Before any outfit guide, haircut article or grooming routine goes live on Sharply Simple, it passes through a set process. This page lets you see what happens behind the scenes, so you know exactly what’s gone into the advice you’re reading and why you can trust it.
What We’re Here to Do
Sharply Simple exists to give men over 40 clear, honest and useful style advice. That means outfits you can actually wear, fit advice you can check against your own clothes, and haircuts and grooming routines that work with the face and hair you have now.
Every article should leave you better dressed or better informed than before you read it. If it doesn’t do that, it doesn’t get published.
From Idea to Published Article
Every article on Sharply Simple follows the same path:
- Picking the topic. Topics come from reader questions, common searches and the real problems men over 40 run into. That could be how jeans should fit after 40, or what haircut works with a receding hairline. Before writing starts, we define what the reader needs to walk away with.
- Research. We gather information from brand sizing guides, fabric and product details, trusted menswear publications, barber and stylist guidance, and personal experience where we have it.
- Outlining. The article is mapped out so the most useful answer comes first and each section earns its place.
- Drafting. The article is written in plain language, with specific measurements, examples and outfit combinations rather than vague tips.
- Fact-checking. Every claim, product detail and measurement is checked against its source (more on that below).
- Images and formatting. Photos are sourced or created to match what’s being described, with proper licensing. Headings, lists and image captions are added so the article is easy to scan.
- Editorial review. The lead editor reads the full article for accuracy, clarity, tone and usefulness. This is the final gate. Nothing goes live without passing it.
- Publishing. Only after all of the above is the article published, with its date clearly shown.
How We Research
Good style advice is practical, so research at Sharply Simple leans on sources that deal with real clothes and real people:
- Brand documentation, such as official size charts, fabric content, care instructions and product specifications.
- Established menswear and grooming publications with a track record of reliable advice.
- Tailoring and barbering practice, meaning how fit is actually measured and how cuts are actually done.
- Personal experience and hands-on use. Where we’ve worn a piece, tried a product or tested an outfit formula ourselves, we say so.
We don’t just repeat what other blogs say. If a claim can’t be traced back to a solid source, it doesn’t make it into the article.
Checking Sources
Not all sources are equal. At Sharply Simple, we prefer primary sources, like a brand’s own product page or official size guide, over secondary ones like someone else’s summary.
We check information against more than one credible source wherever we can. For product details, that means the manufacturer’s official information. For fit and styling principles, it means well-regarded tailoring and menswear references. For grooming products, it means the brand’s ingredient list and usage instructions. Anything we can’t confirm, we leave out.
Checking Every Claim
Every article is fact-checked before it’s published. That covers:
- Measurements, sizes and fit guidance
- Product names, materials and specifications
- Prices and availability, as of the time of writing
- Brand names and spellings
- Dates and any time-sensitive information
- Any quote or statement from an outside source
If something doesn’t check out, it’s corrected or cut.
The Final Review
Sharply Simple is a small, focused site, not a big content operation. Every article is reviewed by the site’s lead editor, Ray McKenzie, before it’s published.
This review is the last step, and it’s a careful one. Ray reads each article start to finish and asks four questions. Is it accurate? Is it clear? Is it genuinely useful to a man over 40? Does it sound like something he’d stand behind? If the answer to any of those is no, the article goes back for more work.
How We Use AI Tools
AI tools may be used to help with research, for example to gather background information or organise findings. They may also be used to improve quality, clarity and readability, and to check grammar and spelling.
AI is not used to publish content automatically, and it’s not used to churn out low-effort articles. Every piece of content on Sharply Simple goes through human editorial review and fact-checking before it’s published, without exception.
What Every Article Must Have
Before an article goes live, it has to meet these standards:
- A clear purpose. It answers a specific question or solves a specific problem.
- Real value. It offers a practical angle or perspective, not a rehash of what’s already out there.
- Support behind the advice. Recommendations are backed by research, sources or experience.
- Clear structure. You can find the answer you need quickly.
- Accurate information. Everything has been checked.
- Useful images. Pictures show what the text describes, and they’re properly licensed.
- Proper credit. Outside sources are attributed where needed.
Style Advice That’s Been Worked Through
Fashion and grooming aren’t medical or financial topics, but advice here still affects how people spend their money and how they feel about themselves. So we take it seriously.
Every article on Sharply Simple is backed by thorough research, practical testing where possible, or personal experience. When an article covers skincare or scalp products, we point readers to the product’s own instructions and recommend a patch test. If you have a skin or hair condition, we suggest speaking to a dermatologist first.
Who Writes for Sharply Simple
Sharply Simple is led by founder and senior editor Ray McKenzie, a 42-year-old who has been through the same wardrobe and grooming questions as our readers. He brings personal experience and dedicated research to every article.
If Sharply Simple ever works with other contributors, they’ll be chosen for real knowledge or experience in menswear, tailoring, barbering or grooming. Their work will go through the same editorial review, and they’ll be credited by name.
Keeping Our Advice Independent
What we recommend is decided by one question: is it good for the reader? Advertising, sponsorships and affiliate partnerships are kept separate from editorial decisions.
No brand can pay for a positive review, and no partner gets to approve an article before it’s published. If we don’t think something is worth your money, we won’t recommend it, whatever the commission.
Affiliate Links and Sponsored Content
Some articles include affiliate links, including links to Amazon. If you buy through one, Sharply Simple may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Any sponsored content will be clearly labelled as sponsored.
These relationships are always disclosed, and they never change which products or ideas we recommend.
Keeping Articles Current
Style advice ages. Products get discontinued, prices change and sizing guides get updated. So we review our evergreen articles every 6 to 12 months and refresh anything that’s out of date. Time-sensitive content, like seasonal outfit guides or product round-ups, is checked more often.
When an article is meaningfully updated, the “last updated” date changes so you can see how current it is. When we find an error, we fix it quickly and don’t hide the correction.
Spotted Something Wrong?
If you notice a mistake, outdated information or anything that doesn’t sit right, please tell us. Readers help keep Sharply Simple accurate, and we appreciate it.
Email the details, including the article and what needs fixing. Valid corrections are usually made within 72 hours.
Contact
For editorial questions, corrections or feedback:
contact@sharplysimple.com