Über die Autorinnen und Autoren

John Bridges, author of How to Be a Gentleman, is also the coauthor, with Bryan Curtis, of seven other volumes in the best-selling GentleManners series. He is a frequent guest on television and radio news programs, always championing gentlemanly behavior in modern society. Bridges has appeared on the Today Show, the Discovery Channel, and CBS Sunday Morning, and has been profiled in People magazine and the New York Times.

Bryan Curtis is an author and the president of Dance Floor Books. He is the author/coauthor and editor of more than 25 books, including My South, My Southern Food, Classic Wisdom for the Good Life, Classic Wisdom for the Professional Life, and the popular GentleManners series.

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A GENTLEMAN GETS DRESSED UP

Thomas Nelson

Contents

Introduction............................................................ixA Gentleman from Head to Toe............................................1Hats and Caps...........................................................3Haircuts and Grooming...................................................10Ties and Other Neckwear.................................................19Shirts, Collars, and Cuffs..............................................40Trousers................................................................50Suits, Blazers, and Sports Coats........................................58Formal wear.............................................................67Shoes...................................................................83The Finishing Touches...................................................92A Gentleman for All Occasions...........................................111A Gentleman Gets Dressed for a Wedding..................................114A Gentleman Gets Dressed for a Cocktail Party...........................120A Gentleman Gets Dressed for a Funeral..................................122A Gentleman Gets Dressed for a Religious Service........................123A Gentleman Gets Dressed for a Job Interview............................125A Gentleman Gets Dressed for the Office.................................126A Gentleman Gets Dressed for a Concert..................................128A Gentleman Gets Dressed for a Cookout..................................129A Gentleman Gets Dressed for a Night on the Town........................130A Gentleman Gets Dressed for a White-Tie Fundraiser.....................131A Gentleman Gets Dressed for a Masked Ball..............................133A Gentleman Gets Ready for a Party......................................134A Gentlman Takes Care of His Clothes....................................137A Gentleman Goes Shopping...............................................143A Gentleman Is Only Human...............................................153Index...................................................................159

Chapter One

A gentleman knows that looking good is not just about the grand gesture—the purchase of a trendy designer suit or a pair of obviously Italian-made lace-ups. He knows that, ultimately, being well dressed is about the details—the way he buttons his simple, navy-blue suit jacket or the way he makes sure his penny loafers are always neatly shined.

He knows that, if he pays attention, the drape of his trousers will not be destroyed by pockets made saggy by the burden of car keys, an overstuffed wallet, and a cell phone. He knows that, by taking a moment before rushing out the door in the morning, he can avoid the embarrassment of discovering, shortly before lunchtime, that he's gone halfway through the day wearing mismatched socks. He knows that, with a neatly folded pocket square in his breast pocket and a crisp dimple in his tie, he can declare his personal style without making an issue of the price tag, whether great or small.

A gentleman's ultimate goal is to travel through life as if he were a polished machine and a complete work of art. The following pages offer the advice, instructions, and vocabulary necessary to help him achieve that goal—not only from top to bottom, but also from the inside out.

HATS AND CAPS

The days are long gone when a hat was a part of a gentleman's everyday existence. Nevertheless, if a gentleman feels comfortable in a hat, be it the familiar fedora to protect him from the chill of winter or a snappy boater to shield him from the heat of the sun, he wears it—recognizing all the while that he is likely to be in the minority these days. He may come off either as an oddity or as the object of universal admiration—the key is the gentleman's own self-confidence and personal style.

A gentleman understands that a hat exists for utilitarian purposes, either to keep him warm or to keep him cool. He understands, therefore, that there is no reason for a hat, or a cap, to be worn inside.

* * *

A gentleman may wear his hat or cap in the public areas of any building, other than a house of worship. He understands that public areas include elevators, department stores, and hotel lobbies. He also understands that public areas do not include the reception rooms of doctors' or lawyers' offices or any other place where he expects to engage in one-to-one conversation for any length of time.

* * *

If a non-Jewish gentleman accepts an invitation to a Jewish wedding ceremony, funeral, or bar or bat mitzvah, he understands that he may be expected to put on a yarmulke, at least for the time of the ceremony.

If a gentleman has elected to add a hat—a fedora, a Panama, or a boater, for example—to his celebratory getup at a wedding, he removes it inside the house of worship and under the wedding or reception tent. To make life easier for himself while inside the country club or restaurant where the reception is held, he checks his hat at the door.

* * *

If a gentleman wears a hat while traveling on a short trip by train or bus, he may choose not to remove it or simply to hold it in his hand. For a longer trip, by train or airplane, however, he will most likely wish to remove his hat, stowing it as carefully as he can in an overhead bin or beneath the seat in front of him.

* * *

If a gentleman wears a hat of any kind, even if it is a baseball cap, a stocking cap, or headgear associated with his favorite sports team, he removes it during prayer, during the National Anthem, and during the Pledge of Allegiance.

Unless a gentleman is attending a funeral where men are expected to cover their heads, he removes his hat at any funeral or memorial service. If he attends a graveside service, especially during...