The Guidance Counselor of Style, George LaBoda

George is one of the rare talents who turned his side hustle into his main hustle: "I was film editing for a major cable network after college and found it surprisingly less creatively engaging than I had hoped."

Gent's Lounge started as a creative outlet to showcase George’s interest in style and fashion. Two years in, he decided to make the entrepreneurial leap. Since 2014, George and his business partner Blake Scott have been providing accessible, helpful, and fun advice about dressing, grooming, and so much more:

"I truly want to help guys become better men. We cover everything from etiquette and business advice, how to interview, how to go to dinner with the boss and look at a wine list, learning how to cook, making delicious cocktails - things that make you a well-rounded individual. Every video we make starts with one of my personal interests of the moment."

George wanted Gent’s Lounge to address 2 gaps in the style content he was seeing in popular men’s magazines and on YouTube in the early 2010s:

1. The products and looks in the leading style content were way out of George’s and his friend’s price ranges. 
2. Tastemakers often made guys feel bad for not wearing the ‘right’ outfit or hairstyle

"I don’t prescribe a uniform to be cool. If you want to wear something really unique, I want to help you understand proportions and formulas for building an outfit that will help you look your best without feeling judged in the process. That’s what it’s all about: looking good and feeling good. I aim to build guys’ confidence and make them comfortable seeing themselves in a mirror."

His advice for guys who want to spruce up their style? Don’t go overboard with trying out different trends. Build a good foundation with well-fitting clothes, a great haircut, and a grooming routine you’ll stick with. 

"When I was younger, I got super into old school methods like shaving with a straight razor and spending over an hour perfecting the perfect pompadour. Now I feel like I strike a happy medium between super quick and easy and doing the most."

Here are some quick styling tips from George:

Clothing

• Focus on clothes that fit. If you can get those off the rack, great; otherwise find a good tailor and invest in making your clothes work with your body.
• Build a capsule wardrobe of neutral colors. This will make it easier to put together lots of stylish outfits and is a great canvas for that fun Hawaiian shirt you want to work in the rotation from time to time.
• If you're curious about what else George has to say on the subject, here's one of our favorite videos:

Hair

• Invest in a good haircut. George recommends leaning on the barber’s expertise to find the style that works for your face shape and that you can recreate at home. Be explicit about how much effort you want to put into styling your hair both in terms of time and products. A good haircut can actually require less styling product and therefore save you money over the long haul.
• George shampoos and conditions his hair every other day and then uses a hydrating leave-in conditioner once a week to reset his hair and scalp.

Grooming

• If nothing else, SUNSCREEN! George reemphasizes what everyone is used to hearing from Oars + Alps: not only does sunscreen protect you from skin cancer but it also prevents signs of aging such as wrinkles and dark spots.
• Face wash, moisturizer, and sunscreen, in that order. According to George, this simple 3 step grooming routine will put you ahead of 75% of guys. He’s a particular fan of Oars + Alps Solid Charcoal Face Wash because it feels great and won’t spill in his gym bag.

At the end of the day, you’re investing in yourself, which guys can still have some hang-ups about. Part of George’s goal is to normalize guys taking pride in their style:

"I’m a 6’1”, 200 pound man who plays hockey, and I also enjoy regular face mask nights with my wife. Just start with the basics, and I promise you’ll find something to enjoy.’"

You can find more from George Laboda on Instagram @atlasandmason, on Tiktok @atlasandmason and on the Gent's Lounge channel on Youtube.