The Gentleman Is in the Details

How Fragrance, Shoes and Accessories Complete the Well-Dressed Man

A beautifully tailored suit can get your attention.

But look again.

The shoes. The watch. The belt. The pocket square. The socks. And then, when the gentleman walks past you, the subtle fragrance he leaves behind.

Suddenly, you realise that what made him look exceptionally well dressed was not one expensive item.

It was the details.

Style is rarely about clothes alone. Research into how we form impressions of others increasingly recognises dress — including clothing and accessories — as part of the information people use to infer qualities such as status, identity and aesthetic taste.

For the modern African gentleman, mastering those details can transform simply being dressed into being well dressed.

Start From the Ground Up

There is an old truth in menswear: people notice shoes.

You could be wearing an excellent bespoke outfit, but tired, dirty or inappropriate footwear can weaken the entire look.

A polished pair of leather shoes gives business tailoring authority. Loafers can relax a smart outfit without making it careless. Clean minimalist sneakers can work beautifully with contemporary casual tailoring.

And in Ghana's climate, where heat and dust are realities, maintaining your footwear is part of dressing well.

The principle is simple:

Your shoes should look as intentional as your clothes.

Your Belt Should Connect, Not Compete

A belt is a supporting actor.

With traditional formal dressing, brown leather shoes generally work naturally with a brown belt, while black shoes call for black. The shades do not always have to match perfectly, but they should belong to the same visual conversation.

With kaftans, senator-style outfits and other contemporary African looks, however, a conventional belt may disappear entirely.

That is the beauty of understanding style rules: know them well enough to know when they do not apply.

The Watch: Small Detail, Strong Signal

A wristwatch occupies very little space, yet it can say a great deal.

Interestingly, one study involving more than 700 participants across its exploratory and confirmatory samples found that habitual wristwatch wearers scored higher on conscientiousness; a smaller follow-up also found watch wearers arrived earlier for appointments. That does not mean a watch makes a man responsible — but it illustrates how such an accessory can become associated with habits and identity.

Choose your watch for the occasion.

A refined leather-strap or understated metal watch works beautifully with formal clothing. Sportier watches belong naturally in more relaxed environments.

And remember: the purpose of a good watch is not to prove how much you spent on it.

Pocket Squares: Personality in a Few Inches of Fabric

The breast-pocket handkerchief — or pocket square — is one of menswear's simplest opportunities for individuality.

But resist the temptation to make your tie and pocket square look like they came from the same gift box.

They should complement rather than duplicate each other.

If your outfit already has several patterns and strong colours, allow the pocket square to become quieter. If the outfit is restrained, the pocket square can introduce personality.

For the African gentleman, this is also an excellent place for subtle cultural expression. A beautifully chosen piece of African textile against a restrained jacket can create distinction without turning the outfit into costume.

And Yes, Your Socks Matter

The socks become particularly noticeable when you sit down.

For conservative dressing, allowing your socks to relate to your trousers creates a clean visual line. For the more adventurous gentleman, socks can introduce colour or personality.

But there is a difference between interesting and distracting.

Your socks should occasionally start a conversation.

They should not take over the meeting.

Finally, Wear a Fragrance People Remember for the Right Reason

Fragrance may be the only accessory people experience without seeing.

And that makes it powerful.

Research suggests that scent can influence emotional processing and social judgments, while studies of fragranced cosmetics have found that fragrance can affect how pleasant or attractive a person's scent is perceived to be.

But perfume has one important rule:

People should discover your fragrance when they come reasonably close — not several minutes before you arrive.

This matters particularly in Accra and other warm African cities. Heat can change how a fragrance develops and projects on the skin, so restraint is often more elegant than excessive application.

Choose fragrances that work with your skin, personality, climate and occasion. What works beautifully for an evening dinner may be overwhelming in a morning board meeting.

Fragrance should become part of your presence — not an announcement of your arrival.

The Real Secret: Coordination Without Trying Too Hard

A gentleman does not need an expensive watch, designer shoes and a luxury fragrance to have style.

He needs judgment.

Know when to add something. Know when to remove something. Know when the watch is enough. Know when the pocket square brings the outfit alive. Know when colourful socks add personality — and when plain ones demonstrate maturity.

The best-dressed gentleman rarely looks as though he spent three hours trying to impress you.

Everything simply seems to belong.

That is the difference between wearing clothes and understanding style.

Because ultimately, tailoring may create the silhouette.

But the details reveal the gentleman.

REGALIA by June & Co. The clothes make the statement. The details make it yours.