A distinctive charm to men in their 40s lies in the fact that they know what they want. Well beyond their 20s and 30s, an age of self experimenting or so they say, men of such knows what style works for them. But does that mean you can’t stray once in a while and wear out those electric blue pants you bought on a whim that has been stashed at the back of your closet ever since?
We say, why not? For S/S 2012, menswear collection has been all about the perfect blend of maturity and that oh-so-elusive element of youth injection. Be it Milan, Paris, London or New York, designers are showcasing lines where any men in their 40s would be eager to get their hands on.
That is not to say without limitations. No man wants to look like they’re desperately grasping on to the handles of youth, would they? So here are some guidelines on what to avoid when you’re being adventurous with fashion in your 40s. Let’s start with hair. We sometimes reckoned it would be frustrating that hairstyles for men are very much constrained. But, unless you’re a rock star from the 80s or Fabio Lanzoni for that matter, steer clear of the long locks.
Ever since Kanye West appeared on stage with a printed buttoned up blouse from the Celine spring 2011 women’s runway show, the menswear world has been a-blazing with patterns ranging from floral to geometric to animalistic. This is evidently so in the London fashion week where designers such as James Long and Christopher Shannon has created garments with their own unique spin on prints.
Even with the high street brand, Topman which also presented at the recent London fashion week, we see a collection that is heavily inspired by a Moroccan-esque pattern with what can only be expressed as a Moroccan princes’ sleeping attire.
Prada S/S 2012 collection during Milan fashion week is also harping on the same note but this time around, the focus is on pants with a colourful burst of floral patterns.
So, note to men in their 40s, the Spring/Summer 2012 trend of wild patterns is not for you! It is still possible to have fun with prints but don’t go overboard with it, find instead pops of pattern in a garment that catches you by surprise.
Another dress code that should be avoided at all cost by men in their 40s is the short shorts, even if it is for leisure. A not to be missed trend during the Spring/Summer season of 2012 witnesses a spike in shorts with an ungodly length, well that is for a man whose body is somewhat past its prime state. That is not to say the trend isn’t a stroke of brilliance. Like with the Hardy Amies look shown right below, shorts gave a carefree vibe to the entire collection, giving an otherwise stuffy suit a fresh new twist. But, piece of advice to those of you in their 40s, please err on the side of caution when it comes to experimenting with shorts.
Shoes and accessories on the other hand are in a total entity of their own. It might be the only fashion garment that the concept of no holds barred is applicable. A man can be seen carrying around a tote from the Celine collection. The non forgiving fashion faux pas of wearing socks with sandals is even making a controversial comeback to the 2012 runways for men. That shows how much room for play there is when it comes to shoes and accessories. The key is to always keep it simple and suave.
