A Well Dressed Gentlemen

I was tickled a couple weeks ago to get another email from a anonymous reader , a younger guy I assumed from his letter and asked the Mistress about fashion, who by trade, deals with fashion daily,  I'm not a personal shopper, but a visual stylist , who does all the visual displays for a landmark company. I do have to be up on trends, because we do have to sell the wares. But I was never a person personally to go whole hog into wearing trends, except for maybe a few pieces to tie into a classic , timeless wardrobe.  Too me, not many clothes in quantity, but a nice cross section of a carefully edited closet of classic, basic and timeless essentials is all one needs really. On weekends in town, or nights on the town, and from work into evening, dress clothes can always be mixed together to double a wardrobe.  When at work, I have to wear all black, but if I'm going to par take of libations at happy hour, the slacks become slim fit jeans, the tie comes off and replaced with a deep V-neck sweater over the dress shirt, and I'm ready to go!!! The dear reader is coming into his own and wanted to know what I thought were the things that make a guy well dressed. I don't mean to shock you all, but I do find men in clothes just as attractive as out. GASP!!!!  So here are my things I do, and look for in a well dressed man.

 

Bright brogues

 

Dingy, dirty shoes can make even the finest suit look, not so fine. Plain and simple, a freshly shined pair can spruce up even the most mediocre suits. Polish shoes in regular rotation about once a week, because they’re quite literally a reflection of you. And don't hesitate to mix dress shoes like above with cords, or jeans also.

 

Coiffed

 

 

Overgrown? Jersey-gelled? Waiting too long between cuts or, worse, plastering on the putty in the hair is the quickest way to go from dapper to a mess. See your stylist every three to four weeks and go easy on the product, creams and pomades, a small amount goes a long way -- two rules that coif-conscious men follow religiously. Feel free to keep some clean, trimmed stubble, it's always sexy.

Tailor-made

 

No matter what your closet contains -- luxe labels, fine fabrics, the newest trends -- it doesn’t mean much without a flawless fit. And that piece of advice isn’t reserved for a custom collection of suits and sport coats. The same holds true for everything from off-the-rack trousers to $10 T-shirts. And there is only way to know if the cut is right: always try before you buy. Baggy doesn't always suit. Most smaller framed guys like myself can often find the slim, fitted cut or muscle cut in many shirts , jeans and trouser for a more fitted tailor made look.

 

Color Coordinated

 

Somewhere along the line after elementary school -- you should have developed an eye for harmonizing hues. If you were left back a few grades in the dressing department, though, remember that colors should complement,  but never be matchy-matchy. In fact, feel free to experiment by contrasting colors in the most unexpected places -- like a pair of pink socks with even the subtlest of suits.

 

Understated elegance

 

It shouldn’t take a rainbow of Robert Graham button-downs, Ed Hardy shirts and a Mr. T’s-worth of jewelry to get you noticed. Then again, fading into background isn’t the answer either. The compromise? Wear one piece that says something ,it can be anything from a blazer to a bracelet, or a scarf, and let the rest play a supporting role. In the end, your attire and accessories should make a statement, not put on a show, unless in drag!!!!

 

Vintage finds

 

 I love me some vintage. I have quite a few pieces of Dior and Ben Shermen, that were my dads, and a slew of finds from vintage shops. Few men are fortunate enough to have a heap of valuable hand-me-downs; that’s where second-hand shopping comes in. We’re not talking about Salvation Army-style dumpster diving for clothing by-the-pound. This is high-end haberdashery at its best: think vintage watches and old-school designer duds. They’re not always easy to find, but once you do come across them, you’ll never want to let go, and some second hand shops have some un-believable prices for them. I often will wear a suit or a casual outfit with some very old vintage bow-ties given to me from the Dame Courtney.

 

Grooming routine

 

 If you think Hollywood actors and wealthy businessmen look the same as they did 20 years simple by hitting the gym 5 times a week, you are sorely mistaken. Look inside the bathroom of any man who gives a damn about how he looks and you will find tried and tested moisturizers, face scrubs,  shaving gels, and body washes that leave him smelling precisely the way he wants to. You wouldn't believe at the store how much time and money they spend at the counters.

 

Suits 

 

The one thing I can not stand is a suit that doesn't fit a guy right. Too big and it looks like a boy playing grown ups! A suit should not be real tight or baggy, but should have a tailor or fitted look.  And unless in business,  a guy doesn't need a lot of suits. A tan or navy for day, and a black or dark charcoal for night is all one needs. And don't be afraid to mix tan or brown shoes and belt with greys and navys, or always feel the need to wear a tie...loosen it up for a sexy look like above.

 

Eye wear

 

We’re not all blessed with natural 20/20. So, if you’re holding off on going under the knife and your stash of contacts isn’t cutting it, good-old eyeglasses are your  option. And when it comes to specs, go bold or go home. Sure, they should always fit your face and it may take 30-plus pairs to find ones that do, but make certain they speak with the sureness of geek chic plastic or some angular metal. I have several pairs as accessories, but I find glasses extremely sexy on a man. 

 

Jeans

 

Jeans can be tricky. It may takes various pairs or brands to  find the fit that is best. Again, nothing sexier than a guy in nice fitting jeans. If you have nice assets and  basket of eggs nothing wrong with showing it as long as it isn't grotesque or painful looking. Make sure you also wear the right style with your shoes like a boot cut with boots. Whiskering or feathering, that finish that gives jeans that broke in look is great and will also enhance the goods!  Also remember, nothing wrong with dressing up denim.

 

All or some of these things,  dear reader are what a feel make a guy well dresse. But MOST important and the sexist thing is ......

 

 

Confidence

 

 one word says it all. Without a little swagger in your step, nothing else matters does it?

 

Tootles