Pearls of wisdom from fashion icon Tom Ford arenโt at all hard to come by. The legendary father of sartorial menโs style has advice for us all on every facet of our lives.
Now, with the TF brand releasing their first timepiece โ a classically, round day-date โ British GQ saw it only fitting as to sit the man down and di-sect his approach to watch wearing. Here are the doโs a donโt from the man himself in 10 easy commandments.
1. โYou have to look at yourself before you leave the house โ head to toe.โ
TF says it is essential to consider the watch holistically with your outfit. Every man needs a full-length mirror. If your shiny watch band is looking a bit sleazy with a casual look โ take it off and try something else.
2. โWhy would you wear two watches at once? Itโs silly.โ
If you wear two watches, youโre a loser. Itโs that simple. TF says that his six-year-old son wears two watches because he canโt decide which one he likes more. But heโs six.
3. โI would say wearing your watch on top of your shirt, like Gianni Agnelli, is a big no-no.โ
People did it in the 70s, even TF himself admits to it, but this isnโt the 1970โs. There was only one period in recent history when it was okay to wear your Cartier Tank outside your shirt cuff, and itโs not now.
4. โYou can definitely wear a dress watch with something other than a tux.โ
But it depends on your personal style. Some can pull it off, for others, it looks like theyโre still wearing a watch from the night before.
5. โA diving watch with a suit, sure. With a tuxedo, no.โ
The traditionalist take on the debate agrees that 99% of the time, you shouldnโt wear a diving watch with a tuxedo. The TF consensus is that a tuxedo should look like a tuxedo โ and that either means an evening watch or no watch at all.
6. โWatch complications are a little silly.โ
Just like you donโt need to drive a Lamborghini through Sydney rush hour, you donโt need a watch that does everything and has every dial. For most of us, we just need the time โ and most men on a mission know what the dayโs date is, too, so you donโt even really need that.
7. โThe leather of your strap has to match your belt and shoes.โ
Just like you wouldnโt wear a brown belt with black shoes, you canโt wear a leather strap on your wrist that doesnโt match the rest of the leather in your outfit.
8. โDonโt wear a NATO strap in the evening.โ
Similarly, TF recommends that every type of strap has its time. White straps look really tight when peeking out of a white shirt cuff in summer.
9. โItโs not chic to show off about your watch.โ
Unless youโve got a mate whoโs really into watches and youโve just bought Steve McQueenโs 64 Submariner, then keep your wrist steeze to yourself. If you really want to flex, reach across the dinner table and hope someone asks about it.
10. โI donโt like a โquartz tickโ.โ
The ultimate no-dice for any watch wearer. When second hands tick over on a quartz watch, the โtick, tick, tickโ comes off as tacky. The smoothness of a timepiece a bit more expensive is something to be desired. Anything less screams cheap and poorly designed.
