How to Dress Like a Gentleman

Simple Tips for Dressing for Success

General Guidelines

Never expose underwear in public

Always wear an undershirt in warm weather

A gentleman clips his nose and ear hairs

Socks should always match the trousers, not the shoes, belt, tie, or tacky Christmas sweater

Hair should be washed regularly

Always keep a clean handkerchief

General Guidelines

Never wear a belt and suspenders together

Your belt should match your shoes

Carry an umbrella if its raining

When wearing a vest or a jacket, leave the bottom button undone

Unless you are a cowboy or a rancher, never wear boots with a suit

Dress CodeBlack Tie

Black tuxedo jacket and matching trousersformal (piqué or pleated front) white shirt

black-colored (e.g., onyx) studs and cufflinks

black bow tie (silk, shiny satin or twill)

black cummerbund to match tie, or a vest

dressy suspenders to ensure a good fit (optional)

black patent shoes and black dress socks

no gloves

In summer or on a cruise: white dinner jacket, black tuxedo trousers plus other black tie wardrobe.

Dress Code

Business FormalDark business suit

matching vest (optional)

dress shirt

conservative tie

dressy leather shoes and dark dress socksBusiness Casual

Seasonal sport coat or blazer with slacks or khakis

dress shirt with optional tie, or casual button-down shirt

open-collar or polo shirt

loafers or loafer-style shoes and socks

A Gentleman and His Cap

Whether it is a baseball hat or a boiler, all caps should be treated the same

Caps should be removed in most public buildings, especially houses of worship

Does not need to be removed in lobbies, department stores, grocery stores, etc.

Should be removed when eating or when making personal contact with someone while inside

Smelling like a Gentleman

WEAR DEODORANT

Cologne is NOT a substitute for deodorant

Cologne should not cause comment among people in a room, it is reserved as a pleasant surprise for people with whom you make close physical contact.

TiesA Gentleman should always tie his own tie

Any knot can be used as long as it looks neat and professional

Below is how to tie a Half Windsor

Check out http://www.tcm.phy.cam.ac.uk/~tmf20/tieknots.shtml for more knots

Bow Ties

If not careful, bow ties can make you look geeky and dull

Bow ties should never be worn with a button down collar

A too perfectly tied bow tie can look unreal and ridiculous

Most bow ties are bat-wing (tuxedos) but the diamond tip makes the greatest impressions

In Summary

Your appearance counts – take time to make sure you look your best