Have Style, Will Travel

It is with much gratitude to my good friend, and the publisher and editor of this magazine, that I pen this first — and hopefully not last — column on “men’s style.” While this column will expend many words on clothing and accessories for men — and women — it will more broadly expound on the subject of living well with confidence, grace, manners, and an overall joie de vivre — a disappearing characteristic to which very few in modern society aspire. To truly possess and exude a strong personal style recognizable and appreciated by the world at large, it’s not enough, or even necessary, to dress well — in the sense of expensively or with the passing fashion of the day. At the core, one must first possess, or at the very least strive to possess, these other attributes.

There are many examples of well-known stylish men and women in the true sense — Cary Grant, Jack Kennedy, Grace Kelly, and Katharine Hepburn, to name a few. But there are also others who are not thought of as “stylish.” Even though they’ve accomplished much, they are not necessarily recognized for their look. For example, Sofia Coppola, Wes Anderson, the late Amelia Earhart, and Tom Wolfe. All have lived a life in full on their own terms with confidence, grace, and vision — and, by default, carried their own personal style.

That said, and without further ado, here are some of my do’s and don’ts on clothing and other facets of style, which I will write about in more detail in the future…

DO’S

QUALITY over QUANTITY:
Ante up and pay more for higher-quality fabrics — wools from Scotland or Italy and long-staple cottons such as Sea Island. Suit jackets and blazers with floating canvas construction — not fused. Shirts with higher stitch counts, single-needle tailoring, and mother-of-pearl buttons. Quality fabrics and construction will serve you well and are created to last.

CLASSIC over FASHION-FORWARD:
While it is okay to have a few pieces in your wardrobe that reflect the latest fashion trends, the bulk of your wardrobe should consist of classic styles and fabrics with a classic fit.

A Note on Fit: High armholes are a must on shirts and jackets. What is considered a stylish fit now has not always been considered stylish, to wit: bell bottoms and wide lapels in the ’70s, oversized everything in the late ’80s and ’90s, and super skinny over the last decade or so. Choose a fit that fits your body style — athletic, short and stocky, tall and lean, etc..

SHOES:
Step up and pay more for high-quality, classically styled leather shoes with leather soles. If cared for properly and resoled as needed, they can potentially last a lifetime. Always use wooden shoe trees — they absorb sweat and odor and maintain the shape of the shoe. Always give shoes at least a day to rest — unless traveling — because they need time to reinvigorate. Use a shoe brush every now and then to remove accumulated dirt and debris, and polish as you like. For suede shoes — my favorite — invest in a good-quality suede brush.

MISCELLANEOUS:
Learn to make an omelet for those “or should I just nudge you in the morning” occasions. Learn how to set a table. Write thank-you notes. Acknowledge texts and emails promptly. Tip properly in restaurants and hotels. Open doors, and say please and thank you with a smile. Walk and interact with confidence throttled by humility.

DONT’S

Don’t wear flip-flops outside the home unless you are at the pool or the beach. If you do, make sure your toes and feet are well-maintained, and the sandals are of high-quality leather. Don’t match a pocket square to your tie, and shy away from silk. Instead of saying “no problem,” use the proper response: “You’re welcome.”

That is all for now, except to dedicate this to the two most stylish people in my life who are no longer with us – my mother, Charlene, and my father, Perkins.

Ciao for now…

-WP-