Sartorial Rules a Gentleman Should Abide By When Dating Women

Man wearing a coat and sunglasses.
Dress to impress when dating women in Colombia.

If you’re a man who wants to date a Colombian woman, then you’re probably aware that they like it when a man knows how to be stylish but also masculine without being overly macho. Basically, they want a man who is a gentleman in both character and appearance.

If you go by the phrase clothes make the man, then you’ll want to be able to dress as a gentleman so as to put yourself in the headspace towards acting like one when you’re dating women. So, how does one present himself as a gentleman? Are there any rules by which a man should abide?

There are quite a few rules as to what to do and what not to do. However, the most important rule that must be followed is that you should be comfortable in what you wear. If you’re not comfortable in your clothing, then your discomfort is going to show in your attitude.

Want to Elevate Your Personal Style? Avoid these Mistakes

One of the most important faults that a man should avoid when trying to present as a gentleman is to avoid loud, garish colors. If you wear a suit, go with the classic black, navy, gray, or brown. You might be able to get away with a shirt, tie, or pocket square in a bold color but the suit itself should be in a neutral color.

You should also be as streamlined as possible. Your pockets shouldn’t bulge outwards. Basically, if the outline of your phone can be seen through your pocket, then you’ve already made a mistake. If you’re wearing a suit, carry your necessities in the inside pocket of your jacket.

Speaking of your jacket, never button the bottom button. The top (or middle in a three-button) should be buttoned when you’re standing, but the bottom should always be left unbuttoned.

Here’s What You SHOULD Do

Improving your overall look doesn’t mean you should overhaul your own personal style. But there are ways to make sure you consistently look good. When you’re dating women, it’s important to stick to these rules of fashion to give them that attractive and elegant vibe.

Man buttoning his suit jacket.
Keeping the lower button unbuttoned lets the jacket flare out and highlight your figure.

Stay Fitted to Form

First up is to make sure that your clothes fit right. One way to make sure that your clothes fit perfectly is to have them bespoke. Go to a tailor, tell them what kind of clothing you want, select your material, and then have them measure you so they can make those clothes to fit your body specifically.

If getting something tailor-made isn’t possible, then get something tailored. Buy something off the rack or take some of the clothes you already have, go to a tailor, and have them modify those clothes so that they fit you better.

If you’re not able to do that, then make sure you know what your exact measurements are so that you’re able to buy clothes that will fit you best.

Exact measurements will also help you get the right cut of your suit. For example, a man with a waist narrower than his shoulders would be well-suited to an Italian cut whereas a larger man would be more well-served with an American or British cut.

Tailoring will also help you with the length of your pants. A lot of men wear pants that either bunch up at their ankles or expose their ankles. Proper tailoring will make it so that those pants sit flush at the shoes or expose only a sliver of skin.

Pick a Color Grade

Now, on to color-matching. If you’re wearing a suit, then the color of it will inform the color of whatever leather goods you wear. For example, if you’re wearing a black or navy suit, then you should also wear a black belt (if you wear a belt at all) and black shoes. Likewise, a brown suit will mean a brown belt and brown shoes. Gray is a more flexible color, as you can wear black or brown leather goods with it.

On that note, you need to be careful with the particular shade of brown you pair with gray. A dark gray suit should be paired with darker shades of brown. Lighter gray should likewise be paired with lighter shades of brown or even tan.

Man wearing a coat at a vest.
Look like a gentleman and act like one when dating women.

If you wear a watch with a leather band, then that band should match your shoes and belt.

Speaking of color matching, you should also do so with your socks. Wear black, navy, or dark socks depending on the color of your suit and your leather goods.

How to Stay Casual Yet Refined

Speaking of being casual, there are plenty of ways to dress up when dating women without having to put on a suit.

Man wearing a plain T-shirt.
A plain T-shirt can make for a timeless look.

Anything but Plain

You might have this idea that dressing like a gentleman involves wearing nothing but suits, but the sartorial virtues of a clean, well-pressed plain T-shirt in a neutral color cannot be overstated. It’s an article of clothing that goes with almost anything. Pair with some sleek sweatpants or a well-pressed pair of jeans is an evergreen look.

Man wearing blue striped socks.
Patterned socks can add a splash of fun to an otherwise plain outfit.

Rock ‘em, Sock ‘em

Unlike with wearing a suit, you’ve got a lot more leeway when it comes to socks when you’re dressing down. Instead of plain black, brown, or navy, you can have socks with tasteful patterns like flowers or you can put on a checkered pair.

There’s also the option of no-show socks if you’re wearing shorts or you’re in the mood to show off some ankle.

A rack of dress shoes.
Don’t forget to pick the right pair of shoes when getting dressed.

If the Shoe Fits

Now there are your shoes. When you wear a suit, your shoes mustn’t just be the right color, they should also be the right style. You can go with an Oxford or a Brogue depending on how risque you’re feeling. What is the main difference?

An Oxford shoe has a closed-laced system. A Brogue has decorative perforations throughout the shoe and Oxford is not meant to have that. Some men may prefer the plainness of an Oxford as opposed to the adornment on a Brogue.

If you want to dress more casually and you want to be more comfortable, then put on a pair of low-cut vintage sneakers. You can pair them with jeans or shorts.

However, avoid sneakers if you’re wearing slacks or chinos. Instead, put on some loafers. If your date is to take place near the water, then boat shoes, also known as top-siders, will be a welcome addition to your personal style. You might be able to get away with low-cut sneakers provided they’re all-white or all-black.

A ring on a masculine finger.
Use accessories like a chef uses seasoning – to enhance what’s already there.

Accessory Pack

As for accessories, your options will be determined by how dressed up you are. Rings, on any finger but the left ring finger, will be fine if you’re going for a casual look. If you’re dressed up in a suit, then a signet ring is your best bet.

Avoid necklaces if you’re wearing a suit, since your tie will cover it up anyway. Speaking of ties, wear a tie pin to keep it in place.

A man wearing a flat cap.
Wear a flat cap to convey class without pretension.

Crowning Glory

For headwear, you can wear a baseball cap when dressed casually. Dressed up, you might be tempted to put on a fedora, bowler or even a top hat. Avoid all of them and go bareheaded. The first two are somewhat out of fashion and a top hat is, fittingly, over the top.

If you must wear a hat when dressed up, then elect to put on a flat cap. It’s more down to earth and women in Colombia prefer it when a man is grounded because then he comes across as more dependable and family-oriented. So if you’re dating women down there, you’re going to want to come across as down-to-earth.

Being a gentleman isn’t just about dressing fashionably and timelessly, though those are the two main rules a gentleman should follow when getting dressed. It’s not also not just about pulling out a woman’s chair or holding the door open for your date. It’s about being sensitive to her needs and meeting them. You may not feel the need for this when you’re on dating apps or social media, but once you meet in person, you will need to prove that you’re a whole lot more than your online persona.

An important note to remember when dating women — your personal style is all well and good and dressing the part will make you more confident and help get you in the right headspace, but your character will be a far greater indicator of being a gentleman than your clothing will be.