STYLE RULES TO IGNORE AS WE AGE | GROWING OLDER WITH ELEGANCE 

The best part about getting older is that I am rid of the shackles of conformity

At the age of 73 I have discovered there are not many things I can be "BEST" at but because the bar has been set so low here in the States with very little sartorial effort I am always be the "Best" dressed man in the room. Keep spreading the sartorial word.

- As I sit here in my easy chair smoking my pipe in my slippers and evening jacket I am feeling compelled to go online and order some neon colored Nike’s. Thanks Ash.

I’m only 27 but I’m happy to have settled with such a timeless style. Friends of mine are always shocked at how much I spend on suits, shoes, etc. but I know that I’ll be wearing the same clothes in 20 year’s time. It’s also a nice feeling being the best dressed man in the room!

Hey Ash, I as a 61 year old Yank, I see you wearing a wax jacket and wellies and say to your younger followers to proudly wear the best quality you can afford. You can never go wrong with the classics.

I'm 58. I've been wearing a cardigan (when appropriate) for about 50 years. A quality cardigan is a worthwhile addition to the wardrobe: try wearing it as an indoor jacket, accompanied by a quality shirt and possibly a cravat.

Your son looks like a happy lad. Congrats on a job well done. As a parent i know it takes a lot off dedication from the parents.

The move from wearing what you have to wear to wearing what you WANT to wear is liberating. And, yes, I have learned the rules and abided by them, and now I break them like an artist.

I always look forward to your advice videos Ash. My pet peeve is wearing a shirt, siut and tie in plain block colour. My rule is 'make sure there's a patern in one of your garments. A plain tie with a subtle check shirt. A plain shirt and tie with a dark grey glen check jacket etc. A common error for men is, even though the outfit is of high quality, wearing all items in plain block colours turns an interesting outfit into a boring one.

Good advice all around. Though I would add one more thing, given I have almost a decade on you. I recently purchased a pair of Red Wing Iron Ranger boots. They are fairly priced, and not anywhere near as expensive as many of my dress boots, but still hundreds of dollars. These are the kind of boot that will last a lifetime with proper care and sole replacement. These are notoriously difficult to break in, but like all shoes with a thick veg-tanned leather insole and cork filling, they eventually fit like a second skin. It would be great, I think, to have such a pair of boots for old age. Well cared for but with plenty of use, they may remind us of ourselves, and we can have that regular joy of sliding our feet into such a pair. Turning 64 this summer I realized that if I want a well-worn pair of old boots for my old age, I better get them now. And this is the lesson: Memento Mori. Remember we will die. If there is something you want that will take time to enjoy, get it.

Ha! Last night I had the pleasure of going to a Gong gig in the Patti Pavilion Swansea, I wore a New & Lingwood floral shirt made out of some posh Italian cotton/weave, Orvis navy cardigan, Gieves & Hawkes blue cords and a pair of Timberland bench made 1900s inspired goodyear welted thick leather boots (a bit like robust chukka boots)... not your injection moulded yellow things! My wife suggested I might be a bit too tame! She was wrong, there were attendees wearing suits, tweeds and ladies in long dresses. One chap had a fur hat and a stunning Prussian/Russian? great coat! A fabulous night.... and a lovely smell in the air.

I can totally relate to this - I'm a middle aged man, I'm going to dress however I like! Especially now that I have more money and knowledge of style. Why would I dress boring - I actually did that for most of my youth.

In many ways I identify with this video but for completely different reasons. I turned 38 a few months ago and now I'm experiencing classic men's style. Been at the same well-paying blue collar job since I was 22. Live in a rural part of America where being well dressed is very out of social norms (must be going to a wedding, funeral or court). I would buy quality classic pieces but never really wore them out as I'm really more of a homebody. Roughly two years ago I finally got promoted to a manager role and my own office. I took that as my signal to finally wear all those clothes I've essentially just been collecting. Didn't really go over well the first few weeks but overtime was accepted by my coworkers. I've finally got what me and my friends always joked about as my retirement job where I get to dress up to go to work every day in an air-conditioned office. Anyway, I wrote all that to give context to this... The line you repeated a few times "an old man in a cardigan." Made me laugh because this winter I found two woolen "Harley of Scotland" cardigans on Ebay that have fast become a favorite of mine to wear.

Excellent video, as usual. I agree 100% with you about shoes. I never liked and never owned black Oxfords, I always loved brown and burgundy shoes, if they have some pattern (semi-brogue) even better. Regarding the two-tone shoes, which I believe are called "spectators", I love them but I never could get them in Argentina. They certainly make you look quite dashing. While I despise jeans, I like chinos and corduroy trousers. I will be 65 in May and never paid attention to what one is supposed to wear. I believe I was always quite old-fashioned because, for example, I loved to wear ascots or cravats since I was 15 and never paid attention to the fools who laughed at me for being so "old-fashioned". One of the main attributes of an elegant man or a woman is to be above fashion and its silly fads. An elegant man or a woman does not care for the opinion of others but follows his/her instinct and dress accordingly. I wish you and all the readers a nice weekend.

It's so interesting, we're about the same age Ash, and to think that not that long ago, there was Madchester, the raves, and a series of all other things from our youth. Love the channel, it's just that it shows just how brief we really are here on this pebble. Greetings from NYC!

I like purple for a blazer or sports jacket!

I use a tie as belt ! Ideal for playing the Banjo And Guitar .Note, this goes back to the 1930s!

I like colours. I like yellow, blue, red black, green, orange, taupe, purple brown, indigo, violet. I've got a T shirt collection in all the colours of the rainbow. I contrast or match with conservative trousers and cover (jumper, cardigan, fleece). Good shoes and a coat.

Happy Birthday Ash! You look and dress good for a gentleman your age. I will be 60 years old this year, and I am starting to look and wear clothes fitting to a man my age. I am going to start wearing camp (Hawaiian) shirts, chinos, and casual boots and shoes. For a few years now I have been wearing white sneakers (low cut) and I am going to wear polo shirts this summer. I do like to wear baseball jerseys at times, especially if I go to a baseball game. Besides my ball caps , I am also wearing casual hats . Keep up the good work my friend. Stay Dapper!!

I live in a little Cali surf town so our styles are vastly different, but I like your videos and find them relaxing. Cheers

Another great video, really like the outdoors and the fire. Kudos!

I will just be glad when I can put the raincoats and heavy jumpers away for a while. I do love my trenchcoats, but lately they have become almost a uniform. I want to be using my sports jackets and nice shirts again! Hopefully there might even be a day when it's sunny and warm enough to wear a Panama in the next decade...

Right on the money with this one chap I'm 68 and have blazers and sports jackets I bought over 20 years ago that always get nods. Keep it up Ash love from Kwekwe Zimbabwe

These are wonderful tips, Ash! In situations that are less formal, I often like to wear a smart blazer (tweed in cooler months), with a smart button-down shirt, stylish shoes, and nice jeans. I'll wear my shirt unbuttoned at the top if I wish to be less formal, though I'll often add a colourful silk tie or ascot and matching pocket square. And incidentally, I've also found this type of dress to be pleasing enough to women that I will often receive compliments on my fashion sense. Frankly, this is not the result I was expecting (or attempting to solicit), but I'd be lying if I were to say I don't enjoy it. I must say, though, that I do really like your idea of trying a bow tie. I haven't worn bow ties since I was a young boy but have always really liked them; they'd just fallen off my radar, as it were. And incidentally, I'm now in my 60s. Even so, I've never been the kind of guy who would dream of wearing a cardigan! That said, even since I was a boy, I've very much enjoyed traditional styling. So I do dress on the more traditional side in the 'structural' sense, perhaps. But my way of spiing that up is to go for colourful accents, as long as it's not something I'd find jarring or distracting. Great stuff as always, cheers!

Love the tips

Im 66 almost 67 and 7-8 yrs retired. Today I went out in a black collared shirt, unbuttoned with the sleeves rolled, over a white T, an old pair of olive chinos, some brown saddle oxfords from the thrift store, sunglasses, & topped off with a cheap white cotton Trilby. I looked pretty darn sharp IMO. The best dressed man in Walmart at least, lol.

Winderful! Many Thanks! 👍👍👍

I’ve found that the older I get, the more “preservative“ rather than conservative I’ve become. I collect signature pieces (many from the Chaps Guide) that will outlast the current trends and preserve my reputation for being classically and elegantly outfitted. Of course, I like a little bit of an edge…I personally find elements of non-conformity mixed with sartorial elegance to suit me best.

Enjoyed your video, I agree 100%, I think the same pointers can also be used for someone in their 60s also,

I will be 54 next month and retired last year. I no longer care what people think and wear what I want, it's truly liberating!

I love a little Sprezzatura Ash. For our Mediterranean summers, I live in a Panama hat except I wear a hat by Akubra called a Balmoral. They look great and are strong enough for everyday use. Best of all, they go well with all types of dress.

Great advice & even better to see the veterans’ lapel pin!

Michael Portillo is my sartorial guide, his love of pastel coloured jackets is inspirational

So you turn 54 and now your throwing caution to the wind. Ha! Actually good points all the around. Regarding hats: Where I live If you aren't wearing a baseball/trucker hat or a cowboy hat you get a second look from some folks. I normally wear a flat cap.

Well said, and happy soon-to-be birthday, Ash! I recently turned 40 and for the past few years I always imagined getting an Explorer 36 to celebrate the milestone birthday, imagining that the understated design and size would fit well with the more mature style and attitude I would surely adopt as I aged. However, as my birthday grew nearer, I realized that I didn't want my 40th to be about 'maturing', but instead about renaissance! So when the time came, I opted for the Explorer II "polar", which, in my opinion, is Rolex's most 'sprezzatura' sports watch. Thanks for the content!

My style icon remains robert shaw in jaws. Pretty positive you can keep dressing like that till you’re 90.

Hi Ash, That was a novel idea having a real fire burning away in front of you. So pleasant to watch the flames leaping around as you spoke.

Good morning Ash, So many good tips and ideas, glad I seem to be on the right path and thank you for continuing to give us inspiration. I did a double-take at 5:38 - I have that exact Schoffel tweed jacket, it's on sale at the moment too. I don't quite look like the fellow on the photo though, perhaps if he shaved his head and was trapped in a fast food restaurant for a month or two he'd resemble me a little more! 😆 Kind regards, Rob

I bought the same coat at 79!!! Its great coat indeed

Congrats for your birthday then. All the best! 🤵

I totally agree with your findings. Sadly, I have 66 year old neighbour who tries desperately to make myself look considerable younger. Bright orange Trainers with a football strip and looks at young ladies in a very disrespectful way, drink larger in our local from the bottle. In short it isn't a good look. I'm 68 years old and have only been married 5 years, and I've always dressed appropriately. My Tricker shoes { always polished } were the first thing my Wife noticed, and the rest is history. Thank you for your video's. Kind regards

I agree wholeheartedly, Ash, with what you say here about personal style at mid-life, and expressing one's personality through colour, pattern, and texture in clothing choices. Plain black, or grey, or navy, suggest dull uniformity to me, or the attire of accountants or funeral directors, and I love to wear colourful patterned ties, colourful shirts, and colourful pocket squares. Personally, I feel that wearing a hat is an excellent way to improve one's sartorial style. Tweed flat caps in the spring or fall provide both colour and texture, a fedora or trilby instantly elevate the look of a sport jacket or suit year-round, and a Panama hat completes the look of any hot weather ensemble in the summer.

Seventy next week and i still love my fashion, wear whatever you like and feel comfortable in, there's no rules and dare to be different and stand out from the crowd

Good morning, Ash. On Patreon, you replied to one of my question suggestions by saying it'd be answered the following week, but this was a few weeks ago. I hope I didn't miss it, mate. I've been keeping a sharp eye out, but to no avail.

It is kind of funny, although in my personal life I have always "dressed up" more so then others. Ive always had my own flair to my style. Mostly a "country western" touch. Business life ive worn a uniform (corrections) most of my adult life. For that it was to the tee. With the exception of a Canadian flag patch id wear. 😉 As always great video!! Cheers 🤠🥃

Hello Ash. Thank you! While I'm turning 74 this year, when I look at the world around me, I look at it like I'm still in my 40s ( with some exceptions). I know that I am past my mid life due date and have entered the Autum of my life. Just bought two Aran cardigans, one shaw collar and one no collar, to enter my "Tweed and Cardigan" life, one week before this video( going to keep them ). I am reminded of a line in Desiderata "... Take kindly the counselof the years,gracefully surrendering the things of youth." I think I may go kicking and screaming, in a dignified sort of way. Ash, when I have watched your videos,it's been like I was listening to a mate. Now it's more like I'm listening to a son who has been on a journey and is shareing his experience with me. Thank you so very much.

You mentioned the cap toe oxford as a fine shoe but without much soul.... I find my shoes have plenty of sole... 🙂

About 30 years ago, I began wearing bow ties exclusively, but for an added practical reason. I would invariably ruin one to two nice silk ties per year by getting food stains on them. After dry cleaning, the ties lose their suppleness and body due to the very nature of the dry cleaning process. Since then I have not ruined a tie. Also, when possible, I will look for the diamond shaped bow tie rather than the standard flat edge. One is suppose to tie one's now tie just a smidge imperfectly to show that it was actually tied by you, and not "pre-tied". But tying even a slightly imperfect bow tie is as difficult as tying a perfect one. The diamond edges allow for more imperfection , especially if one is in a hurry. Just my 2-cents.

Well, I'm 55, and I've become somewhat less conservative as I've aged. My suits are still black navy and charcoal, but I've embraced more colorful accents with my ties, pocket squares, and, depending on the occasion, waistcoats. I've always liked purple but never had the daring to wear it. My gateway was my first purple paisley tie 😊. The picture you showed with the slim fit suit and sneakers was terrbile, but it also displayed a major pet peeve of mine. To me, bare ankles with a suit or dress pants is a ridiculous trend. It has gone too far, and people are so brainwashed that I see them running around in the dead of Canadian winters at minus 20c, with bare ankles 😖.

As a blue collar man turning 50 this year, I find it's just as funny at this age as any other age, how much people's opinion and estimations of you come from how you dress. To and from my job, in my work clothes, I get a completely different reception from 90% of people I encounter than I do when I'm dressed in after work clothing. What I say or do and how I say or do everything changes very little if at all. But my clothing casts a different spell. This doesn't mean an expensive wardrobe. But it is very much the style of wardrobe. I have some extremely cheap clothing in the style of expensive clothing. My perfume is definitely expensive whilst my shirt and jacket may have cone from an opshop or cheap men's fashion outlet. Choose the right look. I'll always be me, and people will always be people. The world will keep in turning.

'.....curating the right collections......'

Only 54? Boy, you must have led a hard life! At 30, I was dressing like an old man. Now I'm 10 years your senior, I still dress like an old man, but it just fits better. Quality, quality, quality. How right you are. I have pieces I'll enjoy till I die, then someone else will. I like most of your suggestions, but I'll be charitable in supposing that picture of the octogenarian in pea green jacket plus tartan green shorts and golfing socks was just your little joke... And may I humbly proffer the advice that only one piece of patterned silk should be worn. Cravat is fine, but ditch the pocket square. Or vice versa. The French created the saying 'de trop' for good reason - there is a fine dividing line between a well dressed man and a fop.

I am 56 and shop at END clothing and Walker Slater. That is sufficient to keep me looking young, breaking the old man fashion rules, and remaining stylish.

Probably my favourite article. I shall be 57 in April😊

I've followed you for a bit now. I was surprised to hear you say you would wear jeans. I think in the past you said you had grown out of jeans and would go to chinos as an alternative. Do I remember that correctly? Having had a little fun there I do agree as we age looking good by standing out a little more than you younger colleges is a sign of confidence in yourself. Ash thanks for another good video!

It’s all in the head ! I take absolutely no notice of what others wear. The more eccentric I can dress the better ! Bah 🐑 !

[Producer Michael has entered the chat]

I need to try the bow tie.

Cheers Ash!👋 Congrats on your 54th birthday!🎉I appreciate and resonate with your message of dressing and living well!👍I especially like the Sprezzatura reference and Curating your own Wardrobe!🎩👔👞 Keep up the good work👍 and stay dapper and stylish! Ciao👋and Cheers!👍

Thanks!

Great advice Ash. Although not sure I would go as far as the florescent green gent 😂. I have more Broge shoes and boots now. And I think they are much more comfortable than trainers. Big white trainers especially with Velcro are a different sign of a man in his dotage. Cheers Ron

As a gentleman of a certain vintage, I find I'm most comfy wearing my ensemble of old army greatcoat, black cardboard trilby and exploding boots.

Good one.✅👍

Interesting video Ash. I am a few years older than you but, since I became responsible for clothing myself, I have always put the emphasis on value for money. I have always bought the best I could afford, but on a tight budget, so sometimes quality took second place to VFM. Now I have an amount of disposable that I have never had before, but I find my habit of frugality hard to break. Anyway, thought 1; what has happened to all the mid-price men's clothing/accessories? It's now either dirt-cheap junk or high-end with the commensurate price tag ... and I find that cost is not always an indicator of quality. And thought 2; What is old? Male life expectancy in GB in the 1950's was about 65 years, so the image of an old man in slippers and a cardigan would have been maybe about the age of 55-60. Currently male life expectancy in the UK is about 80 years, so cardigan and slippers would appear at maybe 70-75 years. Happy birthday Ash, at 54 you're still a youngster, LOL!

The biggest thing for me as I get older is to wear clothes that fit. As for white trainers i only wear sporty white trainers ie adidas stan smiths. I've worn theses since i was a lad and I'm not about to change. I wouldn't wear white trainers with a suit but i would wear it with a casual light weight blazer and jeans. Great and interesting video as always.

Video 3 Chilly morning by the fire pit, excellent. I'm now a week into being 55 not changing my style based on age. I do not live or work in a corporate world I was, last weekend, in "green". Im my position, there are expectations of attire. That said I donned trousers, Tattersall shirt and a Tank top. The tank top was from the Tank Museum, decorated with silhouettes of Tanks. A visual pun that caused a lot of discussion and several people expressed an intention to purchase one too 😂. Mix and match? I have oft teamed my green HT jacket with a pair of jeans but never just a T-shirt thereunder. Bowties, i have commented on that video. Hats, commented elsewhere. I don't own any baseball caps. Footwear, my current daily go-to is a pair of Indiana Jones replica boots. Smart, take a good shine and very comfortable. Quality, when we were younger, i don't think we were bothered. We bought fashion and to be part of the crowd, especially in the military. All that notwithstanding, I sit here today in shades of beige... 🫡

Where I live (a village) a few sads dress in what they must have been sold as 'country style': olive green, brown, waxed (you know what I mean) - though they themselves never do anything by way of country pursuits! Meanwhile, the real country folks - farmers in particular - just wear anything they have to hand - no ensembles, no matching, no style.

Hi Ash great video and advice. I think small changes are the key here. Doing too much too soon might look like a mid life crisis!

Colour by Numbers

I was okay with casual dress code at work but things really declined when blue jeans were allowed. Always wore my chinos and button down shirts. Miss that now being retired.

My father always had a neck tie on, never seen with an open collar, no neck tie… cravat instead with a sport jacket. Men used to dress like this. We should do the same.

Great outfit in this video! The waxed jacket has great depth in texture and colour. It's practical and effortless. I think work wear looks good on men of all ages.

I'm 63 now. I have come to the realization that, if I buy quality items, especially footwear, and take care of them, they could very well last the rest of my life. Thus, if I am not constantly replacing items with the basic, classic items, I have a little more to spend on playful items.

I’m 59. I , at times, wear a kilt…in Sweden. On the other hand i have done so for decades ( i have interests connected to Scotland, and ancestry, though the interests came before i was aware of the ancestry ). Tartan, can’t get more pattern than that. 😄

'Bow ties strike fear into the younger man.'

👍

That is a tough one, stylewise. For instance I thought about wearing my favourite clothes which I wore as a young lad ( I am 47 now). But as I own two companies and am a Businessman, I want to be taken seriously and stick to my uniform (semi formal, IT style w/ white shirt, Jeans or Chinos and Sneakers, Silicon Valley emulation, so to speak. The exact outfit which will cause Ash to block my account) Yes, one could sport a different style in private life. But for me, I do not want to differentiate between business and private life. So: because of society, I try to make sure I am seen as the Businessman who I am instead of wearing the Andrew Eldritch Leather Jacket and Bikerboots. Is it clever? Sure. Is it really clever? 😂

ASH you are looking good on it remember age is only an number.

When I became a Grandfather… I stopped caring about what I looked like… when I became a Father I couldn’t afford fashionable clothing… If I’m not at work or on a work related issue… it’s Comfy Shorts, vest, Tommy Bahama’s shirt, Gilet and flat cap… 365 days a year 🍺👍🏻🇮🇪

Back in the nineties I used to see a lot of foreighners wear an althletic suit with leather soled slippers and as a young man back then this appeared quite distasteful/ tacky………… until I tried it. It would be wrong to mix a polished captoe oxford in this endeavor but a taste loafer certainly blends well and is very comfortable.

Can we discuss fragrance?

My love of hats, seemed to be in direct coloration of my hairline

Ash, have you created a video on waistcoat style? As a larger man, I believe they would be an excellent way to develop my style while managing my torso. Which materials, colors, and patterns would you recommend?

It all needs to be done with class. As an older man one does not need to dress so uniform as if they are in the office everyday, but at the same time you don't want to dress so wild that it makes you look like you have an old age mental affliction (Google Canada's Don Cherry). You want to start showing your own style, perhaps showing your interests as well. Do you like the classic English country huntsman look? The professor look? A boating look? A high class man about town look? Whatever it is, do it with more class and less cartoon.

The oldest roosters wear the loudest colors… there I said it in seven words and you.. well it went on and on and on

Fashion...conformity...is fear driven. Not giving a stuff what strangers think about your clothes etc is a lesson to be learned as early in life as possible.

Happy belated birthday Ash, Embrace Colour !, indeed sir, indeed. Did you pick up a Rolex Daydate wristwatch yet? Regards, Starlight

I really like your jacket. What brand is it, and can one get it in the US?

While I agree with what you are saying, when it comes to sprezzatura, no matter how much you study your carelessness, you are either born with it or not.

- You mentioned the Italian talent to embrace colours and break conventions. but you cant have it all. Your appearence might make you look younger, but you might loose seriosity, status. Still some arrangements worth trying .- Your current outfit! great! 100% british! timeless (dont make you old, but clear statement of a man with style. but also practical with love for nature.

"There's not much sole in the black captoe oxford". 😉

That green / tan shoe is very nice. Can you tell me the name/brand? Thank you.

Best part of getting old is ......retirement is u can tell everyone to f..k off cause u don't care ........

I was called "retro Man" by a 20 something girl. I still wear my 501 Levis. I refuse to wear skin tight ankle pants and no socks. It looks so GAY.

I have to admit, bow ties and cravats scare me, also pink.

When I was growing up the generation that had been roughly around WW1 were the old people. They might have looked a little old fashioned and stodgy but at least they didnt look like clowns which is what the WW2 generation dresses like now,especially here in Florida.

Ash’ is burnt wood 😊

I never fit into any of my dad's cloths or shoes. When he passed I donated them. I never liked his blazer's anyway. Years ago, there was a Church's Shoes in Chicago on Wabash. I used to stop in and chat and look at all of their offerings. I acquired quite a few. That was over twenty years ago before Prada. I recently donated three of them. Two black cap toe oxfords which as a wedding photographer I wore to the weddings, including my own. One that I also donated was a brown wingtip. It developed cracks amongst the creases. I never realized the importance of hydrating the leather. I wore them in all kinds of weather in Chicagland. I thought perforated wingtips were made for walking thru the wet moors. Suffice it to say, I got my wear out of all three. I currently I have five pair of Church's purchased over twenty years ago. They are in tan and brown. All in excellent condition. I dont really need black shoes for anything anymore. I have seen brown being worn with navy trousers now. All is good. I also have White Buck's wingtips by Church's. A little chalk bag keeps them looking fresh.

Nice video, but when it comes to 'vibrancy' there is a fine line between positively experimental and looking like a parrot. Have seen that very often now over here among 50-60 year-olds who want to look 'fresh'...😅

British women are being denied seeing British men dressing up.Its now time for change Boys❤