Why 50-year-old men are much sexier than 25-year-olds

I’ve got this thing for older men. It’s weird, because I wasn’t previously wired this way. I’ve always drooled over the pretty boys. But I’m finding 50-year-old men increasingly attractive. And the Zac Efrons of this world are leaving me cold.

Is it some random symptom of peri-menopause that no-one’s thought to mention?

Mind you, 50-year-old men don’t look like 50-year-old men any more.

Remember being twentysomething and thinking 50-year-olds looked like grandpas? You wouldn’t have shagged one in a pink fit. Well, maybe if it was Sean Connery or Harrison Ford. But they were the rarest of exceptions.

These days, delectable 50-year-old celebrities are a dime a dozen. Colin Firth, Viggo Mortensen, Johnny Depp (ok, he’s 49) even Tom Cruise looks pretty fine for someone in his fifth decade (if you can get past the religious nutter thing). And don’t get me started on David Duchovny (mmmmmm, I only wish I could get started on David Duchovny). He’s the hottest of 50-year-old hot. Have I mentioned I got mistaken for his sex-crazed Aussie stalker once? Complete misunderstanding …

But it’s not just celebrities with their Botox, surgical tweaks, pancaked faces and Vaselined lenses that get me going. I see tons of normal half-century blokes and think, “you know, if I wasn’t married and you weren’t married, I’d quite fancy you …”

Related: Men who make us say 'Mmm': silver foxes edition!

I suppose it’s inevitable that 50 looks progressively younger as you get progressively older. Put it down to failing eyesight, your contemporaries ageing or men not wearing cardigans and slacks quite as early as they once did (and keep their ear tufts in check).

Then, one day you realise you regard 25-year-olds as "children” rather than objects of lust. Despite that luscious “V” they get around their lower abs when they work out.

Oooooh yeah … I used to love that bit of 25-year-olds ...

I thought younger men were sooooo cute. These days “cute” is a term I reserve for my kids and bunnies.

I wonder if men feel the same way about 50-year-old women? My husband reckons they do. I can’t help doubting him or thinking he must be in the minority. I also suspect most 50-year-old men look at 25-year-old women and think “just right” not “child”. Which is a bit sad, really, as I spiral towards my next significant birthday.

Any blokes care to agree with my husband on the appeal of older women? And girls, confess: who's your older-man crush?

This post was originally published on Housegoeshome and has been republished with full permission

Alana House is a blogger, mum and chook enthusiast. She previously worked in magazine land, as a feature writer at Cosmopolitan and editor of Woman's Day. Follow her on Twitter and on her blog Housegoeshome