Entering your fourth decade feels like the perfect time to take tailoring seriously. “As a recently recruited member of the thirties club, I’ve been trying to smarten up my personal style while still being true to my smart-casual roots,” says Mr Kwesi Amoasi, MR PORTER’s PR & Comms Executive. “I’ve been on the lookout for matching sets with chore jackets and casual twill blazers to add a subtle sartorial touch.”

Every man needs a well-fitting suit, whether it’s for a special occasion or a relaxed blazer for everyday wear, says Mr Tobias Wightman, Social Media Editor at MR PORTER. “It’s taken me 29 years to own my first suit, and I’m smitten. I’ve never owned anything that made me feel so put together,” he says. “In fact, I’m excited to experiment with incorporating more tailoring into my everyday wardrobe – I see a casual blazer purchase in my near future.”

Your style is a reflection who you are and growing up doesn’t mean losing your sense of fun. “Getting older makes a lot of us more serious, but I like to keep some elements of playfulness to reflect my personality,” Amoasi says.

Which means that tailoring doesn’t have to be formal at all and can be really versatile, according to MR PORTER’s Junior Fashion Editor Mr Charlie Schneider-Jacobson. “Wear a relaxed-fit suit with a cashmere crew neck and sneakers,” he suggests. “Or a suit with a hoodie and a beanie hat. How about wearing just the trousers with a sweater and loafers, or the jacket with jeans and a striped shirt?”

If reaching your thirties has you looking to refresh your wardrobe or update your personal style, it’s wise stick to simple but classic staples that you can reach for over and over again.

“I think a strong array of basics should be in every thirtysomething man’s closet,” says fashion stylist Mr Rudy Simba Betty, who has worked with clients such as Messrs Damson Idris, Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Sami Outalbali. “You should have a selection of plain white T-shirts, a black rollneck, a neutral-coloured sweater, a comfortable pair of jeans and a trusted pair of underwear – you can never go wrong with a pair of Calvin Kleins.”

You should also have a good pair of leather Derby shoes, Schneider-Jacobson says. “Preferably with a thicker sole and wider toe. These will go well with jeans and tailored trousers – good for any informal occasion.”

The days of just wearing the same The North Face puffer jacket over everything are done. It’s time to invest in timeless pieces that will last you a good while and a classic overcoat that can transition seamlessly from season to season is one of them.

“Coats and jackets, I’ve become obsessed with them,” Schneider-Jacobson says. “I would invest in a good trench coat that you can wear with a hoodie and scarf for autumn, but for spring just wear it with a T-shirt and jeans.”

Entering your thirties often comes with a confidence and clarity of personal style where you’re longer swayed by fleeting trends or conscious of what people might think and you start dressing for yourself.

“By the time you reach your thirties, you’ve lived a little more life, discovered a bit more about yourself, what you like and don’t, what you want and no longer want,” Simba Betty says. “I truly believe that your life choices, be it sartorial or others, are informed by all these breakthroughs.”

Hopefully, the fashion faux pas of your twenties are a thing of the past, and you can begin to embrace a wardrobe that reflects your newfound wisdom and sophistication.

“In my early twenties, I dabbled in styles and trends that were definitely not my style – which I knew at the time – but it’s easy to get swept up in the hype of products or brands,” Wightman says. “I have a much better grasp on what I like, what suits me and makes me feel my best.”

Simba Betty believes that by tuning in a bit more to your own frequency, you also fine-tune your tastes along with the way you dress and present yourself to the world. “I have always enjoyed the art of dressing outside of my job, but I have never taken as much pleasure in it as in recent years, now halfway through my ‘dirty thirties’,” he says.

Schneider-Jacobson concurs that hitting the big 3-0 hits different. “My confidence has grown hugely since reaching my thirties and that has influenced my style,” he says. “I hide less. Now I just wear what makes me happy. I’ve definitely embraced the Balenciaga sunglasses wave. They’re wild, but they kind of go with everything.”

One key aspect of dressing well in your thirties, or at any age for that matter, is getting it just so. “When purchasing any item, I think about every aspect of the piece,” Wightman says. “If it’s a jacket, for example, I think about how it sits on my shoulder, whether the bottom hem hits at my waist, the length of the sleeves and, most importantly, whether it will work with the rest of my wardrobe.”

No matter how stylish or high-quality your clothing may be, ill-fitting garments can instantly undermine your entire look, so don’t settle for clothes that merely hang on your frame. “I’m short, so I always consider if something will drown me or if it’s worth paying to have it altered,” Schneider-Jacobson says. Whether it’s taking in the waist of your trousers or adjusting the hem of your jacket, get the fit right.

According to Mr Adam Cheung, style writer at British GQ, “basically, your thirties are just like your twenties, but with more money, and a greater understanding of the power of a ‘no’ to a Tuesday night out.” If that’s the case, use your newfound riches and extra time to take a considered approach to adding new pieces to your wardrobe.

“I pay much more attention to quality and craft and shop consciously – less on a whim, much more considered,” Amoasi says. “I’m much more willing to save to buy a piece that will get many more wears than something cheap and cheerful.”

It’s a shopping strategy that Schneider-Jacobson also adheres to. “I don’t just buy it because it’s cheap and on trend anymore,” he says. “I take my time making purchases and think how I might be able to wear it in years to come.”

The influences shaping your wardrobe in your thirties might surprise you. Perhaps you’re now into vintage clothing or have discovered the allure of Japanese fashion. Whatever your inspiration, make sure it resonates with your personality and lifestyle.

“I’m a bit of an old soul at heart, which is reflected in what I wear,” Wightman says. “I find a lot of inspiration from 1970s and 1980s cinema. My wardrobe consists of suede jackets, washed-out bootcut denim and Cuban boots – or maybe I just want to be a cowboy? I like to find unique and exciting versions of everyday pieces.”

Inspiration can come from anywhere, even on the street. Amoasi suggests being observant and noting any outfits you admire that you think might work for you when you’re out and about. But you don’t have to go the whole hog with any one look. You can borrow key pieces from certain trends and add them to your daily rotation without going full cosplay.

“I personally find sartorial happiness in the ubiquitous and unwavering ‘yeehaw agenda’”, Simba Betty says of the current penchant for all things cowboy. How to adopt the yeehaw agenda for yourself? “You will most likely find me in a hoodie under an oversized coat and flared trousers while standing on business in a Cuban-heel boot.”

Of course, as you age, your style will continue to develop and change. (See our preview of what you can look forward to in your forties.) For now, you should frequently examine your current wardrobe, challenge whatever perceptions you might have about yourself and experiment with new designers, Amoasi suggests.

“As someone who loves to wear black, Japanese brands have been of interest,” he says. “And as I’m coming into my own style, I am diving deeper into brands such as Y-3 and ASICS. With streetwear and high-low dressing being commonplace, it’s given me the confidence to experiment and throw exciting fits together.”

Doing a wardrobe audit also helps you figure out what you should add or subtract from your collection. “I’ve definitely refined my wardrobe throughout the years, focusing on owning fewer pieces and purchasing items that I will own for years, ideally decades,” Wightman says. “I want to continue refining my collection with quality pieces that will age with me and develop character, like denim from KAPITAL or OrSlow. And I’m always looking for the perfect leather jacket – I’ll know it when I see it.”

“Lastly, not to be forgotten and never to be neglected, a signature fragrance is as important as a favourite item of clothing,” Simba Betty says.