Richard InkWe have some prolific commenters at Queercents: Roland known as FrugalZen, DivaJean, Mrs. Micah, Liza of LizaWasHere and A.J. of The GuppieLife. I’ve noticed that often times a comment can be as good as the post it appears on. This happens to be the norm with Roland. I’ve noted several of his over the last year and decided to turn this one into a guest post. This comment originally appeared on The Emergence of Bling. I took the liberty to give it a title, but these are his words’¦

Fountain Pens: The ultimate old money accessory

A good book to read that was published way long ago that I bought and read in college is ‘œDress For Success’ and many of the little bits of advice are just as true today as when it was published and I’ll give you a personal example’¦

Now I’ve always loved Fountain Pens and used them since 9th grade and over the years have gotten quite a collection some of them in the price range (even on sale’¦ I’m still a Cheap SOB) that would probably make a lot of you wince.

One of the things that caught my attention was a note about Pens’¦ Pens function as Men’s Jewelry and no matter poorly you happen to be dressed at the moment for whatever reason (working in the garden for example and suddenly need to go to the store) if you pull out an obviously expensive pen the attitude of the clerks/sales people will usually undergo a drastic change’¦ the light bulb has gone off’¦ Uh!Oh!’¦ this guy has money’¦ we need to be nice he might be a personal friend of the boss etc., etc.

This has actually happened to me quite a number of times where I’ve actually gotten more attention and better service than other more well dressed people in line.

I’ve also noticed that if I’m using a Fountain Pen vs. a really good Ball Point I get even more attention’¦ I think the belief is that if I use a fountain pen I must be a Doctor or Lawyer.

If nothing else it definitely can make a general shopping trip more interesting.

I guess the reason the comment in ‘œDress For Success’ about pens stuck in my mind was I was already a Fountain Pen nut when I got the book and it also seemed the only ‘œPerfect Advice’ in the book to fit ME.

Personally I only like to dress in Suit and Tie once in a very great while usually for something special. Doing it everyday is more than I care for. (Not a Clothes Horse you see.) I was just lucky that in my work I never needed to do the ‘œCorporate Business Attire’ ca-ca.

When I go out even if I’m in a T-shirt, Shorts, and Sandals I always carry one of my pens.

It seems I don’t even have to pull it out to get treated with a little more respect’¦ just the bit of visible cap protruding over the neck of my shirt or out of a pocket seems to draw the clerks attention kind of like (IMO) a pair of high class earrings on a Lady would.

I really don’t think one has to go ‘œAll Out’ with the fancy clothes, shoes, etc. All it takes is maybe a single item that most people would never consider buying unless they won the lottery to make other people ‘œthink’ you are much more well-off than you actually are. And the more understated the item is the more believable it is.

Everyone takes Pens for granted because EVERYONE usually has one on them’¦ but their the cheap dime-a-dozen ones they steal from the office’¦ not one that can cost upwards of $100 just for a Ball Point’¦ so they notice them when they see them and instantly draw a conclusion about the wallet size of the owner and treat them as their superiors.

And one last thing’¦ If all you ever do is buy a REALLY good Fountain Pen like a Pelikan Souveran 1000 or a Waterman LeMan 100 and drop the $500 or so its STILL cheaper than the combined cost of a Good Suit, Shirt, Tie, Belt, Shoes, Cufflinks, Dress Socks, Tie Bar/Tac, Collar Stays and Dress Watch’¦ (though don’t get me going on Watches’¦ I’m a confirmed Wind it Every Day Pocket Watch person’¦ and NO I’m not 96 years old’¦ just 51.

Photo credit: Richard Ink.