Welcome back to the Gentleman's Gazette!
In today's video, we discuss 16 things that are better the old-fashioned way.
As you may notice in everyday life, companies are great into innovation because as humans,
we like new things and therefore they constantly come up with new products.
Sadly, some of those are actually worse than their predecessors and in this video, we focus
on those good old things that are still better and outperform their newer counterparts.
Our list of 16 things includes 8 actual things and 8 activities.
So let's start with our things.
First of all, products.
The first thing that's better the old-fashioned way is the clothes bush.
As you may know, I'm a big fan of it and you can check out our video on clothes maintenance,
to learn more about it.
Essentially, you should go for a handmade product because it lasts longer, the bristles
will stay in, they won't come loose, and on top of that, it's superior to a lint roller
because it's a one-time investment versus an ongoing investment and you can get much
better into cracks.
On top of that, a clothes brush can help you get into little contours such as a hat or
the shoulders of a suit.
You can even use it for shoes, however, I suggest you use brushes used for shoes only
for shoes and for nothing else, otherwise you get dirt and shoe polish all over your
garments.
The second thing that's very ideal the old fashioned way is natural fibers.
In the 1930s, modern fibers, synthetic fibers became popular and they were the new thing
and sometimes you can find them in bespoke garments.
Today, a synthetic fiber is indicative of a lower end garment because higher end ones
always rely on natural materials.
No matter if it's wool, cashmere, cotton, linen, silk, you name it.
If you want a quality fabric, go for a 100% natural materials.
Unfortunately, regulations allow for items that are 90% of cotton and 2% of something
else were labeled as a 100% cotton so when it's unnaturally stretchy and it says a 100%
cotton, chances are, there are some lycra in there or some synthetic that gives it that
touch and I'd rather stay clear of that and go for the 100% cotton.
So why should you go with natural fibers?
Generally, they have excellent properties.
Cotton, for example, absorbs a lot of moisture, wool does not but it's a great insulator and
it's a lot more wrinkle resistant.
So depending on what you need, you can get a natural fiber that serves your purpose.
Cashmere has a very small diameter with a little micron and as such, it feels very soft
on your skin.
In terms of durability, natural fibers are good but they are not as good as if they're
blended with let's say polyester or nylon.
Usually, if you have workwear or outdoor wear, you see these blend combinations and maybe
you see it in a trench coat and you can check out more about that in our trench coat guide
here.
Overall, the climate in a suit made of 100% wool is better, you sweat less, you feel more
invigorated, the wrinkles will come out, it will drape nicer, and it will last longer
without creating a shine that you see with synthetic fibers especially if you iron them.
Third thing that's better the old fashioned way is suspenders.
Sometimes known as braces, they have an advantage over belts in the sense that they hang on
your shoulders and as such, you can have your pants a little looser, also the pants will
stay at the same level all day long versus with a belt, they would usually slide down
ever so slightly so you constantly have to pull up your pants.
So if you go with suspenders, you can go with clip-ons or with buttons.
I personally prefer the buttons because they are sewn on and clip-ons can come off.
They are also a cheaper version.
Ideally, you have a pair of pants that have buttons, I prefer them on the inside.
You need two in the front on the left, two in the front on the right, two in the back
and you are good.
Now, you sometimes see the fishtail trouser back which are specifically made for suspenders
and they help to have the trouser hang neatly and be comfortable all day long.
Suspenders provide a smooth look and your pants will look dapper all day so if you go
with a white tie ensemble, tail coat, a morning coat, or maybe a black tie or tuxedo, or dinner
jacket outfit, always go for suspenders and skip the belt.
Also, if you wear a vest or a waistcoat, go for the suspender because the belt will make
the bottom of your waistcoat bunch up and it looks unfavorable.
Fourth item that's better the old fashioned way is a good old wooden hanger.
I know you probably see those plastic ones these days and they are a lot less expensive
and you can even get more in your closet, however, having a nice wooden hanger that
is matte and that can absorb some sweat and that supports your shoulder is much better
for your jacket any day.
The fifth item that's better the old fashioned way is a fountain pen.
Most people these days use just a ballpoint pen and that's all they know and that's all
they have.
With a fine nib and ideally in gold, you create a really nice font, a little more pressure,
you get wider lines and slimmer lines which makes your signature fake proof and on top
of that, it's just a nicer, cleaner line.
It's also more fun to write and I prefer it to a ballpoint pen.
As you may know, fountain pens was the thing that started my whole interest in classic
men's clothing because as a 14-year-old boy, I found one on eBay and when I got it, it
was very similar to what I had as my school fountain pen so I sold it again, made all
the money, and from then on, decided to buy and sell fountain pens all over the world
and so I got into cuff links, and to clothing, and that's where I am today.
The only time a fountain pen is not ideal is when you are on a plane because of the
different air pressure, the ink can leak so if you travel by plane, make sure your nib
always points up.
If you like the convenience of a ballpoint pen but you want to use real ink, check out
a rollerball and you can learn more about fountain pens on our guide on our website
here.
we also have guides on rollerball pens and ballpoint pens.
The sixth thing that's better the old fashioned way is a photo album.
I know most people take pictures with their phones today and it's nice and convenient
and you can snap shots that you otherwise would never take, however, having a physical
photo album that you can go through with your parents or your loved ones is just a one of
a kind experience that can't be replicated on a screen.
It also makes for a wonderful gift because it's tangible and it has a higher value and
sometimes the quality can really outshine a mobile phone.
They also make for a great decoration on coffee tables.
These days you can also have your digital pictures made to hardbound photo albums that
you can design online.
It's a very nice gift for your loved ones, for friends, for people that are dear to your
heart.
The seventh item you should invest in is a cast iron pan.
Cast iron can be heated to incredibly high temperatures and if you grease them right,
they are naturally non-stick.
A Teflon pan is nice and has its uses, however, over time, the Teflon coating will chip and
it's bad for your health versus a cast iron pan.
If you treat it well and don't put it into a moist environment, will last you a lifetime
and it's great for searing steaks, making eggs, and maybe not something that's acidic
like tomato sauce but other than that, it's great to have a cast iron pan in your repertoire.
The eighth thing that's better the old-fashioned way is good old hats.
The reason being, back in the day, a lot of men wore hats and so they were companies that
focused exclusively on the higher end of the market.
There was also more felt available and the quality was simply superior.
Today, there are a few hat manufacturers and very few that make felt and so the quality
has declined.
On top of that, you can find vintage hats that have nice finishes such as this velour
finish which is very hard to find especially in this quality today.
If you're concerned of buying a used hat because someone else has worn it before, rest assured
that you can replace the hat band and you can clean your hat.
That way, it's new and at a fraction of the cost of a new hat.
For example, the hat I'm wearing here right now cost me merely 20 bucks and this one I
actually bought for 3 bucks at a flea market.
Here, I had the hat band replaced on the outside at a local hatter and it cost another 5 bucks
but it really changes the look and it really goes well with my suit.
All you need in order to buy a vintage felt hat is your head size and you can easily measure
that in centimeters around your head and then simply convert it to hat sizes.
In case you can't find them at local stores or flea markets, it pays to check on eBay
because you always find some there in your size.
Now that we discussed things, let's talk about activities.
The ninth you should do that's better the old fashioned way is getting dressed to go
in public.
I know it's tempting to just wear your sweatpants or your pyjamas to go and grab some groceries
at the same time, if you have respect for yourself and you show up properly attired
or nicely attired, people recognize you for it, they will respect you more, they pay you
more respect, and you'll get better service and people think of you more highly and overall,
you have better experience and it also makes you feel different yourself which expresses
itself in the way you walk, the way you talk, and the way you appear.
Eleven, handwritten notes.
If you write your condolences because someone died or if you write a thank you card actually
using a handwritten note has so much more weight than a facebook message that says I'm
feeling with you.
To learn more about funeral etiquette, please check out our video here.
And for a guide on hand written notes head over here.
Twelve, have a difficult conversation in person.
I know it can be tempting to text someone or talk to them over the phone if you are
upset with them or maybe use an instant messenger or Facebook to express your discontent, however,
in person, what you say can be very different depending on the way you look and how you
express yourself and that has a huge impact.Also, people are less likely to be mean in person
than if they are on the phone and as a gentleman, it really pays to have that respect to others
and show up in person and even if it is a hard conversation because you have to fire
someone, or you have to cancel a contract, it's usually much better and the outcome will
be much better and there maybe a chance in the future to resign or work with them again
if you do it in person.
It's also important to give them the opportunity to respond and not to interrupt.
Thirteen, hosting an actual dinner party.
I sometimes get an invitation on facebook which says "Oh, meet me at this restaurant."
and I always think, that's not a real invitation, that's just a way to hang out with each other
however, if I'm having a dinner party and I put the effort into it, I create the menu,
I look at the wines, the desert, and maybe other things that I want to show to people,
maybe I combine a slideshow from our last vacation, it's just a much nicer warmer experience.
It's in your own space which give you the opportunity to be comfortable and create an
environment where people can openly discuss what they want being being disturbed by others
and on top of that, it's just the best way to get to know people and if you have never
hosted a dinner party, I strongly suggest you give it a try even if you have no experience
with it and even if you are not a great cook because other people will respect you for
it and you'll be invited to dinner parties which is fun in return and it;s just a great
way to hang out with friends or new people that you want to get to know.
Fourteen is using a real camera.
Not only is it much faster when it comes to auto focus and the speed of shooting but they
are also more accurate and because you have a larger sensor, you can separate an object
much better.
Because of that, portraits of people look a lot better and if you want to frame something,
resize something, and make something into a poster, always go at least with a DSLR,
ideally with a full-frame sensor and if money is no object, a medium format digital sensor.
Of course, you can also go with film photography, however, that requires a lot more skill and
most people can't do that anymore because they simply don't know how to operate them
anymore.
Using your cellphone is much easier, it's more convenient, however, because the sensor
is so small, everything is usually in focus, the background, as well as the foreground,
and it's just a hallmark of a cheap picture with a cheap camera, so it's not something
you could actually frame or show to people when you print it because the quality is simply
not as good.
The fifteenth thing to do the old-fashioned way is wet shaving.
I know electric shavers are quite convenient and they can be handy when you travel, however,
if you want a high-quality shave, going with a double edge razor is simply very quick and
it gives you great result.
Even compared to Gillette fusion or the dollar shave club, it's much less expensive, gives
you a better result, and it's very simple, it's also greener because you only have one
simple blade to throw away and recycle versus that whole plastic cartridge.
Oh, and when I say it cost a lot less, it definitely does!
You can find blades starting at like 2 cents and so you can even afford to have a new blade
for every shave which gives you a superior shave but at the same time, it keeps the cost
very low.
To learn more about shaving, please check out our in-depth shaving guide here.
Sixteen, taking notes by hand.
I know it's very tempting these days to take notes of a conversation, a meeting, or a presentation,
on your phone or on your laptop but research have shown that as the comprehension and the
ability to remember things is much higher if you actually write it down by hand.
So if you are studying for a test, or if you really have to comprehend something, go with
pen and paper because it's simply superior to a new device.
last but not the least, going with good old fashioned thrifting or even furnitures thrifting
can be a great way to save money, to be sustainable, and to have a quality product that would have
otherwise cost you a whole lot more.
When it comes to clothes, you can find great finds such as savile row suits or high end
shirts at a huge mark down, of course, it requires a lot of time, and if you don't have
that maybe eBay is a better way to go.
On the other hand, local estate sales can be fantastic to find vintage ties, or even
furniture.
Just the other day, we bought a nice set of a couch and a chair and originally, it cost
$14,000, it was a company called Heirloom and you can just tell the silk velvet,they
are very high quality, it's extremely comfortable,and we got the set for just $900.
For that price, I could not have gotten an IKEA couch, and I hate IKEA couches because
they are supremely uncomfortable and they wear out very quickly.
If you all break it down to one thing, the goold old things are usually of higher quality
and they were designed with longevity in mind.
Sometimes, these days, it seems like a product is designed to break down just a few days
after the warranty expired versus back in the day, they just try to make a really good
product that would stand the test of time.
Our grandparents' generation expected an item to last and so should you.
Also if you break it down on cost per wear, you'll probably find that a quality pair of
shoes or a quality suit will outperform a cheaper counterpart.
Generally, it takes a bit more research to find a quality item but if you come to the
Gentleman's Gazette, we're all about quality and we try to highlight where you can find
a good thing no matter what the size of your wallet is.
If you enjoyed this video, please sign up to our free email newsletter and videos like
this will come right to your inbox and we also have free PDF guides that help you identify
quality so you look your best.
SO in this video, my outfit consists of a dark blue fedora hat from Mayser which is
a German company, it's vintage and I'm wearing about 90s or early 2000s Ralph Lauren purple
label suit with chalk stripes, it's 6*2 double breasted, has nice wide lapels with nice cut
belly.
I'm wearing a Fort Belvedere pocket square with wool and silk that contrasts and texture
with a fine merino wool and cashmere blend at the suit as well as the red madder silk
tie.It's not a bright red, it's a muted red and it's very sophisticated with a white dress
shirt and a navy suit.
I'm wearing a white double cuff dress shirt from Milano, I'm wearing it with the carnelian
and sterling silver cufflinks from Fort Belvedere and I'm pairing it with a ring which is also
sterling silver carnelian.
Shoes are a Oxblood or burgundy red oxfords from acemarks and I'm pairing them with a
pair of shadow stripe blue and red socks from Fort Belvedere which you can find here.
As always, you can find FOrt Belvedere accessories in our shop here.
See you next time!