In Your 30s? Avoid These 6 Style Mistakes

For many a man, his thirties are a time of exciting life changes; buying homes, getting career promotions, starting families, and more. While these specific examples don’t apply to every man, the fact remains that we all mature and change over time–and that means our outward appearance should reflect such a progression! To avoid looking like you’re still attached to the styles and habits of your teens and twenties, check out these six tips.

You’re a fully-fledged adult now, and there should be a certain level of maturity found within your style, one where you look youthful but also age-appropriate. Anything too young will make you look like you haven’t grown up. At the same time, just because someone expects you to dress a particular way, doesn’t mean you have to. Finding your own style that suits you, looks good on you, and makes you feel good should be your first priority. But since it’s often hard to see oneself clearly, we put together a list of ways men fall into habits that aren’t deliberately their choices, which can negatively affect the way they look at this particular age.

You can definitely tell that Raphael’s style have evolved and changed over time.

6 Style Mistakes 30-Somethings Should Avoid

1. Wearing the Same Outfits You Did In High School

The first style blunder is when anything in your style of repertoire is the same as it was for you in high school. It’s easy to get comfortable with certain things, but your style and look should evolve with you as you age. It’s okay to be a little bit attached, but you don’t have to keep wearing your same old track t-shirt while out running all of your errands. 

The Same Old Clothing Combinations

You’re in your 30s, so you probably don’t look like you’re in your teens anymore. Save your old clothes for painting and doing other household errands, but not for day-to-day wear. These would include those baggy straight leg jeans, graphic tees, and oversized polos and t-shirts.

Not only are they less fashionable but also does not included in classic style.

Are you still wearing the same combinations as you were as in high school? For example, visibly layering a t-shirt with a button-down or a polo. This will add unnecessary bulk to your top half. The visible white shirt cheapens the look and is a visual distraction. Instead, buy v-neck t-shirts if you prefer the extra added layer of an undershirt.

Outdated Hairstyles

One of the worst offenders in this category is your haircut, because it’s front and center; everybody can see it. If you haven’t changed your haircut since high school, chances are it’s time for an update. It’s been more than a decade, and it’s definitely time to move on (unless you had a truly timeless haircut, and not many of us did)!

This gelled, spiky haircut may have been “in” 15 years ago, but it’s unbecoming of a man in his 30s.

One of the most common offenders we still see today is the gelled, “short and spiky” haircut. Even if your hair isn’t bleached, this is still a dead giveaway for high school hair. If you’re not sure what kind of hairstyle will look best on you, perhaps call a friend whose hairstyle you admire and go ask their opinion, or even ask if you can go and see their stylist. Also, think twice before returning to your current stylist or barber, as they’ll most likely keep giving you the same old thing.

2. Not Knowing Your Personal Style

Another mistake men make in their 30s is not finding out what their style is, or what looks good on them. This is true for men who love style and for those who find it a nuisance. If you’re frustrated with having to figure out what to wear at this age, this may be the root of the problem. You’re at least 30 years old at this point, so it’s time to figure it out.

Kyle wearing comfortably his navy suit accented with a blue & gray stripe tie and burgundy paisley silk pocket square.

Take some time and answer the following questions:

• How do I want to feel when I get dressed?
• What is important to me with regards to style?
• What is my budget?
• What consistently makes me feel good when I wear it?
• What gaps in my knowledge are preventing me from the wardrobe I want?

It may be that expanding your menswear library will provide you with some inspiration.

• What mistakes do I consistently make with purchasing that I later regret?
• What gaps in my wardrobe are preventing me from the look that I want?
• Do I struggle with too many clothing choices, or too few?
• Do I want to do this on my own, or consult other people and other resources?

Take the answers to all these questions and write them down. It will create something like a Venn diagram that will lead you to your ideal look.

A comfortable, confident look for Kyle [Tie: Madder Silk Tie in Orange Red with Green Macclesfield Neats – Fort Belvedere]

Finding out what looks good on you and what works for you is most important. This will help you become a more effective shopper where you’ll get to spend less money and be happier with what you purchase. Even if that means you develop a uniform, this is totally acceptable and is better than trying to wear every single kind of style.

3. Carrying a Backpack

Unless you’re camping, backpacks tend to make adult men look like overgrown schoolboys, no matter your age. I’m not going to argue that they’re not useful, like in times of travel, but for any sort of professional scenario, it’s time to ditch the backpack. If you’re in your 30s, your clothing and taste have hopefully changed since your college and high school days, but the backpack is a bit of a remnant of that time. On top of that, backpacks wrinkle shirts, crumple jacket shoulders, and cause your back to sweat.

A perfect example of how a backpack can ruin your look

4. Not Getting Dressed Every Day

What you wear at home should principally be about what feels good to you–but I’ve actually found value in getting dressed every day. You’re ready to go whenever you want, and it’s much easier to mentally switch out of “lounge mode.” No doubt it’s much easier to stay in your sweats all day even while running errands, but it certainly won’t make you look mature for your age.

Kyle wearing a navy jacket with white & blue dress shirt, and a Moss Green Silk Wool Pocket Square from Fort Belvedere accenting against his green trousers.

5. Wearing Immature Jeans

Jeans, unlike chinos or other dress pants, age much more quickly over time. The trends for distressing, details, and washes make jeans evolve more quickly. A timeless quality, therefore, is irrespective of what is going on in the current trend of jeans. But since the styles of the previous decades were far from timeless, most of the jeans from your teens and 20s are going to look dated even if you can still fit into them!

Embellished, overly faded jeans are a DON’T

I admit to doing this as well, though. Some of my favorite jeans that I’ve had for many years have even ended up ripping because I kept them for too long.

6. Wearing Immature Shoes

On a similar note, casual styles of footwear can also create a juvenile effect. This can mean wearing flip-flops or sandals to places other than the beach. Like a lot of people here in the midwest tend to do sometimes, wearing dirty trainers someplace other than doing yard work. Your shoes are a key place to be able to show that your style is as mature as you are.

Sandals and Suits obviously don’t go well together

If you like sneakers, by all means, wear them. But we’d advise getting rid of anything old and dirty, and instead choosing something clean, fresh, and a little bit more mature. Do your best to keep them clean at all times. In general, try to save any kind of sandal for the beach. To start your collection of mature shoes, you can take advantage of the style and versatility that essential dress shoes can offer.

These Cognac Antique Wingtips from Ace Marks are a quintessentially timeless option

Conclusion

Certain decades seem to correlate with a specific set of style mistakes. Keep these in mind so you don’t commit them and risk looking sloppy. Remember to always have the right amount of maturity in your outfits to look your best in your 30s, and even beyond.

Kyle, comfortable in his early 30s, wearing a green cable knit sweater paired with cream-colored jeans and brown woven leather boots

What is your favorite style technique that you discovered (or leveraged) in your 30s? Share it with us in the comments!

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