Men over 50 told to stop wearing hoodies: “This is ridiculous”

A 50-year-old Norwegian journalist has sparked a national debate after being told he should stop wearing hooded sweatshirts—simply because of his age. Eigil Kittang Ramstad’s commentary in Tønsbergs Blad about fashion rules for older men has drawn over a thousand supportive responses from readers refusing to abandon comfortable clothing.

Ramstad, who recently turned 50, wrote that he was suddenly faced with criticism for wearing his favorite hoodie—a garment he describes as his “soft, forgiving shield against the world.” Social media and younger acquaintances, he said, had made it clear: “Men over 50 shouldn’t wear hoodies.” Some even suggested the cutoff should be 40.

“I’ve always thought hoodies were acceptable for all ages,” Ramstad told Dagbladet. “But apparently, there’s an unspoken rule that once you hit a certain age, you have to dress a certain way—dull shirts, tight jeans, boring shoes. That’s not me.”

His opinion piece in Tønsbergs Blad, shared on Facebook with the summary “Eigil got a clear message: Men over 50 shouldn’t wear hoodies,” triggered an outpouring of defiance. Over 1,300 comments flooded in, with men in their 50s and 60s rejecting the idea:

“Born in ’63, and I wear what suits me.”
“Over 60 and still rocking my Iron Maiden hoodie—shocked faces be damned.”
“Turning 60 soon, and I’ll keep wearing hoodies no matter what.”

Ramstad, who admits he rarely checks his appearance beyond a quick glance in the mirror, said the backlash only strengthened his resolve. “After 1,300 comments supporting me, how could I stop?”

He’s not alone in his stance. Actor Stig Henrik Hoff (60), known for his role in TV 2’s Spillet, dismissed age-based fashion rules entirely. “I feel chill and comfortable in a hoodie—that’s what matters,” Hoff said. “If you dress in some boring suit, you’ll just get boxed in as an insurance salesman or something. I’d rather be myself.”

For both men, the issue isn’t about trends—it’s about comfort and autonomy. “People should be allowed to be themselves,” Hoff said. Ramstad agreed: “The hoodie is me. It’s soft, it’s practical, and I’m not giving it up just because of some arbitrary age rule.”