An English Gentleman

[charliecharlie]

what about a nice 1950's vintage suit... that way you can move seamlessly between gent and cad undetected

http://www.vintageglamblog.com/Images/Shopping/mens-fashion-1950.jpg

[Michael Palaeologus]

Let us not be too hard on the Gentleman Driver. He may be a cad (a chap who knows no better) but not a bounder (a chap that does know better yet has bounded above his station) as such he can be redeemed with a firm hand on the shoulder and some well meant words of guidance from a Gentleman of repute.

I point out that the Lady with him is clearly a virtuous flower of English womanhood who must have seen some finer qualities in him, no matter how deeply buried. With time, patience and copious quantities of cold baths and brilliantine some progress may be made.

I have looked at the Norfolk based organisation and note that some of the jackets have a positively continental cut and one of the chaps wearing them is clearly a stranger to the Barbers, thus I have dismissed the establishment without further thought.

I shall visit the High St Ken establishment as recommended by the marvellous Mr Carnell who is both a Gentleman and a Public Servant of the old school.

[HonaloochieB]

Cads is this and of course bounders may be all and suchlike, but you'll not achieve proper English Gentleman status until you've felt the heft of a couple of matching Purdeys in your hands.

Chuck one across to your gillie.

Then fell free to discharge the other towards a hapless bird. Then ensure said bird features at dinner.

Come the 'port passing' stage of the evening, you'll be wondering what all the fuss was about.

Actually. was there a fuss? What with you waving a Purdey about and all?

[HonaloochieB]

Brendan Wrote:

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> resplendent in a pair of green tweed Vans (Which I

> may have to liberate from the possession of a

> certain local resident but a truly exquisite

> outfit sometimes means cracking a few eggs.).

I'm not averse to an exchange provided all is fair and equitable.

The green tweed Vans in exchange for a pair of Johnny Ramones and a Meerschaum pipe.

A light shag could be a deal breaker here.

[HonaloochieB]

Moos Wrote:

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> A bounder of the worst kind!

>

> Rather a fine ginger 'tache though.

'Tache notwithstanding, it seems he's associating with a shopgirl.

For reasons I'm sure we 'men of the world' will understand, it's unlikely she'll be brought back to the family pile, and less likely still that an engagement will ensue.

I mean to say, not everyone can be of a vaguely half-tolerable demi-socialist quarter-conservative bent like myself.

Can they?

But still, a shop girl's a shop girl for all that.

[Brendan]

HonaloochieB Wrote:

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> I'm not averse to an exchange provided all is fair

> and equitable.

> The green tweed Vans in exchange for a pair of

> Johnny Ramones and a Meerschaum pipe.

> A light shag could be a deal breaker here.

Well I was just going to make you an omelette but what do you say to a bent Rhodesian carved from the finest briar and a pair Chuck Taylors of a mid nineties vintage chucked in for the tailoring (I'm sure I saw them making their own way to the door the last week anyway)?

As for the shag, away to Fox in St James with you, ask for the ?special?.

[Michael Palaeologus]

"it seems he's associating with a shopgirl"

I happen to know the young lady in question and she is in no way a "Shop-girl". How very dare you Sir! That is not the comment of a Gentleman and you are black-balled from the Club.

[Moos]

A very ill-bred comment indeed, Mr. Palaeologus.

I lift my brows a quarter-inch in response.

[Brendan]

Funnily enough I saw the picture and though that the lady has found herself a bit of rough as a distraction for the summer.

[????]

Just to be clear on the venacular of the hoity-toity....whose more of a wrong'un a bounder or a cad?

[david_carnell]

A tricky one Mssr ???? but I have always presumed that being dastardly with women will label one a cad whilst bounders are of more general bad stock.

So:

Clinton = cad

Bush = bounder

I think bounder might originate from Charles Dickens' Mr. Bounderby from Hard Times: "A big, loud man, with a stare, and a metallic laugh. A man made out of a coarse material, which seemed to have been stretched to make so much of him....A man who was always proclaiming, through that brassy speaking-trumpet of a voice of his, his old ignorance and his old poverty."

A cad is more conscious of his actions and that they almost inevitably involve some form of sexual misconduct - cf James Hewitt / Princess Diana. Somewhere in there is also the possibility of the accused taking pride in his actions over a brandy in male company at a later date. A bounder is more someone who offends common sensibilities by being unaware of the alternatives.

[????]

agh, very good, thank you

[????]

...and a 'rake'?

[Muley]

Just keep 'em away from the hoes...

Have you considered experimenting with facial hair as part of the look, Mr P?

[david_carnell]

Oh, rakes are the worst of the lot. They are habitually immoral often gambling and drinking away vast fortunes whilst liaising with women of ill-repute.

Members of such organsiations as the Hellfire Club would probably be regarded as rakes rather than cads or bounders. The etymology is probably older too.

[????]

I think Mr P is in need of a manservant too. Brendan is the stand out candidate.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

You would have to put a lock on the tantalus - and he's inclined towards the green liquid, so I'd hide the washing up stuff.

[Brendan]

I will happily act as manservant so long as the good master is habitually immoral often gambling and promises to drink away vast fortunes whilst liaising with women of ill-repute.

I am highly skilled and creative in the sartorial arts, drunkenness and habitual opiate use all of which are compulsory attributes for manservanting.

He?ll have to polish his own helmet mind.

[Brendan]

Did I mention I charge ?1000 a day and I am available on the NHS?

[dulwichmum]

Michael dear heart! Let me take you shopping to Westfield! I adore Westfield (sigh), we can engage the services of a personal shopper/stylist, I am sure that the end result will be stunning.

I actually think you could look terrific in some fabulous Ralph Lauren chinos, JP Tod loafers and a rugger shirt with the collar turned up (swoon)...

You don't want to end up looking like Chris Eubanks sweetie. Do you (bats eyelashes)?

[bigbadwolf]

dulwichmum Wrote:

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> You don't want to end up looking like Chris

> Eubanks sweetie. Do you (bats eyelashes)?

Ha ha ha!

That's probably the best advice I've seen so far chief greedy guts!

[charliecharlie]

[quote Dulwichmum

"Let me take you shopping to Westfield! I adore Westfield"]

WESTFIELD!!!!! horrors DM, what has come over you??? that is no place to take a gentleman!!! Jermyn Street, Saville Row, or even the Burlington Arcade... that is where you will find a Proper shop for a proper gent, but WESTFIELD oh dear no! what is the world coming to...

(pppssst, may I recommend Turnbull and Asser, not that ggghhaaastly American tat DM)

If you want to be seen as posh totty DM, may I suggest to swat up a bit http://www.whatmakesaman.net/wordpress/2008/01/12/english-designer-menswear-jermyn-street-sales-part-1/

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1347/1170294630_6b60895858.jpg?v=0

[dulwichmum]

Charliecharlie - I know EVERYTHING about style - not quite the same thing as fashion! I don't think it would serve Mchael well to dress him in tailoring, tweeds and smart shirts for casual wear. He is not some aged academic (stomps foot).

Neither is he a member of a boy band. High fashion is not for him. I think relaxed casual with an upmarket edge.

[wee quinnie]

dulwichmum Wrote:

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> > I actually think you could look terrific in some

> fabulous Ralph Lauren chinos, JP Tod loafers and a

> rugger shirt with the collar turned up (swoon)...

>

DM - I see you are outlining the attire worn by men in the Crown and Greyhound. Bleurgh!

[daizie]

the crown and greyhound the pub without an atmosphere, also found in the clockhouse