Dress

Clothing

A gentleman should generally dress very neatly, and of course, in clean clothes that are in good repair. OK, if you're playing touch football with your buddies, that's a different story, but the grunge look, well that's for prepubescent adolescents. Leave it for them, mature men don't carry it off well. (I'm not saying that prepubescent adolescents carry it off well, but, they're looking for themselves, so let them look.)

Whatever the attire, your clothes should fit well, your shirt should be tucked in (please read that again), your belt should be buckled, your shoes shined, your pants should be the right length. For the right length of pants, stand up straight and look in a full length mirror. If you can see your socks, they're too short. If you're stepping on the cuff, they're too long. Pretty simple, no?

Why tuck in your shirt? Because it looks like you pay attention to the details, and a gentleman always pays attention to the details. A great architect once said, "God is in the details," and it is so true. The details are what separates the men in control of their lives from those who let their lives be controlled.

I believe there are certain articles that a gentleman always carries, however he is dressed:

	A handkerchief - You will need it to clean your glasses, or wipe your brow, or (if it is unused) to offer to a lady in need. You should use it to protect others when you sneeze or cough. The Japanese think that it is a vulgar custom that occidentals will use a handkerchief to blow their nose. They do not understand why we would put a bodily excretion on a cloth and place it in our pocket. I'm with the Japanese. I only blow my nose on something disposable, like a facial tissue or paper towel. I don't want to have to look at it later.
	The general essentials - Your keys, your wallet with ID inside, your checkbook, and some folding money. Always carry some money if only to avoid having to borrow from a friend. I carry mine in a money clip that my father gave me as a gift. It's a nice convenience.
	A pocketknife - When I was 15, my employer told me that when he was a kid, if you didn't carry a pocketknife, you weren't anything. I laughed, but started carrying it. It's amazing how often I've found myself in a situation where those around me were stuck for a tool, and out came my pocketknife to save the day. Carry a small one, but not a toy. The blade should be 3 to 4 inches long, and the knife should be slim enough not to show through your pants.

From that point, click on the selection at the left to see my thoughts about proper dress in three different situations.