11 Traits of a Gentleman

11 Traits of a Gentleman

This weeks post is going to be pretty short and sweet, but it is an important aspect to who we are, and the values that Future Hot Dad's of America hold.

Society tends to put a lot of emphasis on the 'classyness' of a gentleman and what he wears.  While we like this aspect as well, here at Future Hot Dads of America we try not to forget that being a gentleman goes much deeper than that.  It's about an attitude.


Here are 11 traits that we think all gentle should have.

1. A gentleman respects you and himself enough to never tell lies, even about the small things.

2. A gentleman takes the time to know himself fully.

3. A gentleman values integrity, loyalty, honesty, and honor.

4. A gentleman strives to become a role model for his kids

5. A gentleman wants his children to exceed his abilities

6. A gentleman provides for his family; emotionally, mentally, and financially.

7. A gentleman only sees the woman he loves.

8. A gentleman is able to laugh at himself.

9. A gentleman has the strength to protect without ever abusing that strength.

10. A gentleman knows you and loves you for who you are.

11. A gentleman understands that it's the little things you care about that make you amazing.


So there it is, 11 traits of a gentleman.  Of course these are not the only traits, but we think this list is a strong set of guidelines that every man should adopt.

What About Shoes? 3 Essential Shoes For Your Wardrobe.

What Shoes and When to Wear Them: Top 3 Must-Haves.

The shoes that a guy wears will always set the tone for the rest of the outfit he is wearing.  If you believe this as well, then it would also make sense that certain shoes lend themselves better to certain types of clothing, and even certain events. 

This is probably my favorite aspect of style, and I'd be willing to bet that I have more pairs of shoes (consisting mostly of oxfords and chelsea boots) than the average female.  There seems to be a social rule that men shouldn't need many pairs of shoes, but this really doesn't make much sense.  If you want to become a man with classic style, then you should start with your shoes.

With that being said, let's dive into what many consider to be the best place to start if you're just getting into shoes: The 3 must-haves.

1. Oxfords and Brogues 

Being 'the' classic men's shoe, the oxford is in the number 1 spot for a reason.  Oxfords are going to be the most versatile shoe out of the three, and will never go out of style.  These would be your go-to for formal occasions, the office, or even casual settings if you're feeling it.  Because of the formality of oxfords, it is important to match the the color of the shoe to your outfit.  This sets the tone for the rest of your outfit, and it's relation to the environment. 

I also mentioned brogues in the subtitle.  These shoes are often called 'wingtips' and are a type of oxford.  Broguing is the detail and design that is often put on the top of the toe cup to add an element of elegance to the shoe.  Neither shoe is more formal than the other, it simply comes down to preference.  Oxfords are the 'dress shoe'. Tried and true.

Since this is sort of a college budge blog, we'll focus on low cost recommendations in the $40-50 range. Oxfords from Asos.com, Brogues from Asos.com.  

2. Clean Boots

Moving on from traditional and classic shoes, boots can be trendier way to elevate your style.  When I say boots, I do not mean chunky combat boots.  I mean clean, low profile boots.  For this category, my all-time favorite is the chelsea boot.  Boots can be formal, but it's trickier to do; if you mess it up, you risk looking like you don't know how to match (not just colors, but styles) with your outfit.  That being said, chelsea boots are mostly worn on the street, and some semiformal occasions. These boots work well with skinny jeans, long coats, scarves, etc., and are mainly a fall/winter style that I wear almost everyday, even more than I wear sneakers.

Check out these chelsea boots by Metrocharm.

3. Simple White Sneakers

Sneakers can actually say a lot about you and your style.  They show that you know how to relax and have fun.  This type of shoe should always be paired with jeans, shorts, joggers and the like, but never with 'dressy' styles such as slacks.

White is also a classic and timeless style for sneakers.  Staying with white or black sneakers shows that you aren't just jumping on on every trend that comes along.  These Converse All Stars are my favorite go-to sneaker.

And there you have it.  The three styles of shoes to start you out.  As always, comment and let me know if you have your own go-to shoes, or if I missed any that should be included.

Q&A with Austin Francis: Men's Style

 Q&A with Austin Francis

This week on Future Hot Dads of America, we caught up with one of SUU's most stylish guys, Austin Francis.  Austin is a junior at Southern Utah University, as well as a Presidential Ambassador who aids in recruiting for the school. 

Austin agreed to sit down with me to answer a few questions about himself, his style, and some advice on style for guys out there.  So without further or do, let get into it.


Q: What made you want to get into men’s style?

I wanted to improve my appearance and first impressions that I was making on others. It’s important to appear like you care about yourself and to appear confident when meeting others. Your style sends a powerful message to others, and it’s important to be in control of what that message is.

Q: Where do you get your style inspiration from?

My style inspiration comes from this insightful phrase: simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. Keeping your style simple shows that you know what is important and that you don’t need anything flashy to feel confident and to make a statement.

Q: I like that.  So what you say are one or two staple pieces that every guy should have in his wardrobe?

A nice black suit, and a good pair of brown leather boots. Brown leather boots can be used for casual as well as semi-formal events and overall just look classier than sneakers.


Q: Do you have any style pet peeves?

A big style pet peeve of mine is when men wear button up dress shirts without tucking them in. These dress shirts have a long cut so that they can be tucked in. Wearing it tucked out as if it is a casual button up looks silly. There are casual button ups that have a normal cut that are designed to not be tucked in. It’s important to know the difference.


Q: Do you have any advice for guys who might be getting into men’s fashion?

Don’t let money be an issue. You can get great outfits with some very affordable and simple pieces. Blue jeans and a black tee will never go out of style. Don’t get caught up with feeling like you need expensive brands to look good. It is not true. A $5 shirt from H&M can look stellar if worn right.

Q: You've mentioned before that photography is another passion of yours. What is your main focus in photography?

My main focus in photography is to take photos that are compositionally simplistic and convey an easy-to-grasp message. I like to take the clutter out of photos and just boil the photo down to what the most important factors are. I love simple outfits and simple backgrounds where I can focus my creativity on getting the most out of my model with poses, gestures, and props.

Henri Cartier Bresson is my biggest inspiration. He focuses on capturing little fleeting moments that tell a lot about the scene and the person. I try to implement this style in my own photography as well.


Q: As a photographer myself, I think that is awesome.  Not many people like to keep it simple.  Anyway shifting gears, let's do a few questions just for fun.  Do you have a spirit animal? What about it represents you?

I can’t really think of one. I should probably get on that!

Q: Haha ok, we'll follow up on that one another time.  Let's talk lavatory, are you a bathroom singer?

Most definitely.


Q: One last question.  Since you are a Future Hot Dad of America, give us your best dad joke.

What time did the man go to the dentist? Tooth hurt-y!

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If you want to see more of Austin or his photography, you can follow him on Instagram @austinperry_  and  @austinperry_photography

Future Hot Dads of America is Back!

We're Back Baby! 

    My name is Jordan Holiman, a friend and fellow T-bird of the blog's founder Riley Beck, who was excited about the idea of keeping the blog running.  I'm also excited to say that my pal Dewey Leavitt will be onboard as we create some really fun content over the next several months. 

     If you have followed Future Hot Dads of America before, you probably know that much of our focus is on men's style, advice with women, chivalry, etc.  Simply put, FHDA is about the pursuits of a gentleman.  Of course we plan to stay with these topics, but we also plan to introduce a bit of fun into the mix.  After all, why shouldn't a gentleman have some fun.

     Make sure you keep an eye on our Instagram feed @Futurehotdadsofamerica.  This is where we will post all of our updates for new posts, photos, videos.. you know the drill.