1 CHANGE A TYRE

This is an essential thing to master. You do not want to wait 7 hours for AA to reach you just because you have a flat tire. In a nutshell, put the parking brake and hazard lights on; get out your lug nut wrench and car jack; remove the hubcap; loosen the lug nuts; jack up the car; remove the lug nuts followed by the flat tire; put the new tire onto the wheel studs; put the lug nuts back, and make sure they’re screwed on tight. 

 

2 TIE A TIE

So you can tie your shoe laces? Cool, but what a bout a tie? Every man should know how to tie a tie and look the part at every formal occasion.  

 

3 THE PHONETIC ALAPHET

It will save you hours on the phone over the course of your life. No more struggling with ‘n’ and ‘m’.

 

4 LAUNDRY 

Asking your mother to do the laundry for you because your a single man is not okay. It’s not rocket science, so you can easily wash your own clothes. If you need a bit of guidance, follow this link. 

 

5. OPEN A BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE

Nothing wrong with having the occasional pint, but sometimes only a bottle of champagne will do. And that’s when you want to be able to open it without firing the cork into someone’s eye. 

1. Chill the bottle to at least 7.2 C.
2. Hold down the cork with the palm of your hand and remove the wire cage.
3. Place a towel over the top of the bottle and grasp the cork

 

If you want to try something a bit more advanced, learn how to sabre a bottle of champagne.

 

6. CHANGE A LIGHTBULB

No doubt one of the most important things a man should know how to do.

 

7. TIE A BOW-TIE

You may only attend a couple of black tie events a year and think that wearing a clip-on is okay. Nope. Learn how to tie a bow-tie. Just remember practise makes perfect. Do not attempt to do this for the first time 5 minutes before you are due to leave the house.

 

8. SHINE YOUR SHOES

A woman always judges a man by the state of his shoes. Take good care of them. Both the shoes and the women.

 

9. SEW A BUTTON

Any man who thinks that this is only the work of a woman is just that; a man. A gentleman knows how to sew a button on in a matter of minutes and whenever emergency strikes.

Lisa Comfort, founder of the Sew Over It sewing cafe, gives easy step-by-step instructions and stitching tricks. Read more.

 

10. CHOOSE THE RIGHT WINE

Knowing the difference between red and white is not knowledge. Also, you do not make Rosé by mixing red and white. When faced with a wine list in a fancy (or otherwise) restaurant, a gentleman should know what to pick with ease and confidence.

(Click the below picture for full size.)

 

11. COOK A SIGNATURE MEAL

Every gentleman should have his own signature dish. And not something really simple like pasta (unless the sauce is home-made). Also nothing microwavable, please. Ideally, this is a dish you can cook to really impress a date. 

12 GIVE A COMPLIMENT

Making the people around you feel good is a trait of a proper gentleman. People enjoy being complimented, although not in a sleazy way and not just for the sake of it. Be genuine, charming and honest. 

 

13. IRON A SHIRT

There is a surprisingly high number of men who do not know how to iron a shirt. In the same way dirty shoes ruins an otherwise great outfit, so does a wrinkled shirt. It doesn’t take you long, and a lot of people even find the act quite therapeutic. 

 

14. GIVE A GOOD HAND SHAKE

You can tell a lot about a man from his handshake, or in some cases the lack of one. When meeting someone for the first time, nothing ruins a first impression like a clammy, limp squeeze of the hand, or a nerve-damaging bruiser of a grip. Not too soft, and not too firm. And maintain eye contact.

 Master the firm, masculine handshake and you’ll instantly improve your business credentials.

 

15. PARALLELL PARK

Imagine this. You are driving around in your car looking for a parking space. Sat next to you is your date for the evening. It is a busy night thus most spaces are already taken. “There’s a space!” she says. You slow down and turn on your indicator only to realise you will have to parallel park. “It’s okay” you tell yourself. “I can do this.” Liar. 15 minutes later you step out of the car and watch your date park it for you.

Moral of the story: learn how to parallel park!

(Click the below picture for full size)

 

16. CPR

CPR is something absolutely everyone should know.

28. Pretty women who are unaccompanied want you to talk to them.

29. When people don’t invite you to a party, you really shouldn’t go.
 And sometimes even when you are invited, you shouldn’t go.

30. Don’t wear shoes memorable enough to be recognized under a bathroom stall.

31. There’s always another level. Just be content knowing that you are still better off than most who have ever lived.

32. People who are too nice are way creepier than people who are assholes.

Just saying that they have “that certain something” isn’t really an explanation of why it is. And let’s face it, having that “that certain X Factor” is really becoming a well-worn phrase as every wannabe in the country tries to get their 15 minutes of fame!

So, when you’re sat round the dinner table discussing your top male style icons, who would be top of your list? Who do you look to for style inspiration?

I try to take a balanced long term view because it’s sometimes all too easy to see the latest rock or pop star take the music world by storm and then have them disappear from view. When it comes to music they either need to stand the test of time or, when you look back, they need to be an individual or group that defined an era even if they only shone brightly within it for a relatively short space of time. Obviously groups like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones will always be regarded as icons but then you have individuals like Marc Bolan and Jimi Hendrix who have been really influential, even though sadly they only graced our planet for a short time.

When it comes to the silver screen, then it’s those men who defined a particular genre of film and are remembered for their effortless style that shines through – Cary Grant, Paul Newman, Robert Redford all spring to mind and there are many others.

A moment in history

The history of men’s fashion can be tracked via its “style icons” as these are the men who illustrate so vividly that particular moment in history.

Sadly, one sure fire way to rise to icon status is to die young and Elvis dying at 42 means that he will forever be in this category. When it comes to movie stars, Steve McQueen and James Dean also fit into this category very easily.

Everybody is going to have a different view on what makes a style icon. Here is GQ’s take on who they consider to be the top 50 male style icons of all time. Which ones do you agree with?

http://www.gq.com/gallery/cary-grant-paul-newman-andre-3000-george-clooney-slideshow

Instant Celebrity

These days of instant celebrity via reality TV and one hit wonders exploding on to the scene so quickly makes it all too easy for the press to build up ‘Z’ list celebrities so rapidly. Long term though, will any of these men leave their mark on the fashion world? Are they really the sort of men who dress in a manner that says something serious about masculinity and today’s modern world?

Often, it’s those that don’t try too hard that stand out the most, as too many wannabe celebs look impeccably well-groomed to the point of obsession.

A real icon is never frightened to grow into themselves over time rather than trying to force the issue.

The Male and Female point of view

Male style doesn’t come under the microscope anywhere near as harshly as women’s fashion does but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t big business. The feedback by men and women towards fashion is different. Most ladies, even if they don’t admit it, have a fascination with the latest designs they see on the catwalk whereas men will generally pay less attention to male fashion shows. What they are more likely to do is notice what the star striker from the football team they support is wearing and use that as a style guide.

Men will notice what good looking movie stars and top sportsmen are wearing and they will try to replicate that look. Guys will take on the whole persona of a male icon they admire and rather than just seeing them as a mannequin with clothes on, they try to emulate that person the best way the can.

Which guy over the last twenty years hasn’t dreamed of being David Beckham, Brad Pitt, Hugh Jackman, or George Clooney for example?

Never out of Style

If you go back through history, male icons have that sense of style that never really goes out of fashion. For example, Cary Grant’s sophisticated and relaxed look is synonymous with the golden years of Hollywood and he always will be. David Bowie epitomised the 1970s and his icon status has not only stood the test of time but time has enhanced it even further.

With the instant social media world we live in, the topic of men’s fashion does have the tendency to get blown out of all proportion and we get over run with second rate “style icons”. Although one thing is clear, when we look back at this decade twenty years from now it will take more than turning up on a red carpet wearing a designer suit to be remembered as a style icon. Only the ones that define the era we currently live in will truly be remembered.

This is why the words of Coco Chanel still ring true. “Fashion fades, only style remains the same”.

What do you think? What defines a male style icon and where do you take your inspiration from? It would be great to hear from you.