What fashion enthusiasts can learn from older, dapper men

We first met Martyn in 2013, when he was 54 and dealing as a professor at a British university. He cut a high-quality figure in a black two-piece suit, a brilliant red shirt with cufflinks, an identical tie and a pocket square. We met to debate fashionable clothing habits of mature men.

We spent almost two hours taking a look at a few of Martyn's most treasured fashion possessions and chatting about his interest in clothing and magnificence. It's hardly in research that participants are so engaged and committed, and Martyn's passion for stylish clothing really shone through. This interest began during his school days when he was unraveling the seams of his school uniform.

Martyn was certainly one of five British men included in our research. All were between 54 and 63 years old and belonged to the newborn boomer generation (people born between 1946 and 1964). Our first study, conducted in 2013, consisted of interviews and inventory of their wardrobes.

One of the takeaways was that through years of interest and engagement in fashion, these men had gathered considerable knowledge and expertise about how best to decorate their bodies – and had amassed large archives of each functional and iconic garments.

As a result, the best way they bought and wore their clothes was based on practical needs and an emotional connection quite than mindless accumulation or impulsive purchasing. Other people, including younger generations, could possibly be inspired by this.

---

---

Now, almost a decade later, we caught up with three of our interviewees again and conducted evaluation and interpretations of their wardrobe, in addition to a series of interviews. While their clothing styles and even a few of the items were largely the identical as in 2013, the best way they devour and have interaction with fashion has modified.

These men now shop less and value quality over quantity. Although their often flamboyant appearance might suggest otherwise, this streamlined approach to shopping is consistent with fashion minimalism – the trend toward slower and more considered clothing consumption while rejecting the thought of ​​clothing shopping as a leisure activity. As Ian, a 70-year-old retired businessman, reflected:

I feel I've probably built up such a wardrobe of classic pieces that now I actually just must buy a number of small additions. Nothing big. Even now, if I see some classic pieces that I like, I’ll buy them. But I've definitely slowed down in buying and watching [men’s fashion] Magazines.

It's vital to notice that we spoke to the lads again at a time of great change of their lives. Retirement had brought changes to her lifestyle, comparable to more free time and latest hobbies. This meant they dressed for various occasions – now not for the office, but for a day at home or a night on the pub.

For these three men, ages 65 to 74, the change of their bodies can be vital in how they now experience clothing – from minor aches and pains to health problems that affect their mobility. Therefore, their clothing must meet different needs – balancing comfort with style and avoiding items that might restrict movement or affect confidence.

However, their commitment to expressing their identity through stylish clothing stays strong and contradictory widespread assumptions that men Stop caring about their appearance at a certain point in life.

Our two studies suggest the alternative. When we spoke to Martyn again in 2024, his fashion sense had only sharpened. The epitome of fashionable elegance, he arrived for his interview in a checked suit, accessorized with a trilby, tie pin and lapel clip, sleeve garters, a carved walking stick and handmade leather brogues. Martyn described his fashion decisions as follows:

I all the time have a pleasant shirt, reasonably nice pants, proper shoes and, if it's cold, a vest with a pocket watch. And that's me, sitting alone, typing or simply fiddling with the cat.

Or take Kevin, a 74-year-old retired lecturer who devotes himself to the clothing aesthetic of the Mod subculture, including tracksuits and tailored coats. His fashion archive consists of some incredible pieces which have been in his wardrobe for greater than 20 years:

I used to wear it [suits] all the time, no matter whether it was a proper occasion or work. That was my style for years – but less so now. My social life mostly revolves around my local pub, which isn't really a spot you dress as much as go to – although I do sometimes. I'm bored with all the time wearing the identical clothes.

Then he added with a smile: “Once a Mod, always a Mod!”

Despite some major lifestyle changes, the three men have maintained their interest in clothing and its importance in expressing their unique identities – providing an interesting perspective growing academic interest in menswear and menswear. Her slower and more conscious fashion consumption gives rise to reflection on the role and value of clothing in any respect stages of life.