Author: Curt Doolittle

MEN’S FASHION: “THE FORMULA”
Trimmed facial hair, trimmed hair, a light cologne (I use Obsession), brown Italian loafers, khaki slacks even if jean cut, matching leather belt, white button down shirt with high thread count (weight). Socks in cool weather, without socks in warm weather. Throw on a blue, black, or brown sports jacket to improve. Add a pocket square to take it further. Keep a tie with some red rolled in your pocket, backpack, messenger bag, or glove compartment. Add a watch if you want the decoration. I prefer an odd American brand (Hamilton), but I really have given up on watches as gilding a lily so to speak (trying too hard). Phones are enough. Tech watches are omg lame.

For myself, toggle between black and white button down shirts (Nordstrom Smartcare Button Down or LL Bean Pinpoint or Regular Oxford) but I have a handful of blue and yellow, as well as a handful of black jeans. On top of that I have an ungodly number of shoes I rarely wear, and find Vans are the best all around casual shoe that can handle a sport jacket. But if you need a tie stick with the loafers.

You can wear this basically every day like a uniform and you will always look good. I have a selection of about a dozen expensive >100$ silk handkerchiefs for pocket squares.

If you are lucky or smart enough to have laundry at home, then keep two baskets for lights and darks, and to laundry no less than every two or three days, by turning the clothes inside out, and then letting them air dry by hanging them in a doorway on the trim.

Put on pair of running shorts and sit in the sun facing the sun for fifteen to twenty minutes once every two weeks to build color but not a tan. Otherwise stay out of the sun. Drink lots of water. You really only need to lift a few weights a few days a week, and eat clean.

As long as you keep your weight down you can’t look other than ‘great’.

READ:
1) How to be a gentleman: https://t.co/61i2ZxQhbi
There are many books on the topic but this one I can recommend because most are just copies of it.

2) Esquire’s Handbook of Style
https://t.co/Fvj1kaUO13
Many books but this one is correct and always will be.

3) You can also read George Washington’s “Rules of Civility” (that he wrote at 14).
https://t.co/qXI9zGINuH

Aristocratic virtues require continuous policing of your display word and deed. This, combined with the daily pursuit of virtues, produces stoicism. You cannot ‘go wrong’ but simply reading any number of books of etiquette. You’d be surprised how militaristically ritualistic western high culture had become.

WHY DOES THIS MATTER?
We are going through the collapse of the hedonistic cycle after which usually emerges a return to formalism. I would suggest that yes there are a class of men who favor ‘getting pumped’ but in general, that will not mean attracting opportunities for responsibility that produce wealth. Instead, men who cycle or run, and dress well attract opportunity. Success at opportunity attracts women.

CLOSING
You cannot go wrong with ‘the formula’. It is still the high point of western men’s fashion, and it is unlikely to be surpassed as long as our civilization endures.

Reply addressees: @whatifalthist @Dylboz