Gentlemen’s Experience: The suit fits perfectly, but it’s character that counts

For British filmmaker Guy Ritchie, a perfectly fitted suit is a man’s modern armour. “When you own it and make the decision to wear it for yourself, it literally lifts you up and gives you the confidence to face the world.” Although, in Ritchie’s view, ‘owning’ should not be confused with ‘buying’. True elegance only emerges when you infuse that suit with personality and live out your own story in it. And that’s exactly what Ritchie lets his film characters do. Even if that means throwing a few punches now and then. The main thing is that the suit fits perfectly and that a relaxing drink awaits after ‘work’.

Michael Köckritz opened last week’s Table Talk, ‘The Modern Gentleman’, in the exclusive lounge at Outletcity Metzingen with this image. With Köckritz moderating, special guest Bruce Darnell, Roland Staehler (Maserati), Robert Semmler (Outletcity), Fiona Hanke-Henseleit (Breitling) and Isidora Muthmann (Outletcity) discussed what defines the modern gentleman. Naturally, the perfectly fitted suit was also a topic of discussion. But the panel soon set aside the suit and delved into the depths of the male personality, discussing what lies beneath the perfect exterior.

Special guest Bruce Darnell set the tone. He used to always introduce himself as an entertainer, but now he deliberately reverses the order: “I am first and foremost a human being, and only then an entertainer.” He counted smart clothes and nice cars amongst the pleasant little extras. What really matters, he said, is behaviour and character, and both can be learnt.

Robert Semmler, a member of the Outletcity AG executive board, described the gentleman as a people person who keeps his word. His argument: “You can wear clothes. But nobody remembers them the next day.” What does stick in the memory, however, is how someone behaved. Roland Staehler, Managing Director of Maserati for Germany, Austria and Switzerland, brought the factor of time into play: “What feels right at 25 may not always feel right at 45.” In his view, a gentleman senses what a situation calls for at any given moment.

And what about the accessories? Fiona Hanke-Henseleit, boutique manager at Breitling, attributed the value of high-quality mechanical timepieces – alongside their craftsmanship and durability – primarily to what cannot be seen on the dial. In principle, nobody really needs a watch to tell the time these days. But: “It may not count steps, but it tells a whole lot of stories.” Köckritz provided an example straight away. He gave his son an old Breitling from his own collection as a birthday present, complete with its history. Bruce Darnell picked up on the idea: “You simply build up stories.” Stories that also look superb. Fiona Hanke-Henseleit: “A watch is an incredibly beautiful accessory for a gentleman. Especially as there are very few accessories for men as such; women have a far wider choice.”

Returning to Guy Ritchie and his philosophy on suits: the British director regularly criticises the business world for having stripped the suit of its soul. He argues that because men were, in effect, forced to wear it as a uniform, the joy and creativity associated with it have been lost. The good news is that nine years on from Ritchie’s statement, the world – and with it, men – has changed. “Men are increasingly stopping dressing up,” reports Isidora Muthmann, speaking from her own experience. As Head of Hospitality at Outletcity AG, her role includes accompanying customers on exclusive personal shopping trips. Her observation: “Men simply want to feel comfortable in their clothes, whilst still looking good.” And: they seem to listen to their wives remarkably often. At least, many of them do.

Changing male roles then went on to shape the rest of the conversation just as much as the ego, which can sometimes get in the way. That is why Bruce Darnell advocated open communication in every situation, even – or especially – when one has made a mistake. Because: “Perfection is boring.” 

And he certainly had plenty to talk about during the small talk that followed: “One more thing,” he said by way of conclusion. “You know, I always wanted to be James Bond.” 

Later in the programme, the gentlemen in attendance had ample opportunity to discover stylish alternatives to the usual Bond accessories. Those who wished could take the wheel of a Maserati GranTurismo or the Grecale Folgore in the afternoon, before being introduced to the world of Breitling watches. The evening’s presentation of the BOSS Camel Collection focused on relaxed cuts, beautiful fabrics and other refined details. Later, Marc Seifert from the Stuttgart-based event agency Tastingerlebnis.de and the Owen-based whisky distiller Immanuel Gruel guided guests through four bottlings from Japan, Texas, Scotland and the Swabian Alb. And for those wishing to delve deeper into the theme of the gentleman: Visitors to the Experience were presented, amongst other things, with the ramp Book ‘Männersachen’ by Michael Köckritz. Isidora Muthmann also recommends it, by the way: ‘It contains everything a man is interested in. And for women, it’s a really good guide to finding out what men get up to when women aren’t around.”

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