GUEST WRITER SLK

Have you ever noticed how many men, straight men in particular, get stuck at the age when they were at their peak? I never realized this fact until my friend Greg pointed it out to me one night over a cosmopolitan (or two). I was a bit concerned that Greg’s comment was a clever way of telling me I was becoming unfashionable in my middle ages. Always one to confront my fears, I questioned Greg on the matter and he informed me that he was, in fact, referring to another friend.
I have to admit that when I got home I was still a bit troubled by this revelation and began to examine myself. Had I gotten stuck in the mid 1990’s when I was at my peak? To ensure I was maintaining some semblance of being fashionable, I searched my closet and my reflection in the mirror for any signs of becoming stagnant. I must admit that my wardrobe had some remnants of my Ralph Lauren days, however, I had mixed in a few more fashion-forward designers such as Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Etro and John Varvatos to keep my look current. I am of the posture that the key to looking good as you age is to have a diversified wardrobe that suits you in any situation. This is especially true if you live in a city like New York where you never know what event you may find yourself attending on any given night.

Also, thanks to Antonio, my hair has changed dramatically since the signature hair style I sported all through the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. Over the years we have added texture, movement, color and glazing to my hair in an attempt to maintain a youthful appearance. The key is to ensure your youthful appearance does not look childish. This is a fine line to walk so it is important to work with a hair stylist who knows what they are doing. To add some variety, I also sport different looks in different seasons; shorter in the summer and longer in the winter. If you do let your hair grow a bit longer this winter, make sure you do not allow any gray hairs to get too wiry, especially in the back along your neck.

Finally, I no longer lived in a home decorated filled with antiques like an English manor house. I blame the marketing geniuses at Ralph Lauren for convincing so many of us in the late 1980’s that buying their clothes and home furnishings would automatically transform us into American aristocrats. I live in a modern New York apartment, not on a rolling country estate so now my home is decorated with contemporary furnishings that have clean lines. I have friends who live in beautiful pre war buildings who have decorated their homes with period furnishings. To not look dated, however, they have incorporated one or two modern accent pieces that add a contemporary flare to the room.
It is a clear fact that many men reach their peak years in between their early 20’s and mid 30’s. This is a time when they look their best and maintaining an attractive physique is much easier. With so much going for them, it is easy to see why someone would want to stay at this point in their life. The tragic fact is that the world does not remain stagnant, even if you want to. Fashion trends come and go, hair styles change, home décor evolves. So as to not become tired and dated it is important to consistently maintain a fresh take on how you present yourself to the world. If you are feeling a bit stagnant in your life, ask Antonio for a new look or contact me and we can go through your closet to freshen things up for you.