Morning Routine: Paul Arnow

What do you do when you first wake up?

I drag the dog out of bed (as quietly as possible, so the wife can stay asleep a little longer) and take him for our long morning walk. After the walk, I get coffee brewing and then jump in the shower. I always stick to the routine: wash my hair, scrub the face, and get the body wash going… Afterwards, I smell manly good. Like an Old Spice commercial.

What’s your go-to outfit?

While blogging is fun, I gotta get that paper. So my day job as Suiting Specialist for Saks Fifth Avenue makes me bring my A-game every day. While a suit looks great, my go-to is usually a sport coat/trouser combo. So with that said, I’ll throw on a dress shirt, usually from Suitsupply or Billy Reid paired with a silk knit tie. Usually, that shirt is tucked in to a pair of wool, cotton or linen trousers (whichever is seasonally appropriate that day)… some of my favorites are my Gant Rugger trousers. Up top, I’ll throw on any of L.B.M. 1911 or Saks Fifth Avenue Men’s Collection made-to-measure jackets.

Any finishing touches before you head out the door?

Luckily, I’m blessed with pretty thick hair. But this thick hair can get pretty heavy, so it calls for something that will really hold it in place. So I usually run a bit of Imperial Fiber Pomade through it. If I’m rocking a beard, like I currently am (I’m a hockey fan, and its playoff time… so it’s playoff beard time), I may rub a little beard oil on from Prospector Co. It has a bit of a pine tree smell to it, but it’s very subtle. Lastly, I go with one spray of cologne, either L’Occitane Eau du Badaian or Tom Ford: Neroli Portofino.

What wouldn’t you leave the house without?

Wallet, Keys, iPhone, Persol Sunglasses, and a pack of Eclipse gum. Always. I’ll go through a pack of gum a day. I know, that’s a lot, but hey, at least it’s not a pack of cigarettes a day.

How does your day at work begin?

I always check email first… Then I see what time my appointments with clients are, check the sales plans for the day and the sales results from the previous day, and finally check to see what new products or fabrics we may have received. If I have time, I may scroll through the Tumblr dashboard. Then it’s usually time for the store to open and get to work.