In an earlier blog I argued that it takes 5 years to build a Gentleman’s wardrobe. I can imagine that for some of you the response may… Read more “Did you say Five Years? Why it takes that long”
Month: April 2012
Developing a Shoe Fetish 1: How many pairs does a man need?
A few months ago I found myself in the surreal situation where in a meeting I was chairing at work my colleagues somehow got into a conversation… Read more “Developing a Shoe Fetish 1: How many pairs does a man need?”
Self Esteem: My Greatest Style Influence
Where does one’s interest in style come from and what are the influences? A complex set of interrelated experiences, no doubt, and difficult to identify. In my… Read more “Self Esteem: My Greatest Style Influence”
Why Every Man needs a Charcoal Suit
I gather that every woman ideally ought to have a little black dress (LBD) in her wardrobe. It’s versatile and can be worn in a wide variety… Read more “Why Every Man needs a Charcoal Suit”
How I Found the Perfect Fit
My wife bought me a ‘just because’ present. From a charity shop. She’s always been a big spender…. Still it wasn’t just a charity shop; it was… Read more “How I Found the Perfect Fit”
Great Wardrobe, Small Budget: It IS Possible
So let’s assume you have had your epiphany. You’ve had a long hard look at your wardrobe. OK it’s not so bad that you can’t even give… Read more “Great Wardrobe, Small Budget: It IS Possible”
A Well Appointed Gentleman’s Wardrobe
What might we reasonably expect in a well appointed gentleman’s wardrobe? There is of course no single correct answer, for it depends on the gent in question,… Read more “A Well Appointed Gentleman’s Wardrobe”
Gentlemen, size does matter
Does size matter? Believe me, it does. I am of course talking about shirt size. Every now and then I see an article or a TV programme… Read more “Gentlemen, size does matter”
Introducing 5-year Project
Introducing 5-year Project
BUILDING A GENTLEMAN’S WARDROBE
Building up a Gentleman’s wardrobe is a project for every man who gives a fig about his personal appearance. For most of us, unless we are blessed to work in an industry in which appearance matters not at all (and I can’t think of one off-hand) or happen to run a naturist colony (though that may or may not be a blessing) we will need to consider clothing at some point.
Clothing, of course, matters. We might like to think that what we look like really ought not to matter and that our culture is overly obsessed with what people look like rather than who people are. Nonetheless, we do make assessments of other people based on what we see and much of it is unconscious. We instinctively understand this in situations in which we are keen to make a good first impression, whether an interview or a first date. So a gentleman’s wardrobe does not merely serve a functional purpose, that of covering male nakedness, it is a means of communicating something of who we are and saying I might be worth a little of your time.
Some people manage their wardrobe instinctively well, others less so. If you are in the former group, well done. If you decide you need read no further Godspeed. If in the latter group I’ve got good news and bad news. The good news is that this is a blog about Building a Gentleman’s Wardrobe which will offer reflections and insights, arguments and observations which may help sharpen your wardrobe instincts. The bad news is that unless you have lots of money (and let’s face it who does these days?) it is a 5-year project to build a Gentleman’s wardrobe.
I am in year 5 of my 5-year project to build a gentleman’s wardrobe. When I began the project I confess that I did not set out with this as a clear aim. Like many men my wardrobe was not near the top of my priority list; family, career, finances were at the top, and rightly so. A little over 4 years ago I got round to looking at my wardrobe I realised that something needed to be done. I certainly didn’t have the money simply to replace my wardrobe so it needed to be done bit by bit. With hindsight I now know that this is the best way to build a gentleman’s wardrobe. A 5 year project was begun.
I hope the blog might be of interest to some out there who are already or contemplating making a similar journey.
CTS
5 Year Project 