Old college student trying to find my style niche.

[Lostcause]

Hello forum,

I need advice. I changed my environment and am struggling to dress appropriately while still being true to myself.

I am a 43 year old undergraduate college student at a major university. One where the average age of student is a preposterous 21 years old.

I find it difficult to find a "style" niche. My first year here I tried to "age-up" the ordinary college look. Jeans and some ironic t-shirt, except I "aged" it by choosing shirts from my era; dungeons and dragons, Atari, C-64 etc. I was a geek and figured this was a way of dressing like a college student while acknowledging my age.

I never felt comfortable and feel like an idiot for trying that look for so long.


So, I have changed my look to capture who I am. I am a veteran with more than 20 years service, including two wars. I feel pretty comfortable in clothing that has a hint of utility or military aspect to it.

These are the boots I wear (I ride a vintage scooter and a motorcycle to school so I use ankle boots).
http://www.amazon.com/Dr-Martens-Me...&qid=1405476631&sr=1-28&keywords=buckle+boots
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VXBCS0/ref=sr_ph?ie=UTF8&qid=1405476608&sr=1&keywords=buckle+boots


I wear caps like this often (slight variations in color and style but mostly flat caps):
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003ULNB7U/ref=twister_B00J5AB1PE

And I usually wear dark blue jeans or dark tan khakis, or dark grey pants,

occasionally wear pants like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Vintage-Parat...1405476831&sr=8-12&keywords=paratrooper+pants


I wear casual or easy care button down shirts with or without undershirts, usually with, never with a sheen. And this will cause some of you to cringe - I almost never tuck them in. Example:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008R50UT6/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I don't wear a button down shirt with utility pants, instead I wear a unpatterned subdued blend sweater.

Belt with buckle, mostly silver tone and simple buckles.

And I pair them with either a orphan suit jacket or sport coat that has either no pattern or a very simple non-dressy pattern (like herringbone) I do not like jackets that look like they are missing trousers.

However, I usually wear military inspired jackets like this (especially with when I wear utility/cargo pants I never wear utility pants with a suit jacket). This link is to an XXL but I wear large. I have several different military inspired jackets of different colors and designs - including a P-coat. All designed for civilian wear (I never wear an actual surplus military jacket).

http://www.amazon.com/Michael-Kors-...r_1_5?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1405477865&sr=1-5



My student backpack is a tactical sling bag that I absolutely love.

I feel like I am dressing reasonably appropriately for my age while not looking like a professor.


So that was long, but that was everything I could think of. I am looking for feedback and advice. This is last christmas (forgot to mention I sometimes wear a watch cap if it is cold).

 

[shootspeed]

best advice here is to lurk here a bit and check out the waywt thread and search the forum for info. since you like military stuff, i think you'd be into sf approved brands like ten c, engineered garments, and nigel cabourn. look for those threads here and be prepared to spend $$$. that's pretty much it.

 

[blitzmage]

Best to wear clothes that both college students and middle aged men will wear.

From the top of my head this will include plain polo shirts, dark jeans, chinos and boat shoes/loafers.

A professor of mine a little older that you wears it at school and I find it age appropriate for him and even for us in our early 20's.