Congratulations are in order if you have graduated to the next phase of life. If you were feeling unsure about your choices in life during your 20s—your 30s represent the time to do away with the components that misfired and incorporate the things that elevated your personal sense of style.

With the 20s all about experimentation and going for broke, by the time you reach your 30s, you should have a fairly good idea about what looks best for your frame and lifestyle.

Your 30s also mark another transition in your life as you may be at another level in your career or perhaps even starting a family (though some of you will wait for your 40s). This means that you will have less time to invest in scouring for clothes as in previous years, so knowing what works and what doesn’t translates into time and energy saved. 

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Tips for Dressing in Your 30s

If your 20s were about making an impression, then your 30s are about cementing relationships and nurturing them in order to elevate to the next level. As such, looking your best around the clock will be even more essential than ever before.

Of course, you will still need jeans and trainers as part of your wardrobe, but more than likely, suits, blazers and more refined tailoring will become even more integral to your overall look and this is the first decade where you start to give back to yourself.

Personal grooming should always be a priority no matter what age you are, but in your 20s, it is far easier to get away with scruffy beards, man buns and unruly hair in public settings.

By the time you hit your 30s, these fashion faux pas should be a thing of the past to present a more refined overall aesthetic. That’s not to say those things are to be frowned upon, as style is and has always been a very personal thing.

The following tips will ensure that your 30s take everything up a notch.

Quick note: If you’re enjoying this guide on how to dress well as a man in his 30s, then you’ll probably find my other writing on all things style & self-development useful. Each week, I share updates, style tips and other things not shared on the blog through my free email newsletter.

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Assemble Your Labels

This is the time in your life to curate the brands that are destined to become your personal favorites. Once you are in your 30s, you should be able to narrow down your selections in less time and know which labels and brands you can depend on to provide you with quality apparel year after year, season after season.

These core shops will inevitably become the staples where you can have your most essential style elements taken care of as hassle-free as possible.

Get Suited & Booted

You’re more than likely going to need more than just a single measly suit in your 30s, so use this decade to invest in a few more options that encompass a broader color scheme, with black, navy and grey suits providing the bare minimum.

Once those have been procured, broaden your wardrobe with bolder colors and patterns that can be worn during specific times and seasons of the year. We recommend reading up on how to buy a suit off-the-rack (and nail the fit), as this skill will serve you well through your sartorial journey.

» Related: Allen Edmonds Dalton Dress Boot Review.

It’s worth noting that you should also select trousers and blazers that are versatile enough to be layered with your premium denim, chinos and v-neck tees. By now, you should have a trusted tailor at your disposal to produce the refined look you are searching for.

Select Standout Pieces

If you made the right style decisions in your 20s and stocked up on the basic wardrobe pieces every man needs, then your 30s is the pivotal time to invest in those items that are classic, beautifully made, and make you look your absolute best.

Set aside the funds to pay for these once and they will remain as part of your closet for life. In your 30s, quality really should be the name of the game and your objective, when curating new pieces into your wardrobe. Buying quality in all areas of your life, but especially with your clothing is important in building a sustainable wardrobe.

There should be premium accessories working their way into your closet by your 30s that ideally will last a lifetime. Aside from owning a versatile trench coat and proper umbrella, accessories can include cufflinks, leather wallets, silk ties, leather bags, hats and high-quality chukkas.

A Less is More Mantra

As you come into your own style-wise, your 30s mark a turning point in your sartorial ‘career’ as this will be one of the first stages where you will begin decluttering your wardrobe to find the gems that will carry on into a new decade.

A golden rule that should not be overlooked during this time is quality over quantity. Now is the time to make a conscious effort in steering clear of fashion trends and fads to cultivate a style and presence that is all your own. We’re really trying to nail home the point that buying quality is key at this point in your life.

That includes narrowing down various fabrics (see our summer fabrics guide) that work best for your physique as well as selecting a signature scent that people will begin to associate with your presence.

The balancing act to curating amazing style begins in earnest during this decade, so take it seriously and it will pay off in the long run.

Conclusion

There you have it, our guide on how to dress well in your 30s. I hope that you were able to get some inspiration from this article and enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed putting it together.

Till next time!

–Khôi B Nguyễn

How do you or did you dress in your 30s?

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