The fashion mistakes every middle-aged man needs to stop making

If our twenties are for sartorial experimentation and our thirties are about establishing a personal style, then our forties, fifties and beyond should be focused on consistency. Because nothing shouts “midlife crisis” like a middle-aged man bouncing between trends while wearing skin-tight trousers and overly stiff leather jackets.

But that doesn’t mean that dressing for middle age needs to be boring. In fact, it’s entirely possible to look stylish and unexpected – see Ryan Reynolds in his Brunello Cucinelli ensembles, David Beckham sporting Loro Piana, or Jude Law in his tailored Brioni pieces, for proof. The key is to follow a few basic ground rules. 

Don’t fall into the blazer and white shirt trap 

As you navigate middle age, finding a go-to style can be useful – but be careful not to settle for the same look as every other man. The most common offender? The blue blazer and white shirt combo. “I once went to Annabel’s and was the ONLY man not wearing a blue blazer and a white shirt,” says menswear expert and star of the The Great British Sewing Bee, Patrick Grant. “It’s dull, lads. If you want to wear a formal shirt try tan or brown, or a lightweight denim. Alternatively, go for a polo shirt, preferably one cut from fine gauge merino from John Smedley in a darker colour.”