Tips for Being a Modern Gentleman PART TWO

Last week Thursday I promised I would deliver five more tips on how to keep it classy and modern for the gents. So without further ado here they are:

   6. Cologne 

A gorgeous, rich manly smell can make any woman swoon and immediately yearn to be closer to a man. This is the reason why we like sleeping in our men's shirts, there are very few things that are as comforting yet arousing as a man with a great scent. Now preferences vary from woman to woman but typically richer aromas like musk and woodsy scents tend to be popular. You want to make sure it's subtle but that when she gets close enough she will get a whiff. Spots to hit with a dab (not a swig!) of cologne are the back of your neck, right under your ears, and your sides. I know someone who even lightly mists the tail of his shirt so that when it moves a subtle scent can be smelled. Lovely. (Also note that if you want the scent of your cologne to stand out stay away from highly scented deodorants or get a complementary scent to your deodorant).


   7. Socks

This stresses me out so much. White athletic socks are for athletic activities. White socks are not appropriate for every occasion. Please stock your sock drawwith the following:

- black socks - wool/cotton/silk whatever your budget can afford

- brown socks - any material your budget can afford

- dark blue/grey socks - for when black or brown does not work

- white socks - for when you are wearing sneakers or kicks or boots in the snow

- fun coloured socks for the appropriate occasion

Loafers can be worn with or without socks. If you are wearing shorts or short pants the rule typically is to go without socks but remember to lotion those ankles! If you are wearing pants then its a pretty safe bet to match the colour of the sock with the shirt you are wearing or the loafer colour.

Clarks - the same rule applies as with loafers.

Dress shoes including oxfords, wingtips,etc-these require dress socks. Please don't ever wear white socks with dress shoes.

Slippers/ Sandals - go sock-less. Twinkle your toes for the world to see.

   8. Jumper cables/tool kit/ swiss army knife/manly fix-it ability

source

Despite the many leaps and bounds women have made in demonstrating our independence, we still expect men to be able to fix things from time to time.  My mother has been driving for many years and though she knows how to change a flat tyre, she's never actually had to do  it. Pretty much as soon as she pulls over, there is always a gentleman willing to help, the same with any engine trouble. You would imagine my surprise then, when as a teenager my car overheated and I asked a male passenger to pull off the radiator cap and his response was to ask me what a radiator was.

Maybe it's just me but he was a driver himself and it just baffled me that he had no idea what was going on inside a machine that he was using on a daily basis. I asked around among my other male friends and though most knew how to change a tyre, and the names of tools in a tool kit, or the major parts of a car engine, quite a few literally had no clue. 

So what I'm trying to say is brush up on your skills fellas, though we may not need a man to rescue us, we still like knowing that he can...

     9. Nails

Looks good on Wolverine...but not on anyone else
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 Dos:      Cut them! File them! Clean them! 

Donts:    Bite them; Polish them; Grow them

     10.Handkerchief

An actual handkerchief is alot better looking, smelling and functioning than a bandana. And no, they aren't the same thing. Keep it in a different pocket than your wallet, and spritz it with your cologne so that if you dab away any sweat or hand it to a lady for her to use it will have a nice scent.

That's it gentlemen!

If you have any questions, you can always leave me a comment or hit me up on instagram

Next week we'll look at a fall style guide for those of you who want to keep it trendy and then in our final week we'll look at men's skin care issues- how to prevent ingrown hairs when shaving, as well as preventing breakouts and scarring.

Till next time fellas,
**Jane

Declaration : I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, and myhabit.com.

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Tips for the Gents - Being a Modern Man - PART ONE

The other night on twitter, I noticed a trending topic - #genttips. These were tips for the modern man on how to be a gentleman and it was receiving positive feedback from women. So, I thought to jump in by writing this post. After all, you attract a classy woman by knowing how to be a gentleman yourself. 

Now these tips are just my opinion somewhat influenced by the opinions of some of my friends, family  and of course my life experience. It should be noted though that these are also some of things interviewers look for when sizing up applicants to see if a man is well put together. So gentlemen, are you ready?

The Modern Man Should possess:

1. Dress Shoes : This does not mean a pair of desert eagle clarks - sorry to disappoint you. Dress shoes are shoes that can be polished and typically come in a laced up oxford style. Sneakers and loafers no matter how expensive they are are not appropriate for every occasion and there will come a day when you have to attend a funeral/wedding/dinner/interview/presentation and borrowing a friend's shoe that is two sizes smaller is not a good look. Here is an example of a classic style:

2.   A well-fitted black suit and tie: Now, a suit is an investment piece. You don't necessarily have to buy or make this but if a suit is handed down to you from your father, older brother or cousin it is in your best interest to have it tailored to fit you. Now it's very important that you have at least one classically tailored suit before you get one that is trendy because in a couple years if you wear that trendy suit you will stick out like a sore thumb. And really, very few things are hotter than a man in a well-fitting suit.

3. A proper wallet: you don't have to shell out a bag of money for a wallet that doesn't close with velcro. You want to get one in a classic colour like brown, black, grey or navy in a durable material - whether real leather or faux leather that has enough compartments for what you carry around. Wallets with large graphics, flashy logos and velcro closures make you seem for want of a better word...'idle' or childish.

4. A plain dress belt: there seems to be an epidemic among our men nowadays to see who can wear the most ridiculous looking belt. Gentlemen, no one equates the size of your belt buckle to anything so you don't have to try so hard. Just an fyi fellas, a belt isn't supposed to be attention-grabbing. It is supposed to be complementary and serve its function. A plain belt with a plain buckle will serve you well. There are even belts that are reversible now - black on one side, brown on the other for those that are thrifty.

5. A gentleman's watch: Personally, I am obsessed with watches. This is actually one of the first things I look at when I look at a man and for a long time I've judged men by their watches. Again, the value of the watch wasn't what was important but the fact that he was wearing one and that the style of the watch more often than not said something about the man. Flashy watches were usually accompanied by more flashy jewellery and a flashy attitude; conservative old school watches usually meant they were a gift from an older female relative and he didn't choose it himself; but the stylish watches that could swing for a number of occasions - suit & tie or jeans and a polo always always caught my eye. And it was usually the men who didn't wear watches that were never on time...(*and ain't nobody got time for that*)

 6. Cologne .. ...to be continued.

I'll see the fellas next week same time, same place for Part Two of this post. Till then, if you have any questions or comments, you can email me or leave a comment below. 

Thanks for reading, and till later...

**Jane

Declaration : I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, and myhabit.com.

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