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 years old) and if our content is aimed at everyone, it was time to create an article dedicated to forty-somethings!
So of course, I'm not yet 40 years old. To reinforce my point, I asked three people well known to our columns to give their advice for dressing after quarantine. These are Hugo Jacomet who we no longer present (with video interview please), Patrice Brandmeyer who has already written a few articles for us and, finally, Guillaume Cadot ( whose I tested the brand some time ago
You'll see, it's a long file (I just broke the record for the longest article ever published on BonneGueule
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 speak 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! Please let me know in the comments what you think of the length of this format, as it requires a lot of work for 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 try out 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 in our head... 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 his 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 midnight blue silk grenadine tie.
His office uniform, his daily outfit for going to work. He was overweight, he had found his style, he was one with the outfit. These were in fact several suits of the same color, with shades of fabric depending on the season; ditto for his shirts and ties. Another era but a great lesson in style.
What would be the five essential pieces that a 40-year-old man must own and make last today?
Real jeans
Not label jeans - leave that to young people and their mistakes - but jeans that fit you , in which you move well. A beautiful canvas, a beautiful cut and you will easily be able to renew it.
No need to look for another one, just pray your brand doesn't discontinue the model! Use it on yourself, live with it. The day and the night. It will patina naturally 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 published by Cadot (@maisoncadot) on
This is how Guillaume wears Pitti-washed jeans: he goes all out on 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 button option. A nice, slightly heavy material like a wool twill, a herringbone, a big flannel...
This will be your 40s and over version of the denim jacket! A sartorial refuge, your Proust madeleine. Dressy or casual, your outfit will always be magnified. And you can duplicate it as you wish: straight or crossed, 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 she 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, "slack" version, that is to say unstructured, is one of Guillaume's favorite pieces.
The right coat
A peacoat 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 type 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 looked great. 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 fart once put on (with your navy blue jacket!). From the western version to the button down in chambray, 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 published by Cadot (@maisoncadot) on
The denim shirt is one of the most underrated pieces in a dressier look. It is worn here with a double-breasted blazer, a recurring “gimmick” among Italians.
What about sweatshirts?
Finally, a gray Merino wool sweater . With or without twist. Good quality so it lasts a long time. Plain, a bright medium gray, you will never wonder what to wear it with or when.
Casual shoes with style
We will add a pair of Chukka boots as accessories. In suede calfskin, the Crockett & Jones version is essential in terms of quality and price.
There you are, you can go out into the street, you are 40 years old and look great! You'll see, we get used to it very quickly and we forget that before, we 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 much envied and exclusive club of - young or old - forties, keep this adage in mind. Know that your age is much more of a boon than a constraint to be elegant in all circumstances and adorn yourself with the most beautiful clothing.
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 youthism for the sake of “adultescent” obsession would therefore be a challenge and incongruity. This propensity would inevitably lead you to make style errors: you can remain 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 couldn'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 gray, that your plumpness is growing (a little!) or that your hair is thinning, of displaying a neutral and dull style which would grant you a lifetime subscription “ Vermeil card” 20 years in advance.
So, to stay yourself while being chic, a few essential rules that I advise you to apply... without moderation:
Don't skimp on the quality and finish of the materials
Above all, they must be natural : cashmere for sweaters and cardigans; Scottish thread for socks; light flannel for suits and pants; selvedge for jeans; moleskin, tweed or palatine for jackets; Egyptian poplin for shirts...
The nobility of the fabric or the reputation of the fabric for a suit or 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 line with your image as a mature man!
For suits, deep navy blue and medium gray or tennis stripes which refine the silhouette; blue, white or pink for shirts; but also black or dark brown for shoes are safe values where you won't make a mistake.
However, that doesn't stop you from adding a little pop of color to your outfits and your complexion by, for example, combining a red, purple or light blue turtleneck with your suit or jacket. Don't deprive yourself of a boost!
Wearing a long-sleeved polo shirt under a suit is possible, and it's explained here: how to personalize your suit?
Be demanding or even uncompromising about the cut of your clothes
Choose outfits that are fitted while remaining comfortable without being too slim or too baggy, which, in both cases, would alter your look.
For example, you can find well-cut half-measure suits , from Parisian or regional tailors, 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
Don't be afraid of accessories!
Assert your personality with a few accessories that will bring uniqueness and depth to your outfits. In this register, you are, depending on the mood and the weather, spoiled for choice: scarf or neckerchief; jacket or suit pocket; buttonhole flower; cufflinks ; high socks (or knee-highs) in solid color; 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 offered to you!).
If we have already talked about the clutch and its importance in an outfit , the small brooch to place on the lapel is an unexpected but discreet jewel.
With these few principles in mind, you can now look into putting together your ideal wardrobe. Here is an inventory of the essential parts that you will no longer be able to do without:
- A white and/or light blue shirt, with one or 2 button collar stand,
- A white or light gray t-shirt, with a slim round neck (but not tight… pity!!),
- Raw selvedge jeans,
- A fitted leather jacket, light or dark brown,
- A pair of dark brown chukkas,
- Beige or khaki chino pants,
- A deep navy blue or light gray flannel suit,
- A navy blue cashmere jacket, to wear in a mismatched version,
- A short coat (no matter the style: frock coat, moleskin pea coat, boiled wool duffle coat, light gray or navy blue, etc.),
- …And for Sprezzatura fans, a sleeveless down jacket to wear over your suit jacket, like the Italians sitting on their Vespa
.
In summary, buy little but buy well : your wallet will remember it with joy over the years.
To conclude, and to 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, right?
Less known than Steve McQueen or Gianni Agnelli, Jeremy Irons remains an "iconic" man for a perfectly executed casual style.
Rather than lamenting and watching time pass, spend most of your time choosing quality clothes that will enhance your outfits.
And remember: “dare in classicism and simplicity”. Your appearance will always look better!
Well there you have it, we have just finished with the advice of Hugo, Guillaume and Patrice! That already gives you some good leads, 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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