Most kids grow up thinking their dad doesn’t have a clue about style. Between the ages of thirteen and seventeen, the thought of being seen out with your dad can fill them with dread. But this is merely the folly of youth, a natural response to becoming an adult themselves. And it’s all false. 

The thing is, dads can be stylish, but the problem with most dads is that they try to mimic the trends of those younger than them instead of finding a style that suits them. This is why dads with snapbacks and sagging jeans look like they’re trying too hard. Thankfully, there is another way. 

The Clothes

Clothes are a necessity that’s obvious enough. Still, for a lot of dads, especially the Hands Off the Thermostat kind, the thought of spending more than $5 on a shirt or $10 on a pair of jeans or shoes inspires heart palpitations followed by storming off grumbling about a world gone mad. 

And they’ll find an outfit that works and then wear that outfit until it’s falling apart at the seams. Convincing dad to invest in some high-quality threads that will both look good and last a long time can inject the style he desperately needs. 

Along with quality, there’s also the fit to think about. It’s likely your dad comes from a generation of regular fit, good old America Blue Jeans. While these work, they’re a classic for a reason, it might not be right for them. 

Encourage them to take a peek in the mirror and see how their current wardrobe fits. It might be that they haven’t taken a proper look in a long time, and from there, they can decide which fit better accentuates what they want to show off. 

The Accessories

As crucial as clothes are, they need the right accessories to take them from an everyday look to one that will have heads turning wherever they go, for the right reasons, too. 

Most dads have a chain or watch that they love and will refuse to part with, and that’s okay, especially if it has sentimental value. But you can try blinging it up a little by offering to clean it and give it back the shine it had 20 years ago when they first bought it. 

As for the rest of the outfit, a ratchet belt is a modern and convenient replacement the battered, cracking leather notch belt they seem almost too attached to. They can also complete the look with desert boots, which work most times of the year or secretly replace their Crocs with a nice pair of boat shoes for them to enjoy the summer in style. 

The Hair

For a lot of people, it’s the hair that makes the look, and it’s arguably up there with shoes as the most critical part of any look. But the older you get, the less you care about how your hair looks, or anything else, for that matter. 

But the right hairstyle, one that suits everything else, is vital for completing this injection of style. Whether it’s bushy, untamable, or balding in all the wrong places, you there is still hope. 

For balding dads, rocking the shaved head and beard look can take years off while also showing the right signs of growing old gracefully. For other hairstyles, a decent barber can do wonders, as can a tub of hair gel and some 24-hour hold hair spray. 

The Everything Else

Style isn’t only about the clothes you wear, but how you wear it and how you carry yourself. A dad who feels he doesn’t look right won’t command the same style as one confident in his new clothes. To overcome this, you’ll need to encourage him and remind him that he looks the part. You could even tell him you’ve never seen a dad so stylish, and you won’t even be lying. 

This confidence is essential whether they’re heading out to the store, meeting some old friends from back in the day, or attending a formal event, be it your wedding, a school reunion, or their surprise birthday party. With the right attitude, they can make any outfit look like they were destined to wear it, so maybe dad has had the style all along? 

A Style Injection

Your kids will grow up to realize that everything terrible they thought about their dad was false. It wasn’t that he missed the style memo, but that he wasn’t dressing the right way to suit him. Style knows no age restrictions, so just find which works best for you.