Looks for Men Over 50 – Sports Coats and Blazers

Sports coats and blazers are a true staple of men’s fashion. Good for casual occasions such as dates, social get-togethers, or sporting events, they’re a great way for a man over 50 to bring a sense of elegance to their wardrobe without the need of an entire suit. So what’s the difference between a sports coat, a blazer and a suit jacket? In layman’s terms, sports coats and blazers have no pants that match exactly while suit jackets do. 

Then what’s the difference between a sports coat and a blazer? Sports coats typically have patterns while blazers are solid colors with metal buttons. Sports coats and blazers are great because they can combine with multiple, different colored pants and offer an array of blends for your wardrobe.

Colors for Sports Coats and Blazers

When it comes to the color of the jacket consider blue, grey and brown as the primary colors. The point of a sports coat is versatility. Blue, grey and brown are three of the most versatile colors in men’s fashion for men of any age. These colors are great because for men over 50 because they can be paired with brighter colors to display a more youthful appearance or with darker colors for a more conservative look. Black blazers are very classy and can be very beneficial to have within your wardrobe, but black is not as versatile as blue, grey and brown. Even though black matches everything, it limits what you can do as far as shoes and a belt.

Combinations for Sports Coat and Blazers

Depending on the shade of blue, grey, or brown jacket the color pant you put with it can vary. Anything from khaki pants to black pants can match up nicely with blue, grey or brown jackets. As far as shirts, the main thing to avoid is putting a patterned shirt with a similar patterned coat. Since sports coats and blazers are casual, a tie is not necessary. But if you decide to wear a tie (or a bow tie which can be more fun and casual) the same rule applies. Button down collars used to be the only way a man can wear a dress shirt casually, but nowadays most men’s collared shirts are spread collars which look better without a tie than traditional point collar shirts.

As a man over 50 it’s understood that you want to be fashionable without being too extravagant with your wardrobe. The best way is by adhering to the rule of simplicity. Keep your style simple and understand the statement you are trying to get across to whomever it is you plan to encounter once you step out the door.

Brighter colors attract more attention than muted. Darker colors are much more conservative and less expressive. If the occasion is one of business or even a casual event with potential business partners whom you want to appear more serious than darker blues, greys and earth tones are the way to go. If the occasion is a date with a beautiful woman or maybe a social gathering where you want to enter the room and turn heads with your wardrobe, brighter color shirts and jackets with khaki pants or jeans is the way to go.

Final Thoughts

As a man over the age of 50 there are plenty of ways to spice up your wardrobe and keep up with the latest trends in fashion without appearing to be that guy who’s trying to dress too young. Revitalize your sense of style and dress to impress without feeling your age has put you out of the game and you can’t dress to modern standards just because men’s fashion has changed over time. It always has and always will, but there’s nothing preventing you from taking the younger man’s game and adding timeless flair to your wardrobe. You can show up or ARRIVE…. the choice is yours, weaponize your wardrobe. 

As always if you don’t see something here that you want, reach out through our Contact page or leave a comment below. Need more ideas for office wear? Check out our piece on a five day plan for you office apparel.

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