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

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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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Rainy Weather Style - Gals and Guys

The rainy season has finally started in Jamaica and if you're not lucky enough to be on vacation and cuddled up in socks on the couch then you're gonna have to keep on trudging out every morning despite the gloomy skies. 

You may get a bit more excited if you know how to spin your wardrobe into stylish layers so despite the drop in temperature you can still look snazzy dahlin. 

Here are my tips for the Ladies and Gents

1. Layer like a Pro

Layering only really works when you pair complimentary colours and complimentary textures. I promise I won't school you too much on this but I will say this its always a good idea to start with a neutral and then either go for jewel tones OR pastels OR bright colours. Mixing items from different groups can have disastrous results. 

For the Ladies, a sweater over a chambray shirt is chic:
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And for the men, this is a nice option:
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2. Cover up those feet

It is generally always a good idea to wear closed shoes during this weather, and something that can be easily cleaned. 

For the ladies, flats are a good option, but so are well-heeled pumps in patent leather. Patent leather is not as porous as other materials and can be quickly wiped off. (Now, heels and wet weather? Take this with a grain of salt. If your shoe soles are smooth this is not a good idea, so be careful.)
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For the men - those loafers with stiffer leather (or faux leather) and gradated soles are a good idea. The same goes for you - avoid smooth-soled shoes during this weather. Selections I like include:
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3. Jack-et it Up

I love love love jackets - of any kind. And this is the time when I get to bust em out without breaking into sweat. 
 source  source source (varsity jackets are super hot right now)

4. Borrow from the Yankees

Take a page out of the book of those who do live in cold climates and translate it to suit our climate. I am excited to incorporate - beanies,  patterned tights/stockings (I love these), wedge booties, parkas.
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What are you excited to pull out of your closet now that the weather has cooled down?
Leave me a comment and let me know.

Till later,
Jane 

PS - I will be attempting Vlogmas this year. We'll see how that goes....

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