Dads are great. They tell dad jokes (What do you call a deer with no eyes? No idea.), they never sing in time to the song and they have their own unique dad style.
It's a strange phenomenon, dad style. The day before a guy becomes a father he rocks his slightly more stylish denims with a clean-cut white v-neck shirt and his signature converse that he's had since before they were cool. Then he becomes a father and bam, no more cutting edge style.
Fast-forward twenty years and the kids inherit the cool. Dad can be seen working his hardest to be what he thinks is fashionable and "hip".
Do not go gently into that good night, dads! Fight for your style. It's time to find a style voice you're proud of.
Choose Style Icons
Your dad is not the only father older than 25 out there. There are a lot of men with incredible style in the world who are dads and over the age of 30. Here are a few men to help you help yourself:
Colin Firth
Gary Oldman (see what we did there?)
Idris Alba
The great thing about the gentlemen above is that their style seems effortless. They are wearing things they are clearly comfortable wearing. This is key.
Be comfortable. The trick is that comfort does not mean boring it means confidence.
Fit It
Wearing things that are too big or too small for you will definitely make you seems a bit out of your depth. It's extremely important to make sure that you're wearing clothes that fit you. This is a trademark of an older man; you know what works for you and how it should fit.
If you're unsure of the fit you like, go into a large retail outlet and try on a variety of pant sizes, leg cuts and crotch fits. Try on different collars, shirt options and lengths. Try out various jacket styles, lengths, fabrics and cuts. Take a single day, one single day, to figure out exactly what you like and how you like it to fit you.
It doesn't matter if all the young and cool kids are wearing skinny jeans, you do not bend to the wills of the world, you're
find your own style voice. Stick to that.
Don't Fit In
One of the best things about being an unencumbered father who is past the desperate age when fashion is relevant is that for the most part you don't have to fit in. Embrace that. Take advantage of the fact that the world isn't staring at you and waiting for you to look like the other good look twenty somethings. The world is largely not expecting much from you and that's something to be thankful for.
Dress the best way you know how to but take into account the basics. Be yourself. If you like button up pullovers then wear them but make sure they are the best you can find and they fit you brilliantly. If you like chinos, own it. If you like fluorescent camo... OK, no, no-one should really be wearing bright pink fluorescent camouflage pants. You get the idea, be the best version of yourself you can be. Forget fashion. Embrace your style.
Build On What You Have
It might feel like you need to throw everything out and start from scratch. You definitely don't want to do that. Starting from scratch with a wardrobe is a costly exercise. Your best bet is to find the gems that you already own.
Pick the items you absolutely love and keep those close. Make sure they fit physically and fit into your style idea. Keep those and consider giving away the other items. If you really have to start somewhere new, pick something light and simple, like
socks.
It's easier to alter than to rebuild.
BONUS
Here are more dad jokes to help you out joke your dad:
- "I'll call you later." Don't call me later, call me Dad.
- "Dad, I'm hungry." Hello, Hungry. I'm Dad.
- Did you hear about the cheese factory that exploded in France? There was nothing left but de Brie.
- Why is no one friends with Dracula? Because he's a pain in the neck.
- "What time is it?" I don't know... it keeps changing.
The great thing about the gentlemen above is that their style seems effortless. They are wearing things they are clearly comfortable wearing. This is key. Be comfortable. The trick is that comfort does not mean boring it means confidence.