Winter Wear for Men 50 and Over

You know the drill; winter rolls in and you break out the cold-weather gear from the deepest reaches of your closet. It’s all too easy to let fashion go by the wayside instead of comfort and warmth during this season with sweats and thermals. Fortunately, there are plenty of tips and tricks in terms of materials and colors that provide the perfect mix of style and comfort that can help get you through these winter months. Check out our recommendations for your everyday essentials on winter wear for men 50 and over below.

Sweaters

An absolute staple of any wardrobe because of its versatility and simplicity, the sweater outlasts most fashion items because it doesn’t need replacing as often. They allow for a range of temperatures and conditions, from wet and extreme cold to mild and drier climates. Materials are also relevant to the microclimates, with wool to polyesters and blends in between.

For milder climates:

If your winter rarely drops to the single digits for more than a day or two, a cotton or polyester blend should be fine. This is typically the dry season anyway and those materials are not suited for wet conditions. If your temperature drops, layer with a t-shirt or light jacket accordingly as you can add/remove items with the weather.

For moderate to cold climates:

Retaining heat and shedding moisture are key in this environment, so materials like wool, cashmere or alpaca insulate while keeping you dry. Layering is helpful, especially if you have thick outerwear like an overcoat that shields the sweater from the elements.

Styles:

Sweaters come in an assortment of styles, from simple pullovers to button-down cardigans. Like materials, the style is tailored to your environment. Milder climates won’t need more than a crewneck, v-neck or quarter zip while colder areas can do cardigans or a shawl neck. A good quality button-down can be paired with a dress shirt and tie and worn in an office setting.

Colors:

Colors for winter are generally toned down and muted with earth tones and darker blends, but again this can vary to your area. Darker colors are supposed to retain heat, but that doesn’t mean in your layers you can’t add a “pop” of color. Try mixing a white or tan shirt with a blue, black or brown sweater. Feel free to use our color guide if you need some ideas.

Pants

Outside of professional attire, winter pants primarily address the need for insulation and dryness. Mild regions can easily get by with jeans and dress pants with little worry whereas colder and wetter climates depend on ski or snowboard and hiking pants. Not to say there aren’t options to choose from, opt for a corduroy pant as they’re warmer and trendy for the season. As with our warmer colleagues, maintain denim jeans in your closet and don’t be afraid to mix up the coloring. Black jeans and deep indigo can be your “go-to” with sweaters. Levi’s, Calvin Klein, and even Amazon now offer great options for long-lasting pairs of men’s jeans.

Heading out in the cold? Make sure you have the right cold weather pants!

Shirts

Although shirts in the winter often act as layering pieces underneath sweaters or jackets, you can still use them to augment your colors in your ensemble. Remember that certain materials (like cotton) don’t do well in wet conditions, so if you will be outside for any length of time try to stay with wool, fleece or a polypropylene.

Check out this great article on how to use shirts sensibly outdoors in cold weather.

Coat

Depending on your city’s climate, your daily coat could look like a variety of different things. Here are a few options for all your winter wear for men:

• LIGHT: North Face Men’s Arrowood Triclimate Jacket

This is a perfect casual option. Need something that can transform based on what the outdoors is doing? The Men’s Arrowood Triclimate jacket is 3 in 1 – not to mention both waterproof and windproof. Wear just the outer shell, just the inner fleece or both together. Take it with you to travel or take it with you to hit the trails. You’ll be good to go in either scenario.

• MEDIUM: Uniqlo Men’s Hybrid Down Coat

This is a warmer option that is still easy to move around in. Unlike some of Uniqlo’s other options, there aren’t any embellishments like fur that may make the coat seem trendy or young. The coat comes in black, brown, or navy and is about a simple as it can get. It also doesn’t break the bank. You can stay warm and stylish with a basic that will be in style for years to come.

• HEAVY: North Face Men’s Transverse Triclimate Gore-tex

If you haven’t yet made the migration to a warmer climate option, you might look for a heavy jacket option to round out your outfit. This North Face jacket was declared “the best jacket” someone has owned in the reviews. It’s stylish, waterproof, and made with 800-fill goose down. Get ready to feel you’re warm enough for the first time while still pulling off a sleek look.

• WARM BUT NICE OPTION: 3-in-1 Insulated Tweed Parka

As great as some of the above options are, not everyone wants to wear a jacket that’s made for the outdoors every single day. If you’re still commuting to the office, you may prefer a parka made of tweed or another material that looks more business-like. If that’s the case, this 3-in-1 insulated Tweed Parka was made for you! It’ll still keep you warm, but it gives off a slightly more sophisticated vibe.

Footwear

We don’t want to leave out proper foot gear in our winter wear for men, so make sure to put your feet first as you head into cold weather. You don’t want to risk slipping on snow or ice when you go outside so invest in a good pair of boots for everyday wear. Clarks, Timberland, and LL Bean all offer great options if you’re in cold weather often enough that you’re concerned about safety. You’ll be able to find something stylish and comfortable that also keeps you on your feet.

Final thoughts

It can be tough to put together a stylish winter wardrobe if you’re a man over 50, but not impossible. Winter wear for men doesn’t have to be tricky, it’s all about knowing the colors and materials that you’re now able to integrate into your collection to pull everything together. Remember too, if you’re interested in clothing rentals instead of buying, we’ve written a review on The Mr. Collection, a clothing rental subscription service you may want to check out.

We hope you’ve found this blog valuable and are able to use the information in making your informed decisions! As always, if you need something you don’t see on our site, you can reach out to me directly though our Contact page or leave a comment below.