Middle-aged man, I want update image/clothing, where do I start?.

[Doubledown]

My clothing is a ragtag of charity shop stuff, got too many rubbish T-shirts and slightly out of fashion trousers. I wear leather trainers which are very shabby.

I'm a sort of hippie/ex-raver, I don't like to look totally square. Basically I just look a bit down at heel.

I know little about buying clothes new, can I just walk into Primark and get kitted out from head to toe. Or should I go more upmarket. Thanks

 

[Pickman's model]

Where to start? Chuck out all your auld clothes.

 

[Miss-Shelf]

Where to start? Chuck out all your auld clothes.

Helpful

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Where to start? Chuck out all your auld clothes.

i think he should do the shopping first. he might get arrested...

 

[Pickman's model]

Helpful

Yeh. Needs to make space for new clothes.

 

[wayward bob]

buy a leather jacket and a sports car

 

[Pickman's model]

i think he should do the shopping first. he might get arrested...

I am glad to see you in the ranks of the überpedants

 

[ruffneck23]

My clothing is a ragtag of charity shop stuff, got too many rubbish T-shirts and slightly out of fashion trousers. I wear leather trainers which are very shabby.

I'm a sort of hippie/ex-raver, I don't like to look totally square. Basically I just look a bit down at heel.

I know little about buying clothes new, can I just walk into Primark and get kitted out from head to toe. Or should I go more upmarket. Thanks

You can get cheap hoodies and jeans /trousers in primark, in fact yes you can get completely kitted out there for about £40

 

[Fez909]

Sign up to ASOS, get their year of next day deliveries thing (£10).

Buy a shit load of stuff in various styles, sizes and fits. If you don't like it, you can send it back free (comes with postages paid, packaging etc). Take lots of pictures. Post them in here and get feedback.

Start simple. Build a basic wardrobe of staples. Lots of stuff you can combine with other stuff...plain tees, shirts etc. Pay attention to how it fits. A cheap item that fits properly will look a million times better than a statement piece that doesn't. Once you've got your sizes and style defined, then you can start moving away from the basics to your own style, knowing you're less likely to make an expensive mistake.

Good luck

 

[bimble]

Have a look at thread.com
You might not like it but you might, real people work there as stylists to help men choose clothes.

 

[Idaho]

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

Stalk EastEnder. Copy what he wears. You'll always be on trend.

 

[Fez909]

Have a look at thread.com
You might not like it but you might, real people work there as stylists to help men choose clothes.

This is a good shout, too.

I signed up for it and it showed me lots of pics of different styles and asked me to rate them. Then I told them what items I already had and they pick suggestions for you that match your chosen styles and your price range.

Unfortunately, most of the stuff they sent me the only time I used it was a bit weird...fit was off, clothes looked better online, etc. Not terrible, but I've never used them since. And they spam me constantly.

 

[bimble]

This is a good shout, too.

I signed up for it and it showed me lots of pics of different styles and asked me to rate them. Then I told them what items I already had and they pick suggestions for you that match your chosen styles and your price range.

Unfortunately, most of the stuff they sent me the only time I used it was a bit weird...fit was off, clothes looked better online, etc. Not terrible, but I've never used them since. And they spam me constantly.

They'd be very sad to hear that. Very full on with their marketing it's true, trendy startup style, but theres people working there who sincerely want to help folk like the OP, he's pretty much exactly their target customer.

 

[lazythursday]

This is a good shout, too.

I signed up for it and it showed me lots of pics of different styles and asked me to rate them. Then I told them what items I already had and they pick suggestions for you that match your chosen styles and your price range.

Unfortunately, most of the stuff they sent me the only time I used it was a bit weird...fit was off, clothes looked better online, etc. Not terrible, but I've never used them since. And they spam me constantly.

I think the recommendation engine thing in Thread (I assume it's not really a real stylist picking things...) is a bit shit. But I you can ignore the recommendations and just browse for clothes, and I quite like it as a site to buy stuff from. Firstly because it doesn't have an overwhelming amount of stock/choice like some other sites, and because it's really easy to order a load of clothes, try them on and send most of them back. As long as you have got the spare money for the initial outlay while you wait for the returns process it's a nice easy way of buying clothes and avoids the horror of an actual shop. I loathed buying clothes as a twentysomething and you feel even more ridiculous as a middle aged man trying to find the clothes that you won't look a dick in while haughty shop assistants give you mean looks.

 

[Poot]

I suppose the first step is to figure out what you like. Maybe look around at other people or browse online until you think 'I want one of those!'

 

[twentythreedom]

Some department stores etc do a 'personal dresser' thing where you can get advice and suggestions for what to wear, and try loads of clothes on to find out what works for you. Doesn't cost anything.

Or have a good look around online for styles / looks you like then go to eg TK Maxx and buy clothes there.

 

[Teaboy]

Middle aged you say?

Chinos!

 

[IC3D]

I've been mostly wearing lidl knock-off Birkenstocks and Happy Socks lately.

 

[kabbes]

I like the sound of this thread.com business. I'm terrified by the whole concept of shopping for clothes but I really do need to update my look, which is still grounded c. 1998.

 

[bi0boy]

This is me. I mostly wear hoodies.

Anyway today I went to M&S and bought a casual linen shirt, which I think is like those shirts you wear with suits, only you don't have to tuck it in.

 

[pseudonarcissus]

This is me. I mostly wear hoodies.

Anyway today I went to M&S and bought a casual linen shirt, which I think is like those shirts you wear with suits, only you don't have to tuck it in.

Thread keeps suggesting I buy stuff from M&S, my late mother bought my last M&S item of cloathing in 1985...

 

[existentialist]

*subscribes to thread*

I think my black-jeans, T-shirt and jacket combo might want some updating at some point in the future. Ideally when the primary consideration for clothes isn't "cheap and hard-wearing". Quite a few of my jackets are from C&A in France, and are generally well received, so I'm inclined to stick with them for now.

So I'll read and learn

 

[twentythreedom]

I think it's important to get clothes that fit well and don't look cheap or poor quality if you want to be a suave and stylish gentleman-about-town

 

[editor]

I suppose the first step is to figure out what you like. Maybe look around at other people or browse online until you think 'I want one of those!'

Indeed. And don't be scared to be a bit brave if some more eccentric choices take your fancy.

Ideally, clothing should reflect something of your personality and be a bit of fun in the process!

 

[Fez909]

Another thing to do: start a Pinterest board.

Search for mens fashion or whatever and scroll until you see something you like. Pin (save) it to your board. Look at other people's boards who also pinned that. It's likely they'll have similar stuff. Pin everything you like. Lather, rinse, repeat until you have a decent sized collection of togs you like.

Now look for themes. Does an item (black shirt, brown brogues, white jacket, etc) appear in multiple pins? Is there a theme? Does your current wardrobe have this item or anything from this theme? If not, that should be near the top of your shopping list.

 

[weltweit]

where do I start?.

Start with a visit to some shop like M&S where they will measure you and you can make a note of your neck, chest, waist and inside leg measurements.

 

[bimble]

If you can afford it buy 1 well made thing made of good natural materials instead of 3 cheap shoddily stitched synthetic ones for the same price, that's my newfound middle aged wisdom.

 

[kabbes]

Another thing to do: start a Pinterest board.

Search for mens fashion or whatever and scroll until you see something you like. Pin (save) it to your board. Look at other people's boards who also pinned that. It's likely they'll have similar stuff. Pin everything you like. Lather, rinse, repeat until you have a decent sized collection of togs you like.

Now look for themes. Does an item (black shirt, brown brogues, white jacket, etc) appear in multiple pins? Is there a theme? Does your current wardrobe have this item or anything from this theme? If not, that should be near the top of your shopping list.

Fucking hell, but that all sounds like hard work!

 

[weltweit]

Because of my experience with my present jeans I have decided that my - quick try it on and buy it if it basically fits - methodology is in fact flawed!

So now I recommend getting a selection of clothes of the same size and trying them all on before choosing.