How To Wear a Suit

Even if a gentleman does not wear a suit to the office, he knows he does not live a suit-free life.
Inevitably, he will be called upon to dress for one of life's special occasions. He keeps a suit-cut
in a timeless style and made in a timeless color (navy, black, or grey)--on the ready at all times.
What's more, if he is not called upon to wear his all-purpose suit with great regularity, he tries it on, from time to time, to make sure the buttons actually button around his waist. A gentleman also equips himself with at least one classic sports coat. A good tweed or camel-hair jacket will carry him through almost any fall or winter event, but the best friend in his entire wardrobe is likely to be a navy-blue blazer, made of year-round-weight worsted wool. Such a jacket is a gentleman's ally in all seasons of the year and in all hours of the day.
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* When a gentleman wears a double-breasted suit, he never leaves the jacket unbuttoned--not even just one of the buttons--at least while he is standing.

* When a gentleman finds that his suit jacket no longer buttons comfortably, he does not play games with himself. He either has it altered or sends it to a charity thrift shop.

* A gentleman knows that a more expensive suit may be well worth the money, if only because it allows more excess fabric in the seams tho accomodate the comings and goings of his waistline.

* If a gentleman owns only one suit, it is navy, black, or grey.

* If a gentleman can afford only one fine suit, rather than three inferior ones, no matter how good the deal sounds in the newspaper, he goes for the finer option.

* If a gentleman owns only one good suit, he is proud to wear it often, since it never raises questions as to cut, color, and style.

* If a gentleman owns only one suit, it is made of worsted wool.

* If it is well cut, the jacket of a gentleman's dark suit may also serve him as a sports coat.

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An article in U.S.A. Today spoke about candidates for jobs wearing jeans, purple sweat suits, and spike heels or sneakers. Other applicants weren't afraid to show pierced body parts and spiked hair. Still others chewed gum or showed up in rumpled clothes or with their pants falling down. One recruiter even told a candidate with his trousers down below his hips, to "Pull your pants up." According to the article, the outlandish dress costs some candidates the job.

Interviewing:

Does it really make a difference how you dress for an interview? In many cases, it does. I'll never forget the gentleman I interviewed for an accounting position. He had been out of work for a few months and wanted to show me why. He took off his jacket, unbuttoned his shirt and started to pull down his pants (this is a true story) to show me the scar from a boat propeller that had injured him. He didn't get the job. Neither did the young lady in a bright red skirt so short and tight that she could hardly sit down!

In the conservative business climate I worked in at the time, appearances did matter. In other environments it isn't as important. However, it does make sense to dress your best for the interview, regardless of the dress code at the organization. If you're in doubt about how to dress for an interview, it is best to err on the side of conservatism. It is much better to be overdressed than underdressed (or undressed).

According to Kim Zoller at Image Dynamics, 55% of another person's perception of you is based on how you look. Her Dressing for Success information gives some tips on how to look your best, without necessarily spending a lot of money. Here's a quick look at the basics:

Men's Interview Attire:

Solid color, conservative suit
White long sleeve shirt
Conservative tie
Dark socks, professional shoes
Very limited jewelry
Neat, professional hairstyle
Go easy on the aftershave
Neatly trimmed nails
Portfolio or briefcase
More Interview Help:

* If a gentleman's backside is of any considerable volume and if that gentleman purchases a ventless jacket, he makes sure that the jacket is more than ample of cut.

* Unless he is extremely slender and of considerable height, a gentleman is most often wise to button only one of his jacket buttons.

* A gentleman's jacket sleeves are short enough to display a half-inch of his shirt cuffs.

* The pants legs of a gentleman's suit are always cuffed, unless they are part of his formalwear.

* A gentleman NEVER wears cuffs on his formal trousers.

* A gentleman feels comfortable wearing a classic blazer, worn with simple gray trousers, to any occasion where a business suit would be accepted.

* A gentleman leaves the bottom buttonof his vest unbuttoned, no matter what the time of day.

* If a gentleman owns even one suit or sports coat, he knows the phone number of a good tailor.

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A gentleman in a navy-blue blazer sails through life with utter self-confidence. More than any other jacket in the world of wardrobe, the navy blazer has earned it's right of admission to virtually any event that does not require black tie and patent leather shoes. It's origins are in the world of sailing, ant it carries with it the snappy air of the ship's captain and the debonair style of a kingly yachtsman. It's brass buttons, a relic of it's military past, come in handy for catching the eye of an attractive stranger, or a negligent cocktail server. If the style of the blazer is double-breasted, the v-pattern created by the buttons may even help suggest that the gentleman's chest is indeed somewhat wider than his waist.

If it is cut from good worsted wool, a navy blazer can travel in all climates and in all seasons. In the fall and winter, it seems drawn to a pair of gray flannel trousers, while in springtime and summer, it is perfectly set off by a pair of light grays, colorful cottons, or even white linens (but only if the weather is very fine).
If a gentleman's wardrobe can be said to have an actual "staple" (in the same way that a lady's wardrobe can be based on one little black dress), it is his blazer. For many a gentleman, it is the first jacket ever bought for him by his parents. It may be replaced by many another blazer almost exactly like it, but the relationship remains the same forever--confident, unpretentious, and unwavering.

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Whether it is the crisply laundered shirt he puts on for a job interview, the polo shirt he wears at the office, the wing collar formal short he brings out only for weddings, or the T-shirt he pulls on to run errands on Saturday, a gentleman's shirt is the defining item of his wardrobe. Even in the most stuffy work environment, a gentleman is likely to spend most of his day in his shirtsleeves, covering it with his jacket only when he heads to outside appointments or to the conference table.

Whatever the dress code in his everyday life,however, a gentleman knows that when he chooses a shirt he is also choosing a frame for his face. He selects it carefully, in terms of color, pattern, and fit, sticking with a look that suits him even if it means he wears the same style shirt every day. When even the best-loved shirt has grown worse for wear, however, a gentleman lets it go. Stains, broken buttons, and frayed cuffs can detract from even the best-rehearsed sales pitch,
or the most heartfelt protestation of love.

* If a gentleman does not have a tapered physique, he does not attempt to wear tapered shirts.

* If a gentleman discovers when he sits down, that the buttons on his shirtfront are straining against the fabric, he moves to a larger shirt size.

* If a gentleman finds it a struggle to button his collar, he moves to a more comfortable fit.

* When trying on a shirt, a gentleman tests the fit, both sitting and standing.

* If a gentleman is thick set he avoids spread collars.

* When hard at work in his private office, in the office pool, or in the newsroom, a gentleman may unbutton his collar button and loosen his tie. When he hits the streets for lunch or a business appointment, however, he re-buttons and re-tightens.

* If a gentleman wears French cuffs, he selects simple cufflinks for the office or for any occasion that calls for a business suit.

* A gentleman knows that "simple cufflinks" are made of classic metals, such as gold, silver , or platinum, with settings of enamel or semiprecious stones.

* A gentleman knows that tasteful engraving does not destroy the simplicity of cufflinks.

* A gentleman saves his glittery cufflinks, especially those set with precious stones, for formal evening wear.

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* A gentleman saves his amusing cufflinks, especially the ones that light up in the dark, for New Years Eve.

* When dressing for a formal occasion, a gentleman's cufflinks need not match his shirt studs precisely.
The links and studs should, however, complement each other.

* A gentleman does not wear a short sleeved shirt with a suit.

* A gentleman knows that the term "short-sleeved dress shirt" is an oxymoron.

* A gentleman's shirt cuffs extend approximately a half-inch from the sleeves of his jacket, but a gentleman's cufflinks never actually show unless the gentleman is extending his hand or bending his elbow.

* During any meal, a gentleman takes care to keep his shirtfront clean. If food should splatter on his clean shirt, he excuses himself and does he best he can to remedy the situation with a little soda water from the bar or some warm tap water from the men's room.

* If a gentleman's shirt becomes soiled and no replacement shirt is handy, he does not call
attention to the mess.

When selecting his clothes for a job interview, a gentleman dresses as he assumes he would dress on a particularly important day at the office, should he be hired for the job he is seeking. If he is interviewing for a job in sales, he wears the sort of outfit he would wear to impress his most prestigious client. If he is interviewing for a job with a law firm, he wears the sort of well- tailored suit and tie he would wear when presenting a crucial argument in court. On the other hand, if he is applying for a job teaching science at the local middle school, he may make a better impression by wearing a good sports coat and nicely cut slacks. In no case does he wish to create an appearance that he cannot keep up or one that suggests he has an overly optimistic impression of the salary being offered. A necktie is appropriate
at any job interview.

The following list should give you a good idea of how to dress for a job interview:

* Suit: A conservative, two-piece dark grey or a dark blue business suit would be the ideal suit to wear on the day of your job interview.

* Shirt: A white, long-sleeved dress shirt that is neatly pressed and has a good fit is recommendable.

* Tie: Go for a plain colored, non-distracting, conservative dark blue or dark red necktie made of 100% pure silk.

* Tie accessories: A classic silver tie bar ensures that your tie is held in place during the interview. Without one, you often end up adjusting your tie several times during the interview, which will make you look nervous.

* Shoes: Clean and polished conservative dress shoes, black lace-ups if possible, would be your best choice.

* Socks: Dark socks, black if possible, would be ideally suited.

* Belt: The belt should match the color of your shoes, so go with a black one if possible
Hair: Make sure that you get a well-groomed hairstyle before the interview. Be aware that short always fares best in interviews.

* Beard: A beard needs to be shaved off.

* Mustache: Mustaches are a possible negative, but if you must, then at least make sure it is neat and trimmed.

* Fingernails: Ensure that they are clean and trimmed.

* Rings: Wedding or college rings are generally acceptable but other rings are not.
Earrings & piercings: Both earrings and visible body piercings should be taken out on the day of the interview.

* Body odor & fresh breath: Make sure that you do not smell badly and chew some gum before the interview, yet never during the interview.

* Perfume & cologne: Keep perfume and cologne to a minimum.

* Briefcase: Take along a briefcase with a notepad and a pen for any notes you may have to take during or after the interview.
Realizing that this list is quite exhaustive, I still think that you should try to make effort to ensure your job interview attire resembles the one above. Remember, it is almost always better to be higher than the standard than lower. In the end, you are interviewing for your future so every additional effort that sets you apart from your competitors will benefit you eventually.

Consider putting all your clothes on the day before the interview to get an idea of the "big picture", especially if you are not used to wearing formal clothes. In that case, it is better to feel a bit awkward the day before the interview than on the day itself.

A professional consultant who doesn't take the time to maintain a professional appearance presents the image of not being able to perform adequately on the job. This professional dress code is codified because many professionals have never been taught appropriate professional appearance and demeanor.
Professional dress code standards are alive-and-well in major financial and executive management and anyone who aspires to top management knows that your personal appearance counts.

If you look and behave like a highly-trained and well-groomed professional you will win the respect and honor of our valued clients.
A fresh haircut, spit-shined shoes and a crisp suit go a long way in establishing a professional demeanor.
It's also about quality; most professionals can spot a cheap suit at twenty paces and high-quality dress shoes are de-rigueur.
If you have never worked in a professional environment and you are not sure how professionals look, watch the lawyers on an episode of Law & Order on television.

Dress Codes are protected by law:

Remember, employers in the USA have a legal right to ask you to adhere to dress codes:
"A person can be fired because the company doesn't like your shoes," explains Robert D. Lipman, who manages the New York employment firm Lipman & Plesur, LLP . . .
"People say 'This is America. We should be able to do what we want.' But I tell them that once you walk into a private employers workplace, your rights are limited."
Plus, it's not sexual discrimination to require separate grooming standards and dress codes for men and women:
"In 1998, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Harper v. Blockbuster Entertainment upheld Blockbuster's dress code that mandated male employees to cut their long hair, but not female employees."
Inappropriate dress and grooming
Have you ever gone to church on Sunday and instantly noted the people who normally do not wear a suit? You know, the men with striped shirts, plaid ties and lime green sport coats? Sadly, professional dress and grooming standards have fallen from popular culture and we don't have to look far to find examples of unprofessional dress.

In order to stay on top of your business game, you need to keep those clothes pressed and ready. When traveling, in order to keep that suit from wrinkling, you need to pack it and pack it well. Here is a way that you can pack a men's suit for optimal protection and neatness. When you unpack at your hotel, nobody will be able to tell the long journey that it went on with you!

Step 1: Pack the suitcase. Before trying to pack the suit it is important to fill the suitcase with all other pieces of clothing and travel related items. The suitcase will need to be nearly full in order to pack the suit tight.

Step 2: Lay the suit down. The suit will need to be laid across the top of the full suitcase. The collar will be 1 inch below the hinge of the suitcase top. The arms of the suit will be folded neatly over the front of the suit.

Step 3: Place the pants. The pants of the suit will now lay on top of the suit jacket. The waist line will be on the right side of the suitcase along the shoulder of the suit with the legs of the pants hanging over the opposite side of the suitcase.

Step 4: 4Fold the jacket. The jacket bottom will now be folded over the legs of the pants toward the hinge of the suitcase.

Step 5: Finish the pants. Finally, fold the pants legs toward the waist line of the pants and over the suit jacket. The packing is complete.

As more and more clothing is manufactured in Europe--or as more clothing manufacturers seem to wish to give that impression--a gentleman may be asked to try on garments labeled with unfamiliar sizes, most of them much larger than anything he has ever before tried on. A gentleman need not be alarmed. A single chart will help him understand the correlatives.

HATS:

USA-------------Europe

6---------------54
7---------------56
7.25------------58
7.50------------60
7.75------------62

SHIRTS:

USA/UK----------Europe

14--------------36
14.5------------37
15--------------38
15.5------------39
16--------------41
16.5------------42
17--------------43
17.5------------44
18--------------45

SHOES:

USA-------------UK--------------EUROPE

7---------------6.5-------------40
7.5-------------7---------------40.5
8---------------7.5-------------41
8.5-------------8---------------42
9---------------8.5-------------42.5
9.5-------------9---------------43
10--------------9.5-------------44
10.5------------10--------------45
11.5------------11--------------46
12--------------11.5------------46.5

SUITS:

USA/UK----------EUROPE

36--------------46
38--------------48
40--------------50
42--------------52
44--------------54
46--------------56
48--------------58

UNDERWEAR:

USA-------------EUROPE

34--------------5
36--------------6
38--------------7
40--------------8
42--------------9
44--------------10
46--------------11
48--------------12

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Although the term "informal" was coined to indicate that gentlemen were expected to show up wearing black tie, rather than "formal" clothing
(white-tie bib-and-tucker), an "informal" dress code now usually demands a sports coat and tie or, at the very stuffiest, a business suit. Nevertheless, many a gentleman lives in fear of the moment when a black-tie invitation--or, God help him, a white-tie invitation--will arrive in the mail. The prospect of that moment, however, should actually fill him with calm, since a request for black tie leaves little margin for error. Even in today's ever-evolving, constantly adapting society,
the formula for formal wear remains virtually unchanged. The suit remains black, as do the tie and shoes that go with it. If a gentleman expects formal evenings to be even an occasional part of his life, he may choose to purchase his own suit. Meanwhile, rental remains a perfectly acceptable option, whether the gentleman is headed to the highest of society weddings or the dressiest ball following a presidential inauguration.

* A gentleman realizes that purchasing his own formalwear is a sizable investment--and a longtime commitment. Thus, when considering this momentous step, he shops in a respected men's store.

* When a gentleman purchases his own formalwear, he buys a suit that fits him comfortably or even loosely (within reason). He knows that dress-up parties involve rich food and ample drink. He also knows that they occur at all times of the year, during none of which he wishes to feel too large for his trousers.

* When his dinner clothes are fitted, a gentleman makes sure that ample fabric remains in the seams, in anticipation of the potential expansion of his waistline.

* A gentleman knows that a formal shirt does not have a button down collar.

* If s gentleman elects to wear a wing collar, he wears his collar points behind his bow tie.

* When shopping for dinner clothes, a gentleman steers away from "blended" fabrics. He searches, instead, for light worsted wool, which is cooler in the summer and which sheds wrinkles more easily than other "easy-care" fabrics.

* When a gentleman wears a cummerbund, he makes sure the pleats are turned upward, forming little pockets in which he may stash a theater ticket or a calling card--his own or, perhaps, someone else's.

* If a gentleman tends toward fleshiness, he thinks twice before wearing a wing collar.

* If a gentleman expects to be invited to black-tie occasions on a regular basis, he goes ahead and buys his own suit and accessories. After three or four wearings, that initial investment can easily justify itself, given the cost--and quality--of rented formal clothes.

* When a gentleman wears a formal vest--or any vest, for that matter--he leaves at least one bottom button unbuttoned. If a second unbuttoned button makes him feel more comfortable (and if he is tall enough to bring it off), he indulges himself in that way too.

* A gentleman will do well to remember that in England (where the concept of black suits for gentlemen, as evening wear, was born), a "vest" is an undergarment (known as a "tank top" in the U.S.).
The sleeveless, buttoned-up garment worn between coat and shirtfront is more properly known as a "waistcoat" (pronounced "weskit," if a gentleman affects a British accent, although a gentleman never affects a British accent).

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A gentleman may wish to add a dash of color to a summertime formal party by wearing a colorful dinner jacket. When doing so, however, he realizes that he also runs the risk of looking like a member of a band conducted in 1947 by Xavier Cugat. Or worse yet, a band conducted in 1953 by Desi Arnaz.

* If a gentleman feels the urge to wear a colorful cummerbund, tie, or pocket square, he does not buy them as a "set." A gentleman's pocket square, tie, and cummerbund were never intended to share the same gene pool.

* If a gentleman is a groom at a wedding, his dinner clothes or evening clothes differ in no way frothose of the other members of the wedding party--or even from those worn by the wedding guests. He may wear a boutonniere, taken from the bride's bouquet, but otherwise he sticks to the standard uniform.

* A gentleman knows that, when mixing blue jeans with a dinner jacket, he runs the risk of suggesting that only half his suit was returned from the dry cleaners.

* A gentleman makes sure that his dinner clothes are always clean and unwrinkled, lest he require them at a moment's notice.

* Unless he is an attendant at a nighttime wedding party, invited to s formal ball, or tapped to receive a Nobel Prize, it is highly likely that a gentleman will never be faced with the necessity of being fitted for a tailcoat.

* If a gentleman receives an invitation marked "Black Tie Optional," he knows that black tie is what his host or hostess really wants him to wear--but the choice to do so is his own.

* A gentleman knows that white dinner jackets were invented to be worn only in tropical climes--and on movie sets. There is seldom any good excuse for wearing such a jacket north of the South Carolina state line.

* There is no good excuse for wearing a white dinner jacket, anywhere, between Labor Day and Memorial Day.

* If, at a summertime black-tie dinner, the announcement is made that "gentlemen may remove their jackets," an experienced gentleman considers
his options: He may remove his jacket and catch a bit of the breeze. Or he may decline the offer, knowing that underneath his jacket, a sweat-soaked shirt now clings to his torso. Being a gentleman, he may choose not to share that reality with his fellow dinner guests.

A gentleman knows that looking good is not just about the grand gesture--the purchase of a trendy designer suit or a pair of obviously Italian-made
lace-ups. He knows that ultimately, being well dressed is about the details--the way he buttons hus simple, navy blue suit jacket or the way he makes sure his penny loafers are always neatly shined.
He knows that, if he pays attention, the drape of his trousers will not be destroyed by pockets made saggy by the burden of car keys, an overstuffed wallet, and a cellphone. He knows that, by taking a moment before rushing out the door in the morning, he can avoid the embarassment of discovering, shortly before lunchtime, that he's gone halfway through the day wearing mismatched socks. He knows that, with a neatly folded pocket square in jis breast pocket and a crisp dimple in his tie, he can declare his personal style without making an issue of the price tag, whether great or small. A gentleman's ultimate goal is to travel through life as if he were a polished machine and a complete work of art. The following text offers the advice, instructions, and vocabulary necessary to help him achieve that goal--not only from top to bottom, but also from the inside out.

* A gentleman understands that a hat exists for utilitarian purposes, either to keep him warm or to keep him cool. He understands, therefore, that there is no reason for a hat, or a cap, to be worn inside.

* A gentleman may wear his hat or cap in the public areas of any building, other than a house of worship. He understands that public areas include elevators, department stores, and hotel lobbies. He also understands that public areas do not include the reception rooms of doctors' or lawyers'
offices or any other place where he expects to engage in one-to-one conversation for any length of time.

* If a non-Jewish gentleman accepts an invitation to a Jewish wedding ceremony, funeral, or bar or bat mitzvah, he understands that he may be expected to put on a yarmulke (yama-kuh), at least for the time of the ceremony.

* If a gentleman has elected to add a hat--a fedora, a Panama, or a boater, for example--to his celebratory getup at a wedding, he removes it inside the house of worship and under the wedding or reception tent. To make life easier for himself while inside the country club or restaurant where the reception is held, he checks his hat at the door.

* If a gentleman wears a hat while traveling on a short trip by train or bus, he may choose not to remove it or simply to hold it in his hand. For a longer trip, by train or airplane, however, he will most likely wish to remove his hat, stowing it as carefully as he can in an overhead bin or beneath the seat in front of him.

* Unless a gentleman is attending a funeral where men are expected to cover their heads, he removes his hat at any funeral or memorial service. If he attends a graveside service, especially during inclement weather, he may choose to wear his hat, although he understands that he must remove it during any formal prayers.

* If a gentleman wears a hat of any kind, even if it is a baseball cap, or headgear associated with his favorite sports team, he removes it during prayer, during the National Anthem, and during the Pledge of Allegiance.

* If a gentleman is given to wearing outlandish headgear--such as a plaid deerstalker or a Russian sable cap with earflaps--he understands that he is likely to attract attention.

* If a gentleman is given to wearing Russian sable caps with earflaps, he may wish to consult a doctor about his need for attention.

If a gentleman elects to wear a hat, or a cap, he understands what to do with it when greeting others.
He "tips" his hat whenever he is being introduced to a new acquaintance or whenever he greets a lady, an older person, or a distinguished personage of either sex. He feels no particular need to tip his hat when greeting another gentleman of approximately
his own age and status, although hat tipping always suggests congeniality and respect.

The tradition of tipping one's hat dates from the Middle Ages, when noblemen removed their helmets when greeting one another so as to demonstrate their peaceable intentions and to indicate that they had no fear while in the fellow nobleman's presence. A knight removed his helmet in the presence of a lady, of course, to indicate that he was at her service and that he had no thoughts of seizing her for ransom.

A gentleman understands that "tipping" his hat no longer means that he must remove it entirely. Instead, he may simply lift his hat quickly from his head and replace it immediately, especially if the wind is chill or if the sun is hot. He may, in fact, simply

give the brim of his hat or cap a quick touch, "tipping" it as an indication that he is a man of peace, good will, and good breeding.

A gentleman may be forgiven for having spilled a bit of soup on his tie at supper. He may be excused for having grown a bit too wide for his summer slacks. But he never forgives himself for wearing a pair of scuffed shoes--especially if he wears them to a crucial job interview or to a cocktail reception where he intends to make his best impression. In many professions and on many social occasions, black shoes still remain the rule, but whether his shoes are black cap-toe oxfords, cordovan loafers, or patent leather dancing pumps, a gentleman makes sure that they are freshly polished, with the heels and soles in at least reasonably respectable shape. He may not have absolute control over the splashing of his soup or the size of his waistline, but his shoes, he knows, can always be fixed. They are there to carry him, in more ways than one, through the marbled corridors, over the cobblestones, and across the polished dance floors of life.

* A gentleman knows that an ill-fitting shoe is always the wrong shoe, no matter what the occasion.

* If he can possibly avoid it, a gentleman does not wear a new pair of shoes to an important occasion, especially if they have soles of slick leather.

* A gentleman owns at least two pairs of shoes so that he is not forced to wear the same pair two days in a row.

* A gentleman attempts never to wear the same pair of hsoes two days in a row, for the sake of the shoes, not for the sake of fashion.

* If a gentleman hopes to work in the legal or banking profession, he is wise to wear black shoes for his job interview.

* If a gentleman is invited to any occasion requesting "business attire" or a more formal dress code, and beginning after six o'clock in the evening, he wears black shoes.

* A gentleman never wears wingtips with his dinner clothes.

* To complement his formal dress, a gentleman may put on black suede or quilted-velvet evening shoes, but it is ill advised for him to carry such lightheartedness beyond his own front door.

* When a gentleman discovers that any of his shoes--whether cap-toe oxfords, penny loafers, formal pumps, or cowboy boots--need new heels or new soles, he takes them to the shop--not only for the good of his social life, but for the good of his shoes.

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* Unless he makes a living as a cattle rancher or a country singer, a gentleman does not wear cowboy boots with a suit.

* Whatever his profession, a gentleman does not attempt to mix his tailored suit with his tennis shoes.

* A gentleman keeps at least one extra pair of shoelaces on hand--both at home and at the office--in case of emergencies.

* A gentleman polishes his shoes on a regular basis.

* A gentleman knows that a professional shoeshine is invariably a solid investment.

The necessary equipment: Soft cloth, wax polish, water, soft brush (optional).

The procedure:

1. Sprinkle a bit of warm water over the polish
(And yes, spit works just fine.)

2. Cover a finger with the soft cloth and use it to
work the water into the polish.

3. Apply the polish to the shoe.

4. Work the olish into the leather.

5. Using a clean section of the cloth (or a soft brush), buff the leather to a brilliant shine.