Planning your style of the fall as a 50-plus man living near New York City
Air Force 1s are still my favorites.
I care about style. It’s one of the few ways that the world can get a window into your mind. As a creative how I present myself is another opportunity. But I don’t want to try too hard, even if admittedly I do try hard.
If you ask about my style influences I’d say it’s from 90s hip-hop and classic prep. I went to a small private high school, Chestnut Hill Academy, during the era of Chuck D wearing a Raiders starter jacket. It’s an easy style. The cut is relatively loose and it makes me feel good: like I’m young and discovering myself. “It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold us Back” was the Public Enemy record that played on repeat when I was a very average football player. But the entire attitude and energy of the album stayed with me. The screeching sounds of DJ Terminator X stood out and the message was clear: These guys were not going to submit to the state of America in the late 80s, early 90s.
Sports and hip-hop converged naturally and as a die-hard Philadelphia sports fan living near New York City, I am always prepared to project a “Go Birds” attitude wherever I go. Eagles jackets are my thing and I’ll often finish an outfit with a Phillies New Era 51/50 fitted. It feels right.
My mother Trudy and I still love the simple elegance of classic preppy style. J.Crew catalogs from the 90s shaped my style and today I choose chinos and a grey crewneck sweatshirt most days. It’s easy, loose and feels age appropriate in my mind. Some style influencers would have any man over 40 wearing very traditional clothes, which I feel are too stiff/proper for my personality.
