Manland: act your age, not your shoe size

Editor’s note: Manland is a semi-regular post written by Mr Styling You. By day he is a communications advisor; by night and weekend a sports-loving dad and would-be chef. Oh and he loves to shop … and iron. Yep, a keeper

I was walking through the city on my way home after work the other night and I was passed by a grown man in a business suit riding a scooter; the exact type of scooter you see kids riding at the skate park.

And he wasn’t mucking around, he was making his way home just the same as the rest of us … except he was scooting.

Should there be an upper age limit on scooter riding?

“Each to their own” I figured, but it did get ME thinking, there are a lot of fun things that we can do if we want, but is there an age when guys should put the “Peter Pan suits” away and act and dress according to their age?

Living on the Sunshine Coast, my fellow men-folk and I are continually exposed to a culture of surf brands that would love nothing more than for all boys and men to be walking billboards, wearing clothes emblazoned with logos, images of scantily clad women and the latest array of bright colours.

I’ve been there (editor: mmm … scantily clad women?). Most guys have. But I’m pleased to say I no longer really care what brand the a garment represents as long as it fits with the rest of my wardrobe and I don’t look like a complete tool.

And without professing to have all the answers, I am confident enough to say that I think this is the rule that us guys should apply when hitting the shops. Particularly as we move into adulthood.

We’re big boys and should be through having to worry about peer pressure and what our mates, or the cute girls, “think” we should be wearing, so why do we still see guys who are old enough to know better rocking outfits that would not look out of place down at the skate park or at a blue light disco on a Friday night?

My advice is this: guys get out there and take on the latest seasonal trends by all means, but check which age bracket you are working in.

You don’t want to be a grommet forever, but by the same token, you don’t want to bring on early-onset “old man-ness”.

You need to find a happy medium of comfortable, stylish and sensible.

Are there items in your man’s wardrobe that should have been retired when he grew up? Is the bloke version of mutton dressed up as lamb?

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On the Manland shelf

Ben Sherman EDT (50ml) $25

Just in time for the 2012 London Olympic Games I trialled a fragrance from the ironically British fashion brand Ben Sherman. This is a bright summery fragrance with citrusy top notes of tangerine, lemon and lime, but also has a spicy base. With those flavours in mind it works well as a fragrance to wear daily for work or for active engagements on the weekend. Phone 07 5526 3844 for stockists.

Skinn Total Shave 100ml $49| Daily Moisture 50ml $69

Frustrated by a limited choice of men’s cosmetics in Australia, biochemist Annabel Merz and dermatologist Nina Wines combined their scientific expertise with their passion and produced a range of skin care products that is really effective at producing a clean shave and minimising razor rash and dryness. Both products feel great on your skin, are non-greasy and keep your face refreshed even in the middle of winter. www.skinn.com.au

NIVEA for Men Sensitive Protect anti-perspirant 200ml $6.29 ($3.78 for roll-on)

I’ve been a fan of the NIVEA for Men product range for a number of years now, and I think in the new Sensitive Protect I might have found the most effective anti-perspirant yet. The fragrance is not overpowering and it is very effective in keeping the sweat patches at bay. www.nivea.com.au

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Editor’s (third) note: While Mr Styling You can have some rather annoying habits (shouting at the TV during State of Origin … because that will really make a difference ), he is the king of surprises. Just this week, he calls me from Myer, excited on my behalf about the new sass & bide collection in store. So excited that he comes home with this: 

Yep, I know. He’s good.

Does the man in your life have an opinion about men not dressing for their age? Does he use any product? And does he go shopping for you – for a surprise or other?