Products That Make You Seem Like a Distinguished Gentleman
14 Things That’ll Instantly Make You Seem Like a Classy Gentleman
The AskMen editorial team thoroughly researches & reviews the best gear, services and staples for life. AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service.
They say the clothes make the man — and while that’s not entirely true, what is true is that our possessions can give other people an idea of who we are, so what you own works as a signifier of your personality and attributes.
Want to shift your life towards something a little more impressive? There are lots of ways to do it, but investing in some statement pieces — whether apparel for when you’re out and about, or home goods for when you aren’t — can help turn the classiness of your day-to-day life up a little bit in ways that people may genuinely notice when they see you or come over to your place.
AskMen’s editors are lucky enough to test out lots of cool swag, so we put together a list of the products we think you should consider investing in if you want to give your overall aura a serious boost towards “refined gentleman” territory.
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While some of these products are expensive, they will signify to other people that you’ve got good taste and a dignified air. What you do with your newfound reputation… Well, that’s up to you.
Leatherology Modern Desk Set
We don’t make the rules, but distinguished gentlemen should always have a desk of some kind. Whether you’re sitting at it to do schoolwork, working an office job from home, tinkering with a screenplay or something else, your setup will get a serious shot in the arm with a leather desk set like this one from Leatherology. Pro tip: Get it monogrammed and you’ll instantly feel like you run a bustling business circa the turn of the 20th century.
Ghurka Lenox No. 298 Weekender Duffel Bag
Whatever your means, living the good life means being able to get out of the city a few times a year for a weekend in the countryside. A necessary accoutrement for having a cottage weekend in style is a weekender bag, and we’re obsessed with this one from Ghurka, boasting ample space, excellent construction and stunning good looks to boot. Get one of these and you’ll be scheming up short getaways just so you can take it places.
Lojel Cubo Carry-On Suitcase
Going somewhere that requires a plane or train trip? Maybe you’d take a suitcase over a weekender bag. No worries — we’ve got just the one for you. This hard-shell beauty from Lojel is a prime example of a well-designed suitcase. Boasting an easy-access panel for when you just need to grab one thing and don’t want to open the whole thing up, it also features all the modern suitcase basics: built-in charger, combination lock, multi-directional handles — you name it. Grab one of these and you might start scheming up slightly longer getaways…
Nanu Arc Alarm Clock
You’ve probably heard by now that staring into a bright screen late into the night isn’t great for your sleep patterns. But radio alarm clocks are corny as hell. What’s a guy to do? Easy: Stash your phone outside the bedroom and slap the Arc alarm clock from Nanu on your bedside table. It’s gorgeous looking, intuitive to use and features an alarm sound (produced by a physical mechanism, no less) that’s powerful enough to wake you up but soft enough to not make you hate the day you’re awakening into. Great combo.
Davek Elite Umbrella
Lots of guys seem to think the right approach to rain is just toughing it out and getting wet. Those guys aren’t likely to be mistaken for refined gentlemen any time soon, however. Move in style whenever it rains with a gorgeous, sturdy model like this one from renowned umbrella brand Davek — the curved handle means guys with big hands don’t need to worry about scrunching their fists up to fit around the tiny handles most umbrellas have, and it gives the whole thing an extra touch of class.
Whiskey Peaks Denali Decanter
Is there any beverage more closely associated with the refined air of the gentleman than a really good whiskey? Whether you can afford the top-shelf stuff yet or not, you can give your booze a palpable aura of class with a decanter. We’ve long had a soft spot for this one from Whiskey Peaks — if you don’t think having a scale replica of America’s tallest mountain inside your decanter is cool, well, sorry, but you’re wrong.
The Art of Shaving Sandalwood Full-Size Kit
Don’t tell us you’re still slapping shaving cream directly on your face like a caveman… Primordial in being a refined gentleman is looking the part, and being well-groomed is absolutely near the top of the list. If you’re still shaving with a dollar-store razor and nothing else, turbo-charge your grooming routine with this kit from The Art of Shaving. Besides the lovely post-shave balm, the real killer app here is the badger-hair brush. It’s going to make you love shaving — seriously.
Craighill Wine Key
Having company over? It’s gauche not to at least have a bottle of wine you can pop open, whether for a French-style 5 à 7, to pair with dinner or as a nightcap. Sure, they’ve invented mechanized wine openers, but nothing beats the satisfaction of opening a bottle yourself. The best way to do it, in our opinion, is with Craighill’s gorgeous and incredibly well designed wine key.
Victrola Eastwood II Record Player
Detected a theme yet? Being a refined gentleman often means turning your nose up at the rush to be on the cutting technological edge of everything. That’s not because advancement is bad, it’s because in the rush to early-adopt the latest advances, people leave behind beautiful ways of doing things. Is there any better example of this than vinyl? Yes, it actually does sound better, and yes, it’s better for your soul to listen to an LP than an algorithmically-generated playlist. See for yourself — this one from Victrola is a perfect intro model; it’s compact, lightweight, not terribly expensive, and it has Bluetooth tech so you can pair it with your speakers.
Southern Gents Alexander Fedora
Most of the hats men wear today are not exactly refined gentleman material. Ball caps, beanies, bucket hats — they hardly belong in an upscale coffee shop, let alone a formal occasion. Buck the trend with something genuinely eye-catching, like Southern Gents’ Alexander model. The wide brim says you mean business, while the little peacock feather shows you have a poetic side, too.
Revelry Made-to-Order Suit
For a handful of world-historical reasons, it’s basically impossible to pass for a classy gent anywhere on the planet if you don’t own a single suit. The first thing to know about suiting is that fit is paramount. You can get an off-the-rack one and have it altered — or you can get one that’s made to measure. Revelry started as a women’s wedding dress brand, but we’re digging their new forays into men’s formalwear. Tons of customizable options means you get the suit you want, to fit your body, without having to go anywhere and try on a dozen options.
Taft The Jude Boot
You’re supposed to invest in the things that come between you and the ground — tires, mattresses and footwear. That’s one of the reasons we think you should spring for Taft’s Jude boot. The other is that it’s just damn good looking. A suave Chelsea boot really separates the men from the boys when it comes to footwear, and this one shows you why, and how. Bonus? They’re insanely easy to take on and off.
From $147.50 at TaftClothing.com
Kilne The Cookware Couple Set
Call us set in our ways, but we think a man who doesn’t spend any time in the kitchen can hardly call himself a man at all. Oh, cooking is for women! Blah, blah, blah. If you can’t make yourself a single tasty and filling meal, let alone a few dozen, you’re a teenager, not a grown man. Bring a little pizzazz to your kitchen with a gorgeous cookware set like this pot-and-pan one from Kilne. Incredible non-stick surfaces without those dreaded “forever chemicals,” a seriously snappy look and great storage options included: It’s a serious kitchen upgrade.
Tushy Spa 3.0 Bidet
Chances are, most people won’t experience the inside of your bathroom. But those who do are likely the ones you’re closest to — and/or those you want to impress the most. Do just that by adding a bidet attachment to your W.C. It’ll clean your nether regions in an oh-so-pleasing way. Goodbye, skid-marks; hello, international lifestyle. Bonus? This one, from industry heavyweights Tushy, has temperature control. Enough said.
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