your silhouette.
Don't be afraid of accessories!
Assert your personality with a few accessories that will bring uniqueness and relief to your outfits. In this register, you are spoiled for choice, depending on your mood and the weather: scarf or neckerchief; jacket or suit pocket square; boutonniere flower; cufflinks; solid-colored high socks (or knee-highs); Brazilian bracelets on the wrist and, of course, the watch, the only valuable piece of jewelry that any refined man will allow himself to wear... You might as well take your time to treat yourself to it (or have it given to you!).
If we have already talked about the pocket square and its importance in an outfit , the small brooch to be placed on the lapel is an unexpected but discreet jewel.
With these few principles in mind, you can now start thinking about putting together your ideal wardrobe. Here is an inventory of the essential pieces that you will no longer be able to do without:
- A white and/or light blue shirt, with one or two button collar stand,
- A white or light grey t-shirt with a slim round neck (but not tight… please!!),
- A raw selvedge jean,
- A fitted leather jacket, light or dark brown,
- A pair of dark brown chukka boots,
- Beige or khaki chino pants,
- A deep navy or light gray flannel suit,
- A navy blue cashmere jacket, to wear as a mismatched version,
- A short coat (any style: frock coat, moleskin pea coat, boiled wool duffle coat, light grey or navy blue, etc.),
- …And for Sprezzatura fans, a sleeveless down jacket to wear over your suit jacket, like the Italians sitting on their Vespas .
In short, buy little but well : your wallet will remember it with joy over the years.
To conclude, and reassure you, weren't icons of style and masculine elegance like Steve McQueen, Gianni Agnelli, Sean Connery or Jeremy Irons elevated to this sacrosanct status around the age of forty? Encouraging, isn't it?
Less well-known than Steve McQueen or Gianni Agnelli, Jeremy Irons remains an "iconic" man for a perfectly executed casual style.
Rather than lamenting the passage of time, spend most of your time choosing quality clothes that will enhance your outfits.
And remember: “dare to be classic and simple”. Your look will always be enhanced!
Well, here we are, we've just finished with the advice from Hugo, Guillaume and Patrice! That already gives you some good ideas, doesn't it? This is just the beginning.
For the second part of the article, with lots of look suggestions, click here !
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