What's Next for Grey Fox Blog in 2018? Blogging and Brands

Today's my 63rd birthday and, with the year still new, I've been thinking about the future of the blog. I've really enjoyed the past year: the blog passed its sixth birthday in December and several productive collaborations have helped me to manage costs. I've been very touched by all those followers, retailers and manufacturers who've supported Grey Fox and thank them all from the bottom of my heart.

With Harry at the last Grey Fox Photoshoot. Image Polskey

Not all has gone smoothly. I want to expand on this because the story I now tell has encouraged a change of approach for 2018 on this blog; if you're not interested you can skip the next two paragraphs to read my planned changes to the blog. 

Earlier in 2017 I invited three favourite British brands to take part in a collaboration with Investec Bank which saw them receiving considerable coverage on social media and before thousands at The Derby in early June. Despite this free publicity, one of the brands, Lock Hatters, who were apparently happy to take part in the collaboration, cut off all contact and refused to lend me a hat for a photoshoot. I've had no explanation for this and my disappointment at what I interpreted as an ungracious response may seem like a petty gripe on my part but it has led to a  rethink of the blog's approach to working with brands.

It's very rare for unthinking brands to take bloggers for granted and I'd only experienced one other similarly uncivil brand before, but it has meant that I will now expect something in return for the blog's collaboration. This could be anything from a simple acknowledgment of the blog by the brand on social media through to payment for my time and following. Small brands, start-ups and those with no budget will always have my support, but I feel the those who can pay, or positively benefit from the blog in some other way, should do so. I explain how I work in more detail in my Media Pack (contact below).

Changes to the Blog in 2018

The costs of maintaining the blog are considerable, but I don't want to undermine its authentic voice by becoming too commercial. Accordingly my aims for 2018 are as follows:

1. To expect something (just a 'thank you' shout out on social media is often enough) from brands wanting a mention here or on social media. See my Media Pack.

2. To return to the basic issues of the blog. My search for style as an older man and supporting British manufacture are important (but not exclusive) themes and I want to return to them in a more focused way. I will also continue to remind brands that they ignore the 50 plus demographic at their financial peril.

3. To pass on some of my learning from 6 years of blogging. My search for style continues but I have many tips to pass on to followers. While not as expert as many, they are forged in the heat of personal experience.

4. To explore the concept of style in a context wider than just clothes, accessories and appearance. How do our lifestyle choices (cars, eating, fitness, reading, holidays) affect our personal style?

4. To organise more Grey Fox Photoshoots to raise funds for the blog and also to allow brands to access an older market through the blog's followers.

I continue to focus on the blog and Instagram, but am always considering other media. As ever, please keep in touch and email or message me with your thoughts and suggestions. Media Packs are available on request. Contact me here.

What will Grey Fox Blog bring you in 2017?

The New Year brings opportunities for reflection and planning. The blog has existed for just over five years and it's time to reestablish its focus, so I'll be concentrating on three themes in 2017:

1. I want to reinforce the basic message of this blog: that older men can enjoy and benefit from dressing well in their personal and private lives. The blog is here to provide ideas and inspiration fuelled by my own search for sartorial success.

2. I will very gradually extend the search for style beyond clothes and accessories to lifestyle products and experiences; travel, food and drink, watches and men's toys generally.

3. I've now accepted that this blog can never be a comprehensive review. My time is limited so I will now focus on brands whose products I like and with whom I can work collaboratively to pursue the aims of Grey Fox Blog.

To start off the year I'm planning a series of video interviews that will bring you ideas and inspiration from men and women whose expertise and/or personal style will ease you on your way on your own journey towards style. Many are well-known names, others less famous. Hopefully everything will flow from there!

As ever, please keep in touch - ideas and suggestions are gratefully received.

Men's Fashion Blogging event at London College of Fashion 18th March

On 18th March there will be an event at London College of Fashion in which two men's fashion bloggers (Jonathan Daniel Pryce and I, Grey Fox) will discuss fashion blogging, contemporary menswear, and the British menswear industry with Shaun Cole (Course Director, MA History and Culture of Fashion and MA Fashion Curation) and Agnès Rocamora (Reader in Social and Cultural Studies).

Tickets are available from here. The event is at Rootstein Hopkins Space West, London College of Fashion, 20 John Prince’s Street, London W1G OBJ, 17.30 to 19.30.

If you attend, please come and say hello. See here for GarconJon's blog.

Grey Fox Blog is three years old today - age, style, fashion and the older man

Grey Fox Blog is three years old
When I started this blog three years ago, I thought it would last three months, but it's still going strong. I love it; almost every minute. The many approaches from brands and PR firms are proof that the blog has impact. On the other hand, they bring pressures on a lone blogger.

Image by Jonathan Daniel Pryce for Holdall & Co

This won't change. I like to write honestly and independently about things that interest me; well-designed menswear, style for the older man and British-made products. These are aspects of the blog that readers repeatedly tell me they value. I'm reluctant to undermine this by becoming too large or commercial.

Another birthday
I reach my sixtieth birthday after Christmas. This is relevant only in that I still feel that the fashion industry doesn't give the older demographic the attention it deserves, despite its increasing size and affluence. However, I've seen some evidence of change and have decided to do what I can to encourage this through my writing and, more recently, even modelling for brands as diverse as Holdall & Co (above), Mr Porter and Marks & Spencer.

I've taken on the photo-shoots either because I want to support a brand or because I want to provide an example to older men. If they see stylish, fashionable and well-designed products being worn by men of a similar age, they will buy them. They are alienated when clothes are modelled by young men hardly out of their teens.

Older models have an impact

The aims of this blog: fashion industry and the older man
The older man needn't resort to slippers and cardigans once past his fortieth birthday. I want the fashion industry to recognise that they could sell to the demographic if they made a little effort. The reluctance of brands to market themselves to older people astonishes me. It may be that research tells them that this age-group is uninterested, but to not even try smacks of defeatism that must be unique in the history of marketing.

Increasing health and life expectancy means that older men have time, money and the appetite for a more stylish existence than did our parents. They are a potentially lucrative target for menswear brands. What's needed is advertising that recognises the existence of older men. Ralph Lauren, Hackett and others have led the way, albeit often with a token 'dad' figure at a house party; but others could follow and give it a more serious try. Why not have a mix of young and older men in your next photo-shoot?

Older men simply need ideas, inspiration and encouragement to buy. For brands that try and for ideas, see my Pinterest board here.

Contacting Grey Fox for coverage on the blog
Finally, back to the blog. I'm going to say 'no' much more. If you approach the blog with a request and I am unable to help, please understand that this is self-preservation. I simply cannot do all that I'm asked, however much I'd like to. However, if you're a new or young business, or make in Britain, or are prepared to sponsor the blog, I may bump you up to the top of the waiting list.

Please stick with Grey Fox - the blog is you, the reader and the brands who've helped out so far. Thank you for your support. I love to hear from you, so don't hesitate to e-mail with your thoughts or queries or suggestions.

The Rise of the Men's Fashion Blogger - Fashionbeans

I'm grateful to Marcus Jaye for including Grey Fox in his article on The Rise of the Men's Fashion Blogger on the renowned men's style blog, Fashionbeans. Marcus is a longstanding blogger and his TheChicGeek is now a classic and influential menswear blog. On the basis of his considerable experience, he makes the point that it is focus and passion that keep successful blogs afloat. As he points out, bloggers are exposed; without the layers of editors that professional journalists have to check and correct their content, it is a challenge to remain respected and authoritative.

The article looks at what he describes as "a few of the most visible players currently in the menswear blogosphere". Of course, I'm delighted that Grey Fox Blog is there, particularly as it appears with many professional blogs, which earn their owners a living. Grey Fox, as an amateur blog, is not on that league, so it's gratifying to appear in such company.

Read The Rise of the Men's Fashion Blogger

Visit TheChicGeek

Fashionbeans

What bloggers do you follow and like? please comment below on your recommended blogging reads.

Why Grey Fox and not Silver Fox?

I've been asked why this blog isn't called Silver Fox (defined as an attractive older man), so I thought I'd offer an explanation.

Here is an excellent reason for not calling this blog Silver Fox!

Here are a few reasons -

1. When conceiving the idea of a blog I heard a young woman describe an older man as a silver fox and this formed the basis of the name. I felt, however, that the term sometimes has predatory connotations; Terry Thomas leering at some gorgeous young girl - "helleeeeww". He is a bit of a bounder, cad and scoundrel. I continued my search for a name.
2. I am in my fifties and my hair is greying, rather than completely silver.
3. Someone pointed out that the word 'grey' can mean boring or lifeless. I was aware of this, but felt that I would use the word with an ironic sense - grey foxes need not be uninteresting.
4. A silver fox is, by definition, attractive. A grey fox is generally smartly-dressed and stylish, but not necessarily conventionally good-looking.

And, no, the name's got nothing to do with Fifty Shades of Grey. I hadn't even heard of the book when I arrived at a name.

Terry Thomas (left) in School for Scoundrels. The ultimate silver fox and cad.

Of course, the spelling of the word 'grey' marks this blog out as British, rather than US, where the word would be spelled 'gray'. With access to UK and US English an everyday occurrence on the Web, I felt this was no problem - and, after all, I am British. I didn't anticipate, incidentally, that I would welcome so many readers from the USA.

So, there you are.

Greetings to my new readers and thanks to a fellow blogger.

I want to thank my blogging friend, That's Not My Age, for inviting me to contribute a guest post to her excellent blog here. The post is here. Her generosity has done wonders for my visitor count - I hope my new female visitors can persuade their male friends to visit as well. Please also comment, make suggestions (I'm relatively new to this) or ask questions as I'm keen to maintain a dialogue about the issues we care about as we mature!

There are many outstanding style, fashion and lifestyle blogs written by women in their forties and fifties, but a tiny number of male equivalents. I'd love to hear from any bloggers who are exploring similar issues.