Madonna, mother of the modern makeover, turns 50 this month, and we have no doubt she'll reinvent herself yet again.

But why should the ladies have all the fun?

Hyosub Shin/hshin@ajc.com (ENLARGE)

Ray Thatch, 45, has found a look that is a step up from bland thrift store.

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With a new season approaching, there's no better time to give a middle-aged man a stylish update. Ray Thatch, 45, of Decatur gamely submitted his body to fashion and agreed to let local boutique owner Camille Wright give him a new look for day and night.

Thatch, a divorcé who recently switched careers, said he wanted a new image to reflect his life changes. As a pharmaceutical salesman for 15 years, Thatch wore traditional suits. On weekends he literally went the thrifty route. Most of his casual wardrobe came from discount retailers and Goodwill, he said. But he learned that discount shopping isn't always easy. "The challenge is the time it takes to find the right size and items that are in great shape and in style," he said.

Thatch recently left sales to work for a translation agency that provides interpreters and other services to international businesses. Much of his work now takes place via phone and e-mail from the company's downtown offices, creating a less formal work environment. Still, Thatch needed to up his international appeal and leave his baggy thrift store finds behind.

"Ray is completely and blissfully unaware of what size he is," said Wright, who immediately moved Thatch from size 40 to size 36 pants. Thatch had violated one of the hard and fast rules of fashion: Bigger clothes never make you look smaller.

"I'd also like to see you incorporate more color into your wardrobe," Wright said as she and Thatch weaved through racks on a recent evening in the men's department at Macy's Lenox Square.

Having already fitted Thatch with a weekend look of designer jeans and printed button-down shirt from Kaleidoscope, her Decatur-based store, Wright spent time at Macy's amassing slacks and colorful shirts to build a stylish daytime look.

Flat front pants in. Pleats out. Colors, yes. Neutrals, no.

Off Thatch went to change. And minutes later, a new man emerged.

"Camille opened my eyes to color," Thatch said. "I am color blind and usually was afraid to pick out bolder colors for fear of not matching." He was surprised by the great fit of the smaller-size jeans and the darker wash, which he said made him feel younger.

"At first it feels uncomfortable breaking from the style you are used to wearing," Thatch said, "but wearing different colors and different clothing brings out a different personality which is actually refreshing and fun to try without losing your identity."

For his new work look, Thatch left the store with black flat front slacks and a shirt boldly striped in red and orange. He also gained a new outlook.

"Being single again, I'm open to a new look on life in more ways than one," Thatch said. "I just need to find my own Camille to do my shopping for me!"

Madonna, eat your heart out.