There was a great cologne thread a while back.
@Atom Smasher should post the link to his style threads. C'mon Atom, be shameless, they are good.
I'm a hot woman. Here are the things I notice in order of importance:
1. Grooming/Cleanliness: Breath, teeth, skin, clean fingernails/sharp haircut/well groomed facial hair. Neatness and cleanliness of car and residence, especially bathroom & if you have pets, is there pet hair everywhere. Your total presentation should be well groomed, neat and clean. Make your bed every day. These things show you care how you present yourself.
2. Fitness/Health/Body: The most attractive look on most men is lean, muscular & fit. Think of a professional futbol (soccer) player's physique, or a pro tennis player. That is the most universally attractive body type. Fitness shows commitment to your health and physical wellness.
3. Clothing: Should be stylish according to current trends but not too trendy. GQ or Esquire's ads or the Harold's or Nordstroms or Saks catalogues can give you a visual what's current. Some things are classic, like the crisp white dress shirt or the v-neck or crew neck solid colored t-shirt, but you want to give a nod to current style so your presentation is, well, current. Buy the best quality you can afford. Well heeled women notice fabrics, weave, tailored details, cuff links, all sorts of details. Wear 100% cotton or linen or cashmere or wool or silk. Women notice fabrics and feel fabrics. I can tell natural vs. man made material by touch. Natural is always better. Clothing conveys your sense of style (or lack thereof).
4. Shoes. As stated many places, shoes say a tremendous amount about a man without him saying a word. Get a great pair of brogues (look at Allen Edmonds for ideas) and if you can afford them, get hand stitched soles. Allen Edmonds are entry level for these type of shoes. If you can't afford Allen Edmonds or higher quality, get Cole Haan, Johnston & Murphy, Adam Boot, Etc. A couple of weeks ago I was out with a stylish physical therapist. He wore dark jeans, a solid color v neck t-shirt (which showed off his chest & muscular arms nicely), and gorgeous wingtip brogues that were subtle 2 tone tan linen/tooled walnut leather with a stacked, handstitched sole. Best looking shoes I have seen on a man (that I didn't pick out) in years. Shoes say about a man to a woman what men *think* a car says about them. Get the best shoes you can afford. You are better off in $500 shoes and a $500 dollar watch than you are in $99 shoes and a 10K watch. Never ever EVER wear running shoes unless you are going running. You'll ruin your whole image and embarrass the people you are out with, especially women.
5. Cologne: Smell clean first and foremost. But a complimentary cologne is sexy and adds a layer of sophistication to your look. I still haven't figured out how to paste threads in here but there is a good thread about cologne in the past year or so that is worth reading.
6. Watch/Jewelry: An artist I go out with wears Johnny Depp type sterling silver rings on various fingers. It's a gritty, sexy look for a creative guy whose hands are a little rough from his work & his art. Your jewelry and/or watch says very individual things about you. Pick things that fit with who you are & your general style. You wouldn't generally wear a Cartier tank watch with artsy sterling silver rings. Instead you'd wear cuff links.
7. Residence: Where ever you live keep it clean. Hire housekeepers if necessary. Do not have clutter. Neatness & cleanliness say the most whether you live on billionaire's beach in Malibu or in a modest apartment. You do want as safe an area as you can afford, but there can be exceptions (loft on skid row or lower Manhattan, NYC) for example. Stay out of the hood and out of marginal areas. You want a woman to feel safe at your place.
8. Car: Buy a car for function first. Keep it clean inside and out. Trash in a Rolls is even more unsightly than trash in a Toyota. Cars are depreciating assets. That's why they have lowest priority. If an expensive or image conscious car is important to you, then buy it IF you can afford it, but realize BMWs and the like are expensive to maintain. And be congruent. Don't live in a trailer park & drive a Ferrari. You'll look like a try hard if your car is more luxe than you crib.
Also important is your demeanor & how you carry yourself. If you are comfy in your own skin & comport yourself with self assurance you'll do just great.
To your success BTC & each of you. Now and always.
Cheers
