I was recently contacted to review the new book Anything Other Than Naked by Glen R. Sondag. I’ve always had an interest in menswear and Bill loves a good dapper outfit so I thought this seemed like the perfect opportunity!
The Background
The author, an investment advisor, began writing a list of sartorial do’s and don’ts for his four sons when he realized other men could use the same wardrobe advice. Men aren’t really as open as women about sharing their interest in clothing and style, and don’t have as many outlets for advice as women. Thus was born Anything Other Than Naked, a practical guide for men on how to dress properly for every occasion.
The Book
Anything Other Than Naked is a small, illustrated 86-page book with separate chapters on how to evaluate, select and wear each item of clothing—from suits, shirts, ties and trousers to sweaters, belts, shoes and outerwear. One chapter focuses on matching suits, shirts and ties. Another chapter titled “Potpourri” touches upon wallets, men’s jewelry and watches, laundering, and grooming. While Sondag does clearly have a few favorite shopping locations, he claims to recommend them solely based on his great experiences.
My Thoughts
The book is a great reference for any guy looking to look his best, regardless of the situation. I love the way he focuses much of the book on dressing for your body, recommending different suit types and tie widths for each body shape.While I wish Sondag would have included more about current trends, his timeless tips will always be in style. He offers basics like how to tie your tie and some in-depth ideas on how to avoid your belt from bowing. Here’s an excerpt from his section on shoes:
Shoes. If there is one sure way to know if a man cares about his appearance, it is how his shoes look. If they are dull, scuffed, or badly worn, a $5,000 suit won’t save you. Believe it or not, your shoes are one of the first things people notice. Mens shoes come three ways: a laced shoe, a shoe with a strap (monk strap), and a slip-on shoe (loafer or tassle). If you wear a suit, you need a good pair of black, brown, and cordovan laced shoes, preferably in a cap toe, wingtip, or oxford style. With proper care this shoe will last for years and never go out of style. Best of all, you’ll feel like a CEO when you wear them. (They’ve been in style so long that your grandfather probably had a similar pair of oxfords.)
Some of my favorite sections were the times he talked about how to care for your clothing. From spot cleaning to dry cleaning, from storage to tailoring, Sondag’s tips are applicable to women as well. Finally, his “Forty-Five Tips for Dressing Well” are items every dapper man should know. Here’s a sneak peak of some of the tips that I didn’t know:
3. Never button the bottom button on a suit jacket, but always button the one above it.
9. When tied, your tie should be no shorter than the top of your belt buckle and not longer than the bottom.
24. Alternate putting on your belt – left to right one day, right to left the next day – to keep it from “bowing.”
30. Shoes should be darker than your suit.
38. Don’t wear the same pair of shoes two days in a row – give them a day to dry.
Want to buy it?
The book is available as a softcover and as a Kindle eBook through Amazon.com. It retails for $12.95, but I found it for much cheaper!
Want to win it?
Update: This giveaway is now closed.
I’ve got one copy of the book for a lucky reader! To win:
- You must: Tell me why you’re interested in learning more about menswear. (Worth one entry)
- For additional entries (worth one bonus entry each; must place a new comment for each):
You must enter your e-mail address so I can contact you to find out where to ship it.
That’s it! The giveaway will be open until Monday, April 18th at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Disclosure: I received a book for this review. I received no other compensation from the author for this post. Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. These help me pay the bills! All views expressed in this post are solely mine.
