Over the years, a man’s wardrobe will transform along with the different stages of life he’s at. Your twenties are a time for unbridled experimentation. Anything goes, and you can pretty much get away with anything. Once you hit your thirties, things start to change.

In your thirties, you can have too many separate identities to count. You’re a career man, possibly a husband and father. Trying to blend them into a coherent style while keeping an individual identity tends to push you into one of two categories. Either you give up trying, or you blindly continue to dress as you did in your now fading youth. 

But it is possible to grow old with style. There are benefits to growing up – fashion fads don’t matter as much because you have a more defined, personal style. And you probably have more expendable cash to splurge on luxury items than you did when you were buying clothes with the small change your parents gave you for doing chores. 

Here are some tips on how to level-up your style now that you’re a proper adult.

Define Your Style

Fashions constantly change, but your style should stick. Now’s the time to end the experimentation from your 20’s and stick to something that works for you. There are no firm and fast rules for 30 something fashion, so make sure you land on a style that feels genuinely like you. You want go-to outfits that make you feel great and confident. After all, confidence is king.

Capsule Wardrobe

Say goodbye to the days of having a wardrobe of 400 items. 50% of which you haven’t touched in years. Edit your wardrobe offerings to a max of 50 items. They should be interchangeable, wearable through all seasons, and able to dress up or dress down at the drop of a hat. Cultivating the perfect capsule wardrobe will reduce the time you spend getting ready massively. And leaves you with the confidence that you look great, no matter what you wear.

Quality Not Quantity

Having fewer clothes in your arsenal means that you should be reaching for quality products. You want them to last for years to come rather than disintegrating after 5 washes. Gradually, you’ll be able to upgrade all of the clothes you wear in rotation. Quality clothes help exude an aura that you’ve got your life together. Even if you don’t.

Clothes That Fit

Unless you’re blessed with a high metabolism, your body shape has probably changed now that you’ve hit your 30’s. It’s nothing to feel bad about, but the fit of clothes will have a massive impact on how you feel in clothing. If the fit’s off, you’ll feel uncomfortable and will reach for clothes that hide rather than enhance your body. Get adequately measured and dispose of anything that just doesn’t fit. Gone are the times where you could shimmy into tight jeans and not worry about it. 
Making a trip to a tailor is an excellent idea for expensive clothing that doesn’t fit but is a waste to get rid of. It’ll breathe new life into clothes you’ve been avoiding wearing.

Custom-Made

A great tip for taking your 30 something wardrobe is to get clothes custom-made. It costs a little more but is well worth it for individual pieces that fit perfectly and look great. If you’re pushed for funds, you can get customizable clothes to really amp up the individuality aspect. Take these custom dress shirts for men as an example – they’re classic and have the option to make them your own without breaking the bank. 

Personal Shopper

If fashion isn’t your thing and you feel like your wading through a sea of nonsense, try a personal shopper. They’ll help you define your style, pick clothes that fit correctly, and can even help tailor your perfect capsule wardrobe. They aren’t always cheap, but you don’t need to use them often. And they take all the stress out of style searching for you.

Bottom Line

Dressing as a 30 something man doesn’t have to be a headache. It’s really just three key ideas to think about. A defined style, clothes that fit perfectly, and picking quality items that last. Beyond this, let your personal style guide you because what clothes you wear is a way of displaying your personality without saying a word. So embrace it.