Maybe he's gay, maybe he's stylishly heterosexual or maybe he's just British.
Who knows? He is shrouded in a carefully crafted fog of mystery. What's absolutely certain is that the gentleman is always well-groomed, has impeccable taste and is a master of savoir faire. He enjoys a long luncheon, worships his dry cleaner and appreciates mahogany. If the cane and the monocle came back into fashion, he'd be beside himself with restrained joy.
Basically, he has leapt straight out of a BBC miniseries set in the 1930s. Pamper the gentleman with masculine yet lavish items.
- The gentleman covets shiny shoes, but he'd rather leave the facial perspiration to the troglodytes. MAC's Blot Film ($15 from www.maccosmetics.com is a blotting paper that comes in stylish, unisex compact and will come to the rescue in a sticky situation.
- Winter is hard on the hands, so he definitely needs a pair of gloves. But not just any nylon atrocity will do. Try Banana Republic's Leather Gloves ($95 at Banana Republic Stores). How else would he keep that manicure preserved?
- Sign him up for an audience with a Holt Renfrew Personal Shopper (free!). He or she will provide a wardrobe analysis and suggestions on how to up the ante in the fashion game. After all, he can only take so many cues from Brideshead Revisited.
- He'd sooner subtract the letters B and O from his vocabulary altogether than smell like their sum. Cater to his refined taste in fragrance with a bottle of limited edition Ralph Lauren Polo Modern Reserve ($62.50 at www.sephora.com).
- Hearken back to the golden age of travel with a par of Custom Antique Map Cufflinks ($105 US at www.raredevice.net). Choose from almost any city in the world, and designed Anne Holman will locate a corresponding antique map and craft silver-sterling cufflinks out of it. Perfect for commemorating his hometown, a beloved vacation destination or the place he sipped his first single malt scotch.
- If his pad is awash in leathers, classic books and burgundy hues, you can count on him loving a Derek Rose Tartan Smoking Jacket ($495 US at www.onthefly.com). Whether or not he lights the pipe that dangles from his mouth is irrelevant. It's all about appearances. Waist-length, with turn-up cuffs and a shawl collar, it is the perfect garment for retiring to the drawing room after the cheese plate.
- E-mail is a vulgar act. The gentleman dedicates more time to the art of correspondence, and his stationery must be of the finest caliber. Surprise him with a 50-notecard set of Bespoke Letterpress Stationery ($175 US at www.onthefly.com), which comes in three styles: fedora, classic car, fly fishing and pipe. The recipient's name and icon are printed upon the heavyweight card, and the matching envelopes display a return address.
- To exit the manor exhibiting a bare head is the ultimate faux pas. Get him a Driver Cap (29.50 at Gap Stores). They come in grey tweed, navy or twill heather, and will keep that noggin nice and toasty, even if it dwells in the clouds.
