An odd title, you may think, for the first post in a blog series called 'The Stylish English Gentleman" but I think you will discover, a very pertinent and important title and blog.
Incidentally, by using the title 'English Gentleman' I in no way wish to imply that those who are not English cannot also be gentlemen as this is clearly not the case. However, the concept of the gentleman originated in these fair isles and I only have experience of being English. People can only write about that which they know and have experienced.
I suppose that when people hear the phrase 'English Gentleman' a certain image comes to mind: that typified by Patrick McNee in the television series 'The Avengers'. There is the perfectly tailored three piece suit with that touch of individuality, the quintessentially English bowler hat, the crisp shirt and perfectly knotted tie, the polished shoes, the fresh flower in the button hole and silk pocket square and, of course, the tightly furled umbrella. It is a English as Steohen Fry walking a corgi in front of Buckingham Palace!
The thing is, a man could dress exactly like John Steed and still not be a gentleman.
Neither is the title of gentleman one you can claim for yourself, whatever your manner of dress or social standing: it is something that can only be bestowed upon one by another.
I can remember with a small flash of pride the first time I was called a gentleman. Oddly ?I can't remember what I did or said to deserve that accolade. Like all true gentlemanly acts it was a thing of a moment, done almost without thinking as an automatic response and quickly forgotten: but I distinctly remember a young lady saying, "Thank you. You are a true gentleman."
The style of a gentleman is as much about who you are as what you wear, for a genuine personal style flows from and embellishes one's personality. Nothing stands out more obviously that a person dressing in a style in which they are uncomfortable.
So what is the character of a gentleman? It is hard to precisely define, but a gentleman is never cruel or cowardly, had always does the decent thing. He will never be seated whilst a woman who wishes to be seated is standing and in all things his manners will be impeccable. He will always be appropriately dressed and never wander outside without a hat. A gentleman would prefer one glass of finest champagne to several glasses of cheap fizz!
The list is nearly endless, but I will finish for now.
Next time we will start by looking at that most essential item in a stylist Gentleman's wardrobe, the hat,
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