Media personalities, high-end brands, and sophisticated gentlemen the world over would have you believe no cigar smoked without the proper dress is worthy. Cigars are the epitome of true sophistication, grace, and masculinity. If you wear shorts, you’re no man.
Fuck that noise. There’s room for both ends of the spectrum. The guys who love to dress up and look their best are just as welcome as the guys who don’t. The same is true for the ladies who smoke. I will not begrudge Kirby Allison his exquisite attire. He looks great in those snazzy suits. Don’t get me wrong. But that’s not the attire you need, all day every day, to engage in the love of the leaf.
I’m sure you’ve heard me say it several times, but I live in Florida where it’s sunny, hot and humid. I refuse to wear a suit. I sweat like a race horse already. I can’t even begin to imagine what that would smell like after a few nights outside.
But cigars are premium, high-end and held to a higher standard?
Absolutely. The best premium and high-end cigars are also delicious, relaxing and meant to be enjoyed however you want. The marketing materials might show some guys in suits and the best Versace or Gucci wear you could imagine, but most people smoking don’t dress like that. A lot of them are sitting on their front porch in overalls enjoying the evening weather with a coffee, a handle of whiskey, or some sweet tea.
So, it’s all a gimmick, you say? No, that’s not what I’m saying. I’m just saying you don’t have to wear a suit to smoke and enjoy a cigar. That’s true regardless of the brand you prefer. If you want to smoke a Davidoff in shorts, do it. I do it all the time. If you want to smoke an Opus X in a bathing suit, go for it. I do that, too.
If you want to have a $400 cigar in the lap of luxury atop Egyptian cotton sheets and with the most expensive champagne known to man, go for it. I’m just saying that last example is not me and it doesn’t have to be everyone.
Come on, man. Do you really think you look cool puffing on a huge cigar in front of people who have no interest in smoking tobacco? Look at that goofy dude in the pictures above. What a goober.
Most of the population isn’t into cigars, and that’s okay. It’s great to enjoy the craft around others who love it, and I love it, too. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you’re special or held to a much higher standard than anyone else around you. If that’s how you want to live your life and spend your cigar time, go for it. No one will stop you.
Allow others the space to enjoy the craft in the way they prefer, suit or no suit. Don’t make any assumptions that you’re the coolest cat in the jazz bar, either. There are some cool cats. Most probably don’t smoke tobacco.
Yeah, no. If you talk to any retailer, actually, you’ll find that most customers are the average person, like you and me. In fact, I know that some of the highest selling SKUs for modern cigar retailers are the cheap and more affordable bundles. It’s not the expensive, premium or boutique lines that you might expect to bring in top dollar. It’s everything else.
Cigars are for everyone over the age of 21. You don’t have to be rich. You don’t have to drive a Masarati or a Lamborghini. And you don’t need to wear a six-figure, three-piece suit. If you do any of those things, then fantastic. Grand. Wonderful. Phenomenal.
But that’s not the reality for most people. Don’t be turned away by videos that show the gentlemen with chiseled chins and perfect amounts of stubble gingerly lighting their cigar in front of a paradise backdrop. They probably toasted their cigar wrong, anyway.
Hell, sometimes I ash on myself three or four times a night. Tell me that’s really attractive. It’s even worse when I’m relaxing in my pool and the hot ash lands on my bare skin. That gets me whooping and hollering like a donkey walking over flaming coals.
Maybe. I don’t know. You’d have to ask a supermodel. More specifically, find one with a picture of a cigar and ask if they smoke. I’m willing to bet 9 times out of 10 the answer is a resounding no. On the flip side of that, there are lots of social media babes and women who smoke cigars, like actual cigars, I think that’s pretty clear. It’s also awesome. I love sharing this craft with everyone of age.
The point I’m trying to make here is that it doesn’t matter who you are, or what you look like, or what you wear, or what you drive, or any of that superficial nonsense. Light up that cigar. Enjoy it to the fullest of your ability. At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about.
While you’re at it, strike up a conversation with someone nearby, especially if you’re at a lounge.
Also, let me be clear, although I’m advocating for not wearing a suit, I still very much am firmly in the camp of wearing some kind of attire while you smoke. Nudist colonies are probably not a great place to light up a cigar. Did you not hear me say ash on my chest hurts? Imagine ash anywhere else. Yikes.
Briley has over 16 years in the publishing and content marketing business. He's been writing about cigars for nearly half that in various forms. What makes him a tour de force is he also smokes them.
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Charles Etoroma / Unsplash
Source: Houcine Ncib / Unsplash
