Many of the qualities I associate with gentlemanliness are truly timeless. What’s more, I believe that they are simple: A gentleman is an artist, purely. And like any genuine artist, he occupies a world where curiosity, kindness, tenderness, ecstasy are the norm. These qualities alone can’t help but lead to the development of a character befitting a gentleman. At its best, style is inspiration—inspiring to the wearer but also to his fellow creatures. It involves a reconciliation of the fact of being an individual in a world populated by other individuals, and is therefore not only a form of self-expression, but a courtesy to others, a celebration of life. One should strive to cultivate both a sartorial and individual style that suit his character; one is nothing without the other. There is nothing enduring or eternal about an elegantly dressed bore or ass. To me, there are three points of view from which an individual of refined style can be considered: as a dandy, as a paragon, and as an enchanter (to borrow a Nabokovism). The most stylish individuals combine these three—but it is the third that predominates and proclaims him a true artist of style. — “On Style and Gentlemanliness” words and photo by @valetmagazine — ➡️ Click on the link in bio to read the full article. #gentscafe