If there is such a thing as a uniform for hot granddads, Jon Holmes is already wearing it.
For our Uniform of Hot Dads series, we sat down with Neemsayer Jon Holmes to explore what style looks like in your seventies when comfort, ease and a lifetime in sport have quietly replaced the need to dress for business battles. Jon has spent five decades at the centre of British sport and media, described by The Independent as “one of the most respected sports agents”, and more recently by The Observer as the “Godfather of British Sports Agents”, the last of a certain kind of gentleman intermediary.
We spoke to Jon about getting dressed now, what he’s left behind from his “battle dress” era of suits and ties, and how becoming a grandfather, and a slower, retired pace of life, has reshaped his relationship with style.
For any sporting lovers, you can listen to his podcast here
We asked Jon what style looks like in his seventies, and how it’s changed...
How would you describe your style today?
"Like most days, because I'm retired, I’ll get up. Check what the weather’s going to be like, and that decides how many layers I put on. The steel blue merino shirt I wear a lot, with a simple tee layered under, I like this look and it’s very comfortable."
What’s one thing you wear now that you wouldn’t have worn 20 years ago?
"I’m not going to business lunches where I have to look like I’m in business. Whereas 20 years ago I was wearing suits - I used to have a chalk stripe bespoke suit and I used to call that my battle dress for when I was going to go to a big deal meeting. I used to wear a lot of ties, and for a period, bow ties, which I wouldn’t really wear now.
Men's necks as they get older aren’t so attractive so now I wear the neem neckerchiefs and neck scarves, as a tie alternative in a way, because people are more casual now than 20, 30 years ago. So a neckerchief is not something I would have worn 20 years ago.
Learn how to tie a neckerchief here.
Did becoming a grandfather change how you dress?
"As a grand father well, yeah you’re gonna get things thrown over you like ice cream, and things like that so you have to be practical to an extent
And there’s partly a bit of you that says ‘I don’t want to end up looking really old’, which I think is why I was drawn to Neem because it worked for someone mature but without actually dressing ‘like a grandfather’."
What’s one piece of style advice you’d give your younger self?
"Keep your figure by any means.
Watch what you eat - don’t have business meals out for breakfast, lunch and dinner!
Yes, keep fit, don’t smoke."