Singer Andre 3000 of
Outkast at the MTV
Europe Music Awards
2004 at Tor di Valle in
Rome, Italy. (Photo by
John Rogers/Getty
Images)
Forget the ‘bling’
The true gentleman does not need to try too
hard; it’s what you know not what you show. If
others choose to walk around looking like they’ve
just raided Mr T’s dressing-up box, that’s their
business. In fact, how about we retire the whole
concept of ‘bling’ here and now. As a term it is
now hopelessly devalued, and the moment it
dropped agonisingly from Richard Madeley’s
smug, white-bread mouth was surely the
moment it died anyway.
Hosiery is your friend
Socks are not just socks. They are gentlemen’s
hosiery. And a sock is not a sock without a socksuspender. Give the ladies a thrill when seated by
raising a trouser leg slightly to reveal a flash of
sussy.
Denim is your enemy
Lazy, lowest common denominator prole-wear. I
don’t care if they’re ‘comfy’. Why not just slap
on a pair of elasticated track-suit bottoms and
have done with it.
Accessorise, accessorise
The hat, the cravat, the belt. These are, despite
the name, never mere ‘accessories’ – they are a
vital part of your ensemble. As Farnsworth
Bentley says: “If I don’t have a pocket square, I
feel like I’m walking around with no drawers.”
Top tip: Silk knots are a colourful, reasonably
priced alternative to cuff-links.
Be a gentleman
It’s not enough just to wear the look. You have
to live it. Being a gentleman means opening a
door for a lady, cooking for her, standing up
when she returns from powdering her nose. It
does not mean tucking money into her underwear before pouring half a bottle of champagne
over her breasts. OK?