Are you? Are you really?

When it comes to choosing accessories to go with your suit it can be tricky knowing what to pick, if it goes and whether it’s right for the occasion. With Christmas parties and festivities on the horizon, you’re probably going to be dusting off your blazer and wanting to impress. So we ask, what is best practice for men’s accessories?

Remember, accessories are the last thing on, but the first thing noticed. So when deciding on yours, it’s important that you take your time and know what you’re doing.

Most women will tell you that what attracts them to a stylish man lies within the details. Women understand this intimately; just a quick look at the extras they put into an outfit will tell you this. Ranging from make-up (and there are thousands of types each available in thousands of colours) to jewellery, hair accessories and bangles. Fortunately for us chaps, there are far and few between, so there should be no excuses!

Wearing accessories is a sure-fire way to stand out from the crowd and draw positive attention from the people your directing it towards. Apply these rules when wearing a suit and it’s even more evident.

Luckily, we’ve met Gentlemen’s Practice – a place for “Dapper Gents” to go and know that the leg work has been taken out of that search and for affordable prices. It’s a place to go and practice being a Gentlemen without breaking the bank.

Enough chatting, let’s take a look at what accessories every man should own…

Ties

A tie is the most basic of accessories. You can still spice things up a little depending on how you wear it and what type it is.

Firstly, make sure you choose the correct width. There are three main types:

1) Skinny
2) Slim
3) Standard

The Skinny fit is the trendier option and is suited for slimmer silhouettes and thinner suit lapels. Slim is obvious. And Standard, the ‘Mario’ of the tie world, still looks great without a jacket. The Average option is a more traditional style and has been around the longest. It’s probably what your dad has, no disrespect.

An important factor to consider is to make sure your tie has a dimple. It’s what sets the well-dressed from the stylish. Make sure you fall into the latter group.

Shop GP ties here.

Watches

Nothing screams amateur like wearing a sports watch with a formal suit. You wouldn’t play William Gallas a striker when picking Arsenal on ‘Pro Evo’ (well if you were one step ahead, you wouldn’t be picking Arsenal in the first place but that’s another matter. Forum time?) It’s out of place and out of position.

That’s exactly the same when wearing your watch. The right one can make your outfit, the wrong one breaks it completely.

A dress watch is an elegant-looking timepiece. They tend to be either mechanical or quartz, very seldom are they digital. Stick with a silver chrome watch as it compliments most suit colours.

Shop GP watches here.

Pocket Squares

Probably the simplest way of pushing your personal style to the next level, the attention that a simple pocket square gets is exponential.

As stated before, women pay great attention to details and the pocket square is a prime example. There are a variety of ways in which you can make the pocket square into your own. Like the tie, there are an array of colours and styles but even more options of how they can be worn.

A simple place to start is to match the colour of the square to a colour within your tie.

Once that’s sorted, you can start experimenting with patterns and fabrics. From paisley to checked, they add a little character to your suit and help individualise your look. If you find it a little difficult to pick a pattern, simply pick a colour in your suit and use that as a base to compliment the rest of your accessories, but do in subtly.

When all else fails call on the classic white cotton pocket square.

Shop GP pocket squares here.

Cuff Links

Cuff links are only ever worn with French cuffs (double cuffs). There are many different names for the variety of cuff link styles each claiming to be the correct one. All-in-all they do the same thing. Our advice is to experiment with these little guys. You can really show off your personality. Either match it to similar colours in your suit or watch or just go for a design that sparks interest.

The thing to take away here is to understand that you don’t need to take them too seriously, just have fun with them (unless you’re the former Prime Minister…or dare we say it, Donald Trump!)

Shop GP cuff links here.

Tie Bar

The tie bar can often be associated with the car sales man in ‘The Fast Show’. But I assure you that it’s an accessory that is not only stylish but practical too.

Its main use is to keep your tie held firmly down to your shirt, avoiding an unkempt appearance by a tie that’s waving around like it’s on crack.

The small bling in the metallic bar adds the final finishing touch to your accessorised suit. They come in a variety of shapes, but a limited colour palette of either gold or silver (although we have found some decorated ones in vintage stores.)

Try one with your tie and discover how a simple metal bar raises your look; you’ll be surprised what it does to your whole outfit.

Shop GP tie bars here.

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Bish, Bash, Bosh

So how can Gentlemen’s Practice help?

Not only do Gentlemen’s Practice offer a monthly subscription box but they are also the home of affordable accessories at their online store. It’s a treasure chest of accessories and gentlemen’s treats! But, with their monthly box, they make it easier than you think.

Your dapperness comes straight to you! Easy!

…It can be tricky traipsing around the shops trying to find what you’re looking for…just because you’re too busy to be shopping all the time. So, who better to trust than the dapper gents at Gentlemen’s Practice (GP) to create a top end dapper products on your behalf each month and just send it to you for you to enjoy?

Well that’s what Gentlemen’s Practice are going to do if you sign up to the subscription service. Each month they’ll send you 3-4 dapper items (9 times out of 10 they’ll be a selection of those listed above) for you to add to your wardrobe armoury and for just £18 per month!

We were lucky enough to be sent the GP December Box, which featured the likes of what is shown above. The quality, detail and quirky nature of GP make each box feel personal and ridiculously easy to rip the box open and wear there and then.

If you have a dapper gent in your life that has no time on his hands, treat him this Christmas to the subscription box and enjoy his sharpness all year round.

For full stock lists and more information regarding the Gentlemen’s Practice Monthly Box-set, please visit their website here.