AARP Hearing Center
Men over 50 do think about their looks and clothes. They may not say so, but watch any man examining his two-day stubble or nose hairs in the mirror or deciding whether to tuck in a shirt or leave it out — and see for yourself! Tell a guy “You're so great at that!” and he quietly nods or denies it; tell him “You look great!” and he lights up like a Christmas tree. Appearance is a confidence thing, and wanting to look good for oneself and others is a healthy goal (for any gender!). Here's a spring/summer ‘21 cheat sheet for grownup guys with a sunny attitude.
AARP Membership— $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal
Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine.
1. Treat yourself to new sunglasses and glasses.
If you do one thing right now, make bold black or tortoise frames your first seasonal update. You'll wear them daily with everything from swimsuits to jeans, especially if you get frames with transitional lenses that go from clear indoors to dark outdoors. Though all get high marks for style, three hot styles are worth the splurge. Choose from topline glasses (the top of the frame is a darker color) for a subtle eye-opening lift, angular frames with a squared/rectangle shape to restore structure and definition to a softened jawline or full face, or round frames (also angular ones with rounded bottoms) to add width and dimension to a long or thin face.
2. Know when to tuck, half-tuck or untuck.
So, your diet and exercise plan hasn't kicked in yet, and it's time to shed layers. Any shirt or tee can be worn untucked to hide a belly or flabby torso ... so long as they are cut straight across at the bottom. Long, curved traditional tails don't cut it! If you don't feel neat unless your tee is tucked in, try tucking only the front (known as a half-tuck) or wear an open shirt or blazer (the latter is for dressier days or nights) over a tucked-in tee for camouflage. For a little extra coverage on the beach, try topping off your swimsuit with a tank top or rash guard over your swimsuit.
3. Try new pant-and-shirt combos fit for you.
There are two tricks to making guys 50 and older look contemporary in clothes old and new — and neither one involves a jogger pant or ripped jeans! One tip is to always mix tailored and casual sporty pieces. For example, instead of wearing chinos with a traditional button-down and loafers, pair them with an athleisure polo, a striped tee, a sweatshirt or a fancier linen shirt ... and sneakers. The second tip is to stick to body-friendly fits and not get suckered into trendy silhouettes. Take a look at any men's retail site or store, and it's filled with an expanded range of narrowly cut jeans, shirts, tees and pants that are challenging (to say the least) to mature bodies. Simply skip any pant or shirt labeled skinny, slim or tapered and head for those labeled straight, classic, loose, athletic, regular or relaxed.
More on entertainment
11 Great Grooming Habits for Guys 50 and Older
Well-kept skin, body and hair can make you look younger and feel betterShaving Subscription Services: Is There One Right for You?
Razor blades and accessories delivered right to your doorBest Swimwear for Men Over 50
The right trunks for any beach, pool or backyard outingRecommended for You