Dressing "too old for your age?"

[Fink Floyd]

This question arose from a night out I had recently, where one of my (female) friends pointed someone out and said that he was dressed 'too old for his age'. I was intrigued, and asked what she meant - it seems that, in her mind, there are some clothes which appear to 'age' people. I asked if I dressed 'too old', to which the answer was 'sometimes'. The kinds of clothes that do this were not specified, though the person pointed out was wearing jeans, a shirt and a very pinstriped sports coat (though I'd wager it was part of a suit).

My curiosity aroused, I asked my father whether he'd agree with this suggestion (I'm 23, for the record) and he said that I did not, though my choice of clothes is generally conservative - fairly 'classical', as it were (though I don't mean to suggest that I dress like Beethoven). I would tend to agree with that - I wear shirts, jumpers, sports coats and so forth, but I wouldn't say that I dress stuffily or in an 'old' style.

So what are these clothes, that age people? Does such a phenomenon exist? Can an item of clothing intrinsically be said to be 'stuffy', for want of a better term, or is it the way that it's worn and the overall look the making or breaking of the garment? Are classic styles, like the ones I favour, somehow a mark of out-of-touch-ness? I don't much go for 'fashionable' clothes like River Island and Topman sell (with writing and sequins and 'US Army Issue' or some such emblazoned on everything) - surely it's not the only option for someone like me?

If you've got the latest Esquire*, there are some pages in that, which I considered in this context - there are some photos of a Bond party, for example (page 62) where people are wearing some fairly interesting clothes - there's a picture on the bottom right of the page, for example, of a black-and-white houndstooth DB evening coat. It's quite a classic style and cut and it'd certainly be eye-catching if someone like myself wore it, but would it be 'ageing'? The three-piece suit in the top right-hand corner is another - whilst I wouldn't wear a suit in that fabric, I like the style. Would I be at risk of the affliction mentioned above?

Apologies for the philosophical nature of the question, but I'd welcome your responses on this one - is there, in effect, a minimum age for dressing in the way I describe above?

* If you haven't got the Esquire issue in question, look out for it - it's well worth a read.

[Cary Grant]

I think it is in the eye of the beholder.

Personally, I find more conservative wear "aging" on many people, especially if cut in a traditionally boxy/American way.

Worst culprit in my mind is the classic American look of:

• *Cordovan shoes (especially loafers)
  *Tan khaki trousers
  *Blue blazer with brass buttons
  *White shirt
  *Rep tie

To my eye, when I see a 20 year old wearing that, I immediately think he has thinning hair and stoops.


Conversely, when I see a man my age, 40-ish, wearing casual clothes meant for 20 year olds, it often makes him look even older to my eye, especially if he has gray hair.

[Pelham]

There was a time when boys aspired to dress like men. Now, men dress like boys.

[storeynicholas]

There was a time when boys aspired to dress like men. Now, men dress like boys.

Very nicely put., if I might say so.
NJS

[alden]

I second the motion NJS. What is even of more concern is men wanting to act like boys.

Cheers

Michael Alden

[yachtie]

There's no reason that wearing tailored clothing ( or hats for that matter) should prematurely age anyone- if it's done well. A baggy, ill fitting jacket will make anyone look older.

[Jordan Marc]

Two examples, just to illustrate youth and age dressing inappropriately.
If a young man in his twenties or thirties wears a black double-breasted overcoat faced with an astrakhan collar and peak lapels, he is dressed too old for his age. That may have worked for Serge Diaghilev, the impressario of the Ballet Russe, in the London and Paris of the first quarter of the 20th Century, but a young man wearing a fur-collared Chesterfield would be gawked and laughed at by passers-by.

On the other hand, if a middle-aged man with a paunch wears jeans, a silk shirt unbuttoned to expose an unruly patch of grey chest hair, crocodile slip-ons but no socks, and yaks nonstop on his cellphone, he is not only dressed too young for his age but he's also a blithering idiot.

Dress appropriately and beautifully. Get the picture? Nuff said.

JMB

[Pelham]

Two examples, just to illustrate youth and age dressing inappropriately.
If a young man in his twenties or thirties wears a black double-breasted overcoat faced with an astrakhan collar and peak lapels, he is dressed too old for his age. That may have worked for Serge Diaghilev, the impressario of the Ballet Russe, in the London and Paris of the first quarter of the 20th Century, but a young man wearing a fur-collared Chesterfield would be gawked and laughed at by passers-by.

JMB

Only somewhat agree - I wouldn't laugh at an astrakhan collar, even if others would - but DB Chesterfields are for everyone.

[Costi]

[...]a young man wearing a fur-collared Chesterfield would be gawked and laughed at by passers-by.

And what if the above scene took place on the streets of St Petersburg in -20 deg. C, in the evening, en route to a theatre?...



The Duke of Kent (last on the left) was (only?) 34 at King George V's death, in 1936.

[pvpatty]

A young man wearing a fur-collared Chesterfield would be gawked and laughed at by passers-by.

I for one would be extremely envious of him!

[shredder]

I second the motion NJS. What is even of more concern is men wanting to act like boys.

Cheers

Michael Alden

Dress and behaviour tend to go together in many cases...

[pvpatty]

I second the motion NJS. What is even of more concern is men wanting to act like boys.

Cheers

Michael Alden

Dress and behaviour tend to go together in many cases...

I wholeheartedly believe this to be a valid point. I may just be a humble undergraduate, but I always wear trousers to university (indeed, I wear them just about every time I am not going to the beach), usually with a long sleeve shirt. In the hotter months I will occasionally wear a polo shirt or short sleeved shirt tucked into my trousers. Why? I could dress in jeans or shorts like most other people, but there are two main reasons. The first is that I often don't know who I will run into during the course of a day, or where I may end up. If I am meeting new people, or bumping into familiar faces again, I want to make a good impression. I suppose that you could consider this to be a concern relating to external factors.

The second reason is more individual, and, to an extent, a hangover from my school boy days. At school we had our day uniform for regular school days, sports uniform for sport and formal uniform for weekly assembly, award ceremonies, speech nights, etc. When I was in the Army cadets, we had our camouflage uniforms for training and bivouacs, and ceremonial uniforms for parades. As such, I was firmly indoctrinated with the principle of maintaining and appropriate standard of dress. To my mind, I must dress in a certain way to carry myself in a certain way. I simply cannot approach my university studies and my lectures as serious and sober work if not properly attired. When I leave the house with my long sleeved shirt, trousers and leather shoes on, I am in the mindset required to work effectively.

[Sator]

I recall reading a text - Victorian from memory - that said one should always dress one's children properly as they always behave better when well dressed. If only I could remember where I saw it...

I thought little of the statement at the time but it has strangely haunted me.

[jb]

While previous posters have treated the concept of dressing "too old" as being a legitimate concept, such criticism can also be a close relative of the question, "Why are you so dressed up?" Both are possibilities for anyone, at least in the US, who wears appropriate attire instead of athletic wear to almost any event. Actually, I am pretty much beyond the "dressing too old" observations...

Cheers,
Joel

[Luca]

...a close relative of the question, "Why are you so dressed up?" ...l

Indeed, a very common thing to hear, especially in the US. In the UK, the somewhat subtler equivalent is "You're looking smart..."

Depending on who's asking the former, my answer would be either something along the lines of: "Am I?" (for people I'm not in confidence with) or something like "I'm not dressed up; you're dressed down " if they are friends.