In Your 30s? Avoid These 6 Style Mistakes

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For many a man, his thirties are a time of exciting life changes; buying homes, getting career promotions, starting families, and more. While these specific examples don’t apply to every man, the fact remains that we all mature and change over time–and that means our outward appearance should reflect such a progression! To avoid looking like you’re still attached to the styles and habits of your teens and twenties, check out these six tips.

You’re a fully-fledged adult now, and there should be a certain level of maturity found within your style, one where you look youthful but also age-appropriate. Anything too young will make you look like you haven’t grown up. At the same time, just because someone expects you to dress a particular way, doesn’t mean you have to. Finding your own style that suits you, looks good on you, and makes you feel good should be your first priority. But since it’s often hard to see oneself clearly, we put together a list of ways men fall into habits that aren’t deliberately their choices, which can negatively affect the way they look at this particular age.

You can definitely tell that Raphael's style have evolved and changed overtime.
You can definitely tell that Raphael’s style have evolved and changed over time.

6 Style Mistakes 30-Somethings Should Avoid

1. Wearing the Same Outfits You Did In High School

The first style blunder is when anything in your style of repertoire is the same as it was for you in high school. It’s easy to get comfortable with certain things, but your style and look should evolve with you as you age. It’s okay to be a little bit attached, but you don’t have to keep wearing your same old track t-shirt while out running all of your errands. 

The Same Old Clothing Combinations

You’re in your 30s, so you probably don’t look like you’re in your teens anymore. Save your old clothes for painting and doing other household errands, but not for day-to-day wear. These would include those baggy straight leg jeans, graphic tees, and oversized polos and t-shirts.

Not only are they less fashionable but also does not included in classic style.
Not only are they less fashionable but also does not included in classic style.

Are you still wearing the same combinations as you were as in high school? For example, visibly layering a t-shirt with a button-down or a polo. This will add unnecessary bulk to your top half. The visible white shirt cheapens the look and is a visual distraction. Instead, buy v-neck t-shirts if you prefer the extra added layer of an undershirt.

Outdated Hairstyles

One of the worst offenders in this category is your haircut, because it’s front and center; everybody can see it. If you haven’t changed your haircut since high school, chances are it’s time for an update. It’s been more than a decade, and it’s definitely time to move on (unless you had a truly timeless haircut, and not many of us did)!

Spiky haircut doesn't look cool when you are at your 30s.
This gelled, spiky haircut may have been “in” 15 years ago, but it’s unbecoming of a man in his 30s.

One of the most common offenders we still see today is the gelled, “short and spiky” haircut. Even if your hair isn’t bleached, this is still a dead giveaway for high school hair. If you’re not sure what kind of hairstyle will look best on you, perhaps call a friend whose hairstyle you admire and go ask their opinion, or even ask if you can go and see their stylist. Also, think twice before returning to your current stylist or barber, as they’ll most likely keep giving you the same old thing.

2. Not Knowing Your Personal Style

Another mistake men make in their 30s is not finding out what their style is, or what looks good on them. This is true for men who love style and for those who find it a nuisance. If you’re frustrated with having to figure out what to wear at this age, this may be the root of the problem. You’re at least 30 years old at this point, so it’s time to figure it out.

Kyle wearing comfortably his navy suit accented with a blue & gray stripe tie and Burgundy Paisley Silk Pocket Square
Kyle wearing comfortably his navy suit accented with a blue & gray stripe tie and burgundy paisley silk pocket square.

Take some time and answer the following questions:

  • How do I want to feel when I get dressed?
  • What is important to me with regards to style?
  • What is my budget?
  • What consistently makes me feel good when I wear it?
  • What gaps in my knowledge are preventing me from the wardrobe I want?
Dressing The Man Book by Alan Flusser
It may be that expanding your menswear library will provide you with some inspiration.
  • What mistakes do I consistently make with purchasing that I later regret?
  • What gaps in my wardrobe are preventing me from the look that I want?
  • Do I struggle with too many clothing choices, or too few?
  • Do I want to do this on my own, or consult other people and other resources?

Take the answers to all these questions and write them down. It will create something like a Venn diagram that will lead you to your ideal look.

Finding out what looks good on you and what works for you is most important. This will help you become a more effective shopper where you’ll get to spend less money and be happier with what you purchase. Even if that means you develop a uniform, this is totally acceptable and is better than trying to wear every single kind of style.

3. Carrying a Backpack

Unless you’re camping, backpacks tend to make adult men look like overgrown schoolboys, no matter your age. I’m not going to argue that they’re not useful, like in times of travel, but for any sort of professional scenario, it’s time to ditch the backpack. If you’re in your 30s, your clothing and taste have hopefully changed since your college and high school days, but the backpack is a bit of a remnant of that time. On top of that, backpacks wrinkle shirts, crumple jacket shoulders, and cause your back to sweat.

The perfect example of how a backpack can ruin your look.
The perfect example of how a backpack can ruin your look.

4. Not Getting Dressed Every Day

What you wear at home should principally be about what feels good to you–but I’ve actually found value in getting dressed every day. You’re ready to go whenever you want, and it’s much easier to mentally switch out of “lounge mode.” No doubt it’s much easier to stay in your sweats all day even while running errands, but it certainly won’t make you look mature for your age.

Kyle wearing a navy jacket with white & blue dress, Moss Green Silk Wool Pocket Square from Fort Belvedere accenting against his green trouser.
Kyle wearing a navy jacket with white & blue dress shirt, and a Moss Green Silk Wool Pocket Square from Fort Belvedere accenting against his green trousers.

5. Wearing Immature Jeans

Jeans, unlike chinos or other dress pants, age much more quickly over time. The trends for distressing, details, and washes make jeans evolve more quickly. A timeless quality, therefore, is irrespective of what is going on in the current trend of jeans. But since the styles of the previous decades were far from timeless, most of the jeans from your teens and 20s are going to look dated even if you can still fit into them!

Embellished, overly faded jeans are a DON'T
Embellished, overly faded jeans are a DON’T

I admit to doing this as well, though. Some of my favorite jeans that I’ve had for many years have even ended up ripping because I kept them for too long.

6. Wearing Immature Shoes

On a similar note, casual styles of footwear can also create a juvenile effect. This can mean wearing flip-flops or sandals to places other than the beach. Like a lot of people here in the midwest tend to do sometimes, wearing dirty trainers someplace other than doing yard work. Your shoes are a key place to be able to show that your style is as mature as you are.

Sandals and Suits obviously don't go well together
Sandals and Suits obviously don’t go well together

If you like sneakers, by all means, wear them. But we’d advise getting rid of anything old and dirty, and instead choosing something clean, fresh, and a little bit more mature. Do your best to keep them clean at all times. In general, try to save any kind of sandal for the beach. To start your collection of mature shoes, you can take advantage of the style and versatility that essential dress shoes can offer.

Wingtip Cognac Antique
These Cognac Antique Wingtips from Ace Marks are a quintessentially timeless option

Conclusion

Certain decades seem to correlate with a specific set of style mistakes. Keep these in mind so you don’t commit them and risk looking sloppy. Remember to always have the right amount of maturity in your outfits to look your best in your 30s, and even beyond.

Kyle; as 30s, wearing green cable knit sweater paired with cream colored jeans and leather weave brown boot.
Kyle, comfortable in his early 30s, wearing a green cable knit sweater paired with cream-colored jeans and brown woven leather boots

What is your favorite style technique that you discovered (or leveraged) in your 30s? Share it with us in the comments!

Reader Comments

  1. Hey there , i like to say that is a nice content;however,i would like to know what about wearing an immature hat for men in their 50’s +? thanks

  2. Great article. My only wish is that the gentleman featured would wear clothes that actually fitted him properly. They are for to tight to look elegant. This is a problem I also have!!

    1. I was thinking the same thing. I would suggest as men get older that a high rise, wider legged, less ‘hugging’ trouser is the order of the day; especially on a gentlemen with a little bit of a paunch! Similarly a jacket with a little more room in it (no i don’t mean baggy) tends to look far more elegant. The stuffed chicken look is one which men need to leave behind as they age.

    2. Yes, I know what you mean especially about the pants. Kyle seems to go for a very fitted style but just from the way his pants ‘stack’ or ‘concertina’ at the knees (stacking is usually reserved for skinny jeans and even then at the hems) and do that smiley face thing around the crotch, they’re obviously a bit too tight.

  3. Love the articles, but how about styles for the over 50’s or 60’s, I to need a makeover, keep up the good work….

  4. Does that jacket of Kyle’s navy suit well fitted? I see the sleeves too shorts and at the chest there are too much space.

    1. Looks like there’s a bit of drape to the cut, and the sleeves look perfect to me. I wouldn’t change a thing, though a touch more orange in the square would be sharp. Damn fine looking ensemble.

  5. I have to say that though I am in my sixties now these basic style guides apply at all ages and levels of maturity. This is one of the best articles I have read on this subject. Thank you.

  6. I’d like to add in #7 Graphic t-shirts. With the exception of those being paid to advertise companies and/or causes (eg. Volunteers promoting charity fundraisers) they make one look like a 12 year old. Not exactly what you’re aspiring to in your 30s. Some may argue that t-shirts (outside of exercise and yardwork) are not appropriate attire for gentleman; I don’t think this is true in the 21st Century if we’re talking about as casual attire – just like I wouldn’t wear shorts and t-shirt to the office, I also wouldn’t wear a suit and tie to a picnic, grocery shopping (unless making a detour before/after an event requiring one), going to the cinema, walking the dog etc. I’d argue that a fitted t-shirt in a solid colour or even patterns like stripes for the above examples is perfectly acceptable.

    1. Agreed, mostly. Plain t-shirts in reserved colors can play a limited role in a gent’s wardrobe, though I typically wear a polo (or I guess you’d call it a tennis/golf shirt) instead of a t-shirt outside of exercising or doing summer yardwork. It’s my bottom rung “going out in public” shirt, as it does still have a collar. I do have some old novelty/graphic tees laying around that I use for getting messy and doing squats, because they’re expendable. If a nail rips a hole in it or the knurling on my barbell tears it up, I don’t shed a single tear.

      But yes, plain t-shirts can play an important role in a gent’s wardrobe. They’re certainly a good choice for under crewneck sweaters, if nothing else, especially if you are likely to be taking the sweater off for any reason. They also have use for exercising. I would avoid white ones (with their underwear connotation) and possibly black ones, but that’s just me.

      1. Fair enough – most readers of Gentleman’s Gazette would argue that polo shirts should be (as you’ve worded it) bottom rung ‘going out in public shirt’ because it has a collar whereas t-shirts don’t. For casual occasions (apart from exercise and yardwork) I’ve listed above, I don’t see an issue with aforementioned fitted solid colour t-shirts. In fact I’ve seen casual outfits where they look even like in the link below. I know NLG seems to be intended for younger gentlemen (hence the term ‘next level’) and focuses more on 21st Century than more classic menswear but I find some of his ideas for casual attire (I’m the same age as Kyle) helpful and have adopted some of them myself: https://nextlevelgents.com/how-to-wear-green-pants/

        1. After some of the things I’ve seen in shopping centres and public transport alone, quite possibly

  7. Please please please
    dont
    This hurts me
    Youre virgins. dont give advice
    you know nothing
    Im so so sorry
    Im so sorry
    i never wanted to tell you
    i cant stand to see you cry
    but no please god no WHY

    STOP THINKING THESE THOUGHTS YOURE IN A BASEMENT NO ONE WANTS YOUR COCK YOU ARENT GENTLE AND YOU ARENT A MAN
    AND THIS IS NOT A GAZETTE

    KYLE IS 29
    AND LOVES FILA MOST OF ALL

    please stop and go back to bed

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