When Elizabeth “The Vintage Contessa” and I started this series, our goal was to seek out women in our age group that own their own style and wear it well.
A few weeks ago I started thinking; why should we only focus on women? What about fashionable men over 50? Enter Andy Poupart. I found Andy on Instagram via my blogging friend Kim of Northern California Style.
In an effort to look younger, some men make the mistake of dressing too young which only makes them look older. Fashion is not the same as style. If you dress with style you will look good no matter your age.Andy knows how to mix texture and pattern skillfully. He understands the art of layering. He knows how to combine colors that compliment each other. In the end, he keeps things simple and well tailored. He wears his clothes they don’t wear him. I hope you enjoy my interview with Andy.
How Would You Describe Your Style?
An interesting question to lead off with! I aim for a style that is what I would describe as classically English with a little extra flair. I love the color red, for example, and I sometimes incorporate red accessories into my look. I also am a big fan of bracelets. I wear a hat every day, I wear bowties, I wear cravats. In the summer, I wear a cream linen suit and an ivory wool suit. A lot of people will look at something and say or think “I like that, but I could never wear it”, or “I couldn’t pull that off”. I do not want to be that guy. Cream suits, spectator shoes, bow ties, Panama hats, I love them all. And I’m not afraid to wear them.
What Inspires your signature style
I am most inspired by the great movie icons of the past. Fred Astaire, Cary Grant, Gary Cooper. Astaire just looked so at ease in everything he wore. Cary Grant, too. His style was effortlessly elegant. Now, of course, these people are inspiring in part because there are so many images of them available.
I recently commissioned a dinner jacket modeled fairly closely on the jacket Humphrey Bogart wore in the movie “Casablanca”. I’ve reached a point in my life where I can indulge such ideas.
What accessory Can You Not Do Without?
A hat.
Favorite Color
Red.
Do you have a signature piece that defines your style?
That’s a hard question to answer. And I think the answer varies over time. I’d like to think my style was well-tailored clothing, tastefully selected and worn with ease. One piece? Possibly a green tweed jacket made for me by Steed Bespoke Tailors a few years ago. To this day it remains the single best item of clothing I own, I think. But I recently received a double-breasted suit made from a navy flannel with a dark red box check that is no longer available. It’s an amazing suit that might be my defining piece.
What are your style strengths?
I like to think I understand classic style and that I have fairly good taste. I know what I’m doing. And if I break the rules, it’s not an accident. But I also have the confidence to carry off a look that others might find challenging. A red silk dinner jacket, for example. Or just a dinner jacket at all. Or my cream linen suit. I wear all with confidence and that’s the key.
Do you have a style icon?
Fred Astaire.
Do you have repeat offenders (things you wear often) in your closet if so what are they?
Yes, I certainly do. Certain white shirts, especially one by Marol that is designed to be worn without a tie and have the perfect collar roll. I own countless pocket squares, but I come back to the same few over and over again.
What advice do you have for men over 50, or over 40?
Stay in shape, first and foremost. Then, dress your age. I’m not a hipster and I can’t wear skinny jeans. But I can wear an A1 flight jacket and look good. I will wear Levi 501 jeans as I’ve been wearing them all my life and see no reason to stop. But the key advice is true at any age: carry yourself with confidence. If you do that, everything else is easy.
Do you have any style rules that you live by?
Not really. As I’ve said, I aim for a certain interpretation of classic English style. I try not to look old-fashioned, but I dress to please only two people: my wife and myself. If I succeed at that, then there are no other opinions that matter.
What are your favorite online go to sources?
For style advice, I read and contribute to Styleforum. There are a couple of menswear blogs that I read, but I don’t follow their advice slavishly. For online shopping, I mostly buy accessories online. Drake’s for pocket square and scarves, H.N White, Vanda, and Sam Hober for ties, Simonnot-Godard for pocket squares.
Do you have a particular designer that you are drawn to?
No. I use two tailors and I’m auditioning a third next week. I use two main shirtmakers. I’m not sure if that’s what you mean. For my wife, we are clients of Camille Flawless for cocktail dresses and evening gowns and she finds a lot of daytime pieces at White House Black Market. My shoes are either bespoke or Edward Green and she uses Jimmy Choo and Christian Laboutin.
Thank you, Andy, for allowing me to interview you for Ageless Style.
Does your man need some help upping his styling game? Follow Andy on Instagram @styleafter50.
Be sure to stop by The Vintage Contessa to see who Elizabeth is featuring this month. I know you won’t be disappointed.
I just discovered your blog and this post. I have always loved a man who dresses well. And he is very handsome as well!
I once saw a man in a local thrift store who was impeccably dressed. So unusual in this day and I stopped him to compliment him. To find him in a thrift store was unexpected. He said some of his best items have been found in thrift stores.
Mr. Poupart would inspire me to ask him, upon seeing him finely dressed, if he would dance with me. I wonder if that happens to him when he’s unaccompanied? It is refreshing to see a man well dressed!
Yes it is Anne…so much better than birkenstocks and shorts!
Oh yes.
Pinned an outfit for Beloved…..
XOT
Hi Tara! All the men in our lives could take some tips from Andy, couldn’t they?
Cindy I’m so delighted to hear from a fashionable guy in your style series. And I’m so impressed with his impeccable taste and self-confidence…. and boy does he wear his clothes well. His fashion icons–Cary Grant and Fred Astaire are personal favorites of mine, such classic style and I can see them reflected in the outfits that Andy wears. Thanks for introducing us to him! And great job with this style series I’m really enjoying the interviews!
xo
Leslie
Hi Leslie! I am so glad you are enjoying the series. Isn’t Andy a joy?
Thank you for this wonderful post Cindy! It was such an inspiration to ready about Andy’s style in clothes, which he wears with such confidence. With Fred Astaire and Gary Grant as icons, he certainly can’t go wrong. I particularly liked his red silk evening jacket.
Hi Jennifer I am so glad you enjoyed it ! Andy is a breath of fresh air isn’t he?!
What a great post Cindy! This guy has it all going on…seriously.
I love menswear and how refined it always seems, especially the really great brands. Just spent a great afternoon with my husband in Newport Beach and he always stops into Gary’s. He has been shopping from the same salesman for the last 20 years!!!! They sell a lot of expensive suits and blazers but the guys buying those are also buying Reyn Spooner shirts and topsiders. Some things never change : )) Loved this!
xo kelley
Ha! Reyn Spooner shirts a flash from the past!!
Andy is a man of style and class! We don’t see that much anymore, so my gratitude that he is brimming with confidence and good taste. He might be interested to know my stepfather, Jack, and Fred Astaire were dear friends… Like Fred, Jack was a beautiful dancer and like Andy and Fred, Jack had such an elegant style and way about him. When I was going through my mother’s things, to move her closer to me, I found several letters from Fred to Jack along with a silver pen he engraved with a message to Jack on his birthday. I’m cleaning out my storage units and am looking forward to finding them… along with notes of endearment to Jack from Greer Garson. Love your series, Brenda
oh i’m so glad i popped over and read this. what a handsome man with such impeccable taste. i live in southern california and all i ever see on many (any age) is shorts and flip flops. it’s just so casual here. but there are two men in my neighborhood, they are brothers who dress every single day in a navy blazer and almost always white trousers. they both wear boaters and sometimes carry canes bc they are getting up there in age. i just adore seeing them out and about. xo
What great style!! I checked out his instagram, and he looks fabulous EVERY DAY! He and his wife make such a striking couple. Thanks to you and Elizabeth for this great series.
A true GENTLEMAN with a capital,”G!” So refined and stately, fun post!
What a very dapper gentleman! I wish I could get my husband to understand style for men. I am going to turn him on to Andy’s Instagram for sure. Thank you!
Oh my goodness – His style is just exactly what I consider to be simply fabulous, I adore the confidence with which he “wears” his clothes – they don’t wear him in anyway whatsoever. That in itself is so attractive. This is a really great post.
Cindy,
So excited to see Andy here. I just clicked over to read and what a surprise. Love him. I spotted him last year while holiday shopping at Gumps in San Francisco and just had to say hi. Rare to see someone that looks like Cary Grant out shopping. He is as nice as he is handsome. Great to read more about how he puts it all together. I like that he always includes watches, shoes and hats in his looks. That top suit – wow- movie star. I only wish more guys would follow his lead. Fun following his Instagram..to see where he is and what he wears.
I grew up with a grandfather that was very particular about his clothes and always looked so dashing. My dad is not as into clothes as his father was, but is always super groomed and has his stalwarts- 501 jeans, wool sweaters, and other classics he will not stray from. My husband is getting more into nice clothes, but It seems that too many men, especially here in Silicon Valley have really no care for style. I am working on my sons!
I would love to see more Andys! Thanks for this great series Cindy and you were sweet to mention me. x Kim
P.S. Cindy I don’t think the link to Andy’s instagram works at the end here. You may want to test it. xx
Thanks Kim! I fixed it, and thank you for the kind comments about Andy. I think everyone has enjoyed this interview very much!
Great post!
Thanks Shari!
HI Cindy, Two of Andy’s photos are still missing at the beginning of the post on Safari. What a handsome gentleman. My favorite is the dark suit and red tie. I’m sending Howard the link to this fun post.
ALL THE GREAT PHOTOS ARE THERE NOW. THANKS!
Here’s my comment:
Karen could not get her comment to post so I am posting it on her behalf!
What a dapper gent, he is! I have been following Andy for a while on IG. He is the epitome of tastefully curated masculine style in my opinion! Thanks so much, Cindy – and Andy – for this installment to your series with Elizabeth! Love it! Karen
As you can see, I’m multi-tasking at work! J Have a great day!
Best,
Karen
Wow! What a treat to see a man dress with such style and class. Yes, where are the Fred Astairs and Cary Grants of our day. Does that make me old? Maybe but boy he looks great. Notice he also has many pieces made for him. Just a sight for sore eyes.
Thanks Sandra! Isn’t Andy the best? Maybe our husbands could take a few lessons!!
He is the best as for the past few months he started including his wife to the set of pictures. What a gentleman for such gesture. Kind of his part to make his wife feel part of it. Very sweet old couple. Best wishes to then and Contessa thanks for the awesome article
HE IS A BREATH of FRESH AIR!
I SHALL FOLLOW HIM ON IG and SHARE HIM with MEN THAT NEED A LITTLE REFINEMENT!!!!!
It is such a PLEASURE to see MEN dressed well……….LIKE ART!
BEAUTIFUL INTERVIEW………………I hope OUR AUDIENCE APPRECIATES HIS STYLE!I certainly DO!!