Plenty of grey at London Collections:Men, but no grey hairs. Why not?

This month's London Collections:Men showed that, for AW15, menswear is going monotone. Grey, black and white sometimes relieved by dark blues was the dominant theme in the more classic collections. Some used brighter highlights as relief; orange and yellow ochre being popular. 

I approve; such tones make an ideal background for pops of colour and a fine structure for patterns like Prince of Wales, herringbone and dogtooth checks. However, the silver, titanium and steely greys were not reflected by the hair of the models showing the wonderful collections on display. Why not, I ask?

E Tautz - shades of grey, but no grey hairs (image ?Hunger Magazine)

I have no objection to youthful models, but their exclusive use in advertising and on the catwalks locks out the growing demographic of which I'm a member; older men. In fact, it also excludes anyone who isn't tall and skinny, but that's another issue.

Thomas Pink at London Collections:Men AW15

There were exceptions: Duchamp, Oliver Spencer and Thomas Pink were among the few acknowledging that older men also represent the menswear market.

Oliver Spencer

One of my favourite collections was that from E. Tautz. British-made, superb materials; checks and herringbones in greys, charcoals and silvers, all colours which go so well with grey hair. Yet there was not one older model wearing these amazing clothes. The collection would have been graced by a few grey hairs and this would have opened it up to a whole new consumer: the older man in search of well-made style. The same goes for most of the more classic collections on display at LC:M.

Duchamp

At the risk of repeating myself, older men are an affluent, settled, and growing group. They may not all be interested in style, but with a little encouragement this is a market waiting to be opened up by shrewd selling. Such marketing can start by showing men's fashions on older models. This provides the role models and inspiration that older men need to get involved in style by purchasing menswear. It's as simple as that. Come on fashion industry, get real.

Cary Grant and classic simplicity - Recreating the Look

It's been a while since I added a post to the Recreating the Look series. Here's a very cool Cary Grant ordering a meal on a train in Hitchcock's North by Northwest. Naturally, he's dining with a beautiful woman (Eva Marie Saint). Grant's distinguished grey hair is echoed by the silver of his immaculate suit and tie. A plain white shirt helps keep the look clean. 

This photograph could have been taken at almost any time on the last fifty years; the look is a masterpiece of classic simplicity. The suit (which may or may not have been made by Kilgour of Savile Row) is generally reported to have been a subtle blue-grey Glen check (Prince of Wales check), a cloth that never shows up properly in photographs. The tie is said to have been grey with very fine polka dots, rather than plain.

As usual, I've found some products at different prices to enable you to recreate the look. The intention is not to exactly copy, but to give a similar style. You could finish it off with some brown Oxford or Derby brogues with burgundy socks and a subtle dove-grey textured silk pocket square that doesn't inject too much colour into this understated style.

The suits I've selected are off-the-peg, but you may prefer bespoke or made to measure for a perfect fit. I've spoken to Susannah Hall, tailor, who could make a suit for you from £850 depending on choice of cloth and style. Prices elsewhere for a tailored suit can rise to several thousand pounds, depending on the level of bespoke and the tailor you select

M&S Sartorial check suit £299

Richard James grey birdseye Hyde suit £795

Oliver Peoples Gregory Peck sunglasses

John Lewis Oxford shirt £35

Burberry £275 Mr Porter

M&S silk textured tie £17.50

Marwood tie and tie pin £280 - Mr Porter

For more in the Recreating the Look series click here. If you have any looks you would like me to recreate, please get in touch.

Suppliers

Marks & Spencer

Richard James

Oliver Peoples

John Lewis

Mr Porter

Marwood

Grey Fox's Friday Favourites: socks, hair, boxer shorts, Private White VC

This is the first of an occasional Friday round-up of news and of products I've tried and approved of. If you'd like to contribute your selected tips, news or recommendations about favourite products, please e-mail me.

Archer & Peyton socks

I'm a bit of a sucker for a nice pair of socks, particularly if they come brightly-coloured. I've had to struggle hard to manipulate this image to show the lovely apple-green of these socks from Archer & Peyton, whose products are beautifully-made in Italy. Lovely colour, lovely socks.

Visit Archer & Peyton's website for a range of patterned and colourful socks, with style advice, limited editions, information and a shop to buy your choice of hosiery.

White Hot hair products

I reviewed these products for grey and white hair a while ago. I recently realised how much I'd come to rely on them when I ran out of their shooshing creme, which so effectively keeps my longer Fox locks on place. An urgent message and replacements were rushed to me by the lovely people at White Hot.

I've been using a number of their products, from shampoo to conditioner, and they've been ideal for my grey hair as it becomes whiter, keeping it lustrous and healthy-looking. Highly recommended.

For men and women, they can be ordered from the White Hot Hair website.

British Boxers introduce stretch trunks, made in England

Another brand I've talked about before, British Boxers have added stretch trunks to their range. For those of us who prefer their assets to be held more securely than looser conventional shorts, these provide the very comfortable answer. I'm planning a feature on this brand soon.

Meanwhile, you can buy the stretch trunks online at British Boxers (new website due soon) or at Susannah Hall Tailors.

Private White VC news

It's been a busy time at Private White VC. They've welcomed The Princess Royal at their Manchester factory, refurbished their shop in Lamb's Conduit Street in London, had a successful time at Goodwood Revival and are about to open a second London store. Their AW14 collection contains some mouth-watering products, including gorgeous knitwear and the rather nice cashmere Ashley blazer.

It's good to see their collection developing each year and to see a proud British menswear producer achieving the recognition they deserve.

The Princess Royal pays homage to Brutus, head of Private White VC

White Hot hair care - for your greying and silver manly locks

Specifically formulated for grey and silver hair for both men and women, White Hot was founded by Jayne Mayled after she allowed her hair to go grey, after many years of using hair dye. Like many women who take the step, she saw it as a positive move and was pleasantly surprised by the positive reaction from friends and family. I thought I'd give their products a try.

Grey Fox, grey locks - and White Hot hair care

I was one of those men for whom products like this mean little, believing that shampoo is shampoo and the cheapest is best. So it was with a little scepticism that I tried Jayne's products. I was sent a box with a variety of tubes and tubs; shampoos, conditioners and a 'shooshing creme' (like a hair gel). The experiment coincided with a decision to allow my hair to grow a little thicker.

Jayne Mayled, founder of White Hot

I have to say that I was converted. The shampoos and conditioners leave my hair feeling very soft and not at all dry, as some products do. The shooshing creme is ideal for my slightly longer and thicker hair, allowing it to be combed into position with the fingers so that it stays there without looking like a greasy hair gel.

The products contain a variety of ingredients, one of which is designed to enhance greys and silvers, which can go a little yellow. Whether it's the products or not, I like the streaky silver, grey, darker effects which my longer locks now display.

For men and women

I'm really pleased with these products, which impress by their simplicity and effectiveness. They are ideal for greying and silver-haired men and I recommend them unreservedly.

White Hot is available to buy at www.whitehothair.co.uk and www.boots.com. Prices start from £12. Join the White Hot community on Facebook (www.facebook.com/WhiteHotHair ) and Twitter @whitehothair.

Fashion and the older man - style past 40 - Grey Fox scribbles in The Guardian

Image Alan Paine 

I thought I'd gather here links to some of my writing on The Guardian Fashion Blogs network. I'm doing this to make these posts available from here on Grey Fox and to ensure that what appears here is a more complete collection of articles on style and fashion for older men, men past 40 years of age - those of us in middle age. Some of these are revised versions of posts here on Grey Fox Blog.

Meet the bloggers, Grey Fox, the old blogger, goes large. Why I chose to write about older men's style here and in The Guardian.

Are men (especially older men) afraid of dressing well? Why is it that the man over forty is often reluctant to dress well?

Denim jeans and the middle-aged man Why shouldn't older men wear denims?

Where are the grey-haired men in advertising? Why do we see so few middle-aged, older, grey-haired men advertising menswear? Are we being ignored by the fashion industry?

Ageless style What suits the older man? How can the middle-aged man dress with style?

Shorts - an older man never grows out of them Shorts and the mature man. Older men are often criticised unfairly for wearing shorts. How can this be avoided?

Marks & Spencer Best of British collection An older man tries it on. Grey Fox emulates Oliver Cheshire.

Men's fashion in 2014 - What's there for the older man? 

Grey Fox emulates Oliver Cheshire for The Guardian Blog

Grey hairs on the catwalk in 2014 - is the older man coming of age in the fashion world?

I've often written about the need for more older models in fashion advertising. It seems so obvious that the older man, a huge and affluent demographic, is likely to buy more clothes if he sees older role models wearing stylish, fashionable, cool (whatever label you like to apply) clothes. 

Gordon Richardson on the catwalk in June 2012 for Oliver Spencer

Last summer I expressed my disappointment on Twitter at the exclusive use of young models at one of the June LC:M's presentations and was struck from that particular guest list in January for my pains. However, this was the only negative response. I've spoken to many people who agree that it makes sense to have more grey hairs on the catwalk. I was delighted when I met Hackett before Christmas and was told that they would use older models in their show at LC:M - as indeed they did (see below).

Hackett AW14

Some labels, like Oliver Spencer (below) and Rake, have always seen the sense of marketing to a wide age range. It works well when we see a mix of ages on a catwalk or in a fashion advert. Each age group wears, and accessorises clothes differently, and it helps to see this.

Oliver Spencer AW14

Look at Gordon Richardson, design director at Topman (pictured at the top of this post). One day he wears a conventional navy blazer with dark polo neck and spotted pocket square; the next a skinny-trousered Topman creation. Yet he always looks good without appearing to try too hard. Whether you like his style or not, he shows the possibilities for older men.

We need such role models. Suitably inspired, older men will dress creatively, stylishly and adventurously.

Hackett AW14 at London Collections: Men - great clothes and grey hair on the catwalk

A couple of weeks ago I met Mark Owens, Marketing Director at Hackett. Knowing my wish to see more older models in menswear advertising to encourage interest in menswear among older men, he told me that the Hackett show would include some grey hairs - and so it did. Here's a video of today's Hackett show. Superb clothes for every man.

(I've added a better-edited video since first posting this).

Grey Fox Models 13 - Nigel Cabourn AW13

What a superb advertisement for Nigel Cabourn's wonderful Everest parka and Harris tweed jacket, from the Autumn/Winter 2013 collection. An excellent example of the use of older models to sell menswear. More of this would encourage and embolden older men in their shopping and style choices. See Nigel Cabourn.

For more in the Grey Fox Models series, looking at older models advertising menswear, click here. 

Older men in fashion advertising

I've been updating my Pinterest board where I'm collecting images of older men in fashion advertising.

Why do I do that? Because they're a rare sight and we need to persuade the myopic menswear industry that they'll get access to a large and very affluent customer demographic if they advertise to men over 40. Men of that age group can lose confidence as they see high street shops selling largely to younger men. A little encouragement, in the form of advertising acknowledging that a) older men exist, and b) they can be stylish too, will encourage them to buy.

I'd be grateful if you'd pay my Pinterest board a visit and, if you know any more (like this example by Hackett), please let me know.

Grey Fox models 11 - Jeremy Irons advertises for Berluti

With Berluti, bootmakers since 1895, opening a new shop in Conduit Street, London, it's good to see that they recognise the demographic of their clientèle by using Jeremy Irons in their advertising campaign - top marks to Berluti!

For others in the series of grey-haired models in menswear advertising click here.

Grey Fox Models 10 - Oliver Spencer at London Collections:Men

This was the only grey-haired model I saw during London Collections:Men. It's quite possible that I missed others, but mature male models were few and far between.

Why is it that the menswear industry shows no interest in the older man, a huge and affluent market? Will someone please explain it to me? I asked everywhere at LC:M and had no answers.

Image Catwalking

Oliver Spencer showed beautiful softly-tailored and coloured clothes which would be ideal for the man looking for something with classic roots, but providing a slightly different and edgy look.

See Oliver Spencer's website here.

For others in the series of grey-haired models in menswear advertising click here.

Grey Fox models 8 - Alan Paine - grey hairs in fashion advertising

Many congratulations to Alan Paine for using older male models in advertising their knitwear, country and lifestyle wear. Alan Paine tell me that this model will shortly reappear wearing their Autumn/Winter range - and I'll show you a picture of that soon.

Yes, older men do like to dress stylishly too!

I hope to feature more about Alan Paine in due course; meanwhile, take a look at the website here for more on this historic British brand.

Here's another older man advertising their Explorer Collection.

Grey Fox Models 6: grey hair fashion advertising - well done T.K. Maxx

Well done to TK Maxx for recognising that the older, wiser and greyer among us like to wear stylish clothes.

Click here for other advertisers bucking the youth-obsessed trends of the fashion world.

And see also the Grey Fox Pinterest board for more grey haired menswear advertising.

Grey Fox Models 3 - grey hair fashion advertising - Millican and Universal Works

Universal Works and Millican have recently collaborated on a range of bags, which I'll feature in a future post. I wanted to show their advertising as a further entry into the prestigious Grey Fox Models awards in which I celebrate those menswear and accessories suppliers who recognise that men with grey hair can be interested in style - well done Millican and Universal Works.

And read about my own Millican bag here.  See others in the Grey Fox Models series here.

Grey Fox Models: grey hair fashion advertising 2 - well done The Kooples

Quite frankly The Kooples is the last menswear shop I would have expected to win a coveted Grey Fox Models Award. But, here we are, even featuring some great dad-dancing from grey fox, Bernard!

It just shows that older men shouldn't rule out all the apparently youth-orientated high street retailers in the search for middle age style. I will now be investigating my local outlet.

Well done The Kooples (click for their website)!

Grey Fox Models: grey hair fashion advertising - well done Hackett

How often do you see menswear fashion adverts aimed at the older man? Not often. Yet the older man, as a demographic, is growing in size. I suspect that we are also taking an increasing interest in matters of style. So, I'm going occasionally to post images of adverts featuring grey foxes. I may need your help with this; please contact me if you see any suitable for showing here. Please also visit my accompanying Pinterest board, Grey Hair Fashion Adverts here.

Congratulatulations to Hackett for this one, which I found in Le Magazine du Monde when visiting Paris recently. I would like to know if it's been used in any UK or US publications, or does its appearance in a French magazine simply reflect the greater interest among older French men in stylish fashion?

In Camera - London Fashion Week February 2013 Part 1

I hadn't intended going to London Fashion Week to pursue my new street photography career; but it was a beautiful sunny day and I couldn't resist.

I was on the lookout for images of older men of style - grey foxes. Here's a mixture, not all fashion world types. More to come!

Grey hair 5 - with fawns and browns

This is the last (for the time being) of the Grey Hair for men series. How does grey hair look with browns - russets, fawns, chocolate, aubergine? Here's the answer. You may wish to add a highlighting splash of colour - blues, reds, oranges, mustard yellow, pinks; perhaps framed within a crisp white shirt.

All images from The Sartorialist (unless stated).

Image origins not known

Image Tommy Ton, Pitti Uomo 2013

Tommy Ton