How to: Marks & Spencer party menswear with Grey Fox and Garcon Jon

I was delighted to work with Jonathan Pryce and Marks & Spencer on a guide to party and occasional menswear. The photographer was Scott Simpson, whose Scott Fraser range of menswear I've talked about before. Visit M&S to see the Guide. Here are some images (all Marks & Spencer) taken during the photo-shoot.

I explained why I'm very happy to be involved in such photo-shoots in Thursday's blog post (see below). We're given little chance to see what menswear products look like on older men, so if I can step into that gap, I'll do so. Many thanks to M&S for appreciating that older men are interested in style.

Websites

Marks & Spencer 

GarconJon 

Scott Fraser

T. Lipop SS14

I first came across the menswear brand T Lipop early last year and am ashamed it's taken me so long to write about them. They hit the spot for me for several reasons -

• They manufacture some of the collection in Britain
• They're beautifully made
• They're beautifully designed
• They're different
• They use an older and very cool model to advertise this spring/summer 2014 collection

These images don't show the quality of these clothes. More information below.

See T. Lipop or Facebook for more information.

Paul Weller and daughter Leah model for Daks 120th Anniversary campaign

I'm always banging on about the lack of older models selling menswear, so well done to Daks for using Paul Weller and his daughter, Leah, in their 120th Anniversary campaign. Here they are singing Weller's You do something to me. 

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.

Alan Paine Autumn/Winter 2013 - Grey Fox Models 12

Some weeks ago I promised to show you the Autumn/Winter 2013 collection from British knitwear brand Alan Paine, starring the older bearded model used in previous campaigns. 

The range comprises 75 colours and, although not manufactured in the UK, is made using lambswool and Geelong spun in England by the same supplier that the brand has worked with for over 60 years, Z. Hinchliffe and Sons, who have over 250 years of dying and spinning expertise.

Alan Paine’s English Explorer collection is inspired by the brand’s connection with the eminent English mountaineer, George Mallory who took part in three expeditions to Mount Everest, the final one being his last when he and his climbing partner, Sandy Irvine, disappeared on the North-East ridge on 8th June 1924. It is still not known whether they reached the summit.

Mallory's frozen body was discovered 75 years after his disappearance.  Several items of clothing were recovered, one bearing the label W.F. Paine, Godalming; the shop owned by Alan Paine’s father, William Paine, and the place where William founded his knitwear business in 1907. 

The Alan Paine Autumn/Winter 2013 collection will shortly be available from select stores and www.alanpaine.co.uk.

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.

Alan Paine AW13 - a quick preview (no. 9 in series of Grey Fox models)

Here's a glimpse of the Alan Paine Autumn/Winter '13 look, starring the same bearded gent featured in the Grey Fox Models post earlier this week.

Wouldn't it be great if we could see more of this? Older men are increasingly interested in style (if my mailbox is anything to go by) and it's time the fashion industry acknowledged this. They may even make some money out of it! The more they see such advertising, the more older men will want to spend on style.

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 7: grey hair fashion advertising - well done Viyella

Viyella is another company that aims its advertising at all ages of man without stooping to the horribly un-stylish.

Well done Viyella! For more on their products see my post here. See Viyella's website to buy online or in-store and at Austin Reed.

This is the eighth of my series celebrating companies who recognise that all ages of man can enjoy stylish and well-designed menswear products and advertise accordingly. For the others in the series click here.

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 5: Dunhill's Don McCullin video

Alfred Dunhill have used Don McCullin in an advertising campaign. The ultimate grey fox, indeed.

Renowned for his war photography, and latterly landscape and still life work, McCullin talks, in the video below, about his disillusionment with the use of photography to record conflict.

Well done Dunhill! Visit the Alfred Dunhill website here.

Grey Fox Models 4: grey hair fashion advertising - well done Baracuta - video

Congratulations to Baracuta. These video and still images comprise the fourth of a series of fashion advertisements and celebrate a company that recognises that style doesn't disappear in middle age.

The Harrington jacket was developed by Baracuta* (see footnote) in the 1930s and has become a style icon, worn by Elvis Presley, Steve McQueen and Frank Sinatra, among others. The company was recently sold, but it seems the jacket's future is assured.

Clothing with such history and tradition can be worn by any age - new mods and originals - so is by no means the preserve of the young. Well done Baracuta!

Synonymous & Antonymous (long version) from WP on Vimeo.

*My original text repeated information on the web that said that Grenfell was one of the originators of the Harrington jacket. I've been contacted by a reputable source who tells me that there is no evidence of Grenfell's early involvement. I'm happy to change this if anyone can produce a 30s manufactured Grenfell Harrington jacket.

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?