MLEstyle

Going From Man to Gentleman

If you plan on picking up a decent woman, please understand that we pay attention to details. One of my girlfriends put it very simply, “You can’t expect to pick me up in a Hugo Boss suit, when I was raised watching my father wear only custom pieces.” And she quickly followed up with another important comment. She said that men don’t have to be rich to pick her up, because it’s the simple things like extreme attention to detail and thoughtfulness that she really appreciates.

Now here’s the kicker, guys. Extreme attention to detail does not mean that you can perfectly explain to your woman what the heck is going on during the basketball game, the delta of one investment versus the other–unless you’re talking about the one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry that we could buy if we would agree to invest in that tax free municipal bond for several more years, or even the the way you wax your car like it’s about to go to auction at Barrett Jackson. Let’s face it. Women go to basketball games to be seen, socialize, and cheer for the 6’7″ hottie with sweat dripping down his chiseled arms and legs. Women like instant gratification, so if you can’t sell us on compromise unless we understand what we’re getting back in return–aka jewelry,  a car, condo, vacation, etc. And on top of it all, you most likely don’t have a Jay Leno-esque car collection, so quit waxing your BMW every Sunday and take us to Fontainebleu for an afternoon cocktail and conversation.

After a million conversations with many of my well-to-do single girlfriends about what bugs us the most about our past relationships, I decided it was time to spill the beans! With that said, here is the insider’s crash course guide on How to Go From Man to Gentleman:

Step 1: Never screw up your tie. We may not know how the to actually tie it for you, but you bet your bottom dollar that we know what the finished product should look like. Besides, this is the first thing I look at when I meet a man. It says a lot about them. Second thing I look at is shoes. Men: You must must must own at least one pair of nice dress shoes made by designers like Ferragamo, Prada, or Gucci. If I was a man on a budget, I would starve myself for a month just so I could purchase the shoes. That’s literally how important they are, especially to women.

Step 2. If it looks like we’re dressed in designer labels, then you ought to also. That doesn’t mean it has to be designer. For that reason, I have listed (below) some excellent stores for men who want the right look at an affordable price:

For a more tailored European-style suit:

For a simple casual cotton t-shirts:

For t-shirts with more of a “flare,” and great designer jeans for a steep discount:

For last season’s designer clothes:

Step 3. Always always pay for our dinner or drinks. If you can’t swing the $150 dinner at Morton’s, just tell us…we love to go for a cheap burger and fries or an extra large slice of pizza, too! In fact, if you play your cards right, the casual meal might even score you more points! Women like successful men who feel comfortable enough to not impress people with their ability to pick up an expensive bill. And if you don’t believe me, just check out what we eat when we’re alone (below). Who knew going from man to gentleman could be that easy.

Step 4: If you are trying to buy a woman jewelry, don’t buy anything cheap. It sends us the wrong signal: Either you put no thought into the gift, you were pressed for time and picked something up last minute, or we’re just not worthy of the best.

Simple rule: If you can’t afford it, don’t buy it. We’re happier with a hand-made card than plastic pearls. Euuuuck!

Step 5: You can’t seal the deal without the proper handshake, right? So what makes you think you can score a beautiful woman without the proper etiquette?

Know how to dress for the right occasion. Know how to chew with your mouth closed, and speak when you’ve swallowed your food. Know how to take a woman to a baseball game and buy her ice cream, peanuts and beer, and also know how to take her to the theater in your custom tux and treat her to the city’s finest dining. Wash your hands. If you have to burp…just don’t…unless we do it first . And remember, if you’re not sure about the proper etiquette, then please educate yourself at one of the million etiquette classes that are always being offered.

Congratulations! You’re a step closer to becoming a gentleman! Now, put your valuable new education to use and go score a date with the classy hottie you’ve been trying to pick up for the past year!

Best of luck!!! I’ll be rooting for you!

XoX

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 30th, 2010 at 8:33 am and is filed under Relationships. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.