c'est bonne, c'est fraiche

Wives and daughters, take note. The window of Father’s Day gift-buying opportunity is rapidly closing.

In less than four days, dads will open countless pairs of socks, ties and golf shirts. Isn’t it time to invest in his wardrobe? Glen Sondag believes it is.

The longtime Glenview resident and sartorial sage of the North Shore has made it his business to teach others the ways of menswear ­— specifically when men can wear what. And not just on Fridays either.

“I don’t resent casual Fridays, but I do think casual Fridays are abused by some. The problem is with definition because there’s no defined term for business casual,” he said. “Men always struggle with what to wear when, because they don’t talk to other men about it. Men have to guess at it. Men who wear golf shirts are not business casual. That is the very definition of casual.”

Sondag first set out to educate his four sons on how to dress appropriately for the next stage after college. After penning some general outlines for them, they passed his guidelines on to their friends. When friends of friends started asking for printed copies, Sondag decided to stop heading to the copy shop and to write a book.His tome, Anything Other Than Naked: A Guide for Men on How to Dress Properly for Every Occasionn (Langdon Street Press), hit the bookshelves this past February and it offers readers a definitive, no-nonsense guide to outfitting men.

“Some books are more fashion oriented than others, targeted for women who buy men’s clothes. Mine is not fashion. It’s intended as a tactical guide to teach men how to dress properly for every occasion,” Sondag said.It’s worth mentioning Sondag was a captain in the U.S. Air Force before heading into the world of business­, half Windsor knots and bespoke suits. But the perfectly shined shoe remains eternal.

“Men don’t pay close attention to their shoes, when it’s the first thing you see on a man,” he said. “Definitely use wood shoe trees to preserve them.”

“I don’t resent casual Fridays, but I do think casual Fridays are abused by some. The problem is with definition because there’s no defined term for business casual.

Since attention to detail is second nature to him, he wants to get the word out to all men to learn how to make the perfect knot.

“It doesn’t matter what you spend on a tie, because many men can’t tie it,” he said. “It’s imperative for a man to  properly tie a good knot so that the shirt and tie combination looks presentable.”

And now is the time to mention that in 40 years of marriage, his wife, Sue, doesn’t hit the men’s department for Sondag’s gifts.

“She perhaps has bought one or two items of clothing for me,” he said. It’s this fact that should send shoppers to his book. Less time in men’s and more time trying on shoes?

Ladies, hit the bookstore already.

Glen Sondag attributes his sense of style to his mother, Dale, who turned 100 this past April.

“She was a superb seamstress and sewed every day of her adult life,” he said. “I learned a great deal about fabric, sewing construction and patternmaking from her. I owe my love affair with clothes to her.”

Growing up around fashion and garment construction gave him some rules to live by:

• Learn to wear what looks great for your physique.
• A dress shirt is always a long-sleeved shirt.
• Always check that trousers do not drag across the ground.
• The bottom button of a suit jacket is always left unbuttoned.
• Golf shirts are appropriate for the golf course. Or Ravinia.
• Strive for George Clooney rather than Mickey Rourke or Johnny Depp.

Find Sondag’s book at anythingotherthannaked.com