Navigating men’s fashion in your mid-30s can be a real minefield. I’m not the sort to constantly buy clothes and keep up with fleeting trends, but I like to look stylish when I refresh my wardrobe.
The trouble is, it’s hard to find shops for men in their mid 30s. There are plenty of places to buy clothes for younger men in their late teens and 20s, but if I was to buy those clothes, I’d look like that weird guy who tells everyone he’s a rapper and skulks around student bars.
Not the image I’m going for.
So dressing casually in your mid 30s for men can be a challenge. I’m not going to recommend one shop in particular, more a general guide to what looks good in mid 30s men’s casual fashion.
How to Dress in Your 30s – Men’s Casual Fashion
Casual fashion is what you wear in your downtime. The clothes you throw on to meet your mates for a pint, go on a coffee date, or head to your mum’s for a Sunday roast. You might have your work fashion down pat, and lounge around your home in your dressing gown, but what do men in their 30s wear when they’re trying to look casual?
These are my best suggestions.
Buy Some Good Fitting Jeans
Jeans are a staple for a casual dressing in your 30s. Skinny jeans are out though. To be fair, they were never in for me, but I wouldn’t dabble in skinny jeans in your mid 30s – you need room to breathe.
Straight leg jeans are always a safe option. They don’t lean too close to the skinny trend or an outdated flare. They’re basic enough to never stand out and never be “out of fashion”.
When you wear straight leg jeans, just make sure they’re the right length. Not all shops sell different lengths of jeans so it might be worth trying them on before you buy. If you really struggle to find the best length for you, it’s best to go longer and have them altered. There’s no coming back from jeans that are too short, but you can work with jeans that are too long.
Most towns centres will have a small shop that offers alterations. They’re almost always called something like “Lisa’s stitches.” I’ve no idea why, but every town or city will have a Lisa who’s great at sewing. It usually costs between £15-£20 to have this done, which might seem silly if your jeans only cost £40, but it’s well worth it for having a decent-fitting pair of jeans. Let’s face it, you’re probably going to be wearing them for the next 10+ years anyway.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you could try a ripped or distressed style, but I prefer to play it safe with plain, straight jeans. Black, grey, or stonewash don’t seem to go out of style. Indigo jeans are fine too, but they’ll leave marks on a white couch, so proceed with caution.
Don’t Shy Away From Shorts
Dressing well always involves an element of comfort. If you’re not comfortable in your clothes, then your bid style has failed you.
It’s all well and good getting hold of some trendy jeans, but if you’re too hot to function, then it’s time to get them off. Consider investing in a more grow-up style of short. You might want to avoid those short shorts that youngsters are wearing and choose some tactical shorts for a trendy and practical look.
Get Yourself Some Comfy Trainers
Trainers have trends too, but honestly, I don’t think that many people are looking at your feet (unless you’ve gone for some of those Yeezy knock-offs). You can’t beat the classic brands link Converse, Vans, Adidas, Reebok etc. Just go for something comfy that appeals to you here.
The whole point of trainers is that you’ve got some comfy footwear on, so you don’t need to chase trends. If you’re at a loss for what to go for and they all look pretty samey to you, then I’d steer clear of bright colours. Dark colours or white trainers will never go out of style or grab attention.
When you’re looking to update your wardrobe, the last thing you want is for it to be so noticeable that everyone comments on it. It’ll just leave you feeling self-conscious about your choices.
Basic Tops are a Good Casual Choice
With your bottom-half sorted, it’s tome to dress the top. Basic tops with no logos or patterns on are good for casual occasions. Short or long-sleeved t-shirts, polo shirts and button down shirts will go well with your jeans and trainers. Neutral or dark colours don’t really clash with anything so you can make a few outfit combos if you stick to this colour palette.
There’s not a lot to say about plain tops, but if you’re feeling like you want your tops to show some personality, then choose a colour or pattern that appeals.
One piece of advice about patterns and colours is that they’re hard to mix. So if you’re wearing a loud shirt, pair it with plain jacket. Don’t add more colours or patterns to the outfit.
Layer Up On Cold Days
Layers are always in style, because feeling cold isn’t cool (see what I did there?) so don’t be afraid to layer-up. For example, you could wear a shirt with a jumper, then a casual tweed jacket over the top. Likewise, you could were a T-shirt with a hoodie then a coat on top, or shirt, hoodie and gilet combo. Just go for whatever feels natural (and not too hot).
Again, still to dark or neutral tones so that all your clothes complement each other. No one wants to spend ages planning and outfit like we’re heading to the Oscars. The best wardrobes are full of clothes than can be thrown on in the dark but look great in the light. If all your clothes go well with one-another it looks like you’ve put time and effort into your appearance, without actually having to do that.
Throw on a Hat
Wearing a hat can add a casual feel to an outfit. As a bonus, you don’t have to worry about styling your hair.
The winter months bring opportunity to wear something woolly atop your head. A teenie weenie beanie can also be a good luck.
I’d probably try to steer clear of baseball hats if you don’t normally wear them. They can be hard to pull off when you hit your 30s, so if you didn’t walk into your 30s wearing one, now probably isn’t the time to start.
Bucket hats are having a renaissance, so if it’s sunny out, you might prefer to stick one on those on your head and stop your neck from getting sunburnt.
Hopefully these tips will have given you a bit of guidance. The mani takeaway from this should be that your clothes need to fit well and if you choose dark and neutral colours, your outfits will never clash. Happy shopping!
This is a really beneficial post for us. Thank you for providing this information on your platform.