Old English

To many, Alfred Dunhill is nothing more than a tobacco brand that also happens to make very nice lighters to light those dynamite sticks of theirs. Others think of Dunhill as a driving accessories company which is how it actually got it's start when Alfred took over his fathers saddlery business back in 1893 due to the rising popularity of the automobile. Today, Dunhill is so much more.

Currently owned by the South African luxury goods conglomerate, Richemont, Dunhill, in the past few decades, has moved into the business of writing instruments, clothing, timepieces, and even fragrances. And although their product range as grown significantly over the years, their core image has not changed - Dunhill is still the quintessential brand of the classic English gentleman. The brand represents everything a sophisticated and refined man of wisdom and taste should have and use. Everything from their classic Rollagas lighters, to their Sentryman and Sidecar pens, to their watches (which now run on Jaeger-LeCoultre movements), and to their impeccably tailored clothing are accoutrements to the life of a modern, successful man. And these things take time to make (a Dunhill Tradition Double Document briefcase takes dozens of steps and two days to assemble).



Furthermore, Dunhill offers up their flagship retail locations as more of a gentleman's club. More accurately, they're called the Dunhill "Homes". There are currently four Dunhill Homes around the world: London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. One can walk into one to purchase a shirt and tie, get fitted for a bespoke suit, get a haircut, or even watch a classic film in their screening room while sipping on a fine scotch whisky. Yes, the homes come equipped with a spa for men, screening room, and a full service bar. This is not exactly a new retail concept for Dunhill either. This is merely the Dunhill way of life - believing in the idea that the finer things in life must be enjoyed in order for them to be consider luxuries. In today's world where technology is every evolving, and the speeding up of people's lives have been a direct result of it, Dunhill strives to slow things back down just a tad. Not to be counter progressive in any way, but to constantly remind us that great things in life take time to develop, and traditions are a reminder of our past and our roots.

The Gentleman's Essentials

Some would argue that the classic gentleman is dead; that the dapper, courteous, and romantic man died a long time ago when society deemed it appropriate to wear sneakers with dress pants, let the lady pay for dinner, or budge in front of lineups. Well, we find this to be an outrage. Basic guidelines set forth generations ago by the likes of Humphrey Bogart, Clark Gable, Paul Newman, and James Stewart - the icons of sophistication, elegance, and cool - must be preserved in order for society (and quite possibly humanity) to stand a fighting chance at staying, well, normal. Without the most basic of manners and proper gentlemanly conduct, we might as well be moving backwards in evolution and eventually find ourselves back in the cave. Having said all of that, here is what the modern gentleman should have to set themselves apart from the rest; not in a competitive way, but simply a unique way:

Use a real pen, one that is made of something other than clear and cheap plastic, and has a clip so you can carry it with you at all times. It doesn't have to be super nice or expensive either. A Parker or Faber-Castell would do just fine! Because searching around your general vicinity for one is time consuming, and breaking out your own to sign a credit card receipt at a restaurant is so much cooler than using their house Bic.

Wear a watch, but use your cell phone to tell the time. In this day and age, nobody actually needs to wear a watch anymore because we all have cell phones, they all tell the time, and they're all probably more accurate than our watches anyway. That's not the point, however. With the rise of the cell phone, the wrist watch has been reduced to nothing more than an accessory - almost like a bracelet. But a Casio calculator watch is like wearing a hospital tag, and a cheap $40 Carnival you got at Zellers is like a string made of metallic thread wrapped around your wrist. You don't have to go drop $5,000 on a Rolex either, but a slightly sporty Momentum, elegant Ingersoll, or a truly masculine and authoritative TW Steel won't break the bank either and will provide you with that perfect gentleman's accessory for years.

Carry your stuff in a bag, not in your pockets. We all know how it feels and looks when we over stuff our pockets with the things we need to have with us on a daily basis: cell phone, wallet, glasses case, pack of gum, whatever. Sure, there are at least four pockets on your pants, and if you're wearing a jacket of some sort you can add at least another two, but nobody said you had to use each one! The best thing to do is actually use none of them. That way your clothes fit you the best they can and flatter your body - your legs will look longer and you won't look like you have a huge tummy in your mid section. Don't just go and buy yourself a fanny pack, throw everything in it, and hook it up around your waist now, either. No. Get something that suits what you're wearing. If you're mostly in jeans and a t-shirt or hoodie, use a tote or a duffel. If you're a young professional, use a nice Rimowa. And if you're a corporate guy who ever steps into a meeting to meet people of any level of importance, carry a briefcase; preferably something from Bosca or Tumi. I cannot stress this enough. If you want people to take you seriously, look like you want to be taken seriously. Because that Nike gym bag just says you can't wait for the meeting to end so you can hit the gym, and that MEC bag says your weekend hike is more important than the task at hand. Enough said.

These are merely accoutrements to make a man stand apart from the boys. How a gentleman conducts themselves is paramount as well. When entering or exiting through a door with a lady, open and hold a door that swings in towards you, and push, step through first, and hold on the other side a door that swings out. Stand up when a lady leaves a dining table even if you're the only other person there with her. Always make sure you're presenting the best version of yourself to the world everyday as a sign of respect to the people around you. And always shake hands with a firm grip and smile.

Happy living. Cheers.

The Modern Traditionalist (Handwriting)

These days most of our "writing" is done digitally either on a keyboard in front of a computer, or on the small touchscreens of our smartphones. Even when we need to take down a quick note or memo, we simply do it with whatever we can muster up within our immediate vicinity, and it could be anything from a Pilot fine liner to a Bic ball point. But what happened to actual "hand writing"? What happened to the kind of writing that one took time to form the shape of the letters and was written using a fine writing instrument like a Montblanc coming in contact with good quality paper like that of Crane's? I'm pretty sure it still exists. All the journal writers, calligraphists, and people who still prefer planning their lives using an agenda like a Filofax are testaments to that. All of these activities are performed not as necessities, but rather by choice, and they're are done without the care of consumption of time, expenditure of energy, or inefficiency. They're done because the person doing it gets a true sense of enjoyment when doing it. The preparation of the act, whether it's the twisting off of a cap and the posting of it, to the filling of ink into a fountain pen, to the fluid lines created by your penmanship, and even the sight of ink drying before your eyes seconds after you've laid down your thoughts and effectively setting them "in stone" can bring great satisfaction and pleasure to a writer. So even though no one actually hand writes anything anymore, good penmanship and the desire to write can be considered more of a hobby these days. It's a hobby enjoyed by true connoisseurs and enthusiasts; an activity performed with a passion and a respect for something truly old world and traditional.