The Gentlemanly Thing to Do

There's nothing more classical and timeless than buying a girl flowers. It instantly excites her— you, too, knowing that she's happy makes you feel the same. There's so many ocassions for when to buy a girl flowers: her Birthday, a night out on the town, a first date, next step in a relationship. The impact is huge, especially if you just buy them "just because." It lets her know that you honestly have strong, passionate feelings for her.

"Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made and forgot to put a soul into."
— Henry Ward Beecher

Think of buying a female flowers as an art, because once you get into it and truly care, that's exactly what it is. If you're going to a quality florist, you must think $100 and up—particularly if it's a European flower. There's nothing wrong with buying cheap flowers at the corner market. Have the florist trim off all the leaves and the rest of the un-needed things. Keep it simple. For instance, ask the florist to cut a bunch of trimmed roses to seven inches and you'll have a nice, little arrangement. At the end of the day, every female should have the biggest smile on her face. Never look over the simplest of things to cheer her up. Purchasing a single rose will do the trick; it means just as much.

Polo Ralph Lauren Alante Loafers

The Alante loafers were a way for me to further refine my style as I began my journey to do so. Being a beginner to the ways of refined style, I figured purchasing these were a great start. Though not coming with the classic Goodyear welted soles, they've held up tremendously. Wearing the Alante loafers heavily since 2008 is proof. Shame on me, but not even shoe trees have been placed in them yet; they've maintained their excellent shape. I usually pair them with a navy blue trouser or dark-washed denim, but they can easily be paired with white denim and many other options. All the compliments I've received on my P.R.L. Alante loafers makes me happy they're a discontinued pair of footwear...making them uniquely exclusive.

The Suave Guys

I clearly remember: During my eighth-grade year at Eisenhower Elementary, my teacher, Mr. Clementine, showed my class a video of a charming guy who tap-danced across the stage with ease, elegance, and grace. While many students talked to each other out of interest, I was hooked and my eyes were glued to the screen. The charismatic man who instantly caught my attention was Sammy Davis Jr.

I would like to thank my dear friend Herman for re-igniting the flame for me; he mentioned the Rat Pack over a conversation we were having. My interest and remembrance came back to me. I instantly began my research.


Being young, knowing the Rat Pack were alive way before I was even thought of, I am only drawn to certain things. Those two are easy: the Rat Pack's entertainment and the beautiful women they were surrounded by.

In my youthful opinion, the Rat Pack were successful because of one main trait: character. They were a suave and charismatic bunch (hence the title of this post). They kept the crowd interested and entertained. They owned Las Vegas during the 50's and 60's; if you weren't in the crowd during their performances, that was certainly a missed opportunity to witness greatness. Even though nothing is better than the "real thing," YouTube has provided a plethora of videos showing the Rat Pack's acts.


What's the Rat Pack without the beautiful women who swooned when Davis, Martin, Sinatra, Lawford, and Bishop entered their presence. Isn't it every man's dream to be surrounded by beautiful women at all times? Marilyn Monroe, Shirley MacLaine, Lauren Bacall, Angie Dickinson, and Judy Garland were the "supporting cast."


I would like to save the best for last: style. I can't imagine wearing a tuxedo possibly two hundred plus days out of three hundred sixty-five. Needless to say, the Pack pulled it off. They made the tuxedo iconic and it was their show-business uniform. Whenever I think of tuxedos from this day forward, the Rat Pack will automatically come to mind.

In closing, their is no doubt that these great men will be remembered long after my era. Knowing this is wonderful, but I hope that the individuals will admire the lifestyles that the men in the Rat Pack lived.

Individuals: Ruben Hughes

Ruben Hughes, the Creative Director behind his brainchild Two Inch Cuffs, is an extremely interesting, well-spoken character. Not only does he take pride in his ideas for Two Inch Cuffs, but he also takes great pride in what he decides to wear while directing lifestyle photo-shoots for his project. It is easy for him to go from well-tailored suiting to a laid-back, casual look. Ruben is all about classic Americana and traditionalism…those basic, yet unique essentials that stand the test of time.  It shows through his personal style and  the catalogues and lookbooks he's behind for T.I.C.

What does style mean to you?
"Style" is an extension of one’s personality, externally. It's a word that I use often, but more appreciate than overdue.

How would you describe your personal style?
Growing up my style had always been a trial and error, where I searched to find my own identity. I would say that my style closely resembles the Northern Eastern Crabsman meets a college suburban prep. I like to play with the whole idea of freedom. Crabsmen fish on an ocean with no boundaries and being originally from a small town in New Jersey, I enjoy the sense of freedom you get from vase open fields. From awning stripes to Indian madras oxford shirts; slim fit chinos to vintage paint denim; breton stripe tees to pocket tees; long wing-tip shoes to tennis shoes, I find my style to be comfortable, classic, and enjoyable. I love clothes that you can get dirty in, throw in the wash, and have fun with them again next week.

Who or what has influenced your personal style?
It kind of dawned on me that the style in which I was looking for was quite close to home. My suburban background played a tremendous influence on my style. From John F. Kennedy to Steve McQueen, I love how their style was very secondary in the sense that their life made it cool. Yachting made sweatshirts and chinos cool as exploring the country made wearing a watch all the merrier. It's not that they set up the trend, but they sure were responsible for the undying years of inspiration.

Do you have any personal style habits?
I must wear have a pocket on any shirt I wear—was a nerd in my last life. I also prefer coin pockets on chinos—little things matter. Lastly, I always wear a watch because cell phones do tend to die.

The first thing I do when I go to get dressed…
...is check for washroom errors and make sure my shoes are tied. I've had some close calls.

I feel my best in…
...a comfortable oxford shirt (unbuttoned) with a layered tee under, slim-fit chinos and a pair of wing-tips—summer. Then in the winter, a wool cashmere blend suit is everything I need.

What is your favorite item in your wardrobe?
I have a pair of long wing-tip shoes by Black Fleece I saved up for a whole
winter to get.


Pleated or flat-front trousers?
Pleated.

Do you have a favorite clothing company?
Yes, Gant Rugger.

What is your most cherished item?
Sadly, my BlackBerry. Business flows through that phone more than pleasure.

What is your favorite movie?
Public Enemies—Johnny Depp knows his John Dillinger to the "t."

Where is your favorite place to dine?
There is a comfy Spanish tapas restaurant in New York's West Village
called Caliu.

Where is your favorite place to vacation?
Brookhaven, Long Island. The harbor front there is such a beautiful sight to see. It doesn't take much to please me when I'm on vacation. All I need is a view and a lot of sand.

What is the best advice you've received from your parents?
"Don’t rush to grow up. You’ll be working much longer than you’ll be in school."

What does the word "gentleman" mean to you?
The word "gentleman" is something every guy hopes to portray in their personality. It is an individual who displays an excellent example of manners, responsibility, and class. There is no perfect gentleman, but there are people who have gentleman-like qualities.

The Golden Era

It may confuse some of you why, but the image to the left is most touching. Back in the 30s, everyone took looking appropriate for the occasion serious. They were sticklers. They took pride in their dress. Always sharp, they knew what they were doing when it came to putting neatly-designed garments on their bodies.

Best of all, a father's helping hand was—and still is—important in the manner of helping his little one look his best, so when the time comes, he can represent his old man well in the years ahead on his own.

During that era, they were well-dressed even while lounging in the comfort of their homes, when no one was around to watch. This shows you the true pride they had for looking good. You can see what I'm talking about in a film called The Great Debaters. I enjoyed that movie—for its true meaning and the fact that I witnessed a bow-tie on almost all of the gentlemen in the film. To me, I believe dressing for the occasion is an art.

Take pride in what you wear. Dress with purpose, pride and passion.

Individuals: Damien K. Brown

I first saw Damien on Scott Schuman's blog, The Sartorialist. It is fairly easy to see that he takes style seriously. Suiting up most of the time, he represents a company that is coined "Harlem's Haberdashery." Damien is the Chief Operations Officer at B. Oyama Homme in Harlem, New York, focusing on the day-to-day operations and the overall growth and development of the clothing brand. A love for living a fine lifestyle, which Damien and I have in common, is one of his passions.

What does style mean to you?
"Style is more than pure appearance. It is the conveyance of an aura of distinction. As hard to define as it is easy to recognize."

How would you describe your personal style?
English gentleman with a European flair, a stressed importance on form. Mastering of simplicity while maintaining an eye for detail in every aspect of dress.

Who or what has influenced your personal style?
I've been heavily influenced by art, culture, tradition, and design (interior and architecture).

Do you have any personal style habits?
I love to play with color and pattern. Checks on checks, stripes on stripes. Learn the rules then break them with elegance and grace.

The first thing I do when I go to get dressed…
...is play a song, perhaps something from the mid-70s.

I feel my best in…
...a great pair of shoes. "Shoes tell more about an individual than they could ever explain."

What is your favorite item in your wardrobe?
A wool and silk three button sport jacket. Silk lined with nine pockets. "It's a cargo jacket without looking like a cargo jacket." — Sid Mashburn

Pleated or flat-front trousers?
Depending on the season and weight of the fabric. Flat-front, but if pleated, they would have reverse pleats.

Do you have a favorite clothing company?
B. Oyama, Tincati Milano, and the collection I've yet to complete.

What is your most cherished item?
Hand-made pair of Pierre Corthay lace-ups. He's the God of hand-made shoes.

What is your favorite movie?
Brideshead Revisited.

Where is your favorite place to dine?
Wherever food is the focus, then the presentation.

Where is your favorite place to vacation?
London, England.

What is the best advice you've received from your parents?
"If it will make a better story then do it."

What does the word "gentleman" mean to you?
A gentleman is a renaissance man with a social conscious, one who appreciates tradition and its practices.