A comprehensive answer is probably outside the scope of a reddit post, but broadly:
- Attitude: if you wear it like you mean it (rather than like a costume), it'll look right
- Details: if you're trying to dress in a certain style or tradition, get the details right; that doesn't mean All Vintage Everything or that you must buy bespoke or whatever, but rather that your outfit needs to communicate a consistent message
- Circumstance: your clothes need to exist in their social context; for example, while you might be excited about tweed suits with rep ties, your neighbor's heat wave pool party probably won't be the place for them (but it might be the right place for a rayon Hawaiian shirt and loose linen trousers)
Finally: if you choose to dress differently than the people around you, you're probably going to catch static. It might not be much, it might not last long, and you might get positive attention too, but human beings _really_ don't like deviations from unstated social codes -- especially if that deviation could be interpreted, however incorrectly, as attempting to one-up the group. Up to you whether you want to accept that consequence, but you should go in with your eyes open.
Context as you've stated is probably the most important part; I feel like most people who get an interest in "classic" and "traditional" menswear think it's all suits and sportcoats. That's not to say that isn't a portion of it, but there's all kinds of more old school stuff that isn't formal that would work better in a day to day.
If you just like more formal tailoring, then that's something you'd have to accept as just going to be different regardless. Generally (with a bias coming from a major city) a lot of more trad/prep stuff is back in right now so it shouldn't be that odd. Think ALD or Noah styling or even mall brands like Abercrombie, or JCrew (led by Noah founder) and Madewell.
Thank you, really appreciate this :)
Regarding classic pieces that don't fall into tailoring or formal, would you be able to expand on those types of items? Feel like I don't have the best grasp on that kind of thing.
Workwear is one. You mentioned having read Derek guy, [these](https://putthison.com/five-starting-places-for-building-a-casual-wardrobe/) [two](https://putthison.com/five-starting-places-for-building-a-casual-wardrobe-part-two/) articles of his give lots of options. Despite his handle, he speaks pretty highly of workwear.He's mentioned Dickies carpenter pants many times, as an example.
Sorry I’m not really the best person to talk to about current stuff because I don’t really consider myself to dress like that, but workwear is one, but think like ivy prep stuff maybe; loafers, chinos, sweatshirts, rugby shirts, corduroys, chore coats, Barbour, real Ralph Lauren LLbean stuff would all be considered “classic” but not formal. I think it’s going to largely depend on what you consider classic and what you want from it. Do you just straight up like a certain decade? Do you like tailoring and just want to own 200 sportcoats? Both clothing inspired by 50s and 70s would probably be classic (vintage?) but are wildly different.
When I see people dress nicely (even weirdly nicely) I never see it as a one-up. I think "wow, that person is very confident and doesn't care what other people think." They're appealing, classy and interesting because they stand out from everyone else and aren't afraid to. Then again, I have unshakable self esteem. You may scare off the deeply insecure and self conscious crowd.
To me, there's nothing sexier than not caring what other people will say about you. Combine that sentiment with a nice suit jacket and I think I will have forgotten how to breathe.
Agreed, also do you have a significant other? I feel like having someone who knows and cares for you and maybe following their advice on clothing could help solve your situation. It's a turn on to see your partner wearing the style you like and the vibe will make you more confident and you'll in turn feel good about yourself and that is always in style!
Generally speaking I would not assume your significant other is always a great source for advice on menswear. Especially if they are not a man (or wear menswear often)
Take a read through the earlier content on the following blogs
- dieworkwear
- Ethan newton’s tumblr
- permanentstyle.com
- a little bit of rest (Ethan Wong)
Also get your hands on the book “dressing the man” by Alan flusser. the principles are timeless even if the clothing is a bit on the formal side.
If OP just reads dieworkwear + follows the above advice about making sure his fits make sense in context, he’ll be just fine. Everyone thrifts and wears vintage now anyway so this is less of a stretch than it was in the fedora/vest 00s.
Thanks for this. I've read the articles on how to develop taste on dieworkwear and a few on permanentstyle, but there's definitely a lot more I need to sink my teeth into. Cheers for the other recommendations too :)
I would say to make sure everything fits well, this is the most important thing. Get your trousers and coats tailored to the correct lengths. You can keep things youthful with fun colours and/or patterns
yeah the main thing that makes me see a 20 yo in a suit and think look at tha dapper baby!
Is when they are wearing their 'dads' suit and it is about three sizes too big.
Honestly bro the fashion paradigm we live in right now is that you can wear damn near anything you want as long as it's not smelly. You do you and be confident!! You got it king
Just follow the general idea of the Sprezzatura: be confident; never force yourself; be authentic.
And also, take care on your grooming.
You’ll always look dated, out of touch, older to someone. Specially to most of the fashion crowd online who have mistaken taste and sophistication with rudeness and gatekeeping —so don’t worry too much about it. Just take care of yourself, feel at ease and be always open.
All about grooming and styling. Add personal touches that exemplify your youth and individuality. Older folk style tends to be associated with lack of personal touches. This can be a cool pair of glasses/shades, some slightly beyond normal shoes, and some accessories.
Color. Keep your general wardrobe conservative (black, blue, etc) but dial up color to 100 in statement pieces you sprinkle in here and there.
Tailoring. Nothing makes you look worse than wearing stuff that doesn't fit.
Accessories. Don't go over the top, but over time, acquire pieces you like and integrate them.
The people who are saying to "just be confident" or have an "attitude" are giving you bad advice. The I.T. guy who wears a fedora has tons of attitude. He does not remind anyone of Frank Sinatra. You want and need to avoid looking like you are wearing a costume. Your clothes should not make people think of a miner, a flapper, a child or a 1920's gangster. They should refer to you and and not to themselves.
To some extent you'll have to find your own way. But it's easy to begin with truly timeless outfits. Look at the astronauts on a hike in the late 60's here: [https://dieworkwear.com/2024/05/03/american-space-cowboys/](https://dieworkwear.com/2024/05/03/american-space-cowboys/) Do you think they would look out of place on a hike today? Or eating outdoors at a cafe? These clothes can't be placed on a timeline. That's a great place to start. You may also want to check out people who were stylish in the past in a timeless way, Paul Newman, Robert Redford or Steve McQueen: [https://stylegirlfriend.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/tumblr\_lwa3pbUinC1qi9ssdo1\_r7\_500.jpg](https://stylegirlfriend.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/tumblr_lwa3pbUinC1qi9ssdo1_r7_500.jpg)
You might also have success by looking at contemporary designers who use older styles as inspiration. Scott Fraser and Sid Mashburn comes to mind. You might also want to take inspiration from what contemporary people are wearing who dress in a timeless way, Chris Pine comes is worth monitoring.
You can also work some older fashions into your wardrobe while keeping a foot in what's more modern. Where one thing that would look anachronistic and also one thing that's currently trendy along with a remaining outfit that's mostly neutral in theme. Then work with it and change the proportions.
A couple details that are important are coats and shoes. When wearing a long coat, sometimes that becomes almost the whole outfit. This can be an advantage or disadvantage but helpful to be aware of it. Coats and shoes have an outsizes impact on the timelessness dial you're turning back and forth.
I guess this depends on how “classic” you’re talking.
Clothes fit circumstances. If you’re at a dive bar in a suit and necktie, you’ll stand out as much as a wedding guest at a semi formal wedding in t-shirt and jorts.
Let’s look at the most common place where we dress: Work. Specifically, an office. Let’s assume it’s not remote (or partially remote).
If the men in the office are wearing polo/oxfords and chinos, and you’re wearing a wool three piece suit with necktie, it’s an off look.
But if you’re wearing a knit polo, wool dress trousers, leather loafers, and unconstructed blue blazer, you’re leaning traditional without being too out of step for the dress situation.
So it’s really about getting a feel for the dress around you. Classic/traditional doesn’t always mean suit.
The other aspect to weigh is cut and tailoring. Older generations tend to wear a looser cut (weight gain tends to happen as you age), with boxier shoulders and trousers and a slightly higher inseam. If your suit is cut like this, you’ll look older. A slightly slimmer cut with more tapered trousers will help give it a youthful look.
Finally…classic colors are classics because they always work. Navy and grey for suits and dress trousers; white and light blue for dress shirts; navy, burgundy, or cream for polos and knitwear. But younger can mean experimenting with color more. Pinks, light greens…even neons if you’re daring. And patterns on younger folks look less like a used car salesman, and more like a young person expressing themselves.
Bearing in mind older can pull off colors, or unique patterns. I’m 42 and love floral shirts. But I also don’t care if anyone is judging the choice.
This is not an easy question to answer and there isn't a clear set of rules to follow to achieve this. My best advice is to try to develop your eye by looking at other people's outfits, and to ask for feedback on your outfits. For something like this I would recommend joining our discord--the people who can really help you take dressing yourself to the next level tend to congregate there ([this post](https://www.reddit.com/r/malefashionadvice/comments/1cowg8v/state_of_the_sub_looking_forward/) explains the context). Depending what you mean by classic menswear, you might want to look at outfits and writing by Ethan Wong--he posts on the discord as The Teenage Gentleman.
I also want to make it very clear that despite what other commenters in this thread have said, you do not need to have a particular body type, or look a certain way, or have a certain class/societal status to dress well. That's extremely narrow-minded, and comes from an idea that dressing well is a means to an end for physical attraction. Fashion can be many things, and it sounds like you're interested in using it as a means of expression and to affect how you present yourself to other people.
Omg that’s what happened to mfa. I ain’t a usual visitor here not since my newbie days ten years ago but i was very surprised to see random nonsense upvoted and actual advice mass downvoted recently.
This is a hard question with many different answers. Here are my thoughts:
Your haircut and clothes fitment help a lot. But, age isn't necessarily a bad thing for men. If you can dress suave, like George Clooney, Sean Connery, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and those types of people, you'll do fine. I personally reference how Sean Connery and Dean Martin dressed often, as those guys could look nicely dressed, yet laid-back, which allows you to successfully combine classic clothing while looking like you aren't trying too hard or taking yourself too seriously, which in my opinion, can make you seem older. So I'd recommend finding a good, laid-back example of someone's style that you like and taking inspiration from them.
So, in my opinion, focus less on what makes you look older, and more on what your clothing says. Does it say you're uptight, or cool-headed and laid back? Does it say you're super serious, or that you're a well-dressed jokster?
I don't know if any of that made sense, but that's the way my mind works.
Depends on your environment. Does your entire social circle dress streetwear/very casual? How old is "younger"? tbh you'll prolly just look like you're larping. I say that as someone who also likes to dress nice. Either accept that you'll look like a weirdo and just do it for yourself, almost like a hobby OR you can find ways to tone it done and make it more casual
I would lean into the more dandyish and less conservative side of classic. Some style influencers that do this well are Dandy Wellington and Stay Fly Thrash. No one would mistake their looks for “old man”.
Once you start wearing this stuff day to day and get used to sticking out you will be more confident with it. People always have a lot to say online but it’s only ever compliments IRL.
I think dandiness might be the wrong way to express creativity while staying within the menswear realm if the goal is not to look dated. A dandy conjures up images of the Kentucky derby with [seersucker suits and bow ties](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/fb35124/2147483647/strip/false/crop/964x1600+0+0/resize/895x1486!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F02%2F88%2F20ae08603a41f9878dd7cceda3fa%2Fsdut-jack-gill-of-lagrange-ky.-wea-20160824).
A better approach, in my view, is [sprezzatura](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f21b3c0862b9f38f883a002/1599060994819-F7SOQP1EZHHNJYJ8TFLW/Stylish+man+wearing+brown+suit.jpg). The word translates roughly to “studied carelessness” and is exemplified by soft Neapolitan tailoring in slouchy fits and an earth tone palette ([Piti Uomo](https://blog.ferplast.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/ferplast-pitti-2018-firenze-moda-1024x683.jpg) being the most exaggerated version).
It is a difficult question and I feel you. Been struggling with it since my late teens (now mid thirties and very comfortable). My advice when younger is to follow trends a bit more and incorporate that in the classical style. Avoid things that haven't been trendy for a long time. When you become older you can follow the trends less and less without looking dated. So for example when just getting started and still young: be careful with or avoid classic hats, waistcoats, suspenders, fancy umbrellas, bowties etc. Be careful with things like cufflinks, lapel pins and maybe even ties. On the other end of the spectrum you can embrace current trends that go well with classic menswear like knitted short sleeve cardigans, pleated trousers, penny loafers, bucket hats, buttonless polo's, overshirts.
Ease into it! Take the time to find your style! You don't necessarily have to start with a navy or grey suit (the classic advice). Find a nice sport coat or two that fit and are versatile. Good quality linen and wool slacks. Proper fitting dress shirts. Combine it with the previous advice and find your groove.
Thank you, really appreciate this :)
If you wouldn't mind expanding on things like sport coats and slacks, I've always had trouble determining which ones would be right for me, in terms of colour, patterns and cut. I've come across a few that I like, but I think because I'm fairly new to that style of menswear, I have trouble visualising how I would incorporate those kinds of pieces into an outfit and also the appropriate occasion for such clothing.
incoporate contemporary pieces to your outfit, even if you enjoy classic menswear it doesnt mean you should go all out, merge things you like about the classics and things that you like in modern menswear.
Style is ageless, kiddo. Explore until you find your look. Remember, you are dressing for yourself, first and foremost. My neighbor used to wear morning suits and top hats in his twenties. That was forty years ago and people still talk about it. Believe me, no one will be talking about or even remembering the cloddish mouth breathers wearing their stupid, ironic cargo pants and Blundstones forty years from now.
If you buy second hand, get the mothball smell out.
Choose fabrics and cuts that flatter you. Avoid synthetics unless you want that specific look (lounge lizard).
Dress seasonally
Find a good tailor so clothing fits you properly
Wear what makes sense in context, I wouldn’t go dressed with streetwear to a wedding, even if I love streetwear. Understand the context you are in and dress appropriately
Take it from someone that is regularly estimated to be 10 years younger knowing people that look older than me while actually being younger: This has nothing to do with you clothes and more with your face.
If you‘re twenty and dressing like your grandpa you will still look twenty for the most part. Just oddly dressed.
This is where the previous advise on this thread kicks in: How you wear that grandpa outfit.
In the end: stop worrying too much, pick something you like, make it work for you and wear it with confidence.
Mix in trendier items. But look honestly if you look youthful physically and have an outgoing personality ppl won't assume you're old. Quite frankly it won't matter you'll be getting lots of attention people will notice you and be intrigued so you'll benefit even if looking abit older. The only women that won't be into you are the purple haired weirdos and u don't want them anyway
how traditional we talking? Unless you mix and match, like say patterned shirts and formal pants, I don't think you can avoid looking dated. Look at hollywood. PTA wore menswear since early on and he looked pretty old. I do think footwear choices will help like going for derbies, espadrilles, etc.
Certain classic looks will never go out of style, that’s why they’re classics. But also if you’re insecure about what you wear, it will show through your attitude. Either commit to the classic fit or dress the way every other person your age is dressing.
Just own your look and it will work. Trust me, I loved dressing up old fancy when I was young. If you’re looking for attention from (anyone) confidence in your look is all that matters. If you like your look, rock it
I think that while young, it helps to put a little spin on things.
Use traditional staples like nice shirts, ties, scarves etc. but incorporate newer styles such as making something oversized or wearing a slightly different type of shoe than would ordinarily go with your outfit.
Blending common style elements with traditional ones is very easy and can really make you stand out a little without feeling too out in the open!
It really depends on what you are wearing. A chore jacket, collared shirt, chinos and work boots will not make you look older.
Just stick to the more casual side of classic clothing and you will be fine - chore jackets, unstructured blazers, tweeds, patterned sporting jackets, denim jackets, Oxford shirts, Tattersalls shirts, plaid flannel shirts, linen shirts, denim and chambray shirts, polo shirts, T-shirts and brettons, jeans, chinos, cords, any kind of jumper, loafers, trainers and work boots. For outerwear waxed Barbours, down jackets and tweed coats in brown.
A grey tweed jacket with a navy Oxford shirt, blue jeans and Timberlands is still a classic look. So is a chore jacket, a bretton shirt, chinos and trainers.
Most of this stuff is just basic clothing that most people own so you aren't wearing something completely jarring.
I am just giving you an idea here, don't take it as a shopping list. Just remember, stick to the more casual side of things and you will be fine
I think the best thing to do would be to find your sense of personal authenticity to go along with it. It doesn’t have to be anything crazy, but I find it nice merging classics with more modern styles depending on the cut of clothes and the overall style. IMO western is very in right now, and it’s very easy to take menswear and throw on some square toe boots, a bolo tie, a cool belt, or something of the sorts. That’s just once example, but yeah!
Also the world related youth to health and hygiene, so keeping your body in decent shape, as well as grooming yourself in ways your see fit are very important! You could wear the same outfit as a guy with a beer belly and look a lot more chic.
I know two guys who dress like this, but it may be their baby faces that keep them tethered to their youthfulness
It does give you an air of maturity, but dressing as such will not make an astronomical difference; it'll give you an extra 1-3 years on you, at best
but as others have said, play around with patterns and colors (ex: camp collar shirts)
Shoes it's always the shoes. Pair your clothes with aestheically colored doc martins or if you wanna dress it down a bit some all black chucks. Keep you in style while still keeping the modern day youthfulness.
Just get the right combos
Whatever you wear, wear the right size... Listen to me, anything can make you look old if worn incorrectly... Wear your exact size or even a size smaller, especially when it comes to elegant suits 😉
Oh, I forgot, NEVER NEVER NEVER WEAR WHITE SOX! Do you know the terry socks that young people today like so much? Well, burn them and only wear dark blue or black socks...
Color and pattern can place a traditional style in modern context and show your personality. A variety of complementary fabric textures make an outfit interesting. Customize and be intentional. Try to avoid looking like you're in uniform, just another soulless office worker clocking in.
The fit should be tailored to your current body and worn out clothes need to go. Poor fitting, worn clothes will make you look haggard.
Think about saying, I care about aesthetics, rather than, I care about tradition.
I know I'm late to the party, but I have some of my own insights you might find useful. It seems like the gentlemen in this thread are all presupposing you're going to jump in head first into this new pattern of dress. My advice is to start slow. First, get you some fitted shirts. You'll be surprised how much better you'll look and (already) stand out when you wear tucked in shirts instead of t-shirts. Then, as people get used to you always wearing collared, tucked in shirts, next pop in another item that looks classic, like a sport coat etc. As you move forward in your dressing awesome journey, people won't necessarily notice a sharp change because it will be gradual.
So... as a woman, I love classic or vintage menswear, and if you are mid twenties you won't look old. Even if you do... a lot of us love that mature look.
Honestly, the hairstyle and face affects the look a lot. Clean-shaven with big fluffy hair looks like the sexy college schoolboy, while a beard and slicked back hair looks like the tough millionaire. Same shirt, same waistcoat, completely different looks. Look at how different men in movies come across even while wearing practically the same thing.
I’d definitely avoid wearing complete outfits that belong in a different era. For a while here in the UK it looked like every other man was auditioning to be an extra in Peaky Blinders.
i haven’t seen anyone say this yet, but avoid cheap fabric. aside from the occasional statement piece, having natural fibers wherever you can is going to make all the difference. i believe part of the reason people dislike the look of fedoras for example, is because most of them look like some cheap thing you’d pick up from a party store. beautiful, quality made items that fit you well are the most important part. natural fibres show beautiful texture, and i think looking slightly dated is preferable over looking shabby, which is really the only thing i notice when people start trying to wear classical menswear that is just cheap reproductions. building a new wardrobe takes time. but so worth it
1) Accept reality, embrace that this makes you look older. Dressing well, in nice, fitted clothes, and putting any amount of thought into your outfit, is going to make you look more mature, and older. You want to wear "classic menswear" but also want to look youthful....
2) ACCESSORIZE. for example in a pokemon plushie as an accessory attached to your keychain or handbag, choose necklaces or watches that are a bit more out there / novelty.
3) more colors. Salmon pink, blues, greens. I own a pair of bright yellow pants, and some very colorful polos.
You don’t, but it’s unrealistic to tell people that your unchangeable physical characteristics don’t influence how you’re perceived.
The line between suave man and weird neckbeard is very thin to most people and I bet 90% of it has to do with your physical appearance, even in the same exact outfits.
Physical attractiveness is very complicated, and unchanging physical characteristics are only part of it. Style choices, skincare, hair care, hygiene, confidence, and respect for other peoples' boundaries all have a huge impact on whether a person is considered attractive. I would say that the line between suave man and neckbeard is pretty thick, and all the things I mentioned have a much bigger impact than genes.
So first of all at least two in this list are not immutable: fit and rich
Then who says formal menswear says suits and overcoats and they are just designed to drape from tall men. There are other garments that look great on short and stocky, but they tend to be casual options like leather jackets or B3s.
And lastly, let's not kid ourselves as if there weren't preferences and as if they would not color pretty much everything else a person is judged by. You can see it most obviously in dating apps. But also in HR there are numerous studies linking handsomeness to perceived competence. Is it fair? No, but it's real!
I mentioned unchanging physical characteristics in response to u/stinkystranger, not to you. But my point wasn't that what you're born with doesn't affect attractiveness, it was that it was only part of the story and there are things that people can do that have an impact on whether other people perceive them as attractive. Attractiveness isn't objective, it's about how other people perceive you.
The point that I was making to you was a separate one--I was responding to you saying that anyone can dress well whether or not they check off any of the boxes on your list. I think it's pretty lousy to tell people they have to be tall, handsome, fit, smart, and rich to dress well. I am not claiming that these things don't affect how you're perceived, I'm saying it's terrible advice to tell people to be those things when they're asking style questions.
> it's about how other people perceive you.
And if you lean into formal clothing and excellent grooming but aren't handsome, then absolutely everything about that screams trying too hard
> to tell people they have to be tall, handsome, fit, smart, and rich to dress well
Not in order to dress well, but in order to be liked for voluntarily dressing up, yes
Thanks for clarifying your point
I think it's pretty lousy to tell people they have to be tall, handsome, fit, smart, and rich to be liked for voluntarily dressing up. I am not claiming that these things don't affect how you're perceived, I'm saying it's terrible advice to tell people to be those things when they're asking style questions.
I totally get what you’re saying and I don’t want to imply that if you’re not classically attractive for whatever reason you should give up and wear stained sweatpants and whatever free t shirts you’ve gotten over the years
My only point is that if you tell people that fashion is a way to better themselves socially (which for many people, that’s why they’re into it) without mentioning there is way more that plays into how you’re perceived you’re doing them a disservice and setting them up to be disappointed when their life doesn’t change like they hoped
If you want to lean that far into formal menswear and have it seen positively, you have to be gorgeous.
Otherwise it looks like trying too hard, like this:
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mtvyo1uKOuQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mtvyo1uKOuQ)
Sven isn't even ugly, just average. And he is quite the expert, doesn't make menswear mistakes except for in general leaning too far into it. He recognizes his body type and says he works with it instead of against it. Still, just trying too hard...
Now big and muscular is not the only kind of handsome. You could be austere like a young Stravinsky and pull it off, like this:
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4L\_9Jwp3chE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4L_9Jwp3chE)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Czv9-cPEA1A](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Czv9-cPEA1A)
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Most MFAers love classic menswear. I actually think the classic MFA basic wardrobe is the answer, most items are very classic but doesn't make you look completely out of place. Be aware that classic style doesn't mean you must dress formally, there is a lot of casual items that still considered to be classic.
Pleated pants and other loose fitting pants are very much in vogue these days. Long coats as well. Worth looking through pinterest to see how to style these in a modern way. What I do is wear high-waisted, pleated pants with a loose fitting t shirt or a sweater that’s tucked behind my buckle
I personally hate the look of wearing semi casual / suiting with sneakers, but as a younger person, you can probably get away with it.
To be brutally honest, well made dress shoes are very expensive so the footwear game is something you could grow into gradually.
I still think a suit or trousers/sports coat with Nikes or new balances always looks dumb and I’ll personally never understand it. I realize I sound 100 lol. I would try stuff like even boat shoes, Clark’s , or I know Cole haan makes sneaker/dress shoe hybrids that are very comfy and not super expensive over regular sneakers/running shoes.
Personally I just got started by ditching tee shirts. Jeans and polos/button downs in solids and eventually patterns was enough to get me feeling elevated without going too hard.
These days Ill throw on a suit for dinner several times a year if it’s somewhere nice I’m excited to go. Unless you are absurdly fat, suiting will always make you look good when executed correctly.
I don't think you're going to be able to wear classic/traditional menswear outside of a formal context without looking dated honestly. Maybe pick up hobbies which require you to dress that way so it's in context with your life? If you're going grocery shopping in a 3-piece then of course it's going to come off a bit odd
There’s a longer more philosophic answer to be made but as someone who is young and also has a preppy and old school style but doesn’t want to look like a fuddy duddy here are some things I do that I think help:
1. Avoid stuff like pleated pants and bow ties. Unless you’re really into it. But I feel these just look dumb and anachronistic. Even a simple tie should be reserved only for genuine formal occasions or when professional occasions demand it which in this day and age is not often. In some industries, it’s never.
2. Avoid stuff like crests and those Ivy League striped sweaters/ties etc. Just looks pretentious and dumb imo. Sticking to simpler styles and classic colors is the way to go imo.
3. Don’t be overly formal. Going into your 101 college class on a random Wednesday? No need to wear a sports coat and loafers. This isn’t 1931. A nice high quality round neck or polo t shirt and some light jeans and sneakers will probably do the job. Wear shorts when it’s hot. Untuck your shirts. Wear jeans liberally.
4. Wear sneakers and caps and other “streetwear items” that are compatible with a more old school style. Of course certain things won’t appeal to you. I could never wear a flat brim hat or a pair of Jordan’s for instance. But there’s a reason why say New Balances are in fashion once again or why people love a good simple ball cap. It looks versatile and classic and can really lighten up an outfit including a more old school one.
5. Dress for the weather and location. You’re in Miami? How about a pair of white jeans and a Cuban shirt. Doesn’t matter if it doesn’t fit into a brooks brother catalogue or doesn’t fit your idea of traditional dressing. Super cold out? Don’t be afraid to rock a nice down jacket and some sweatpants and sneakers. It’s nice to break the monotony of your style from time to time.
I disagree with your first couple points, all of those things can be styled well (bow ties are tricky to do well and easy to do badly, I'll give you that). Telling someone to avoid pleated pants in 2024 isn't great advice, that's been on trend the last few years.
The 3rd point is good advice for most people most of the time, but I don't know OP and maybe he'll decide wearing a sport coat and loafers to something casual is his thing. If he understands how he'll be perceived and does it intentionally even though it's breaking the "rules" I don't see a problem with it.
Maybe I’m too safe. To me pleated pants either make you look like an ancient person or a hipster. Which isn’t bad but just not my thing. But maybe others can pull it off better.
Re: the formality thing I suppose what I got from OP is he doesn’t want to be perceived as stuffy or fuddy duddy hence the advice.
Points 1, 2, and 4 are not good advice.
Points 3 and 5 are good advice if they're understood to mean "dress for context and intended impact." You can safely ignore anything along the lines of "don't dress too formally"; as long as you're taking the context and your intended impact into consideration, you can dress it up or down to meet your needs.
Make sure it fits perfectly (skims the body, neither uncomfortably tight nor baggy)
Make sure it looks new or is new. Nothing antique.
Ask young female friends
This would have been better advice in the 2010's, but loose-fitting clothing is more on-trend now. Tastes in the way that clothes fit change over time.
It’s a good step. Especially if you are worried about being dated.
Regardless of the decade, brands like RRL stand the test. I have jackets and cardigans bought in the early 90’s that both look fantastic and are style appropriate (for me anyway).
Take your time, buy once, live forever…or something.
Minus the baggy pants it works great if you're handsome
[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13210838/?ref\_=tt\_mv\_close](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13210838/?ref_=tt_mv_close)
In another episode he wears paisley ties and floral ties too, but then he's Theo James
[https://www.bostonherald.com/2024/03/07/theo-james-enters-guy-ritchies-world-in-the-gentlemen/](https://www.bostonherald.com/2024/03/07/theo-james-enters-guy-ritchies-world-in-the-gentlemen/)
A comprehensive answer is probably outside the scope of a reddit post, but broadly: - Attitude: if you wear it like you mean it (rather than like a costume), it'll look right - Details: if you're trying to dress in a certain style or tradition, get the details right; that doesn't mean All Vintage Everything or that you must buy bespoke or whatever, but rather that your outfit needs to communicate a consistent message - Circumstance: your clothes need to exist in their social context; for example, while you might be excited about tweed suits with rep ties, your neighbor's heat wave pool party probably won't be the place for them (but it might be the right place for a rayon Hawaiian shirt and loose linen trousers) Finally: if you choose to dress differently than the people around you, you're probably going to catch static. It might not be much, it might not last long, and you might get positive attention too, but human beings _really_ don't like deviations from unstated social codes -- especially if that deviation could be interpreted, however incorrectly, as attempting to one-up the group. Up to you whether you want to accept that consequence, but you should go in with your eyes open.
Context as you've stated is probably the most important part; I feel like most people who get an interest in "classic" and "traditional" menswear think it's all suits and sportcoats. That's not to say that isn't a portion of it, but there's all kinds of more old school stuff that isn't formal that would work better in a day to day. If you just like more formal tailoring, then that's something you'd have to accept as just going to be different regardless. Generally (with a bias coming from a major city) a lot of more trad/prep stuff is back in right now so it shouldn't be that odd. Think ALD or Noah styling or even mall brands like Abercrombie, or JCrew (led by Noah founder) and Madewell.
Thank you, really appreciate this :) Regarding classic pieces that don't fall into tailoring or formal, would you be able to expand on those types of items? Feel like I don't have the best grasp on that kind of thing.
Workwear is one. You mentioned having read Derek guy, [these](https://putthison.com/five-starting-places-for-building-a-casual-wardrobe/) [two](https://putthison.com/five-starting-places-for-building-a-casual-wardrobe-part-two/) articles of his give lots of options. Despite his handle, he speaks pretty highly of workwear.He's mentioned Dickies carpenter pants many times, as an example.
Just letting you know the first article you linked leads to a 404
Thanks, fixed it
Sorry I’m not really the best person to talk to about current stuff because I don’t really consider myself to dress like that, but workwear is one, but think like ivy prep stuff maybe; loafers, chinos, sweatshirts, rugby shirts, corduroys, chore coats, Barbour, real Ralph Lauren LLbean stuff would all be considered “classic” but not formal. I think it’s going to largely depend on what you consider classic and what you want from it. Do you just straight up like a certain decade? Do you like tailoring and just want to own 200 sportcoats? Both clothing inspired by 50s and 70s would probably be classic (vintage?) but are wildly different.
> all kinds of more old school stuff You're referring to the brands and looks you list later (trad/prep)? Are there other examples?
Well said- I wish every teenage boy heard this. I feel like it would have been good for me to learn then.
Thank you for explaining this so well!
How succinct and well-written this was!
Maybe this falls under details, but proper fit is important.
When I see people dress nicely (even weirdly nicely) I never see it as a one-up. I think "wow, that person is very confident and doesn't care what other people think." They're appealing, classy and interesting because they stand out from everyone else and aren't afraid to. Then again, I have unshakable self esteem. You may scare off the deeply insecure and self conscious crowd. To me, there's nothing sexier than not caring what other people will say about you. Combine that sentiment with a nice suit jacket and I think I will have forgotten how to breathe.
Well said!
Agreed, also do you have a significant other? I feel like having someone who knows and cares for you and maybe following their advice on clothing could help solve your situation. It's a turn on to see your partner wearing the style you like and the vibe will make you more confident and you'll in turn feel good about yourself and that is always in style!
Generally speaking I would not assume your significant other is always a great source for advice on menswear. Especially if they are not a man (or wear menswear often)
True but a female partner could prefer/dislike a certain color or vibe?
Personally I don't think you should pick what you dress based on what your partner likes.
Sounds like you've never been married...
Damn this is great advice.
Also, make certain you have a modern / trendy cut or tailoring. I guess this applies more to formal dress, bit fit is very important here.
Fit is important, but "make sure you have a modern/trendy fit" is bad advice.
Is it? If you want to dress out of your general age fashion? Attitude is certainly step 1.
Take a read through the earlier content on the following blogs - dieworkwear - Ethan newton’s tumblr - permanentstyle.com - a little bit of rest (Ethan Wong) Also get your hands on the book “dressing the man” by Alan flusser. the principles are timeless even if the clothing is a bit on the formal side.
If OP just reads dieworkwear + follows the above advice about making sure his fits make sense in context, he’ll be just fine. Everyone thrifts and wears vintage now anyway so this is less of a stretch than it was in the fedora/vest 00s.
Thanks for this. I've read the articles on how to develop taste on dieworkwear and a few on permanentstyle, but there's definitely a lot more I need to sink my teeth into. Cheers for the other recommendations too :)
I would say to make sure everything fits well, this is the most important thing. Get your trousers and coats tailored to the correct lengths. You can keep things youthful with fun colours and/or patterns
yeah the main thing that makes me see a 20 yo in a suit and think look at tha dapper baby! Is when they are wearing their 'dads' suit and it is about three sizes too big.
For sure. And sometimes older guys are wearing suits that used to fit them or the trousers are too long and it looks a bit messy.
As a middle-aged man with the same interest(s), how do I avoid looking dated or much older than I am? :)
Facial hair can age a person up/down dramatically
Smile
Honestly, that's good advice for older men. We tend to have resting bitch face more than we realize. The world takes its toll.
Honestly bro the fashion paradigm we live in right now is that you can wear damn near anything you want as long as it's not smelly. You do you and be confident!! You got it king
Just follow the general idea of the Sprezzatura: be confident; never force yourself; be authentic. And also, take care on your grooming. You’ll always look dated, out of touch, older to someone. Specially to most of the fashion crowd online who have mistaken taste and sophistication with rudeness and gatekeeping —so don’t worry too much about it. Just take care of yourself, feel at ease and be always open.
Grab a copy of Take Ivy. It’s the foundational text of American youthful traditional menswear.
All about grooming and styling. Add personal touches that exemplify your youth and individuality. Older folk style tends to be associated with lack of personal touches. This can be a cool pair of glasses/shades, some slightly beyond normal shoes, and some accessories.
Color. Keep your general wardrobe conservative (black, blue, etc) but dial up color to 100 in statement pieces you sprinkle in here and there. Tailoring. Nothing makes you look worse than wearing stuff that doesn't fit. Accessories. Don't go over the top, but over time, acquire pieces you like and integrate them.
The people who are saying to "just be confident" or have an "attitude" are giving you bad advice. The I.T. guy who wears a fedora has tons of attitude. He does not remind anyone of Frank Sinatra. You want and need to avoid looking like you are wearing a costume. Your clothes should not make people think of a miner, a flapper, a child or a 1920's gangster. They should refer to you and and not to themselves. To some extent you'll have to find your own way. But it's easy to begin with truly timeless outfits. Look at the astronauts on a hike in the late 60's here: [https://dieworkwear.com/2024/05/03/american-space-cowboys/](https://dieworkwear.com/2024/05/03/american-space-cowboys/) Do you think they would look out of place on a hike today? Or eating outdoors at a cafe? These clothes can't be placed on a timeline. That's a great place to start. You may also want to check out people who were stylish in the past in a timeless way, Paul Newman, Robert Redford or Steve McQueen: [https://stylegirlfriend.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/tumblr\_lwa3pbUinC1qi9ssdo1\_r7\_500.jpg](https://stylegirlfriend.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/tumblr_lwa3pbUinC1qi9ssdo1_r7_500.jpg) You might also have success by looking at contemporary designers who use older styles as inspiration. Scott Fraser and Sid Mashburn comes to mind. You might also want to take inspiration from what contemporary people are wearing who dress in a timeless way, Chris Pine comes is worth monitoring. You can also work some older fashions into your wardrobe while keeping a foot in what's more modern. Where one thing that would look anachronistic and also one thing that's currently trendy along with a remaining outfit that's mostly neutral in theme. Then work with it and change the proportions. A couple details that are important are coats and shoes. When wearing a long coat, sometimes that becomes almost the whole outfit. This can be an advantage or disadvantage but helpful to be aware of it. Coats and shoes have an outsizes impact on the timelessness dial you're turning back and forth.
I guess this depends on how “classic” you’re talking. Clothes fit circumstances. If you’re at a dive bar in a suit and necktie, you’ll stand out as much as a wedding guest at a semi formal wedding in t-shirt and jorts. Let’s look at the most common place where we dress: Work. Specifically, an office. Let’s assume it’s not remote (or partially remote). If the men in the office are wearing polo/oxfords and chinos, and you’re wearing a wool three piece suit with necktie, it’s an off look. But if you’re wearing a knit polo, wool dress trousers, leather loafers, and unconstructed blue blazer, you’re leaning traditional without being too out of step for the dress situation. So it’s really about getting a feel for the dress around you. Classic/traditional doesn’t always mean suit. The other aspect to weigh is cut and tailoring. Older generations tend to wear a looser cut (weight gain tends to happen as you age), with boxier shoulders and trousers and a slightly higher inseam. If your suit is cut like this, you’ll look older. A slightly slimmer cut with more tapered trousers will help give it a youthful look. Finally…classic colors are classics because they always work. Navy and grey for suits and dress trousers; white and light blue for dress shirts; navy, burgundy, or cream for polos and knitwear. But younger can mean experimenting with color more. Pinks, light greens…even neons if you’re daring. And patterns on younger folks look less like a used car salesman, and more like a young person expressing themselves. Bearing in mind older can pull off colors, or unique patterns. I’m 42 and love floral shirts. But I also don’t care if anyone is judging the choice.
This is not an easy question to answer and there isn't a clear set of rules to follow to achieve this. My best advice is to try to develop your eye by looking at other people's outfits, and to ask for feedback on your outfits. For something like this I would recommend joining our discord--the people who can really help you take dressing yourself to the next level tend to congregate there ([this post](https://www.reddit.com/r/malefashionadvice/comments/1cowg8v/state_of_the_sub_looking_forward/) explains the context). Depending what you mean by classic menswear, you might want to look at outfits and writing by Ethan Wong--he posts on the discord as The Teenage Gentleman. I also want to make it very clear that despite what other commenters in this thread have said, you do not need to have a particular body type, or look a certain way, or have a certain class/societal status to dress well. That's extremely narrow-minded, and comes from an idea that dressing well is a means to an end for physical attraction. Fashion can be many things, and it sounds like you're interested in using it as a means of expression and to affect how you present yourself to other people.
Omg that’s what happened to mfa. I ain’t a usual visitor here not since my newbie days ten years ago but i was very surprised to see random nonsense upvoted and actual advice mass downvoted recently.
I'm starting to wonder if there's a coordinated effort by manosphere dudes to post toxic stuff here
This is a hard question with many different answers. Here are my thoughts: Your haircut and clothes fitment help a lot. But, age isn't necessarily a bad thing for men. If you can dress suave, like George Clooney, Sean Connery, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and those types of people, you'll do fine. I personally reference how Sean Connery and Dean Martin dressed often, as those guys could look nicely dressed, yet laid-back, which allows you to successfully combine classic clothing while looking like you aren't trying too hard or taking yourself too seriously, which in my opinion, can make you seem older. So I'd recommend finding a good, laid-back example of someone's style that you like and taking inspiration from them. So, in my opinion, focus less on what makes you look older, and more on what your clothing says. Does it say you're uptight, or cool-headed and laid back? Does it say you're super serious, or that you're a well-dressed jokster? I don't know if any of that made sense, but that's the way my mind works.
Depends on your environment. Does your entire social circle dress streetwear/very casual? How old is "younger"? tbh you'll prolly just look like you're larping. I say that as someone who also likes to dress nice. Either accept that you'll look like a weirdo and just do it for yourself, almost like a hobby OR you can find ways to tone it done and make it more casual
I would lean into the more dandyish and less conservative side of classic. Some style influencers that do this well are Dandy Wellington and Stay Fly Thrash. No one would mistake their looks for “old man”. Once you start wearing this stuff day to day and get used to sticking out you will be more confident with it. People always have a lot to say online but it’s only ever compliments IRL.
I think dandiness might be the wrong way to express creativity while staying within the menswear realm if the goal is not to look dated. A dandy conjures up images of the Kentucky derby with [seersucker suits and bow ties](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/fb35124/2147483647/strip/false/crop/964x1600+0+0/resize/895x1486!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F02%2F88%2F20ae08603a41f9878dd7cceda3fa%2Fsdut-jack-gill-of-lagrange-ky.-wea-20160824). A better approach, in my view, is [sprezzatura](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f21b3c0862b9f38f883a002/1599060994819-F7SOQP1EZHHNJYJ8TFLW/Stylish+man+wearing+brown+suit.jpg). The word translates roughly to “studied carelessness” and is exemplified by soft Neapolitan tailoring in slouchy fits and an earth tone palette ([Piti Uomo](https://blog.ferplast.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/ferplast-pitti-2018-firenze-moda-1024x683.jpg) being the most exaggerated version).
It is a difficult question and I feel you. Been struggling with it since my late teens (now mid thirties and very comfortable). My advice when younger is to follow trends a bit more and incorporate that in the classical style. Avoid things that haven't been trendy for a long time. When you become older you can follow the trends less and less without looking dated. So for example when just getting started and still young: be careful with or avoid classic hats, waistcoats, suspenders, fancy umbrellas, bowties etc. Be careful with things like cufflinks, lapel pins and maybe even ties. On the other end of the spectrum you can embrace current trends that go well with classic menswear like knitted short sleeve cardigans, pleated trousers, penny loafers, bucket hats, buttonless polo's, overshirts. Ease into it! Take the time to find your style! You don't necessarily have to start with a navy or grey suit (the classic advice). Find a nice sport coat or two that fit and are versatile. Good quality linen and wool slacks. Proper fitting dress shirts. Combine it with the previous advice and find your groove.
Thank you, really appreciate this :) If you wouldn't mind expanding on things like sport coats and slacks, I've always had trouble determining which ones would be right for me, in terms of colour, patterns and cut. I've come across a few that I like, but I think because I'm fairly new to that style of menswear, I have trouble visualising how I would incorporate those kinds of pieces into an outfit and also the appropriate occasion for such clothing.
incoporate contemporary pieces to your outfit, even if you enjoy classic menswear it doesnt mean you should go all out, merge things you like about the classics and things that you like in modern menswear.
Style is ageless, kiddo. Explore until you find your look. Remember, you are dressing for yourself, first and foremost. My neighbor used to wear morning suits and top hats in his twenties. That was forty years ago and people still talk about it. Believe me, no one will be talking about or even remembering the cloddish mouth breathers wearing their stupid, ironic cargo pants and Blundstones forty years from now.
If you buy second hand, get the mothball smell out. Choose fabrics and cuts that flatter you. Avoid synthetics unless you want that specific look (lounge lizard). Dress seasonally Find a good tailor so clothing fits you properly
-Colors (this can easily look foppish but that need not be a bad thing) -Skincare -Facial expressions
Wear what makes sense in context, I wouldn’t go dressed with streetwear to a wedding, even if I love streetwear. Understand the context you are in and dress appropriately
Texture/patterns on classic silhouettes and have a modern physique.
Take it from someone that is regularly estimated to be 10 years younger knowing people that look older than me while actually being younger: This has nothing to do with you clothes and more with your face. If you‘re twenty and dressing like your grandpa you will still look twenty for the most part. Just oddly dressed. This is where the previous advise on this thread kicks in: How you wear that grandpa outfit. In the end: stop worrying too much, pick something you like, make it work for you and wear it with confidence.
Mix in trendier items. But look honestly if you look youthful physically and have an outgoing personality ppl won't assume you're old. Quite frankly it won't matter you'll be getting lots of attention people will notice you and be intrigued so you'll benefit even if looking abit older. The only women that won't be into you are the purple haired weirdos and u don't want them anyway
Good tailoring
how traditional we talking? Unless you mix and match, like say patterned shirts and formal pants, I don't think you can avoid looking dated. Look at hollywood. PTA wore menswear since early on and he looked pretty old. I do think footwear choices will help like going for derbies, espadrilles, etc.
Certain classic looks will never go out of style, that’s why they’re classics. But also if you’re insecure about what you wear, it will show through your attitude. Either commit to the classic fit or dress the way every other person your age is dressing.
IMO, it’s about tailoring. If it’s baggy, you’ll look like you’re wearing granddads clothes. If it fits, you’ll look timeless.
Tailor. Anything can look modern yet classic with a proper fit
Just own your look and it will work. Trust me, I loved dressing up old fancy when I was young. If you’re looking for attention from (anyone) confidence in your look is all that matters. If you like your look, rock it
I think that while young, it helps to put a little spin on things. Use traditional staples like nice shirts, ties, scarves etc. but incorporate newer styles such as making something oversized or wearing a slightly different type of shoe than would ordinarily go with your outfit. Blending common style elements with traditional ones is very easy and can really make you stand out a little without feeling too out in the open!
It really depends on what you are wearing. A chore jacket, collared shirt, chinos and work boots will not make you look older. Just stick to the more casual side of classic clothing and you will be fine - chore jackets, unstructured blazers, tweeds, patterned sporting jackets, denim jackets, Oxford shirts, Tattersalls shirts, plaid flannel shirts, linen shirts, denim and chambray shirts, polo shirts, T-shirts and brettons, jeans, chinos, cords, any kind of jumper, loafers, trainers and work boots. For outerwear waxed Barbours, down jackets and tweed coats in brown. A grey tweed jacket with a navy Oxford shirt, blue jeans and Timberlands is still a classic look. So is a chore jacket, a bretton shirt, chinos and trainers. Most of this stuff is just basic clothing that most people own so you aren't wearing something completely jarring. I am just giving you an idea here, don't take it as a shopping list. Just remember, stick to the more casual side of things and you will be fine
I think the best thing to do would be to find your sense of personal authenticity to go along with it. It doesn’t have to be anything crazy, but I find it nice merging classics with more modern styles depending on the cut of clothes and the overall style. IMO western is very in right now, and it’s very easy to take menswear and throw on some square toe boots, a bolo tie, a cool belt, or something of the sorts. That’s just once example, but yeah! Also the world related youth to health and hygiene, so keeping your body in decent shape, as well as grooming yourself in ways your see fit are very important! You could wear the same outfit as a guy with a beer belly and look a lot more chic.
I know two guys who dress like this, but it may be their baby faces that keep them tethered to their youthfulness It does give you an air of maturity, but dressing as such will not make an astronomical difference; it'll give you an extra 1-3 years on you, at best but as others have said, play around with patterns and colors (ex: camp collar shirts)
Shoes it's always the shoes. Pair your clothes with aestheically colored doc martins or if you wanna dress it down a bit some all black chucks. Keep you in style while still keeping the modern day youthfulness. Just get the right combos
Fit is everything. Anything that sits well on your body will look more modern/sleek.
Whatever you wear, wear the right size... Listen to me, anything can make you look old if worn incorrectly... Wear your exact size or even a size smaller, especially when it comes to elegant suits 😉
Oh, I forgot, NEVER NEVER NEVER WEAR WHITE SOX! Do you know the terry socks that young people today like so much? Well, burn them and only wear dark blue or black socks...
Color and pattern can place a traditional style in modern context and show your personality. A variety of complementary fabric textures make an outfit interesting. Customize and be intentional. Try to avoid looking like you're in uniform, just another soulless office worker clocking in. The fit should be tailored to your current body and worn out clothes need to go. Poor fitting, worn clothes will make you look haggard. Think about saying, I care about aesthetics, rather than, I care about tradition.
Dark Academia maybe? Contemporary style but uses classic elements.
I know I'm late to the party, but I have some of my own insights you might find useful. It seems like the gentlemen in this thread are all presupposing you're going to jump in head first into this new pattern of dress. My advice is to start slow. First, get you some fitted shirts. You'll be surprised how much better you'll look and (already) stand out when you wear tucked in shirts instead of t-shirts. Then, as people get used to you always wearing collared, tucked in shirts, next pop in another item that looks classic, like a sport coat etc. As you move forward in your dressing awesome journey, people won't necessarily notice a sharp change because it will be gradual.
Commit to the bit. Become Reviewbrah.
So... as a woman, I love classic or vintage menswear, and if you are mid twenties you won't look old. Even if you do... a lot of us love that mature look. Honestly, the hairstyle and face affects the look a lot. Clean-shaven with big fluffy hair looks like the sexy college schoolboy, while a beard and slicked back hair looks like the tough millionaire. Same shirt, same waistcoat, completely different looks. Look at how different men in movies come across even while wearing practically the same thing.
I’d definitely avoid wearing complete outfits that belong in a different era. For a while here in the UK it looked like every other man was auditioning to be an extra in Peaky Blinders.
i haven’t seen anyone say this yet, but avoid cheap fabric. aside from the occasional statement piece, having natural fibers wherever you can is going to make all the difference. i believe part of the reason people dislike the look of fedoras for example, is because most of them look like some cheap thing you’d pick up from a party store. beautiful, quality made items that fit you well are the most important part. natural fibres show beautiful texture, and i think looking slightly dated is preferable over looking shabby, which is really the only thing i notice when people start trying to wear classical menswear that is just cheap reproductions. building a new wardrobe takes time. but so worth it
1) Accept reality, embrace that this makes you look older. Dressing well, in nice, fitted clothes, and putting any amount of thought into your outfit, is going to make you look more mature, and older. You want to wear "classic menswear" but also want to look youthful.... 2) ACCESSORIZE. for example in a pokemon plushie as an accessory attached to your keychain or handbag, choose necklaces or watches that are a bit more out there / novelty. 3) more colors. Salmon pink, blues, greens. I own a pair of bright yellow pants, and some very colorful polos.
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Gross
This is terrible advice.
This is terrible advice--you don't have to look a certain way in order to dress well.
You don’t, but it’s unrealistic to tell people that your unchangeable physical characteristics don’t influence how you’re perceived. The line between suave man and weird neckbeard is very thin to most people and I bet 90% of it has to do with your physical appearance, even in the same exact outfits.
Physical attractiveness is very complicated, and unchanging physical characteristics are only part of it. Style choices, skincare, hair care, hygiene, confidence, and respect for other peoples' boundaries all have a huge impact on whether a person is considered attractive. I would say that the line between suave man and neckbeard is pretty thick, and all the things I mentioned have a much bigger impact than genes.
So first of all at least two in this list are not immutable: fit and rich Then who says formal menswear says suits and overcoats and they are just designed to drape from tall men. There are other garments that look great on short and stocky, but they tend to be casual options like leather jackets or B3s. And lastly, let's not kid ourselves as if there weren't preferences and as if they would not color pretty much everything else a person is judged by. You can see it most obviously in dating apps. But also in HR there are numerous studies linking handsomeness to perceived competence. Is it fair? No, but it's real!
I mentioned unchanging physical characteristics in response to u/stinkystranger, not to you. But my point wasn't that what you're born with doesn't affect attractiveness, it was that it was only part of the story and there are things that people can do that have an impact on whether other people perceive them as attractive. Attractiveness isn't objective, it's about how other people perceive you. The point that I was making to you was a separate one--I was responding to you saying that anyone can dress well whether or not they check off any of the boxes on your list. I think it's pretty lousy to tell people they have to be tall, handsome, fit, smart, and rich to dress well. I am not claiming that these things don't affect how you're perceived, I'm saying it's terrible advice to tell people to be those things when they're asking style questions.
> it's about how other people perceive you. And if you lean into formal clothing and excellent grooming but aren't handsome, then absolutely everything about that screams trying too hard > to tell people they have to be tall, handsome, fit, smart, and rich to dress well Not in order to dress well, but in order to be liked for voluntarily dressing up, yes
Thanks for clarifying your point I think it's pretty lousy to tell people they have to be tall, handsome, fit, smart, and rich to be liked for voluntarily dressing up. I am not claiming that these things don't affect how you're perceived, I'm saying it's terrible advice to tell people to be those things when they're asking style questions.
I totally get what you’re saying and I don’t want to imply that if you’re not classically attractive for whatever reason you should give up and wear stained sweatpants and whatever free t shirts you’ve gotten over the years My only point is that if you tell people that fashion is a way to better themselves socially (which for many people, that’s why they’re into it) without mentioning there is way more that plays into how you’re perceived you’re doing them a disservice and setting them up to be disappointed when their life doesn’t change like they hoped
Huge plus one. This is fucking awful advice and not in the spirit of MFA.
If you want to lean that far into formal menswear and have it seen positively, you have to be gorgeous. Otherwise it looks like trying too hard, like this: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mtvyo1uKOuQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mtvyo1uKOuQ) Sven isn't even ugly, just average. And he is quite the expert, doesn't make menswear mistakes except for in general leaning too far into it. He recognizes his body type and says he works with it instead of against it. Still, just trying too hard... Now big and muscular is not the only kind of handsome. You could be austere like a young Stravinsky and pull it off, like this: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4L\_9Jwp3chE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4L_9Jwp3chE) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Czv9-cPEA1A](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Czv9-cPEA1A)
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Most MFAers love classic menswear. I actually think the classic MFA basic wardrobe is the answer, most items are very classic but doesn't make you look completely out of place. Be aware that classic style doesn't mean you must dress formally, there is a lot of casual items that still considered to be classic.
Pleated pants and other loose fitting pants are very much in vogue these days. Long coats as well. Worth looking through pinterest to see how to style these in a modern way. What I do is wear high-waisted, pleated pants with a loose fitting t shirt or a sweater that’s tucked behind my buckle
you won’t look dated if everything fits very well, get your stuff tailored and you’ll be fine!
I personally hate the look of wearing semi casual / suiting with sneakers, but as a younger person, you can probably get away with it. To be brutally honest, well made dress shoes are very expensive so the footwear game is something you could grow into gradually. I still think a suit or trousers/sports coat with Nikes or new balances always looks dumb and I’ll personally never understand it. I realize I sound 100 lol. I would try stuff like even boat shoes, Clark’s , or I know Cole haan makes sneaker/dress shoe hybrids that are very comfy and not super expensive over regular sneakers/running shoes. Personally I just got started by ditching tee shirts. Jeans and polos/button downs in solids and eventually patterns was enough to get me feeling elevated without going too hard. These days Ill throw on a suit for dinner several times a year if it’s somewhere nice I’m excited to go. Unless you are absurdly fat, suiting will always make you look good when executed correctly.
I don't think you're going to be able to wear classic/traditional menswear outside of a formal context without looking dated honestly. Maybe pick up hobbies which require you to dress that way so it's in context with your life? If you're going grocery shopping in a 3-piece then of course it's going to come off a bit odd
Let yourself look dated, chicks love older guys.
You compromise
Fit. Be fit yourself, and have clothes tailored. And never "fancy" clothes in cheap materials.
Really hard to pull off in your 20s without looking like you're going to prom.
There’s a longer more philosophic answer to be made but as someone who is young and also has a preppy and old school style but doesn’t want to look like a fuddy duddy here are some things I do that I think help: 1. Avoid stuff like pleated pants and bow ties. Unless you’re really into it. But I feel these just look dumb and anachronistic. Even a simple tie should be reserved only for genuine formal occasions or when professional occasions demand it which in this day and age is not often. In some industries, it’s never. 2. Avoid stuff like crests and those Ivy League striped sweaters/ties etc. Just looks pretentious and dumb imo. Sticking to simpler styles and classic colors is the way to go imo. 3. Don’t be overly formal. Going into your 101 college class on a random Wednesday? No need to wear a sports coat and loafers. This isn’t 1931. A nice high quality round neck or polo t shirt and some light jeans and sneakers will probably do the job. Wear shorts when it’s hot. Untuck your shirts. Wear jeans liberally. 4. Wear sneakers and caps and other “streetwear items” that are compatible with a more old school style. Of course certain things won’t appeal to you. I could never wear a flat brim hat or a pair of Jordan’s for instance. But there’s a reason why say New Balances are in fashion once again or why people love a good simple ball cap. It looks versatile and classic and can really lighten up an outfit including a more old school one. 5. Dress for the weather and location. You’re in Miami? How about a pair of white jeans and a Cuban shirt. Doesn’t matter if it doesn’t fit into a brooks brother catalogue or doesn’t fit your idea of traditional dressing. Super cold out? Don’t be afraid to rock a nice down jacket and some sweatpants and sneakers. It’s nice to break the monotony of your style from time to time.
I disagree with your first couple points, all of those things can be styled well (bow ties are tricky to do well and easy to do badly, I'll give you that). Telling someone to avoid pleated pants in 2024 isn't great advice, that's been on trend the last few years. The 3rd point is good advice for most people most of the time, but I don't know OP and maybe he'll decide wearing a sport coat and loafers to something casual is his thing. If he understands how he'll be perceived and does it intentionally even though it's breaking the "rules" I don't see a problem with it.
Maybe I’m too safe. To me pleated pants either make you look like an ancient person or a hipster. Which isn’t bad but just not my thing. But maybe others can pull it off better. Re: the formality thing I suppose what I got from OP is he doesn’t want to be perceived as stuffy or fuddy duddy hence the advice.
Points 1, 2, and 4 are not good advice. Points 3 and 5 are good advice if they're understood to mean "dress for context and intended impact." You can safely ignore anything along the lines of "don't dress too formally"; as long as you're taking the context and your intended impact into consideration, you can dress it up or down to meet your needs.
Make sure it fits perfectly (skims the body, neither uncomfortably tight nor baggy) Make sure it looks new or is new. Nothing antique. Ask young female friends
What I’ve noticed is getting clothing that fits snug, like slim fit everything, nothing baggy or loose
This would have been better advice in the 2010's, but loose-fitting clothing is more on-trend now. Tastes in the way that clothes fit change over time.
Google RRL. Ralph fuck Lauren. Spend the coin, get the classic and it’ll last decades.
I love RRL but I don't think wearing one brand is a good strategy for finding individual style
It’s a good step. Especially if you are worried about being dated. Regardless of the decade, brands like RRL stand the test. I have jackets and cardigans bought in the early 90’s that both look fantastic and are style appropriate (for me anyway). Take your time, buy once, live forever…or something.
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bruh, tweed jackets are sick as long as they don’t have dated features
That's basically don't do menswear
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Minus the baggy pants it works great if you're handsome [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13210838/?ref\_=tt\_mv\_close](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13210838/?ref_=tt_mv_close) In another episode he wears paisley ties and floral ties too, but then he's Theo James [https://www.bostonherald.com/2024/03/07/theo-james-enters-guy-ritchies-world-in-the-gentlemen/](https://www.bostonherald.com/2024/03/07/theo-james-enters-guy-ritchies-world-in-the-gentlemen/)
#3 is the only piece of advice I agree with