Dressing "according to your age" is a big fashion nonsense, which is mostly women's fault. But how do men perceive fashion as they get older?
Actually, it's not surprising that people consider whether this or that outfit is right for them. The public space is literally flooded with articles with headlines like "10 things not to wear after 50" etc. As if it were really possible to compile a list of clothes unsuitable for those over a certain age. And unfortunately, similar issues affect women to a much more significant degree. "From a very young age, appearance has major social implications for women, so they feel constant pressure not only to dress for their age, but also to dress in a way that fits contemporary standards," explains fashion psychologist Shakaila Forbes-Bell. And this is exactly what the data shows.
The language of numbers is quite relentless - a survey conducted by a foreign branded footwear manufacturer clearly showed that more than half of women (57% of a sample of more than 2,000 adults) feel social pressure not only to dress but also to act in a certain way. And it is somewhat paradoxical that this pressure decreases with age - in fact, 'only' 42% of women over 55 feel it, compared to 68% of women in the 18-34 age group. Moreover, according to this survey, there are significant differences between women and men and perceptions of 'appropriate' fashion. In fact, according to the survey, men never feel - even when they are young and as they get older - that a type of clothing is not appropriate for them, as it is designed "for the young". Thus, the researchers point out that it is only women who face judgements about their fashion choices because of their age.
And which clothes are the most "problematic"? For example, ripped jeans (we mean the ones you already buy ripped...), short T-shirts (so-called crop tops) and also neon colours. In general, according to the survey, the tighter or tighter the garment is, the more problematic it is perceived to be - in many people's eyes, it's as if there is some magical age limit from which it is no longer possible to wear short skirts or tight jeans.
Age is just a number in fashion
Of course, there are a number of events that require a specific dress code, but outside of these, you can't really name a single objective reason why people (both women and men) shouldn't wear what they like and feel comfortable in (let alone condemn them for it). Everyone (again, regardless of gender) should take into account their body type and choose clothes that are flattering to the body - what is needed is accentuated on the one hand, while the rest is covered up. But it is also important to bear in mind that how clothes look on a person is closely related to self-confidence and simply the ability to wear them, which develops over the course of life. So how to be chic and trendy at any age?
The absolutely classic advice is that quality should prevail over quantity. It's clear that young people are still finding their feet in fashion too, and so their wardrobes are often literally bursting at the seams and include a variety of different styles. Staying with the age criterion, it's with age that fashion styles rub off, allowing people to invest more money in fewer carefully chosen pieces - but that certainly doesn't mean they can't be in and youthful.
Clothes really do have the power to say a lot about a person - so a key factor in the choice should be what the chosen pieces actually say outwardly about the wearer. Someone gets promoted at work and so needs more formal clothing, while another leaves a job and so can afford to be more experimental and relaxed. Clothes thus indicate a lot about a particular stage of life, including changes in relationships (it is no coincidence, for example, that women change their hairstyle and wardrobe after a break-up), but also, plain and simple, that a person feels young, regardless of what exactly their date of birth says.
When clothes smear
A decade ago, British department store Debenhams found in its customer survey that a full 89% of women desire to dress in a style that "rejuvenates" them. "You only have to look at examples of famous celebrities such as Sophia Loren or Helen Mirren and many other ladies to see that they look younger than ever. And that's because they dress according to how they feel," a spokeswoman for the chain summed up at the time. And in fact, she so succinctly captured the essence of the problem - many women would like to follow this exact rule, but there are still "whisperers" who say that this or that is simply not appropriate for "a woman of a certain age". Why do we keep writing only about women? Because even this customer survey showed that only a tiny fraction of the male population has similar fashion and age issues. Men just don't care about age in fashion. And maybe he should at least a little bit...(which is definitely not the case with Günther Krabbenhöft - see below, who is a true fashion icon even at 104 years old).
What about men?
What weighs on women leaves men rather cold. Many (not all, of course) have been so "young" all their lives, and their wardrobe corresponds to this. And this is where the stumbling block can be - while many women prefer to withhold certain pieces, men often lack that age brake. And so the streets are lined with middle-aged hipsters or forty-somethings who see no good reason to give up their high school-style streatwear. "It's one thing to incorporate sneakers into a casual-elegant outfit, but it's another to go all out in streatwear when you're around 35," says Tommy Ton, a photographer and also an expert on the evolution of men's fashion. While that may sound like something of a contradiction in terms given the above, as Ton points out, in such cases it's more about fashion "freezing" than trying to look young. But even that can be "overdone".
The LA-based stylist Ilaria Urbinati, who dresses Bradley Cooper and Bruce Willis, among others, agrees that men could at least reflect on their fashion immaturity. "There's a huge difference in looking contemporary and looking trendy. As a man gets older, he needs to conceptualise trends more simply - without the extra flamboyance around it," she explains, adding that in a sudden bout of fear of old age, store-bought leather jackets, bold necklaces and t-shirt prints won't rejuvenate a man from day to day, quite the opposite. "As a guy, you have to figure out what works on your body at the threshold of adulthood and stay true to that style," says Michael Williams, another men's style expert, adding that men who suddenly start dressing like they're at least a generation younger at a certain age have probably skipped that developmental stage.
Well, anyone (woman or man) can undoubtedly dress youthfully - and should not be seduced by general advice on what is or is not appropriate for them. But on the other hand, extremes don't bring much happiness to anyone - and trying to deny age and opt for teenage fashion on the verge of retirement is probably not quite ok. However, weighing all the arguments for and against, it's actually possible to say that if this is how one feels happy (and it really isn't just a pose and a simple effort to deny the date of birth), then why not. After all, who gave others (and that includes fashion experts and stylists) the right to judge?
