The 50+ Guys’ Guide to Summer Fashion and Fun

Small tweaks to help you look and feel your best all season long

Lois Joy Johnson,

AARP

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En español

Published July 20, 2023

a mature man sits on driftwood and looks into the distance

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Grownup guys do not get in a sweat about summer. They grab last year’s sunscreen, their old swimsuit and a baseball cap and head for the beach with a carefree grin. No drama about weight gain, sun damage or whether their tee and shorts will look stylish at the clambake. That kind of self-confidence is awesome. But even the most cool, calm and collected man can benefit from a few healthy grooming and wardrobe tips. Here’s how to keep that positive attitude going.

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer SPF 50 Zinc Dry-Touch Face & Body Stick; Coppertone Sport Sunscreen Spray SPF 50; Hawaiian Tropic Everyday Active Sport Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50; Sun Bum SPF 30 Sunscreen Lip Balm in Coconut, Banana, Watermelon

(Left to right) Neutrogena Ultra Sheer SPF 50 Zinc Dry-Touch Face & Body Stick; Coppertone Sport Sunscreen Spray SPF 50; Hawaiian Tropic Everyday Active Sport Sunscreen Lotion SPF50; Sun Bum SPF30 Sunscreen Lip Balm in Coconut, Banana, Watermelon

CVS; Target; Walmart; Sun Bum

1. Get a grip on skin protection

Sorry, guys, but sunscreen does expire and lose potency. Toss any that seem watery, grainy or clumpy (even leftovers from last winter’s getaway) and treat your skin to a new SPF of at least 30. Apply it daily, rain or shine, sunup to sundown … right over scruff and tattoos too. For quick protection when running errands, driving or walking the dog, choose a no-residue stick such as Neutrogena Ultra Sheer SPF 50 Zinc Dry-Touch Face & Body Stick ($17, cvs.com) since UV rays go right through clouds, windshields and windows. Remember to include ears, neck and backs of hands. For swimming, sports and sweaty activities such as gardening, opt for water-resistant formulas, including Coppertone Sport Sunscreen Spray SPF 50 ($12, target.com) or Hawaiian Tropic Everyday Active Sport Sunscreen Lotion SPF50 ($11, walmart.com) and reapply every 80 minutes. Add lip protection from Sun Bum SPF30 Sunscreen Lip Balm in Coconut, Banana, Watermelon ($10, amazon.com) since our kissers are super vulnerable to burning rays and skin cancer.

Tom’s of Maine North Woods Antiperspirant & Deodorant; Every Man Jack Men’s Hydrating Sandalwood 3-in-1 Shampoo, Conditioner & Body Wash; Gold Bond No-Mess Foot Powder Spray in Fresh Scent

(Left to right) Tom’s of Maine North Woods Antiperspirant & Deodorant; Every Man Jack Men’s Hydrating Sandalwood 3-in-1 Shampoo, Conditioner & Body Wash; Gold Bond No-Mess Foot Powder Spray in Fresh Scent

Walmart; Every Man Jack; Walgreens

2. Control odor once and for all

Stinky armpits, sweaty hair and smelly feet are a turnoff no matter how great you look on the pickleball court. While you’re hitting the shower and brushing/flossing daily and washing clammy clothes between wearings, make sure you let shoes and sandals air out too. Men tend to be grooming minimalists, so the fewer products the better. Make a combo antiperspirant/deodorant such as Tom’s of Maine North Woods Antiperspirant & Deodorant ($6, walmart.com) a daily do, along with a speedy multitasking cleanser such as Every Man Jack Men’s Hydrating Sandalwood 3-in-1 Shampoo, Conditioner & Body Wash ($13, target.com) and finish by spritzing feet and all footwear insoles with a deodorizing mist such as Gold Bond No-Mess Foot Powder Spray in Fresh Scent ($12, walgreens.com). Another instant fix: After each wear, sprinkle the inside of sneakers, slip-ons and sandals with ordinary kitchen baking soda and let them sit overnight before shaking out the excess. It eliminates shoe smells the same way it does food odors in your fridge.

Phillips Norelco OneBlade 360 Face & Body Rechargeable Men’s Electric Shaver and Trimmer - QP2834/70; Tweezerman G.E.A.R. Facial Hair Scissors

(Left to right) Phillips Norelco OneBlade 360 Face & Body Rechargeable Men’s Electric Shaver and Trimmer — QP2834/70; Tweezerman G.E.A.R. Facial Hair Scissors

Target; Ulta Beauty

3. Manage your man grooming

Face and body “fur” are normal, and whether it stays or goes is a personal issue. However, if you want a hair-free back or chest when wearing a swimsuit, a one-time pro wax at a day spa can take care of that issue for the entire season. DIY types can keep stubble and beards fresh and tidy (full beards may want to go shorter for the hot and sticky months) with the Phillips Norelco OneBlade 360 Face & Body Rechargeable Men’s Electric Shaver and Trimmer — QP2834/70 ($50, target.com). Groom your nose and ear hairs at the local barber or at home with the blunt-tipped Tweezerman G.E.A.R. Facial Hair Scissors ($19, ulta.com). You can use these to trim wild and woolly brows too. Tufts sprouting from nostrils and ears tend to increase with age for many men, so keep the scissors at the ready.

Everlane The Pull-On Chino Performance Short in Trench Coat Khaki; Fair Harbor The Anchor in Cobalt, 8-Inch inseam; Bonobos Riviera Recycled Swim Trunks in Blue Surfboard Geo, 7-inch inseam; Goodfellow & Co Men’s 8’’ Everyday Pull-On Shorts in Men’s Big, Blue

(Left to right) Everlane The Pull-On Chino Performance Short in Trench Coat Khaki; Fair Harbor The Anchor in Cobalt, 8-Inch inseam; Bonobos Riviera Recycled Swim Trunks in Blue Surfboard Geo, 7-inch inseam; Goodfellow & Co Men’s 8’’ Everyday Pull-On Shorts in Men’s Big, Blue

Everlane; Fair Harbor; Bonobos; Target

4. Find your best swimsuit and shorts

No need to have the abs and leg muscles of a superhero, but the right swimsuit and shorts might make you feel like one. Banish oldies that sag, bag or droop to your knees and styles that are too short, especially when sitting. A mid-thigh-length swimsuit with a 7- or 8-inch inseam (9 inches for taller guys, so check your body and leg proportions in a mirror) and an elastic drawstring waist in solid blue or print flatters all bodies and skin tones. Check out the Bonobos Riviera Recycled Swim Trunks in Blue Surfboard Geo, 7-inch inseam ($89, bonobos.com) or Fair Harbor’s the Anchor in Cobalt, 8-Inch inseam ($68, fairharborclothing.com). FYI: Inner liners, which both suits have, are a comfort swimsuit trend that keeps all in place and reduces chafing. When it comes to shorts, go for stretch cotton styles that feature side and back pockets for phone, wallet and keys such as the Goodfellow & Co Men’s 8’’ Everyday Pull-On Shorts in Men’s Big, Blue ($25, target.com) or Everlane’s Pull-On Chino Performance Short in Trench Coat Khaki ($75, everlane.com). Both pair easily with a range of tops from tees to polos or untucked button-front shirts and footwear from slides to loafers. Choose a pair in your favorite summer neutral — gray, tan, olive, navy or beige.

J+S Premium Classic Aviator Sunglasses Polarized, 100% UV Protection in Black Frame/Gray Lens; Men’s Sunday Afternoons Brushline Bucket Hat UPF50+ in Mineral/Timber or Cream/Juniper; OOFOS OOahh Slide Sandal in Black

(Clockwise from top left) J+S Premium Classic Aviator Sunglasses Polarized, 100% UV Protection in Black Frame/Gray Lens; Men’s Sunday Afternoons Brushline Bucket Hat UPF50+ in Mineral/Timber; OOFOS OOahh Slide Sandal in Black

Amazon; L.L.Bean; Zappos

5. Upgrade the sun specs, sandals and hat

Accessories are more than add-ons, they’re essentials that amp up protection from heat and UV rays and keep you healthy. To prevent macular degeneration and skin cancer of the eye area choose sunglasses with 100 percent UV or UV400 lenses that are polarized to prevent glare, especially when driving, such as the J+S Premium Classic Aviator Sunglasses Polarized, 100% UV Protection in Black Frame/Gray Lens ($19, amazon.com). Note that aviators are lightweight, suit every face and are timelessly cool. Scrap your flimsy flip-flops (and any thought of going barefoot in locker rooms and restrooms) and choose slides such as the OOFOS OOahh Slide Sandal in Black or Slate ($60, zappos.com) with cushioned arch support and a traction sole. Finally, splurge on a sunhat with an all-around brim and UPF50 protection such as the sweat-wicking, water-resistant Men’s Sunday Afternoons Brushline Bucket Hat UPF50+ in Mineral/Timber or Cream/Juniper ($38, llbean.com) to shade ears and nape. It makes a smart alternative to a baseball cap.

Sonoma Goods for Life Men’s Rip-Stop Button Down Shirt in Dark Gray; Untuckit Cotton Short-Sleeve Mayfield Shirt in Micro Blue Floral Print; Amazon Essentials Men’s Short-Sleeve Quick-Dry UPF50 Swim Tee in Blue; Banana Republic Authentic Supima T-Shirt in Navy Blue; Gap Men Pique Polo Shirt in True Black

(Left to right) Sonoma Goods for Life Men’s Rip-Stop Button Down Shirt in Dark Gray; Untuckit Cotton Short-Sleeve Mayfield Shirt in Micro Blue Floral Print; Amazon Essentials Men’s Short-Sleeve Quick-Dry UPF50 Swim Tee in Blue; Banana Republic Authentic Supima T-Shirt in Navy Blue; Gap Men Pique Polo Shirt in True Black

Kohl's; UNTUCKit; Amazon; Banana Republic; Gap

6. Choose tops that flatter

Bare chests on beach days and clingy tees often reveal what winter clothes hide, so let me jump in with easy fashion tips. Untucked tops in black, navy and charcoal not only camouflage, but they also give manly torsos a crisper, firmer silhouette. It’s an illusion, of course — dark colors diminish, light colors highlight — but one that works. The crewneck Banana Republic Authentic Supima T-Shirt in Black or Navy Blue ($30, banana republic.gap.com) and collared Gap Men Pique Polo Shirt in True Black ($27, gap.com), which is dressier, are the most useful to own. A rash guard tee with built-in sun protection such as the Amazon Essentials Men’s Short-Sleeve Quick-Dry UPF50 Swim Tee in Blue, Charcoal or Dark Navy ($14, amazon.com) works the same way and makes body bareness a comfy situation. Short- and long-sleeve shirts (be sure to roll sleeves on the latter to reveal forearms) are another good option. In solids or prints such as the Untuckit Cotton Short-Sleeve Mayfield Shirt in Micro Blue Floral Print ($89, untuckit.com) or the Sonoma Goods for Life Men’s Rip-Stop Button Down Shirt in Dark Gray ($31, kohls.com), a button-down’s vertical line slims the torso. Unbuttoned and worn over a tee, it frames the body to optically shave inches and “love handles” off your midriff at the sides. Who says you can’t have another ice cream cone?!

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Lois Joy Johnson is a beauty and style editor who focuses on women 50 and older. She was the beauty and style editor at Ladies’ Home Journal and a founding editor of More magazine. She has written three books: The Makeup Wakeup, The Wardrobe Wakeup and The Woman's Wakeup.