Questions Most Frequently Asked Everyday Etiquette… Stationery for the Men in Our Lives

I have gotten many questions about the best personal stationery for men.   Having years of retail experience and a husband and 2 sons, I have learned that there is a certain look 8 out of 10 men choose.   Correspondence Cards are generally preferred over a folded note.

 

Paper colors range from white, ivory, light grey to beige/sand. A light blue can also be a good choice. Font styles are usually tailored and a block style. Favored ink colors are black, grey, navy and brown. Hunter green and burgundy run a close second. I also discovered that men like blind embossing.

 

When it comes to envelopes, a return address on the envelope back flap is considered a great convenience. Envelope liners are up for grabs. Some men like them while others think they are unnecessary. I personally think that lining envelopes adds individuality and style. Often I would add a lining to my husband’s and sons’ rather bland stationery choices.

 

Below are some of my favorite correspondence cards and therefore recommendations for the men in your life.

Any of American Stationery’s hand bordered cards, in colors mentioned above, are great choices too!

 

If the man prefers a folded note, that is perfectly proper. I do suggest that you try to keep the paper color, font and ink color the same as recommended for correspondence cards. I have listed some good folded notes for the man in your life.

Any of the hand bordered collection is also a good choice.

 

The American Stationery Company offers some excellent business stationery too.

A great extra for the businessman is the Deluxe Business Memos – 3181. They are perfect for a brief note or interoffice correspondence. I am also partial to MCUB – personalized self stick memos.

When it comes to personalizing a man’s stationery, it depends on its use. If it is for business or professional use, I recommend the following:

Please note that I have not used “Mr.” with any of these. Business and professional stationery is the only proper place to include advanced degrees.

 

Personalizing stationery for social use differs from professional use. According to traditional etiquette, a medical doctor may use “Dr.” on social correspondence. Clergy and military sometimes use their titles or rank. Otherwise, strict followers of etiquette say “no titles, degrees, etc.” on stationery for personal use. Below are some examples of proper personalization:

                        JDW – a monogram – the center letter (last name initial) is in the center and larger

 

When buying stationery for a gift, I often suggest that you check with the recipient to be sure you use the proper personalization. I always say it is better to “dilute the surprise” and give a gift that will be used. Improper personalization of a gift makes the stationery useless to the receiver.