'Men stop caring about appearance at 37' says survey - oh yes?

This 'survey' has received wide publicity over the last few days. I quote it below in full from ANI's website. The problem with this sort of report is that the press regurgitates a sensational-sounding press release without telling us much about the origin and validity of the 'survey' that forms its basis. How large was the survey, what questions were asked and how, and how valid and representative are the results? We don't know. We are simply told that men are hopeless dressers after 37.

The usual stereotypes were dragged out by the press (Clooney the good dresser, Clarkson the bad) which raises the suspicion that someone is after publicity. Below are the images used to illustrate the Daily Mail's report. The 'survey' was carried out by ISME, an online home shopping catalogue - that may be significant.

Although I can't take this too seriously, I suspect from my own experience that there's an element of truth in the reports. That is why I started this search for style. If accurate, the conclusions may help explain why the fashion world doesn't bother with the older man. But it's a chicken and egg situation. Do men give up as they mature because they can't find suitable clothes among the skater wear and T-shirts? Or is it that they have better things to do, feel it's no longer worth looking for style, or for some other reason?

Read the report below and let me know what you think. Whatever, I feel it's time the fashion industry saw the potential here - and fashion editors could do more to help this process. Older man are a pretty affluent group - come on ladies and gentlemen!

London, August 17 (ANI): The age at which men stop caring about their appearance is 37 years - out go the fashion-conscious outfits of their younger years that are slowly but surely replaced by a uniform of baggy T-shirts and worn-out jeans, a new survey of their significant others has revealed.

In an attempt to slow the fashion decline, nearly two-thirds of women have admitted preventing their partner from buying certain items, while 37 percent buy all their other half's clothes.

Nearly a fifth of women surveyed said their husband's dodgy denim had forced them to take action, with ill-fitting jeans and matching jean/waistcoat combinations the worst offenders.

For another 16 percent, it was their partner's old-fashioned, discoloured and overly tight underwear that drove them to overhaul his wardrobe.

According to the survey conducted by online retailer isme.com, other hated items included Speedos and shocking floral shirts.

However, while many wanted to keep their partners looking fashionable, women were also keen to ensure they dressed their age, with 7 percent saying they had vetoed hoodies and clothing more suited to a boy band member.

The survey of 2,000 women aged over 50 found most would prefer their men to copy the styles of actors such as George Clooney and Hugh Grant - but thought they actually dressed Jeremy Clarkson, Prince Charles and Alan Titchmarsh.

Left to their own devices, the women surveyed thought a quarter of men would avoid clothes shopping altogether.

Of those men that would venture into a store, 26 per cent would only buy new clothes when theirs had worn through and 24 per cent would make a beeline for the cheapest item, whatever the style or fit, the women said. (ANI)