Our guide: what really makes you a gentleman

A gentleman is someone that every man should aspire to be: an impeccably mannered, beautifully dressed, wonderfully generous asset to his family and friends – the type of man everyone else wishes they were. Becoming a gentleman is something thats comes innately to few, but can be conquered by most: so what really makes you a gentleman? If you’re blessed with these qualities, we salute you but if not, it’s never too late.

“A gentleman is one who puts more into the world than he takes out.”, – George Bernard Shaw

If you were to be given five seconds to think of a quality that every gentleman possesses, it will undoubtedly almost always be perfect etiquette. Etiquette is the most important characteristic that a gentleman can possess; to have self-respect but to look out for others; to always be chivalrous but never over-the-top and to always have the most impeccable manners of anyone in the room. If someone’s struggling; a gentleman helps them, if a woman is about to sit down; a gentleman pulls out her chair and if she’s going somewhere; a gentleman will always open the door and on the pavement he will walk closest to the road. The list could go on and on, but etiquette is the first thing that we recommend every gentleman works on. It’s sadly something that has started to dwindle over time, but something that no man should ever compromise on.

Can you think of one quintessential gentleman who is rugged or unkempt in appearance? Remaining elegant and dapper at all times is an essential part of every gentleman’s daily attributes; and no, we’re not talking about his dress-sense. Your style is as individual as you are and a subjective topic rather than something for us to pick apart, but it is important to always ensure that you are wearing sharp, tailored, clean and well put together clothes. Every single part of your outfit needs to be in check, from the hat on your head to the shoes on your feet. A few general tips to take into account that will instantly raise your game are as follows: invest in bespoke tailoring as you’re then going have a unique, classic suit that is will last you years. Never wear logos: this is often seen as vulgar and a gentleman should always remain understated and subtle. And always ensure that in your wardrobe you have, a sharp suit, an incredible overcoat, a selection of classic and neutral shirts, a couple of well-tailored blazers, an accessories selection that contains a fedora, pocket squares, amazing cufflinks, wonderful ties and a shoe collection that is second-to-none.

Individual mannerisms are what make every gentleman unique and are what separates him from the ordinary man. Adopting certain mannerisms that make you who you are is an essential part of becoming a gentleman; these daily habits and quirks are what you want people to associate with you. Every single gentleman in the world should want to be known for his openness, for always delivering what he says he’s going to deliver, for always telling the truth, for his incredible manners and for his unrivalled honesty and friendship.

Every gentleman should know and appreciate the fine line between being over-the-top and overly flashy with his money and being generous. A generous gentleman subtly pays the bill at the end of an evening, he will send flowers when they are appropriate and he will know all of the right things to buy for a girl, when she needs them. A gentleman will never take a girl to the most expensive restaurant in town and then boast about how much the bill was and equally he will never shower a girl in expensive gifts after the first date. Generosity, however, is not just about material possessions; he should always show readiness to give more and do more when it’s expected of him or when he knows someone is in need.

This might seem like rather a broad topic to cover but it is a well-known fact that some of the most perfect gentlemen in the world possess a worldly intelligence to rival all others. We’re not talking about the way you were educated; we’re talking about the books and newspapers that you read, the cultures that you’ve chosen to immerse yourself in and the galleries that you’ve visited on the weekends. A gentleman always has conversation – and interesting conversation at that – so it’s important that he has a refined appreciation and understanding of modern and past cultures alike.