The well dressed man who has successfully mastered how to look good is welcomed everywhere. Or is he? Getting dressed is only half the work.
The other day, I noticed an especially well dressed man. From a distance, he caught my eye immediately. He looked polished, handsome and successful. His clothing, accessories and body language spoke confidence and I was intrigued to meet him. However, as I moved closer to introduce myself, three things turned me away.
I could smell his coffee breath from two arm's lengths away. When this man spoke, his words were lost in stale Starbucks.
His hands were strong and handsome emerging from perfect cuffs. However his fingernails were jagged as if a child had trimmed them. Perhaps he used the bite and rip method?
Lastly, the man was self-indulgent and disrespectful. After he answered a call on his cell phone loud enough for a large audience, he continuously interrupted his caller's conversation: "Let me tell you..." and "I know, I know..." and "Yeah, yeah, yeah, I think..." Additionally, he loudly bragged during his conversation how much his latest toy acquisition cost and how expensive his shoes were.
I was not the only one who noticed. The eyes darting and rolling around the room were like ping pong balls let loose. My point in sharing this observation, is to remind men, and people in general how little things can make a big impact. While writing this article, I found it difficult to recall the positive things about this man. My lasting impression was: no thank you. While this man had a buffet of problems, even one of these things could be a deal breaker. Such as it was, I didn't ask this man for an interview and I didn't take his photo (despite his amazing clothing).
Men, when dressing for success, please keep your body in mind: body odor, body language and body maintenance (including your posture!). Dressing like a modern gentleman is only half the part. Behaving and grooming like a gentleman can make or break your outfit. See How to be a Modern Gentleman for more helpful tips.
-Lisa Bruckner Trunk Club Expert
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