7 Summer Fashion Tips for Men in Their 40s

If you’re a man in your 40s, you might be thinking, “At my age, isn’t it a bit unseemly to follow trends too closely…?””My body and face are changing, and my usual style doesn’t suit me anymore”—I imagine many of you have concerns like these. In this article, as a writer right in the middle of my 40s, I’d like to share recommended summer fashion styles and key points to keep in mind for male readers my age, based on information gathered from street snaps around town and abroad, as well as my own personal fashion journey.　 Check out the latest 2026 summer outfit ideas for men in their 40s here!

Summer 2025 Fashion Tip #1 for Men in Their 40sDon’t Miss the Trend: Embrace the A-Line Silhouette!

Since last year, the A-line silhouette—created with cropped outerwear and baggy jeans—has been gaining momentum in Tokyo and fashion capitals around the world, and this trend is expected to continue this summer. With a well-fitting T-shirt and loose-fitting bottoms, you can easily incorporate the A-line silhouette into your look.For bottoms, a wide silhouette combined with a longer hem is key to achieving a modern look.Adjusting the length of your tops is another way to achieve a sophisticated look.

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Photo: aflo Chanyeol departed for via Incheon International Airport on July 18th for an overseas schedule.(PHOTO=OSEN)

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Summer 2025 Fashion Suggestions for Women in Their 40s, Part 2Show Off Your Style with This Year’s Bountiful Selection of Shirts from Various Brands!

Shirts remain popular, just as they were in the spring. For the summer season, be sure to incorporate not only short-sleeved shirts but also long-sleeved ones with rolled-up sleeves into your outfits.In addition to classic shirt designs, it’s fun to try out some unique options, such as cool linen Cuban shirts or rayon bowling shirts with a slightly rebellious vibe. Wearing a tank top or T-shirt as an undershirt is also a recommended look this year.

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Summer 2025 Fashion Suggestions for Men in Their 40s, Part 3Add an Elegant Touch with Knit Polos and Knit T-Shirts

As mentioned in this article, the styles we particularly recommend for mature men are “Gentle Edge” and “Dressed.”If you’re looking to pull off these styles during the summer—when your wardrobe is more streamlined—choosing knit polo shirts or knit T-shirts as your tops is a great choice.

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Summer 2025 Fashion Tips for Women in Their 40s, Part 4Shorts: It’s a 50-50 Split Between Above-the-Knee and Below-the-Knee!

Looking at the street style photos recently taken by our publication regarding the length of shorts—a summer must-have—we see that above-the-knee and below-the-knee lengths are roughly equally popular. While it’s hard to say which you should choose this summer, below-the-knee shorts are on the rise compared to the past.If you’re aiming for a trendy look, I believe below-the-knee shorts have a slight edge, and personally, I’d recommend the styling shown in the gallery below.

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5 Summer Fashion Suggestions for Women in Their 40s in 2025Add Low-Profile Sneakers to Your Shoe Collection

As mentioned in this article, low-profile sneakers—which have thin soles and appear low when viewed from the side—are currently all the rage.Don’t worry—it’s not that chunky-soled sneakers are off-limits—but if you’re looking to buy a new pair of sneakers to match your summer style, you should definitely consider these as top contenders.If you’re looking for classic models from sneaker brands, the “Onitsuka Tiger MEXICO 66 ” and “adidas Originals Samba Decon ” are sure bets. For new releases from luxury brands, keep an eye on models like the “Prada Collapse ” and “ LOEWE Ballet Runner 2.0.”

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6 Summer Fashion Suggestions for Men in Their 40s in 2025In the Mood for Loafers

Loafers are the perfect shoes for summer styles that aim for a “gentle edge” or “dressed-up” look. This article specifically introduces some stylish models recommended for mature men, so be sure to check it out!

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7 Summer 2025 Fashion Tips for Men in Their 40sIncorporate High-End Jewelry to Set Yourself Apart from the Younger Generation

It’s no exaggeration to say that summer—when outfits tend to be simpler—is the season when accessories really make a statement.Unlike clothing, which is a consumable item, the appeal of accessories lies in the fact that, if treated with care, they can be worn for a lifetime. With that in mind, one strategy is to purchase expensive bracelets, rings, and necklaces within your budget to project a high status that sets you apart from younger people. We also recommend considering accessories made from precious metals like gold. This article introduces the bracelet brands favored by stylish men in Minato Ward, so be sure to check it out.

Next, we’ll cover the basic approach to summer fashion for men in their 40s.

Rule 1 for Summer Fashion in Your 40sCombating the Loss of a Neat, Clean Look Due to Aging

Many men start joking around in their late 20s, saying things like, “We’re already old guys, aren’t we?”But in reality, didn’t you actually feel that aging wasn’t that serious when you were in your late 20s? It’s in your 40s that you really start to feel the effects of aging. “Not just my hair, but my beard has gray hairs too…” “Deep wrinkles at the corners of my eyes and on my forehead…” “My skin looks dull, and age spots are becoming more noticeable…”“Lately, my daughter has been telling me I smell. Could it be that ‘old man smell’!?” and so on—it’s around this age that the transformation into an “old man” really accelerates. A major difference emerges depending on whether you give up, thinking, “I’m an old man now, so it can’t be helped,” or whether you acknowledge the current situation for a moment but then make an effort to turn things around. During the summer, when UV rays are strong, be sure to use sunscreen and carry a parasol.

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Editorial Department, Mitsui

“I recommend daytime creams with a light texture that are easy to incorporate into your routine, BB creams that provide light coverage, UV protection through sunscreen and a parasol,” as well as “regular dental cleanings and whitening” and “(if possible) visiting a hair salon at least once a month.”

Rule 2 for Summer Fashion in Your 40sFinding the Best Way to Engage with Trends

For men in their 40s, knowing how to approach fashion trends is very important.Sure, it might seem nonsensical for a mature adult to be swayed by trends, but that doesn’t mean the only solution is to stick exclusively to timeless, classic styles. You should keep an eye on trends while exploring how to choose and style your outfits to incorporate them in moderation.

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Model on the catwalk
Zegna show, Runway, Spring/Summer 2024, Milan Men’s Fashion Week, Italy – June 19, 2023

3 Summer Fashion Rules for Men in Their 40s: Focus on Body Management Through Diet & Exercise

Even when wearing the same clothes, there’s a world of difference between a man in his 40s with a well-proportioned physique and one with a beer belly.Furthermore, issues like “a sagging jawline” or “a lackluster expression” may be largely attributable to poor diet, poor sleep quality, and a lack of exercise—rather than simply aging. Especially in summer, when you’ll have more opportunities to wear tops that highlight your body’s contours, make a conscious effort to maintain a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep—so you can become a stylish man in his 40s who looks great in a T-shirt.

The following content was published in the summer of 2024 on the topic of summer fashion for men in their 40s.

Summer Fashion Tip #1 for Men in Their 40sT-shirt Fit: Slightly Oversized to Just Right

As mentioned in “5 Techniques to Elevate the Style of a Plain White T-Shirt Outfit,” the fit of a T-shirt—which is arguably the centerpiece of any summer outfit—has shifted from the extreme oversized trend to a mainstream range of just-right to slightly oversized, regardless of whether the look is dressy or casual.Even Balenciaga—a leading luxury brand that has consistently championed oversized tops—has begun offering some well-fitting and fitted tops, albeit in limited quantities, suggesting this trend is here to stay.

Editorial Department, Mitsui

Here at our editorial department, we conduct quantitative trend analyses twice a year using tens of thousands of street snaps taken at Pitti Uomo and Milan Fashion Week. Our analysis has revealed a clear trend across all men’s fashion styles: tight fits and extreme oversizes have decreased significantly, with styles shifting toward a range from a true-to-size fit to slightly oversized.

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Editorial Department, Mitsui

While the popularity of so-called “logo-heavy” items—where the brand name is prominently displayed in a large font—has leveled off, aren’t there quite a few men in their 40s who secretly want to project an instantly recognizable sense of affluence that sets them apart from the average young person, yet also don’t want to be seen as “tacky, nouveau riche middle-aged men”?Items with logos that make a strong statement without coming across as obnoxious are highly recommended. Personally, I think many of Prada’s T-shirts strike just the right balance in this regard.In addition, I recommend choosing items that incorporate a slightly sophisticated design within a simple aesthetic—items that allow you to maintain the narrative that “I didn’t buy this because it was a high-end brand; it just happened to be a high-end brand because I liked the design,” as seen in the item below.

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Check out PRADA’s T-shirts

Summer Fashion Tip #2 for Men in Their 40sIncorporate a White Shirt to Add a Fresh, Clean Look to Summer Fashion for Men in Their 40s

A fresh, clean look is essential for summer fashion in your 40s.As we age, our skin tends to lose its radiance—it may become dull, develop dark spots, facial hair may grow thicker, or gray hairs may start to appear—all of which can diminish that clean, fresh look. While addressing these issues directly through daily skincare, light makeup, or cosmetic procedures is one option, there are limits to what these methods can achieve, and I think many men simply don’t want to devote that much effort, time, or money to it.For men in their 40s, I recommend incorporating a white shirt into your summer wardrobe. Not only does the clean, crisp look unique to a white shirt enhance your overall style, but the way light reflects off the fabric also tends to make your complexion appear slightly brighter.

Editorial Department, Mitsui

Compared to last year, there are more regular-collar short-sleeve shirts available, but open-collar styles also seem set to maintain their enduring popularity.If you’re not a fan of short-sleeve shirts, I recommend rolling up the sleeves of a long-sleeve shirt to incorporate it into your outfit. Personally, when choosing short-sleeve shirts for casual looks, I’ve recently been opting almost exclusively for items that are slightly oversized rather than a perfect fit. I feel this helps reduce the childish look often associated with short-sleeve shirts and enhances a more mature, polished, and stylish vibe.

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3 Key Points for Summer Fashion in Your 40sThe ultra-short shorts that people in their 40s were obsessed with in their youth are outdated; knee-length shorts are the way to go

Depending on your style or the type of item, you might end up looking “old-fashioned” in a negative sense, so even if you don’t keep up with every single trend, it’s worth staying on top of the ones that have the biggest impact.For example, when many men now in their 40s were in their late 20s, thigh-length shorts were all the rage, and I imagine many of them wore them frequently. However, thigh-length shorts have now completely faded from the scene, and knee-length shorts have become the mainstream.Back then, shorts that were too short were already unpopular with women, but wearing them now would likely result in an extremely low approval rating from the ladies. I strongly recommend updating your approach to the length of shorts, a staple of summer fashion.

Editorial Department, Mitsui

The other day, we received a comment on social media in response to one of our articles that said, “Guys who care too much about trends are just as uncool, though.”To be honest, this comment is just the tip of the iceberg. While reflecting on the fact that there were likely quite a few readers who didn’t resonate with the content or the way it was presented, I also found myself thinking once again, “Trends are, after all, just trends—but isn’t it still important to stay aware of them?”Of course, it’s great to incorporate trends after understanding them to some extent, but I personally think it’s also a great idea to deliberately ignore trends based on how well they suit your body type or how well they fit into your overall fashion style! The same goes for choosing shorts. By the way, if you’re going to wear shorts, I recommend grooming your leg hair to some extent rather than leaving it completely unkempt.You don’t have to go as far as permanent hair removal or a Brazilian wax—just trim them down a bit with something like a Panasonic body trimmer!

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4 Summer Fashion Tips for Women in Their 40sFull-Length Straight-Silhouette Pants Are the Main Trend!

It’s important to note that after the fleeting trends of skinny pants and cropped pants from a few years ago, and the recent rise of wide-leg and baggy pants as staples, full-length pants with a straight silhouette that don’t expose the ankles are now becoming the mainstream.This trend is becoming increasingly prominent across a wide range of pants, including not only dress pants and chinos but also jeans.

Incidentally, for men in their 40s who experienced the American casual style trend, many likely own a pair of Levi’s 501s—whether new or vintage. With the current resurgence in popularity of both vintage denim and denim in general, the time has come for them to make a comeback. Back in our youth, it was rare for women to wear vintage clothing, and we were often scolded by our parents with a puzzled look, asking,“Aren’t you crazy to pay so much money for such worn-out secondhand clothes?” with puzzled expressions—but now, the term “secondhand store” is becoming obsolete, and we’ve entered an era where women casually enjoy used items with the stylish appeal of “vintage shops.”I miss the days when we’d exchange information with friends based on bits and pieces we’d picked up from shop staff, like, “I heard late ’66 models are considered ‘used,’ while early ’66 models are ‘vintage.’” If you still have a pair of 501s gathering dust in the back of your closet, I highly recommend bringing them back into the spotlight.

Editorial Department, Mitsui

Although not quite as expensive as they are now, vintage Levi’s were still pricey back then, so the reality was that they were out of reach for us as students. Even so, wanting to experience that cool faded look, I’m sure quite a few of you bought so-called “replica” models—made by Japanese denim brands inspired by vintage 501s—didn’t you?Vintage jeans are one thing, of course, but if you still have those replica jeans you used to wear, be sure to try them on and consider incorporating them into your summer outfits. You might even hear younger guys say, “Hey, those jeans look super cool!”

5 Key Points for Summer Fashion in Your 40sMen in Their 40s Should Choose Leather Sandals That Cover More of the Foot for Summer Fashion

Summers in Japan are hot. While comfortable and functional flip-flops are appealing, aren’t there quite a few men who want to avoid having their movements restricted by them?Leather sandals meet this need, but not just any pair will do. Ghurka sandals are a good example: the more the leather straps cover your feet, the more polished your look becomes. Wearing them with socks instead of bare feet further enhances that polished look, allowing you to walk into a casual restaurant or a trendy café in the city without hesitation.While it depends on the width of your pants’ hem, the middle to back of your foot tends to be hidden by the hem, so the key to determining how polished the look is lies in how much of the front of your foot is covered by the leather.

Editorial Department, Mitsui

Wearing leather loafers barefoot-style in the summer is a classic look, but when you take off your shoes, the foot covers you’re wearing become visible—and personally, I don’t find that very stylish, so I’m not a fan. That said, wearing them directly on bare feet is unsanitary, so I want to avoid that as well.For that reason, I recommend leather sandals—which you can wear barefoot and that give a more polished look than regular sandals. By the way, if you get blisters from leather sandals, be sure to check out this article for some tips on how to fix the problem.

Sandals Shoe sore prevention. The savior was a well-established U.S. manufacturer!

Sandals are indispensable for summer outfits. Especially when they are made of leather, they often suffer from shoe sore...

6 Summer Fashion Tips for Men in Their 40sIf You’re Carrying a Bag, Stay Aware of Current Trends

I think there are quite a few men who don’t carry bags, but if you’re planning to buy one, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to stay up to date on the latest trends.The popularity of clutch bags, which were all the rage a few years ago, has waned, and now tote-style and mini-Boston-style bags are particularly on the rise.

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Editorial Department, Mitsui

Ultimately, we recommend choosing a bag based on its practicality for your lifestyle and whether it fits your personal fashion style.

7 Summer Fashion Tips for Your 40sCreate a Trendy and Sophisticated Look with Eyewear

Sunglasses are a summer must-have, both for practicality and fashion. Wearing stylish sunglasses can add a trendy or sophisticated touch to your look.Since summer is a season when you wear far fewer items compared to other seasons, it’s the perfect time to head out in a look that incorporates your favorite sunglasses.

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Browse TOM FORD EYEWEAR Sunglasses

Editorial Department, Mitsui

Following its Osaka location, Gentle Monster has finally opened its flagship store, Gentle Monster Tokyo Aoyama, in Tokyo. As one of the most talked-about eyewear brands right now, I think it’s definitely worth checking out.Long lines form outside the Aoyama flagship store every weekend, a testament to its popularity. Thanks to the flat-design lenses and the logo featured on the temples, you can tell at a glance that these are Gentle Monster glasses, so simply wearing them will show off your keen sense of style.

8 Key Points for Summer Fashion in Your 40sSummer Fashion for Men in Their 40s: Wearing a Watch That Suits Your Personal Style

When it comes to summer fashion that exposes your wrists, choosing the right accessories is absolutely crucial.In particular, your choice of watch strongly reflects your personal taste, so be sure to choose carefully. Incidentally, while many men in their 40s own mechanical watches, I think it’s around this age that you really start to understand the designs and styles you truly love as you own and explore various watches.It’s great to have a sophisticated sense of style, like choosing a vintage Rolex from your birth year, but it’s also perfectly fine to openly admit to a slightly trend-following side by choosing a current, popular model that everyone—young and old, male and female—recognizes. For men in their 40s, I think not only Rolex sports models but also dress models like the Datejust and Day-Date—which don’t always suit younger men—look great.

Editorial Department, Mitsui

On one hand, I envy people who post photos of their countless luxury watches on social media even though they don’t seem to have any interest in watches at all; on the other hand, I don’t think that’s what I’m aiming for.I’ll admit that this opinion is mixed with a fair amount of jealousy (laughs), but I want to be the kind of person who can passionately explain the reasons and background behind wearing a particular watch—if asked.This might be a bit extreme and a bit off-topic, but I have a male friend who’s cherished and worn a beat-up G-SHOCK Speed model—a gift from his child—for many years, and every time we go out for drinks, he tells the story of how he received it over and over again.“How many times have you told that story?! I’ve heard it so many times I could tell the whole story myself, down to the details (lol),” I’ll tease him—but at the same time, I think to myself, “He’s such a cool guy.” A watch story is a must for anyone in their 40s!

Searching for Vintage Rolexes at Commit in Ginza

Editorial Department: Tachibana

With China’s real estate slump and the end of global monetary easing, it feels as though the almost unprecedented popularity of Rolex has been brought under control. Scenes of wealthy foreign tourists snapping up watches have become less common, and prices on the secondary market seem to have settled down considerably. If there’s a model you’ve been wanting to buy, now might be your chance.