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!

________________________________


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.

How to Flirt with the Perfect Smize

Now that you have all read my last blog on how to meet more women, lets go over what you do once you have met them.

This is very serious because if you fail then you may fall into the dark labyrinth known as the friend zone.

Staying out of the friend zone starts at the very beginning. You want her to feel comfortable around you, but if you don't play the game at least a little bit she will only view you as a friend.

So to play the game, you must properly flirt. This is very dangerous because if done wrong, you may seem extremely creepy. Also, everyone has a different way of flirting. Don't ever change your personality when flirting. Be yourself still!

Even though every girl will be different and it's always a different game to be played, here are just a few tips on how to flirt.

Practice

Yes, practice flirting. Flirt with everyone and see what comes off as creepy and normal and you can get the hint. If something is creepy, then simply don't do it! Through practice, you will gain experience and

Eye Contact

The eyes will just about always speak more than the mouth while flirting. I am not saying that you look straight at her eyes the entire time without breaking eye contact! That is just weird and a little intimidating. Just make sure that you simply give each other that occasional look and then once you have good eye contact, then just give her a little smile. She won't be able to resist smiling back.

Then for the secret weapon. This is seriously lethal, so use with caution! The smize! Beyonce is Queen of the Smize! This will break hearts everywhere is you can learn how to properly use. For those of you who don't know what a smize is, it's smiling with your eyes. To do so, simply smile, then lower your mouth to normal position while leaving your eyes in the same position. This may take some practice, but girls won't look at you the same when you have a solid smize.

Listen and Participate

Girls are smart, that means you have to be to. They will see right through you if you are not listening. Don't let your mind wander and go somewhere else. Be involved in the conversation. Keeping conversation is one of the best forms of flirting.

All you #FutureHotDadsOfAmerica have been trained! Now go out and apply what you have learned!

How to meet women

You are out and about with some of your best buds and suddenly this girl catches your eye. Immediately you are smitten, and your heart sings majestically to you letting you know that you just must talk to her. You begin to walk over, but then what?? What comes next? How do I get this girl to talk to me? Here's the guide to introducing yourself.

First of all. Once you see the girl do not overthink it. React within three seconds and just go for it. She'll think you're soft if it takes you all night and she'll lose interest. It is the worst to be thinking of how to approach a girl and then have her leave, or another man who is not a Future Hot Dad Of America beats you and she is bored the rest of the night. DO NOT THINK ABOUT IT!! Train yourself to just go for it the second you see her. 

Now do not approach a girl from behind. It is creepy and the last thing you want is for her first thought to be, this guy is a creep. Do not EVER approach her from behind and then poke her in her sides!!! This is the weirdest thing anyone could ever do, SO DON'T! SERIOUSLY!! Some guys think this is flirty, but DON'T!

Also do not approach straight on, this can be too forward.

Simply approach the girl at an angle. She'll see you coming, but it won't be to forward, but just natural. This natural approach is exactly what you want. This will lead into a smooth conversation and it won't send off any alerts in her head. 

After you have naturally approached her, then comes the hard part.. Talking to her. 

Pickup lines seldom work. It is hard for something so cheesy to lead to anything real. It provides a quick laugh, but that's about all it provides. 

Start a normal conversation. This can seriously be about anything. Make sure to stay up to date on current events and make the conversation intriguing. Let the girl give honest and real feedback and then the conversation will carry itself. 

So now you have started talking to the girl. You're doing great! But now we do not want to get put in the friend zone! The key to staying out of this terrible labyrinth is successful flirting. When you are flirty, she will automatically think of you as something more than just a friend. 

So make sure to read the next post about how to properly flirt. 

9 Tips for the Perfect First Date

Having a great first date is crucial in courting. There are a lot of little things that go into executing that perfect first date that will leave a girl wishing for a second. So here are 9 simple tips to executing a perfect first date.

1. Actually ask the girl out!

You may call the girl, or ask them out in person. Only that!! No texts, snapchats, Facebook messages, or any other social media medium of asking the girl out! It simply won't cut it.

Asking a girl out in person is scary, however, it is time to get over the nerves and do it. If you only feel comfortable talking to the girl over texts, how will that change on the date? Show her the respect she deserves and ask her out in person!

2. Plan the date!!

Girls do not like to be picked up and asked, "What do you want to do?" That is a HUGE turnoff and is not acceptable! Make sure that you have an actual plan and even a plan b in case your first plan does not go as expected.

3. Let the girl know what to wear

Personally I like to keep the plan a secret. It makes it fun for myself, and I like to see how the girl reacts to surprises and not knowing what is going to happen. However, girls want to know what to wear. They do not want to show up wearing something that doesn't fit the environment. Just the other day a friend was telling me about a date that she went on and didn't know the plan. She answered the door in a dress and light coat...they built a snowman!! This man failed to warn the girl on what to wear, and in turn did not get a second date.

So for example, if you are going ice skating, let them know to wear warm clothes, and probably high socks because of the skates. However, you do not have to tell them specifically that you are going ice skating, just make sure that they are prepared for ice skating;)

4. Pay

As a college student, "going dutch," is music to my ears! For those of you who do not know what that means, it means that you both pay your way. However when you ask a girl out, you are responsible to pay!

5. Be yourself

Relationships don't always work out, and that is fine. We should never change who we are so we can hope to have a chance with a girl. Being someone different will always come back to bite you. Imagine how it would be if a girl fell for you while you were saying that you really liked things that in actuality you despised. This builds a fake foundation and as a result there will be nothing to build upon in the future.

6. Be confident

The girl said yes to the date, do not act like she doesn't want to be there. I understand that at times it is difficult to have confidence. Listen to your pump up jam as you go to pick her up and keep those positive, confident vibes!

For me, I will be super confident the entire time leading up to the date. Then just as I knock on the door and start waiting, the stress comes! Waiting for her to come to the door is agonizing. "What if she forgot? What if I'm at the wrong apartment? What if she is hiding? What if this is just a joke and this is a guys apartment?" It's stressful and terrifying, however, none of that is important because life will go on! Even if one of those unlikely events are true, then just laugh it off and don't let that bring you down. Remain confident!

7. Think of time

Give enough time so that you can get to know each other, but not so long that you are both bored before the first date ends. There are a lot of variables that go into timing on first dates. Time may change depending on whether it's a group date or the activity that you are doing. Generally do not ever plan a first date longer than three hours!! That is super long and consumes a lot of time. Leave that to a second date. Generally a first date should be between one and two hours.

8. Walk her to the door, and don't kiss

This is the make or break moment to a second date!! Doorstep moments may be extremely awkward but they leave the lasting impression of the date. Attempting to kiss a girl after one date can spoil everything, so even if the date went perfect and better than any other first date, do not attempt to kiss her! You want the girl to want that kiss and that only comes from more dates.

This is where we must muster up the most confidence. Be natural and don't let the walk be awkward in the slightest. We must keep up conversation and leave the girl wanting to see us again. Look at her in the way that she thinks of a kiss, but don't let her think that you are going to try. Give her a hug, not how you will hug your sister or a bro, and not a creepy hug that lasts too long or involves a weird back pat, but just a nice affectionate hug. Then you walk away.

9. Follow up

Advice to all girls: If you enjoy a date, wait long enough for the man to drive home safe and right as he can think about the date, send him a little text. I promise this will bring a smile to his face! Throw the male population a bone.

Now men, if you felt the connection, ask her out again.

Where Do Future Hot Dads of America Shop?

Everyone wants great style, but it may be very hard to find a store that will provide you with that style. As Future Hot Dads of America, we understand the benefit to a bargain. This is because one day we will need to continue our style as Current Hot Dads.

So lets take a look at a few stores that don't break the bank, but their clothes lets the world know that you are a Future Hot Dad of America.

Forever 21

http://www.forever21.com

H&M

http://www.hm.com/us/

Ross Dress For Less

http://www.rossstores.com/departments/men/men-young-man/

Between these three stores, we will always be repping the latest trends while not emptying our pockets. With Forever 21, and H&M representing the best deals and the most fashionable styles, we are guaranteed to look great. 

Then we also have Ross Dress For Less. Ross is one of my own most shopped at stores because it is constantly changing. Entering a Ross is always a new adventure and you will always find something new and at a great price. It does take a little bit more searching, but that is the fun part. 

Simple Tips to Dress for Success

A few years ago I had a roommate who would always dress very nicely to school. One day I asked him why and he responded with the simple phrase of, "dress for success." Every test and quiz that he took he would make sure to dress for success. With a 4.0 GPA, this roommate of mine is getting ready to apply to med school.

Here are a few tips for the best way to dress for success:

Confidence completes the outfit

No matter what we wear, with the right confidence, we can make that look good.

Do not overdress

Often times we see people that have just dressed up too much. With so many people attempting to be fashionable this is becoming a serious issue. Peacocking is used in the dating world to draw attention. It may lead to a one-night stand, but no one returns to a peacocker. We want to be fashionable but not overdone. 

Look the part of what you want

If you are interviewing for a job, then dress as the CEO of that job would dress. Make sure to dress as the best person in that field would dress. 

Future Hot Moms of America

We have a general idea of what a Future Hot Dad of America is like, but what characteristics does a Future Hot Mom of America have?

In a world where girls and women are being pushed to believe that they have to be a certain way, or be the way that the world wants them to be, we have many few people who are great role models. One of the finest role models for Future Hot Moms of America to have is Taylor Swift! 

A phenomenal blogger and also an example like Taylor is Jennee Moore. Jennee writes in her blog: Obtaining Swift-Like Attributes about those great characteristics that Taylor has. These characteristics have set a great example for all those Future Hot Moms of America out there!

A few of these characteristics that also Future Hot Dads of America should share are:

Taylor is fearless

"To me, Fearless is not the absense of fear. It's not being completely unafraid. To me, Fearless is having fears. Fearless is having doubts. Lots of them. To me, Fearless is living in spite of those things that scare you to death.”

Taylor is charitable

For more news on the Taylor Swift Education Center visit: Rolling Stones

Taylor is passionate

"Anytime someone tells me that I can't do something, I want to do it more."

I urge all of you Future Hot Moms out there to go and learn more about why Taylor Swift is a great example at becomeliketaylor.blogspot.com. 

Lets Adventure

As an adventurous boy scout, Russell in the hit movie UP opened the world to a life of adventure with the simple yet elegant quote of "Adventure is out there." Future Hot Dads of America seek these adventures while also helping others fulfill their own life long dreams.

We live in a beautiful world that has hidden adventures all around us. Ben Lund has introduced Southern Utah to many of their greatest adventures that are right in our backyard. From caves, to slot canyons, to adventurous heights, Ben is a Future Hot Dad of America that is constantly proving to the world what is means to be an adventurer.

Ben showing his domestic side

Ben and fellow Future Hot Dads at Spring Creek

To read more of Ben's great adventures visit: http://cedarcityadventures.blogspot.com

In William Goldman's classic tale, The Princess Bride, Inigo and Fezzik are facing a deathly adventure and Inigo comfortingly tells Fezzik, "we're having an adventure, and most people live and die without being as lucky as we are."

Ben and all Future Hot Dads of America seek for these grand adventures such as those that Inigo and Fezzik shared. So lets pursue our dreams and inspire others to pursue theirs. To help you pursue your dreams, I have left below a few of my favorite adventure quotes.

“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” 

-Eleanor Roosevelt-

“Every mountain top is within reach if you just keep climbing.”

- Barry Finlay-

“One does not discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time.” 

-Andre Gide-

“One of the inescapable encumbrances of leading an interesting life is that there have to be moments when you almost lose it.”

-Jimmy Buffet-

What is my style?

An attribute to Future Hot Dads of America is that they are always true to themselves. Often times we see people who have a certain style, but it seems to just not match their personality and who they are. One of the best ways to have style, is to match your style to your personality.

Use your style to show who you are as a person. One of our original Future Hot Dads of America, Miles Fawkes Anderson, constantly shows how to properly match your style to your personality.

Here you will find Miles in a complete outfit found at a thrift shop,
but looking as great as ever.

Miles loves to ski and play soccer. He is very easy going and shows that through his style. His favorite places to shop are Ross, Dress for Less, Plato's Closet, and any thrift shop. Miles commented "looking fly doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg, you just have to be willing to find gems in obscure places."

So as Future Hot Dads of America, we shall follow the example of Miles by being true to ourselves, and our style. 

Did your favorite make the Top Ten Current Hot Dads of America list?

With Ryan Reynolds recently being named People's Magazine Sexiest Dad Alive, Future Hot Dads of America has decided to give a shout out to some of those past Future Hot Dads who are now Current Hot Dads of America.

10. Ryan Gosling

9. Will Smith

8. Neil Patrick Harris

7. Jimmy Fallon

6. Chris Pratt

5.Patrick Dempsey

4. Usher

3. Chris Hemsworth

2. Justin Timberlake

1. Future Hot Dads of America has decided to agree with People's Magazine and choose Ryan Reynolds as our top choice.

Which Presidents had the best style?

Seeing how this weekend is Presidents Day, Future Hot Dads of America wishes to celebrate by showing our appreciation for Past Hot Dads Of America who were also extremely fashionable Presidents of the United States.

First we wish to give a special shout out to John F. Kennedy who flawlessly demonstrates the importance of great socks. Also this sailboat look is just indescribable for high caliber Presidents fashion. 

Next we have Ronald Reagan demonstrating how great a couple may look while matching. Surely President Reagan must have known that matching dates work.

Happy Presidents Day to everyone and let us all remember not only their great dedication to this country, but also their great fashion.

Are Future Hot Dads of America Chivalrous?

Many people lately have been asking about what it takes to become a Future Hot Dad Of America. This is a very hard question because it is not like you take a test where if you pass, then you receive a certificate and congratulations, you have the title. This is a very prestigious title of certain characteristics that elevate a person to the title.

I do want to put high notice that Future Hot Dads Of America are not perfect in the categories that this blog will feature, but they are striving and have the high aspirations of achieving such qualities. Being a Future Hot Dad is not about being perfect but rather about being better.

So for our first quality, Future Hot Dads of America are chivalrous.

"Chivalry is Dead" has become a very common and widely believed saying. Chivalry is generally associated nowadays with the respect that men show (or don't show) to women; however it is much much more than that. Chivalry originated with the noblest of Knights. The Chivalric Code was used by the Institution of Knighthood and Future Hot Dads Of America strive to live by similar principles as to the Knights of Old.

Old Chivalric Code consisted of items such as "thou shalt love thy country in which thou wast born" and "thou shalt remain faithful to thy pledged sword." Worthy causes without a doubt but as time has changed, a few updated bullets shall be added. A few items I would add are:

• Thou shalt always open a girls door
• Thou shalt pay for the girl on a date 
• Thou shalt offer your jacket
• Thou shalt respect everyone's opinion
• Thou shalt walk a woman to the door after a date
• Thou shalt say "thank you"

No woman while talking with a Future Hot Dad shall ever think that "chivalry is dead." As Future Hot Dads of America we strive to demonstrate to the world that chivalry is stronger than ever. 

What gives Future Hot Dads of America the edge?

About a year ago a novice Future Hot Dad of America challenged me to a dress off. He had acceptable style and so I gladly accepted the opportunity to teach him a few lessons in style. Both being student leaders at Southern Utah University we were assisting an event on campus where we had to put on our finer clothing, providing the location and time to our dress off. 

My friend showed up with great style. Supporting a sport coat and a flashy bow tie, he looked sharp! However, I knew what absolutely makes an outfit. This is a new style that has caught flame and is now being used with Future Hot Dads everywhere! This idea is to match your socks with your tie. 

Without needing to go into great detail on what I wore, I have provided a picture to show how my sock and tie combo made my outfit pop but we will let you be the judge of who was better dressed this day;)

As well in the second picture provided you may see how much of a difference the socks provide to an outfit as two of us have completed our outfit while the other, who still looks good, just could have done a little more. 

Why are dates with Future Hot Dads of America so fun?

As Future Hot Dads of America we understand the importance of respecting woman, because without them we would never arrive to the high esteemed position of Hot Dad of America. We must show woman proper dates where at times we can dress to the finest... And, of course when we dress up, we dress as the best!

Dressing to the best can improve when we ask that special someone on a nice date using this kinda funny, but extremely cute, tactic that the ladies love. Which is to match on nice dates. I have planned matching dates countless times now, and the girl always loves the idea! I am not saying that you match from head to toe, just that you have a cute level of correlation of one solid color or something of the sort. Plus we are the ones who truly benefit because matching only makes your best outfit even better;).

This picture gives two examples of how you can softly but surely match a date.