👞 Kicks to own the summer + Climbing the Wealth Ladder

Hey Reader,

Welcome to Gent Within's (monthly) weekend newsletter – like a shot of espresso for your wardrobe, your mindset, and your wallet.

Based on your kind feedback, I've decided to proceed with The Style Dispatch every Tuesday, and The GW S'letter on the first Saturday of each month.

So I get to continue writing about some of my favorite topics while freeing up my time for other exciting Gent Within projects.

Thanks for chiming in!

Now, let's get into the August Style Dispatch.

In today's 'Sletter:

• Style: Footwear that Doesn’t Fry Your Feet
• Relationships: Laughter is the Best Remedy
• Life: Wherever You Go, There You Are
• Spend: Climbing the Wealth Ladder
• ICYMI: Reading for the Road

STYLE

👞 Footwear that Doesn’t Fry Your Feet

Hot weather + the wrong shoes = guaranteed discomfort.

Here’s the truth: your sneakers are probably suffocating your soles. And leather dress shoes? Heat traps. Let’s fix that.

Here’s what to wear instead:

• Loafers: Suede or woven leather loafers are breathable, polished, and easy to slip on. Go sockless (or wear no-shows) and you’re golden.
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• Huarache or Espadrilles: Lightweight, airy, and stylish without trying too hard. Bonus: they pack flat for travel.
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• Minimalist Sandals: Not the rubber flip-flops from college – think leather slides or huaraches. Just enough structure, lots of airflow.
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• Canvas Sneakers: Low-profile, cotton canvas kicks like Vans or Supergas won’t roast your feet like thick leather. Keep them clean.
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• Breathable Trainers: If you're walking a lot, opt for mesh-knit runners. Lightweight, all-day comfort, and still look sharp with tailored shorts.

Pro tip: Rotate your shoes every day (especially in the heat) to let them fully dry out – your feet will thank you.

RELATIONSHIPS

🤣 Laughter is the Best Remedy

Laughter makes us healthy.

Really, it’s true! Science has discovered that laughter decreases the levels of cortisol (the stress hormone), alters dopamine and serotonin activity (the feel-good hormones), and boosts your immune system.

No wonder we all look for a partner who makes us laugh.

Affiliative humor (the positive kind that brings you together as opposed to aggressive humor, for instance) has been associated with increased relationship satisfaction, and laughter plays an important role in signaling attraction between people who have just met.

So, make her laugh. Or even better – find someone who shares the same sense of humor. That way, you can both be yourself and laugh so much that your health will practically fly through the roof.

LIFE

🧭 Wherever You Go, There You Are

You can change your job, your city, your clothes – even your entire routine.

But unless you deal with what’s inside, you’ll keep running into the same problems, patterns, and pain – just with new scenery.

Wherever you go, there you are.

That’s not defeatist, it’s empowering.

Because it means the real work isn’t out there, it’s in here.

So if something feels “off,” pause before blaming your location, your job, or the people around you.

Ask yourself:

• What am I carrying that I haven’t yet put down?

• What keeps showing up… and what’s that trying to teach me?

Change is powerful, But self-awareness is what makes it stick.

SPEND (Wisely)

🪜 Climbing the Wealth Ladder (w/o Losing Your Mind)

If you’ve ever wondered, "Am I doing the right things with my money right now?" – this one’s for you.

Nick Maggiulli, author of Just Keep Buying, created a simple framework called The Wealth Ladder.

It breaks wealth into 6 levels, each tied to your net worth, not your income.

It’s one of the clearest ways to prioritize your financial decisions based on where you are today.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

💰 The 6 Levels of the Wealth Ladder

Level 1: Paycheck-to-Paycheck (<$10K net worth)

You’re just trying to keep your head above water.

Priorities: build a small emergency fund, avoid high-interest debt, and increase your income.

Level 2: Grocery Freedom ($10K–$100K)

You no longer check prices at the grocery store. That’s a win. Your focus: automate saving, invest consistently, and keep lifestyle creep in check.

Level 3: Restaurant Freedom ($100K–$1M)

You can go out to dinner without stress. Now it’s about building serious wealth: max retirement accounts, invest aggressively, and protect your time.

Level 4: Travel Freedom ($1M–$10M)

You fly first class or book spontaneous trips. You’ve likely got assets working for you. Now your moves shift to strategic investing, tax optimization, and optionality.

Level 5: House Freedom ($10M–$100M)

Dream home? Bought it. Your focus is legacy: protecting wealth, minimizing taxes, scaling impact.

Level 6: Impact Freedom ($100M+)

Money is no object. You fund movements, build institutions, and shape culture. It’s true financial freedom.

📏 The 0.01% Rule

Not sure how much you can safely spend on small luxuries? Use Nick’s 0.01% Rule:

• If your net worth is $50K → $5/day.
• $100K → $10/day.
• $1M → $100/day.

This helps keep impulse spending in perspective – especially useful for style and lifestyle purchases.

🧠 Why This Matters for You

Too many guys stress about doing it all at once. The Wealth Ladder reminds you:

👉 You only need to play the game one level at a time.

Knowing your current level helps:

• Avoid comparison traps
• Align spending with your actual means
• Make confident decisions (yes, even about buying that new blazer or booking that trip)

And the best part? You can climb the ladder with steady habits — not lottery wins.

📌 Action Step: Figure out your current net-worth (assets – debts).
Then ask: What one move can I make this month to level up?

📖 Reading for the road

• How to Wear a Short Sleeve Button Up Shirt​

• Timeless Summer Style w/ Mr. P​

• How to Wear White Sneakers 5 Stylish Ways​

• Men's Summer Fashion: 20 menswear essentials)​

• ​​​How to Attract Women (Without even trying)​

• ​​​The Best Summer Color Combinations​

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