As scouts, we should “be prepared” for some situations, good or bad. Here we list fifteen items that every gentleman should have around, from occasional to frequent-usage; nothing too unusual. Some are unavoidable, and many Internet lists mention them, but some are decidedly intriguing.
- 1. A Bespoke Suit
- 2. A Lighter
- 3. A Good Umbrella
- 4. A Trench Coat
- 5. A Corkscrew
- 6. Linen Handkerchiefs
- 7. A Fountain Pen
- 8. A Toolbox with Tools
- 9. A Real Camera
- 10. Black Dress Shoes
- 11. A Signature Scent
- 12. A Serious Watch
- 13. A Bottle of Vintage Port from Your Birth Year (or Your Kid’s)
- 14. A Great Copy of your Favorite Book
- 15. A Pristine White Shirt
- 16. A Pair Of Cufflinks
- 17. A Quality Belt & Pair Of Suspenders
- 18. Signet/Pinky Ring
- Outfit Rundown
- Which items would you add or subtract from the list?
Oh, lists. We like lists. Don’t you? Confess – you look eagerly for the yearly list of nominees for the Academy Awards.
We collected some ideas on the 15 must-have items a gentleman should have. Similar lists abound – many books, blogs and magazines carry them – but sometimes they focus on the country guy or include elements that are so obvious you should not even bother to read it.
I know this list will probably generate dozens of answers saying that we should have included this or that item, but we made an effort to focus on handy things. By the way, this is not an EDC – “Every Day Carry” list, such as we’ve featured before; it is more like a “use or have these items at the office or home,” even though you may, of course, carry some around daily.
1. A Bespoke Suit
Or, a made-to-measure suit if bespoke is out of your budget. A better presentation is one of Gentleman’s Gazette reasons for existence – and few things boost a gentleman’s morale more than a good bespoke suit. The reason is self-evident: the fitting is impeccable, the details are top-notch, sleeve buttons are functional (but please, don’t fall for the faux pas of leaving one opened; a true gentleman is understated, low-profile, and moreover many off-the-rack suits have them.
The ultimate experience in bespoke suits can be had, of course, in London’s Savile Row. This street has become so intricately associated with suits that the Japanese word for suit, sebiro, is a mispronunciation of Savile Row.
As for the color, be practical: if it is your only suit – which is questionable, for usually, the bespoke suit buyer is a man who already has a few suits – go for navy or dark gray. If it is not, opt for one that reflects your style or that enhances your physique (for tall men and for portly chaps).
If a bespoke suit is out of your budget, a Made-To-Measure suit is the next best thing.
2. A Lighter
When I was a young adult, I was in a party with a friend, and a lady asked me to light her cigarette. Since I didn’t smoke by then, I said, sorry! But my friend reached into his pants pocket and produced a beautiful gold lighter. He lit the cigarette in her lips, she puffed, and said thank you! with a smile. I asked him, “Why do you carry a lighter if you don’t smoke?” He grinned and replied, “For moments such as this!” Next morning I visited a jeweler near my place and bought my own Cartier lighter, which I still own.
After years of cigarette smoking, I quit them and started to enjoy an occasional cigar. I bought a nice Dunhill silver lighter specially designed for cigar smokers, with a double flame. If you enjoy cigars, you may check Xikar accessories and Dunhill, both highly recommended for the quality of their products.
3. A Good Umbrella
I still own an umbrella that belonged to my father. It is English, with a wooden stick and Malacca handle; it has a gold collar with a “G&S” mark on it. Its handle and tip have a mechanism that allows me to fold both and fit the umbrella inside a suitcase. My conclusion is that some countries sort of “specialize” in certain products, and since Britain is a rainy country, umbrellas and trench coats thrive there.
There are many good umbrella brands, but today I’d go for a Brigg. They have options such as the size of ribs, canopy material (you may order yours with silk instead of nylon for a premium), engraving of initials on the collar and color of the canopy. You may also choose the handle wood (Malacca, chestnut, maple, bark ash, hickory, and the most traditional, whangee). Fox and James Smith are also good makers, and the latter has carved handles (duck, dog, jaguar, etc.) for the more daring gentleman.
4. A Trench Coat
Purists swear by the standard raincoat, Burberry. Its fabric, gabardine, was invented in 1879 by Thomas Burberry, but Aquascutum also claims the creation of this coat in the 1850s. It protects you from a sudden shower, keeps you warm in dreary weather, and adds a bit of mystery to your look.
We have already covered trench coats, but my personal preference goes to the honey-colored Westminster, an extra-long Burberry model. For a fee, you may have your initials embroidered on the inner flap.
5. A Corkscrew
Forget crazy contraptions with air pumps, manifold levers, and hundred-dollar price tags. We’re talking about the real thing here, a Laguiole. The name refers to the small namesake village in France, their equivalent to Germany’s Solingen. According to legend, Napoleon I allowed the village to use his imperial symbol, a bee (even though some say that it is a fly), on their cutlery products and on the city’s coat of arms.
You may find the Laguiole corkscrew priced from $10 to $100 or more, depending on the presentation and on the handle material. The materials and the knife (for cutting the wine foil) are top-notch and will not let you down when you are about to pour a great Burgundy for your guests.
6. Linen Handkerchiefs
Yes, you may use them as pocket squares, too, but its primary utility is blowing your nose, cleaning your glasses or drying up your lady’s tears when you are watching Les Misérables (or Bambi).
Linen lasts a lifetime, and real Irish linen handkerchiefs may be passed from father to son through generations: Luckily for me, my father and I had the same initials, so I use 50- or 60-year old handkerchiefs that are still pristine. We have our Fort Belvedere Irish linen handkerchiefs available here.
7. A Fountain Pen
Gentleman’s Gazette published a guide about fine writing instruments here. I know: sometimes it is cumbersome to write with a fountain pen, especially if you are in a hurry; besides, the ink will not work well on some surfaces. For a quick jotting down of a phone number or directions you have the rollerball or ballpoint, but when you want to confer gravity to a document, nothing replaces a good fountain pen.
You may have your name or initials engraved on the cap and the pen will become a beautiful heirloom. The only “problem” with fountain pens is that you tend to become a collector – lawyers and doctors are serious candidates!
Choose an ink color that reflects your personal taste. Some people buy variations of their favorite color and mix their ink. Ah – avoid lending your fountain pen, for practical reasons – the nib may change with somebody else’s handwriting. But if you do lend it, keep the cap with you and the person will forcefully remember to give the pen back!
8. A Toolbox with Tools
The idea here is to collect the most used tools in a single place, so that you don’t have to search for a wrench when the faucet starts to sprinkle water around the kitchen, for instance.
My father swore by his Stanley screwdrivers, which I still own and use regularly. A good hammer, like this Dewalt ,will be handy for hanging a picture frame. Irwin has a good and comprehensive plier set; finally, this General Tools laser and tape can’t be beaten as a measuring instrument. Carry your tools in this Goplus 5-tray box.
9. A Real Camera
Yes, I know your smartphone has a resolution of a gazillion pixels. But sometimes you may prefer to have complete control over the shutter speed, focus, depth of field and other adjustments to produce that perfect photo of your significant other, of your kid or of that once-in-a-lifetime, perfect sunset over the sea.
Brands abound, but some have made the transition from film to digital better than others. We have already talked about the Leica, and many professional photographers of the past, such as Robert Capa, used nothing but Leicas to immortalize everyday moments or historical events. The quality of their lenses and mechanism is difficult to beat, but their lower end models are made by Panasonic these days.
If you want a better value for your money, Sony, Canon or Nikon have excellent cameras as well.
10. Black Dress Shoes
In a previous article, we showed the best dress shoes with which you may start your shoe wardrobe. Personally, I’d say that if you have to narrow down your list, you should stay with a black cap toe Oxford. It is elegant, uncluttered by decorations and has a grave aura to it.
Virtually every American and English brand make a good Oxford, but my advice is to buy the best your budget allows. It will have a longer life and give you a better mileage-per-dollar ratio. But always remember to rotate your shoes to make them last more.
11. A Signature Scent
I believe Gentleman’s Gazette has produced an article for virtually every item a gentleman should possess, but one of the best has been this cologne guide. Our olfactory memory is amazing: I can still remember the smell of the gauze curtains in my grandfather’s house, and in Remembrance of Things Past, by Proust, there is this evocative passage:
And suddenly the memory returns. The taste was that of the little crumb of madeleine which on Sunday mornings at Combray (because on those mornings I did not go out before church-time), when I went to say good day to her in her bedroom, my aunt Léonie used to give me, dipping it first in her own cup of real or of lime-flower tea.
That is my tip: use a cologne that evokes good memories. It will make you happy, and your good mindset spreads around you like the scent you chose to wear on that day.
12. A Serious Watch
The first (and frequently, the only) jewel a man owns, the watch is an inestimable friend every gentleman should own. Of course, there are thousands of options around, but I’ll try to make things easier for you. First, consider the main use of your watch: is it for professional wear? Evening wear? Weekend wear? There are watches that may be worn in most occasions, but as a rule of thumb think of the dial and the strap.
An uncluttered, clean dial is better for professional use, preferably with a leather strap; an evening watch may have a dark dial, also with a leather strap; and a weekend or sportive watch may be more elaborate, such as a chronograph or diving model, with metal or rubber strap.
Go for the best watch your budget allows, but be sensible: a precious metal watch will look pretentious for diving, for instance. Also, many etiquette manuals say that you should forego a watch with formal wear (the rationale being that you shouldn’t care about the time in such occasions). Be sure to check our previous articles on watches, such as this, and this.
13. A Bottle of Vintage Port from Your Birth Year (or Your Kid’s)
It is a Portuguese tradition: when your kid is born, you buy a bottle of Vintage Port from the same year to open it when he (or she) turns 18, and you drink it together. See here if your kid’s birth year (or your own) was declared Vintage – if a given year didn’t come out as the regulatory institute expected, then it does not approve the Vintage Port for that crop. If the year you are interested in was not declared a vintage for Port, check out the Colheita Port – a Tawny, not a Ruby as the Vintage, of a single crop.
14. A Great Copy of your Favorite Book
And by great, I mean a first edition or another edition where the author made some important correction or added something. Preferably leather bound and, if your pocket allows, signed and/or dedicated by the author. A good place to search is the Abebooks website.
We all are used to the ubiquitous Kindle or similar gizmo for reading e-books, but I believe these contraptions will never give you the same sensation as you have from turning the pages of a paper book, especially one that was seasoned by the time and dust of a good bookshelf.
Resist the temptation to write on it, unless you do it lightly with a pencil and do not intend to sell it someday. Collectors frown upon annotated books and the marginalia – the comments inscribed by a previous reader – devaluate an otherwise valuable copy.
15. A Pristine White Shirt
Well, if you had to have only one shirt in your wardrobe, probably it would be a white shirt with spread collar and French cuffs, made of a good fabric. We have covered the dress shirt here.
If you really want to hit it, have two classic white shirts: one that you use weekly and another kept neatly folded (or hanging) in your wardrobe. You never know if a friend will surprise you with a formal party – or if that old uncle decides to leave this world. A white shirt is simply unbeatable in terms of versatility.
16. A Pair Of Cufflinks
By that, I mean something that you can wear with different outfits no matter whether it’s a business suit or a tweed sport coat. I found that probably the pair that is most versatile is a pair of knot cufflinks. It is quite an investment but it is something that you can hand down to your children.
17. A Quality Belt & Pair Of Suspenders
Ideally, the belt should have folded edges or should be neatly edge painted. It can be handsewn or machine-sewn because that will outlast every glue. You want it to be made from a quality leather from the inside and out and ideally, you should always match the color of your belt to your shoes.
While belts are great, suspenders definitely have their place especially the ones that you button in especially for evening wear, or if you maybe have a little bit of a belly, or if you like your pants looser around your waist. Suspenders hang from your shoulders and so no matter how much you eat you can always have a comfortable pair of pants all day.
18. Signet/Pinky Ring
Some people may disagree with me but I think a little pinky ring is just a very elegant thing that a gentleman can wear and just like with fountain pens, once you have one, you will likely create a collection. It doesn’t have to be solid gold, and it can be sterling silver, you can go with stones, and if you have a family crest, by all means, put one on. If you don’t have one, that’s no problem just go with a plain stone.
Outfit Rundown
I’m wearing a three-piece suit and, in fact, a vintage suit from Mario Caraceni. It used to be very expensive and I got it for a very small amount. It still fits me quite well though, it is not perfect because it wasn’t made for me but because the fabric is heavier it drapes well. It’s made out of a charcoal brown color which means it’s a charcoal brown and white in a needlepoint or needle hat pattern. The jacket is single-breasted with a wider peak lapel in two buttons and no vents which is a very traditional cut, especially in combination with a waistcoat that is double-breasted with six buttons and a lapel.
The pants have two pleats which is good for me because I have big thighs and a big seat. I’m pairing it with a white cotton dress shirt from Siniscalchi in Milan. The fabric has a light waffle pattern that breaks things up and it’s not just like a regular solid. I also go with French cuffs because it’s a gentlemen’s way to wear the shirt.
My cufflinks are from Fort Belvedere and you can find them in our shop. They are monkey fists knot cufflinks in rose gold and they pair well with my pinky ring which is likewise rose gold with a bloodstone. I’m wearing a traditional threefold necktie made out of an English printed silk which is also from Fort Belvedere and it goes well with my pocket square which is red and it picks up the tones of the tie. Overall, with a brown and the white, it’s all very harmonious looking. The flower in my lapel is a silk boutonniere likewise from Fort Belvedere.
The shadow stripe brown and green socks that I’m wearing for my shoes, I opted for Derby model with a wingtip and broguing even though it’s brown it has enough contrast to suit so to all looks harmonious and works well together.
I agree with most of your must-have items, but a lighter? No thanks. If I have to disappoint a cigarette-smoking woman by not being able to enable her deadly, smelly, yellow-her-teeth habit, so be it. For gosh sakes, it’s been 50 years since tobacco was found to be a killer. How ’bout entering the new millennium and stop equating smokingโincluding your cigarsโwith style.
My thoughts exactly. A woman who smokes is one I would have no interest in getting to know. Movies make it look glamorous, but reality is far different. I remember, many years ago, meeting a girl at her front door to pick her up for a date. I could smell cigarette smoke on her clothes and knew at that moment it would be our first and last date.
I smoke a pipe, and use a fine Dunhill Unique lighter for this purpose. Many times women (even non-smokers) will come over to chat and smell your pipe tobacco. Happens all the time. And, there are many wonderful women who smoke.
what you talking about, who cares if she smokes or not… we all have bad habits and probably the 6 beers and 3 brandy you just guzzled are as bad as smoking.
Give me a hot smoker and I know what to do with her.. at least for tonight… clothing won’t stink as we won’t have any. LOL
Guys….there’s more to smoking than puffing cigarettes.
A decent cigar, with a tipple, in the right company – now that’s something else
JB
Couldnโt agree more. I have no desire to be around a smoker, no matter how attractive – it makes your clothes stink until you can get them to the cleaner. Fortunately, nobody I hang out with smokes.
That said, itโs fun to pull out a nice lighter when itโs time to light candles on a birthday cake, and I love my Ronson Touch Tip just for the sheer cool factor. Iโve been thinking about getting one of those cigarette case lighters and loading it with birthday candles.
Same with me. I always carry a lighter just because I like being prepared. I carry a “Peanut lighter” made by Maratac. It is a very small cylindrical lighter that screws together with an O-ring. I found that other lighters would end up empty just when I needed it due to leakage and evaporation. These come in different materials and finishes – mine is an old-school looking one of solid brass.
I do agree 100% with LAStyleGuy. I am not interested in a woman whose breath stinks thanks to the tobacco industry. Cigars are overpriced poisoning objects that someone thought (cleverly) to market as something desirable that gives you an aura of distinction; for me is just the symbol of a nouveau riche who thinks is gentleman because he can afford expensive cigars.
On the other hand, the signature scent is an excellent choice as a note of distinction for a true gentleman; the same goes for the fountain pen.
Could not agree more!!!!
I agree with you , all recommendations except lighter.
I would love to have a bespoke suit, majority of my suits are MTM, but just once I would like to commission a bespoke suit. Irv
I know a lot of people these days lump them all together but cigars and pipes should never be mentioned in the same sentence with cigarettes. They are worlds apart. Cigars and pipes are not inhaled into the lungs. Cigars and pipes utilize pure tobacco, with no harmful chemicals added. Nothing about a cigar or pipe is addictive except for maybe the ritual itself. The FDA ruled that any health risks associated with cigars or pipes is minimal at worst. Some studies even indicate positive effects from the relaxation involved in smoking them. It would seem that “entering the new millennium” means following the ignorant mob.
I agree with CraigC. I only smoke cigars 2 or 3 times a year with my brother or a special friends. A good quality cigar in the company of a friend is just short of sublime!
If she smokes, she pokes!!
Re port – traditionally, the custom was to buy one’s son a *pipe* of port – not a single bottle, I mean to say that really is mean! A pipe is the Portuguese name for a type of barrel, containing anywhere between 300 and 600 litres. The pipe is laid down at the child’s Christening, then broached and decanted to celebrate his coming of age. Quite enough there for a good party with a bit left over too.
Engraved and very simple calling cards. No ornate text.
Along with a nice leather card case, if I can add my opinion.
RE: Umbrellas
While the umbrellas shown in the article are items to envy, my choice is now the Unbreakable Umbrella (unbreakableumbrella(dot)com). The world has become a rather dangerous place, and these are designed to be a formidable weapon in addition to a top quality umbrella. They make both full size and collapsible models (I own both). Consider owning a dual-purpose umbrella – a gentleman has a duty to defend his lady, and having the means to effectively do so is important.
I do have a means. It’s a called a gun. Along with my cigars and lighter. I do hope I’ve appropriately upset all the pretentious little snowflakes that complained – how about just leaving each to their own and keeping your self-rightous gibbering to yourselves?
How about having a bulletproof umbrella with the ability to fire bullets?(Kingsman, anyone?)
As we have all seen frequently, a gun never defends or protects anyone. Only way to employ a gun is til use it Before you are under threat, and you very rarely know when that will happen. That gun may make you feel safe, but it is an illusion.
Agree totally with the other commenters concerning the reasons for dispensing with the lighter. I would also replace the Port with a bottle of Single Malt Scotch. My personal favorite being Lagavulin!
ITEM 16
SUBSCRIPTION TO GENTLEMAN’S GAZETTE….NO BRAINER
It’s hard to believe this gentleman’s “must have” list overlooked the well-cut navy blue blazer. A very urbane friend of mine argues that these days a well-turned-out gentleman can be acceptably attired with a wardrobe that contains nothing more than a good tuxedo and a blue blazer.
A woman pushing a baby stroller approached me and asked if I had a light. I responded that I was sorry but I don’t smoke cigarettes. She scowled at me as only a non-smoker could and said she didn’t either she just wanted to light a joint. Times they are a changing.
Yes. In fact, I don’t care if people smokes cigarrettes, joints or uses cocaine. It’s their problem.
Very little discourages me more than someone willing to smoke around a child, especially an infant – those young lungs are so fragile.
Agree with the post above. Time to stop encouraging smoking of any sort on this blog. A gentleman has no wish to shorten his time on earth with his significant other by pursuing known carcinogenic activities.
Folks should bother themselves with getting educated on cigars and pipes before lumping them together with cigarettes.
A classic navy blue blazer
Great list. Recommended addition, a preferred concealed firearm, e.g. S&W 640 (hammerless, snub nose .357, 5 round cylindrical magazine), Walther PPKS (modern take on Bondโs PPK before he moved to the Beretta, chambered in .380), your 1911. I mean if you own a Mont Blanc, you ought to own a gentlemanly weapon.
! really can’t agree with Scotty, Fred and Bill
……..more
Personally i find that the S&W 640 gun (hammerless, snub nose .357, 5 round cylindrical magazine) gun won’t pack discreetly in the Sporran and even the Beretta spoils the line of my waistcoat
However in the spirit of the Second Amendment (- “a well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free state…..etc etc”) …..I rarely step off The Estate nowadays without a contingent from our own Private Army (-refer website).
It gets a bit expensive,of course, but no one can say they aren’t well regulated,and we haven’t had any trouble from the ne’er- do- wells and Tourists for quite a while now
have a banging peaceful New Year
Jock B
Pocket knife? Money clip? Sunglasses? .50 caliber machine gun? (Kidding on the last one). Need more than 15.
If you’re going to have a decent fountain pen, you should probably also have a decent notebook. At the cheaper end, a Moleskine notebook, A5 in black; or at the more expensive end, a refillable Italian leather journal from somewhere like Aspinal of London
Moleskine is garbage for fountain pens. Google it / recent “Pen Addict” review. Smythson rather than Aspinal for notebooks.
The list of items is a bite pricey. In today’s world it is more casual. Yes, I agree a blue sporty necessary. In the 60’s a shirt and tie was the norm. The 80’s 90’s etc casual became the norm. There are a few institutions that adhere to a dress code. In the 70’s. 80’s and 90’s I went casual. I had my own real estate Appraisal Service. If U had to appear in court as a witness I would put on a tie. Today at 80 I do skip chases and exterior inspection on vacant properties. I have a limited wardrobe of casual wear and I will soon be adding a pair of blue swede shoes.
A Swiss army pocket knife is a must have for any man. A nice watch, a family crest ring and a Swiss army pocket knife. Three things we should all own.
Agree totally Mike: a decent Swiss Army knife with corkscrew, bottle opener, several normal and Philips-head screwdriver attachments is a must-have.
Pleasingly I have most of the items mentioned. Smoking paraphernalia is outdated and unnecessary. If a woman was to ask me for a light, I would suggest that she rub two sticks together.
I have to say that I agree with the smoking being s turn off; and being that I donโt smoke a lighter just doesnโt make sense to me. I would rather have a nice pair of cuff links instead or a tie bar. Even a business card holder would appeal to me more so than a lighter.
Yes, fountain pens are addictive but also so is INK. There are so many colors, brands, and ‘weights’. There are also inks that shimmer.
Embarking upon buying a fountain pen(s) is not for the faint of heart.
Try: https://www.gouletpens.com/all-fountain-pens/c/640
Goulet Pens is a reliable firm.
Paul
16. A proper weekend/ duffle bag
A quality pocket knife, Swiss, German or good ol’ USA made is a must. It’s daily utility will surprise any non-boyscout.
I also believe a concealed carry pistol, if you frequent the urban world, has become an unfortunate necessity. My choice is a Sig Sauer P238 Black Pearl Micro (.380 cal.)
Only if you live in the USA, which I presume you do. In most of the civilized world it is totally unnecessary.
No, in most of the “civilized” world you’ve given up and allocated more rights to criminal scum than the man about the street.
We haven’t.
I must agree. In the rest of the”civilized” world, gentlemen reply that personal protection isn’t necessary. Apparently, giving up the right to defend oneself has effectively stopped all violent crime. I have recently replaced my beretta.380 with a .45 combat commander. I may be a barbarian, yet Paris is burning.
In the USA you are 9 times more likely to be murdered than in my country New Zealand. All other forms of violent crime are far more prevalent in the USA also. Clearly, carrying guns does not reduce crime.
oh yes….. please tell us all about the fabulous success the US has had in controlling gun crime
JB
Must agree, along with a very good leather holster and belt. Unfortunately, the political blathering doesn’t alter reality. Self defense, even in “civilized” Europe, has always been the responsibility of the individual. The socialist countries the other commenters hail from aren’t safer for anyone but the criminals.
I wish you had identified the zipper-top document bag in the photo. I’d love to get one.
I like the idea of having a vintage port from your birthyear, but not everyone is so fortunate as to be born in a vintage year. But I approve of the basic idea.
Subract from the list? A lighter. There is absolutely nothing elegant or sexy about smoking. Smoking should be banned.
So should pretentious fools imposing their idea of right and wrong on others.
Let’s ditch the ciggy lighter and swap it for a well stocked first aid kit for your car. Hopefully you will never have to use it.
I have to agree that a well-cut blue blazer and a pocket knife should be added to the list. Indispensable. I also use my calling cards quite a bit. They are engraved with just my name, city, and state. I handwrite (with my fountain pen) any other information required.
I do like the Pocket knife. I carry a small Swiss Army one every time I go out (except flight travel) . Agree w/ the umbrella and corkscrew. I know it was poo-pooed above, but I also carry a Zippo with me when I go out and the possibility of a light is needed, …. and has come handy to light the birthday candles, the tiki torches, the fire pit… I’ve been amazed at times and places a light is needed and nobody thought of matches; to say the least of tailgating and outdoor parties, where cigars are available. Admittedly, refueling and keeping the Zippo ready is a hassle, but I’m sentimentally attached to that brand, since my dad used them, and I have his two engraved ones from his 1962 army unit in Germany. I might add to the list a decent pair of binoculars; come handy for sporting events and sitting deck side at the beach. One more item that has “saved the day” for me and most of all others … very good jumper cables! I’ve been a hero, and offered money, when I was able to get someone’s car started! Oh, yea, one last item… a good well made 8 oz. Flask!
This was an enjoyable threaded discussion with interesting posts! Thank you Marcello.
Yes, every gentleman should own a nice vintage dress watch. Go with a classic Swiss brand (Omega, JLC, Patek, etc.) and you’re set.
A flashlight… I can’t even count how many times I’ve used my flashlight which I carry every day. Inside restaurants to read menus, at night in the parking lot, and in about a hundred other ways. Mine is about the size and length of a worthy fountain pen, which I also carry. You should also consider a good knife as well.
In the spirit of gibbering assumption presented above – you don’t get to carry the knife in England. Absolution of private rights and so forth. Wouldn’t want to actually hurt a criminal now, would we?
And how do you plan on carrying that knife in England without going to jail?
Surprised at the anti-smoking vitriol! Based on the remarks posted here, gentlemen are indeed hard to find.
Gentlemen don’t champion cancer.
Bit of a leap there.
The ‘real camera’ point is highly debatable. There are plenty of phones on the market with full manual control of settings, but more importantly you don’t just buy an expensive SLR camera and start fiddling around with settings thinking that you automatically become some kind of pro photographer. It takes a lot of time, practice and trial/error to know when to adjust what setting and how much. The best camera is the one you have with you to capture the moment.
I’d add a nice safety razor – as its likely the easiest to transition from an electric/cartridge type razor used currently. And if not those then at the very least good shaving cream, not that stuff in a can. But something like from DR Harris.
Also, while its shown in the picture but not the list, a good pair of warm gloves.
Thanks for sharing!
A camera? A watch? No one “needs” these anymore with the advent of smart phones. They mark you as someone outdated, not “dapper”.
Nonsense. Phones take better pics than they used to but are still a poor substitute for a good camera. Not only in picture quality and control over the various settings but in handling. Phones are great for targets of opportunity but are only a substitute for a real camera for those who don’t take it very seriously.
Same for a wristwatch. When I need to know the time, I prefer to glance at my watch, rather than digging my iPhone out of my pocket. However, in this age of everyone staring stupidly into their phones all day, I’m not at all surprised to hear this kind of rhetoric.
Forget about the gaudy pinky ring.
Every man should have at least one quality firearm.
Or a safe! I wear very little jewelry, although I just got a velvet lined organizer for all my watches, but I always carry. I’m thinking about a crest ring though.
Could not agree more!!!!
Amazing!
The amount of judgmental remarks regarding personal choices is remarkable.
If one steps back and reads these remarks a gentleman would be disgusted by them.
A simple article listing the authors thoughts on a gentlemanโs considered โmust havesโ used as a platform for ones political or personal dislikes or agenda, is a bit sad.
Makes one wish for the pre-internet days.
The pocket knife addition and the blazer additions are excellent advice.
Agreed. Being a gentleman is more about how you present yourself than what you own. A decent education, an effective command of language, and a true compassion for all creatures are far more important than anything proposed on this list or in the comments.
That’s a nice list to be sure! Although personally I’d skip the lighter, for some of the reasons mentioned above, and also because they can be bulky, smelly, and really how often would a non smoker be called upon to whip it out?
A nice pocket knife is a thing of beauty though; personally I have a good Swiss Army knife, but my pride and joy is my Lagioule knife which looks exactly like the corkscrew pictured, and is part of my EDC.
I think a good clean classic black tux is an excellent addition too; tie your own bow tie and leave it a little sloppy too for that sprezzatura!
Overall, a great list!
Actually, besides travel items such as luggage, I think you nailed it. I am proud to say I have it covered and will continue to refine it as I get older.
Thank you,
Of the 18 “must haves” on this list I can only agree with a few. I would make the list this way if these are the only items we would include.
A. Must haves:
1. A Bespoke Suit
2. A Trenchcoat
3. A Good Umbrella
4. A Tool Box With Tools
5. Black Dress Shoes
6. A Pair of Cufflinks
7: A Pristine White Shirt
8: A Quality Belt & Pair Of Suspenders
9: A Nice Blazer (good call)
B. Just Nice to have (Not Must Haves) :
1. Linen Handkerchiefs
2. A Fountain Pen
3. A Signature Scent
4. A Serious Watch
5. A Great Copy of your Favorite Book
6. A Pocket Knife
C. Not required at all:
1. A Lighter (certainly no for a non smoker)
2. A Corkscrew
3. A Real Camera
4. A Bottle of Vintage Port from Your Birth Year (or Your Kidโs)
5. A Signet/Pinky Ring
Here’s one that was missed. A AAA membership. Have a breakdown, dead battery, or a flat in January and in the middle of nowhere? Maybe you’re in your bespoke suit? Your mobile mechanic is a phone call away.
I don’t care if a woman smokes. She’s a lot more fun to be around.
I’m calling b.s. on the keyboard tough guys conducting peeing contests with firearms. Probably wouldn’t bust a grape if it really went down.
A true gentlemen would never admit publicly and to strangers any tools (guns)he may or may not carry. Let alone the brand chumping.
Agree with most . I would include a cashmere scarf , practical and fashionable and can be ” loaned ” to the right person on a chilly night . A water repellent Fedora is also a must . My Borsalino has saved my mellon from many a stormy night and kept the fresh haircut intact . A Pinky ring ??? nope , never a must . A lighter used to be a flashlight but the cell phone has eliminated that and ditto for the camera . My pockets always have breath mints and my car has cables and a first aid kit .
yes to scarf, and yes to an appropriate hat.
Personally I never go out without a clean folded bandana in my side pocket. A million and one uses (-but not blowing your nose).
I always buy mine from Canteen to support their campaign for people living with teenage cancer (……. perhaps theirs a similar charity in the US for other types of victims)
JB
Good call! A handkerchief works but so doesn’t a Bandana, Two thumbs up on the charity, every little bit helps.
With regards to linen handkerchiefs, your link takes us to Fort Belvedere’s pocket squares and from what I have read you should not use pocket squares for blowing your nose, so are you advising us that you can use them for that purpose, at least when you are not using them for show?
I would skip the lighter and pinky ring and and add a pocket knife and a blue blazer
I really canโt agree with Scotty, Fred and Bill
โฆโฆ..more
Personally I find that the S&W 640 gun (hammerless, snub nose .357, 5 round cylindrical magazine) gun wonโt pack discreetly in the Sporran and even the Beretta spoils the line of my waistcoat
However in the spirit of the Second Amendment (- โa well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free stateโฆ..etc etcโ) โฆ..I rarely step off The Estate nowadays without a contingent from our own Private Army
-refer website : http://www.scotlandinfo.eu/europes-last-private-army-the-atholl-highlanders
It gets a bit expensive,of course, but no one can say they arenโt well regulated, and we havenโt had any trouble from the neโer- do- wells and Tourists for quite a while now
Have a banging peaceful New Year
Jock B
Not a must have per se, but men’s sock garters are a nice, esoteric addition to a gentleman’s wardrobe. I know over the calf socks are generally de rigeur and obviate the need for garters, but when one is undressing for an amourous evening, wearing sock garters, especially with formal wear, certainly make things interesting…
The link at the end of the tools is a duplicate of the one for the laser level/tap. It doesn’t go to the tool box.
Thanks for pointing it out. We have corrected it. :)
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Wow I have to admit I’m quite troubled we gentlemen aren’t able to dwell in subjects about MEN without the harshness and offensiveness we see elsewhere on social media. Guys it’s just a lighter, I carry my fathers Zippo he carried while daily risking his life in Korea with the 5th Air Force, it has his name on it, he never smoked nor I, he never went anywhere without it. If someone asked “for a light,” he took it out and handed it to them, they used it and handed it back saying thank you…that is all. Just think you can light a candle with it after you open a bottle of wine with your Laguiole cork-screw. I carry a pocket knife everywhere I go…it’s a boy thing. I carry a pocket watch sometimes, as my grandfather, great grandfather etc. As far as a handgun, that’s my business, know one else.
“WASTE NO MORE TIME ARGUING ABOUT WHAT A GOOD MAN SHOULD BE, BE ONE”…Marcus Aurelius
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My grandfather, who is now 97, told me a real gentleman always carries a quality, sharp pocket knife, a good comb, and 2 fine handkerchiefs. One you keep in your jacket pocket for her, the other in your back pocket your yourself. So Iโd have to say if you add something, itโs a nice quality comb, and get rid of the โrealโ camera. While very nice to have on a vacation somewhere with beautiful sights or traveling, ultimately unnecessary these days. Though I guess itโs all a matter of opinion. Over all I like the list. Keep on keepin on.