It’s rare that the spotlight shines on older fashionable men, but this Fall it seems the combination of casual looks, comfort, and authenticity are putting older men, and “older man” style, into the limelight. First came a recent article in GQ Magazine suggesting to men of all ages that “old man style” is the ticket to fashionable dressing this fall. As the article said, “dressing like a well-to-do septuagenarian” has never been cooler, and went on to recommend fuzzy cardigans, higher-waisted trousers, and comfortable shoes as the look to which men should aspire. Next came the Wall Street Journal profile of 74-year-old comedian and star of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” Larry David, whom the article described as an emerging fashion icon with his consistently worn straight-leg khakis, thin v-neck sweaters, and practical sneakers- all causing younger men to take notice of his style. Not only is he admired for his look, but he is admired because he ignores fashion trends and sticks to what works for him year after year. His authentic, “anti-style” is all the rage now among a certain fashionable set of younger men!

For those of you older men who don’t have an authentic style of your own, there is plenty of available guidance. For example, AARP recently ran an article on the importance of appearance for older men as a source of confidence. Focused on clothing, along with accessories and facial appearance, their recommendations include learning when to tuck or untuck your shirt, going for a mix of casual with more tailored clothing, and by all means, making sure you smell good and maintain good hygiene on your face and feet. GQ recently ran a piece by Jeremy Longmead, co-author of the book, Vain Glorious: A Shameless Guide For Men Who Want To Look Their Best, geared to middle-aged men. His ideas? Ditch black and head for navy blue, which is more flattering for older skin, and make sure to keep those aging, bushy eyebrows in check. (Did you know that Tom Ford makes an eyebrow gel for male eyebrows?) Moreover, this writer implores men to remember the sunscreen and make sure your wardrobe has the 2 essentials necessary for every stylish male: a well-cut navy blazer and classic white sneakers, like Jack Purcells.

Perhaps the through-line in all articles on style for older men is not to attempt to look younger. Ditch the logo t-shirts, hoodies, and skinny jeans. And don’t stay loyal to brands from your younger days that may not suit you with a changing body shape. As well, it’s important to project an image that you’ve not given up- that you still care about how you look. Like Larry David, don’t look to follow trends but rather find a look that works for you and stick with it. Moreover, If you stick to quality, then you don’t need quantity. You can just take your classic items and pair them in different ways to achieve alternate looks. Frankly, as actor Bradley Whitford, age 62 and recently named as one of People Magazines’s “sexiest men alive,” recently said, older men have it easy in contrast to older women. Somehow, older men get celebrated as getting sexier while older women are often encouraged to hide their aging. So, for you men out there, as long as you smell decent and look like you care a little, you should be fine when it comes to style!