21.02.2024

Men's etiquette - rules for real gentlemen. Rules of etiquette for men in clothing, at the table, in communication and in business Rules of decency in society for men


In order to come across as a gentleman who knows everything about men's etiquette, always adhere to the following 14 points.

1. Men on the left

On the street, a man should walk to the left of the lady. Only military personnel can walk on the right and must be ready to give a military salute.

2. By the elbow

It is necessary to support a woman by the elbow if she stumbles or slips. But in a normal situation, the decision to take a man’s arm or not is made by the lady.

3. Smoking

In the presence of a woman, a man does not smoke without her permission.

4. Behind the ladies

At the entrance and exit to the room, the gentleman opens the door for the lady, and he himself walks behind her.

5. On the steps

When going up or down the stairs, a man protects his companion by walking one or two steps behind or in front, respectively.

6. Elevator

A man enters the elevator first, and at the exit from it, a lady should be let in first.

7. From the car

The man is the first to get out of the car, he walks around the vehicle and opens the door on the passenger side, while helping the woman get out.

Provided that the man is driving the car himself, he must open the door and support the woman by the elbow when she sits in the front seat.

If a man and a woman are both passengers, they are supposed to ride in the back seat. The lady is the first to settle into the salon, the man sits next to him.

Source: comres.co.uk

8. Outerwear

When entering a room, a man should help a woman take off her outer clothing, and when leaving the room, he should hand her clothes.

9. Don't sit down

It is also customary in society not to sit down if ladies are standing (this also applies to public transport).

10. Arrive early

According to etiquette, a man should not be late for a meeting with a lady. On the contrary, the gentleman should arrive a few minutes earlier, because his delay can confuse the lady and put her in an awkward position. In unforeseen cases, it is necessary to warn and apologize for being late.

11. Carry a bag

Any woman of any age should be helped to carry large items and massive bags. This does not include a handbag, a light fur coat or a coat, unless she is unable to carry them herself for health reasons.


In order to come across as a gentleman who knows everything about men's etiquette, always adhere to the following 14 points.

1. Men on the left

On the street, a man should walk to the left of the lady. Only military personnel can walk on the right and must be ready to give a military salute.

2. By the elbow

It is necessary to support a woman by the elbow if she stumbles or slips. But in a normal situation, the decision to take a man’s arm or not is made by the lady.

3. Smoking

In the presence of a woman, a man does not smoke without her permission.

4. Behind the ladies

At the entrance and exit to the room, the gentleman opens the door for the lady, and he himself walks behind her.

5. On the steps

When going up or down the stairs, a man protects his companion by walking one or two steps behind or in front, respectively.

6. Elevator

A man enters the elevator first, and at the exit from it, a lady should be let in first.

7. From the car

The man is the first to get out of the car, he walks around the vehicle and opens the door on the passenger side, while helping the woman get out.

Provided that the man is driving the car himself, he must open the door and support the woman by the elbow when she sits in the front seat.

If a man and a woman are both passengers, they are supposed to ride in the back seat. The lady is the first to settle into the salon, the man sits next to him.

Source: comres.co.uk

8. Outerwear

When entering a room, a man should help a woman take off her outer clothing, and when leaving the room, he should hand her clothes.

9. Don't sit down

It is also customary in society not to sit down if ladies are standing (this also applies to public transport).

10. Arrive early

According to etiquette, a man should not be late for a meeting with a lady. On the contrary, the gentleman should arrive a few minutes earlier, because his delay can confuse the lady and put her in an awkward position. In unforeseen cases, it is necessary to warn and apologize for being late.

11. Carry a bag

Any woman of any age should be helped to carry large items and massive bags. This does not include a handbag, a light fur coat or a coat, unless she is unable to carry them herself for health reasons.


The image of a well-mannered young man consists not only of the ability to behave well towards a woman. Opening the door for a lady, letting her pass in front of you, or helping her carry a heavy bag is, of course, good, but the rules of etiquette for men do not end there. Polite speech, culture of behavior, a well-chosen suit and much more are also an integral part.

Fundamental rules of etiquette for men

In old films about the privileged part of society, we can often observe how, when a lady enters a room, the male half of the room immediately rises from their seats. And only after the girl has settled comfortably somewhere, the rules of conduct for gentlemen allow them to return to their places.

Today, such a situation is extremely rare, although this is one of the fundamental characteristics of an intelligent man.

There are 14 basic rules of conduct for men towards women, which every self-respecting modern young man should know:

  • On the street, a young man must accompany a lady, walking to her left. Only military personnel have the right to walk on the right side to salute if necessary.
  • If a girl stumbles or slips, the man must hold her by the elbow. Although in real circumstances the choice remains with the lady.
  • Good manners do not allow you to smoke in front of a lady, only after her consent.
  • A real man always lets a lady pass first, having first opened the door for her.
  • When going up or down the steps, the young man is obliged to support his companion if necessary, for this he is a couple of steps away from her.
  • When entering an elevator, a man must enter first, and when exiting, let a girl pass first.

  • The first to get out of the car is a young man who, walking around the car, opens the door on the passenger side, giving the lady his hand. If a man is a transport driver, then he is obliged to open the front passenger door and help the lady get in. In case the gentleman is also a passenger, he and his companion need to sit in the back seat. It should be remembered that in this case, first the girl gets into the car, and then the man next to her.
  • When entering a room, a man helps a lady take off her coat, and when leaving it, he must help her put it on.
  • In the modern world, a young man is not supposed to find a seat for himself if a woman is standing.
  • According to etiquette, a young man must arrive at a meeting earlier than a lady, so as not to put her in an uncomfortable situation if he is late. In emergency cases, you should notify the girl about this and apologize to her.

  • A man must help each woman carry large bags or any bulky items. These do not include a woman's handbag, as well as small fur coats and coats, unless the lady is unable to carry her things herself due to her health.
  • The main mistake a young man makes when communicating with someone is crossing his arms, as well as fiddling with something in his hands. This is considered a sign of disrespect for the opponent.
  • When going to a restaurant, the gentleman comes in first so that the head waiter can make the right conclusions about who invited whom and who will pay the bill. If there are a large number of people, the first one to enter is the one who will pay and is the initiator of the invitation. When a couple meets the doorman, the girl enters the restaurant first. Following this, the man must find an unoccupied place.
  • While in company, a young man is forbidden to talk about frank topics in front of a girl; it is better to choose light, unobtrusive subjects for discussion.

Appearance in accordance with etiquette

The main thing in the wardrobe of a modern intelligent man is not a formal suit and tie, but the overall picture. In other words – harmony. Don't go overboard with accessories. Everything should be in moderation. The tie or bow tie should match the overall color scheme. You should choose a shirt that is lighter than the suit or give preference to a universal white color. Cufflinks or a tie clip should not become a bright accent.

Those who want to emphasize their status or material wealth by adding massive accessories and jewelry to their look can achieve the opposite result.

Etiquette norms for men in modern society are ordered to coordinate in advance his outfit with the outfit of the lady he is going to accompany to any cultural event.

When it comes to men's hairstyles, camouflaged bald patches look awkward. It is not recommended to paint over gray hair. Men should keep a clean shave when attending public events. Only small mustaches and beards are acceptable.

The appearance of shoes is also one of the most important in the image of a gentleman. Shoes or boots must be kept in proper condition. Shoes made of varnish should be worn only when necessary. For business meetings and dates, shoes made of suede or leather to match the color of the suit would be a suitable option.

It should be remembered that the right clothing style is 50% of the successful completion of the meeting, regardless of its type.

Business etiquette

Having sorted out your wardrobe a little, you should move on to the norms of behavior in business. Another important factor when communicating with a business partner is not only appearance, but even smell. You should give preference to perfumes that are not with a strong smell, but rather softer and lighter, closer to natural.

But, above all, business etiquette is how you behave during negotiations and meetings. For example, when entering an elevator, people in higher positions are skipped. The same applies to greetings. Subordinates, according to business ethics, should greet managers first.

A person working in business should get business cards, as this is much more convenient than wasting time every time looking for a piece of paper to write down contact information. The business card design should be simple, without unnecessary details, just brief information about the owner (company name, position, full name, telephone number).

You should learn to prepare for a meeting in advance: It’s better to make a list of necessary questions the day before. This will help significantly reduce meeting time, which will demonstrate your business competence.

In a business conversation, it is important to capture all the details of a conversation with a business partner. Some non-verbal means of communication will help to win over the interlocutor, such as a handshake, a nod of the head, and so on.

Table manners

It happens that at an event an unfamiliar girl may be sitting at the table on the right side. The rules of conduct in this case require that you look after the lady and ensure that her glass and plate are not empty, regardless of the level of acquaintance. It is necessary to help move the chair if the girl wants to leave the table, and do the same when she returns.

A well-mannered man must not only be able to behave decently in the company of a lady, open the door for her, let the lady pass first, and help carry heavy bags. An integral part of the rules of etiquette for men is also a tasteful wardrobe, culture and tactfulness of behavior, polite, calm speech, and respectful attitude towards others.

Basic rules of male etiquette

Self-respecting men must adhere to the basic rules of behavior towards the female sex:

  • On the street, a man must accompany a girl, being on her left side, since only military personnel walk on the right side in order to salute if necessary.
  • If a lady stumbles or slips on an icy road, the young man is obliged to support her by the elbow.
  • You can smoke in the presence of a girl only with the consent of your companion.
  • A self-respecting man is obliged to let a woman pass first and open the door for her first.
  • When going up or down the stairs, you should support your companion, being two steps lower from her.
  • The young man must enter the elevator first, and leave after letting the lady pass.
  • When leaving the car, the young man must walk around the car, open the door on the passenger side and give the girl his hand. If he is the driver of the car, he must open the passenger door and help the woman sit down. If the boyfriend is also a passenger, he should sit next to his companion in the back seat, and the companion should first get into the car, and then the gentleman.
  • When entering a room, you need to help a woman take off her outerwear, and when leaving, help her put it on.
  • Good manners mean that a man should not sit if a girl is standing.
  • According to etiquette, a man is obliged to arrive at an appointed meeting before his companion, so as not to put her in an awkward position if he is late. In an emergency, you need to notify the lady about this and apologize for the unintentional delay.
  • The duties of the stronger sex also include helping the girl if she needs to carry heavy bags or bulky objects.
  • When communicating with ladies, young men should not cross their arms or finger anything in their hands, which is considered disrespectful towards their opponent.
  • When entering a restaurant, the gentleman should enter first, since the head waiter must make the right decision about who will pay the bill. According to the rules of etiquette, the initiator of the invitation is the first to enter the establishment and he will also pay for it. If a couple is greeted by a doorman, then the girl must enter the establishment first, and the gentleman must find an empty seat.
  • In the company of friends, a guy should not have conversations on a frank topic in front of his companion; it is advisable to choose unobtrusive and light subjects for general discussion.

Appearance of a man according to the rules of etiquette

The main thing in a man’s wardrobe is harmony. The shirt should be chosen in a lighter tone than the suit, and the tie should be in accordance with the color scheme of the outfit. Cufflinks and tie clips should not become a bright accent. An excess of massive accessories and jewelry, which some men use to complement their look to emphasize status and material wealth, can lead to the opposite result.

T-shirts and shorts are only suitable for family dinners, country hikes and barbecues. Informal settings allow sports jackets and cardigans. Business meetings, interviews, formal celebrations require a suit and tie.

According to etiquette standards, the appearance of a representative of the stronger sex must be agreed in advance by the man with the personal attire of the woman he will accompany to the event.

The appearance of shoes is an important detail in the image of a young man, which must be kept in well-groomed condition. Patent leather shoes are worn only on rare occasions; for dates and business meetings, shoes made of suede and leather to match the tone of a formal suit are suitable.

As for men's hairstyles, a camouflaged bald spot looks awkward. It is not necessary to cover natural gray hair. Before attending events, a man must shave thoroughly or, if desired, leave a neatly styled and trimmed beard.

A man’s wardrobe, chosen correctly and in accordance with clothing etiquette standards, is 50 percent of the positive result of any meeting.

Business etiquette

An important factor in communicating with a business partner is appearance and even aroma. It is advisable to give preference not to a harsh perfume, but to one with a soft, light and natural scent. Eau de toilette and colognes should be consumed in moderation, which is considered a sign of good taste. It is advisable to approach the choice of deodorant, eau de toilette, shaving lotion, and cologne very seriously:

  • When selecting aromatic and hygiene products, you need to remember that the range of smells should be combined with each other and be uniform.
  • Mixing scents with different perfume compositions is not recommended, but men often do this, for example, using shaving lotion and then eau de toilette. In this case, you should use fragrances belonging to the same perfume line.

During business negotiations and meetings, you should adhere to certain standards of behavior: when entering the elevator, let people with higher positions pass first and, according to business etiquette, greet the managers first.

Men working in business are recommended to have business cards, because it is much more convenient than constantly writing down contact information on a piece of paper. The business card should be simple, with brief information about its owner: full name, phone number, position and company name.

It is recommended to prepare for the upcoming meeting in advance by making a list of key questions the day before, which will shorten the duration of the meeting and demonstrate business acumen and competence. In business conversations, you should capture the details of the entire conversation with business partners. Some means of communication in the form of a handshake or a nod of the head help to win over the interlocutor.

Table etiquette standards

As male etiquette says in relation to any woman, if at an event an unfamiliar lady sits at the table to the right of a man, you need to start courting her, making sure that her plate or glass is not empty. If she leaves the table, you should move her chair away and do the same when the lady returns.

When sitting at a public table, you cannot lean your elbows on its surface; this is allowed in intervals when there is no food on the table or you are sitting at the bar.

It is not recommended to pick up a fallen utensil or napkin yourself; to do this, simply invite the waiter to ask for another napkin or a new utensil.

In a conversation, it is uncivil to interrupt a lady during a conversation. According to the rules of good manners, a man is not recommended to use strong gestures, put his hands in his pockets or cross them over his chest when communicating with a woman. You cannot loudly discuss or ridicule someone, much less point your fingers at a person. A well-mannered young man should not discuss the source of income of his friends, his family troubles and the organization of his life.

Etiquette rules for men in public places

If a young man wants to meet a lady in a public place, in a store or on the street, he should:

  • Ask permission to speak to her, explaining the reason for the communication, but do not call out to the woman or pull her sleeve. The given compliment will make a pleasant impression, but it should not be vulgar.
  • Invite the girl to accompany her and strike up a casual and easy conversation, without raising questions about her marital status. If your companion does not want to share her phone number, suggest communication through a social network.

The main thing is not to impose yourself if the woman does not want to communicate.

By observing the above rules of behavior, which are etiquette for men, each representative of the stronger sex can easily please the lady and win over the people he needs. It is important to know that an intelligent and well-mannered man achieves much more than one who does not follow the rules of etiquette.

Despite the rapid changes in various spheres of public life and the world as a whole, there are unshakable things that every man must follow, regardless of age and social status. We are talking about the rules of etiquette. The qualities of a real man are improved as a result of constant work on oneself, both internal and external. And correct behavior in society indicates high self-esteem and nobility.

Etiquette - it is a set of rules and a person's ability to behave in a socially responsible manner in society.

Good manners should be brought to automaticity, that is, look natural and not bring discomfort to a man. This will require practice, which over time will become a useful male habit. Compliance with etiquette standards gives self-confidence, makes a positive impression on others, and makes life brighter and richer. Next, we highlight the basic rules of etiquette for a true modern gentleman.

RULES OF MODERN ETIQUETTE

    Follow the dress code strictly in accordance with the event and choose the right accessories.

    When talking to a person, try not to keep your hands in your pockets or crossed over your chest.

    A man should not get carried away with strong scents with a trail, especially if we are talking about an overly persistent men's perfume.

    When going to your seat in a cinema or theater, you need to walk only facing the people sitting.

    Upon entering the room, be the first to greet and shake hands with other men confidently, that is, firmly, but without fanaticism.

    Never read someone else's correspondence, including SMS on your phone.

    Laughing and talking too loudly, pointing fingers and staring at other people is grossly against the rules of etiquette.

    Watch your appearance - clothes and shoes should always be clean and ironed, take care of your beard and, in principle, observe the rules of personal hygiene.

    Do not come to visit without an invitation or a preliminary call.

    Read how to properly button different types of jackets and remember that the bottom button should always be undone. Take off your hat indoors.

Important. Treat people with respect and observe all types of etiquette - dining, business, social, wedding, telephone, speech.

RULES OF ETIQUETTE IN RELATION TO A WOMAN

    Help the woman get into the car, gently holding her by the elbow, and offer your hand when exiting the vehicle. When traveling in a taxi, sit in the back seat with the lady.

    When walking down the street, a man should walk to the left of a woman. The exception is the military, who must be prepared to give a military salute.

    Ask permission or do not smoke in the presence of a woman at all, or better yet, get rid of this bad habit as quickly as possible.

    Open the door for the lady and let her go forward. But the man gets into the elevator first, and the woman gets out.

    Try never to be late for a meeting with a lady, but rather arrive a little earlier.

    Help the woman take off her outerwear when entering a room and put it on vice versa when leaving.

    In the presence of a man, a woman should not carry heavy or large things. A handbag doesn't count.

    If a man initiates a trip to a restaurant or other entertainment establishment, then he is obliged to pay the bill. Be sure to pull out a chair for the woman to sit down. Treat service personnel with respect.

    Taboo topics when chatting with strangers include politics, religion, health and money.

    When dating a woman, do not be distracted by your mobile phone, pay attention and listen to your interlocutor, avoid vulgar humor and do not get drunk.

One of the main differences between humans and most representatives of the animal world is their behavior in society. It is etiquette that includes those guiding principles that control the actions of a responsible man and turn him into a gentleman.