• Men's Style

5 Things To Chuck When Turning 40

With the notable exception of Moses, time and tide waits for no man. So having already outlined what to chuck when you turn 30, we’re moving on more swiftly than a winged chariot. The Bible says that when you become a man, you put away childish things. We say: dispose of them altogether. If any of the below are still in your rotation when you hit the big four-O, then it’s time to KonMari your act up, sharpish. This is (what to ditch when) 40.

1. Skinny Jeans

There’s mutton dressed as lamb, and then there’s past-its-sell-by meat that’s been wrapped in cling film in a desperate attempt to extend its shelf life. “I would never recommend skinny jeans to any of my clients over 40,” says Daniel Rhone, personal shopping consultant at Selfridges. (Avail yourself of his services by e-mailing daniel.rhone@selfridges.co.uk.) “Unless they were Keith Richards.” Papa may have been a Rolling Stone, but you are not. Squeeze yourself into skin-tight clothing and you risk resembling a badly packed sausage – or worse, exposing yours.

The Solution

For men of a certain vintage, it’s not about jumping on bandwagons. You won’t look hip, you’ll just break one. “For a lot of the gents I work with on a day-to-day basis, I preach how you can take elements from ‘fashionable trends’ and tweak them so they work for you,” says Rhone. “For example, the idea of a more flattering shape can be found in the form of a slim-cut jean.” The aim is for your denim to skim your thigh, not be sprayed on, with the crucial factor being tapering from the knee down: “That creates a clean, sharp finish to show off your beautiful suede monk-straps.” Not your Yeezy Boosts (see below). (Related: 4 denim shapes to try instead of skinny jeans)

Key Pieces

• Acne Studios Max Stay Cash Jean Black
• He By Mango Slim-fit Dark Wash Tim Jeans
• He By Mango Slim-fit Dark Wash Jan Jeans
• Reiss Chapel Ribbed Polo Shirt Navy
• Club Monaco Loopback Cotton-jersey Sweatpants
• Next Black Pleated Joggers

— Still got it? Already lost it? Voice your age-related style concerns in the comments below.

Jamie Millar

Formerly online style and grooming editor at GQ, Jamie Millar is a contributing editor to Men’s Health and a correspondent for outlets such as Mr Porter, Amuse and The Gentleman’s Journal. (Follow him on Instagram @mrjamiemillar.) With a frankly alarming number of years’ experience under his waistband, he’s equally comfortable dispensing advice about classic style or high fashion, Swiss watches or fitness and nutrition – because he’s probably wearing (tailored) sweatpants while he does so.