2013 (Spring) Made For Men - Interviews 2012-2015 - File Catalog

I’m in the lobby of the London Hotel in West Hollywood – an art-deco inspired building that harks back to the Golden Age. The elevator or "lift” doors (everything is treated in British-isms here) are emblazoned with life-size posters of dapper men in suits and bowler hats resembling John Steed from the 1960s TV Show ‘The Avengers’. As the doors open, it seems we’re being transported into some exclusive club – one reserved for a certain kind of man, the kind who reveres elegance and refinement. Which is apt, because in moments, we’re being introduced to the ultimate gentleman, Simon Baker, otherwise known as TV’s ‘The Mentalist’, and the face of Givenchy’s new men’s scent, ‘Gentlemen Only’.

After a few minutes of eager anticipation, Baker walks into the hotel conference room filled with mostly female journalists from Canada and Latin America and it’s peals of delight all-round. Cellphones rise into the air, and it’s like a mini paparazzi session with the Australian-born actor. Sporting a dark navy two-piece suit and his signature horn-rimmed glasses, Baker looks like he could have stepped off the set of ‘Mad Men’. It’s been a good day for the LA-based actor, who, hours before, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, presented to him by fellow Aussie Naomi Watts, and surrounded by hundreds of female fans clutching roses. But such adulation clearly hasn’t gone to his head, as his humble demeanour suggests that he’s kept both feet firmly on the ground, no doubt helped by a solid family foundation (he’s been married to wife Rebecca Rigg for 15 years, and they have three children together.)

Baker may not be your textbook heartthrob, but it’s no surprise that he’s like catnip to the ladies; his show, ‘The Mentalist’, nets an average of 11.5 million US viewers per week, the majority of them women. So, what can you crib from Baker’s lady killing ways? Herewith, we reveal the secrets of this smooth operator.

Notice the details. Sitting down for my interview with Baker, he immediately compliments me on my red and burgundy paisley dress, noting the vintage quality of the style and fabric. "Is it a vintage dress?” he asks. "the colour combination and pattern – those colours are very early sixties.” After which, he notices that the marble coffee table sitting in front of us is broken, lifting the marble top off of its wooden legs to show me. A style aficionado and a handyman? Consider this reporter charmed.

Aspire to be a gentleman, but don’t say that you’re one. "I wouldn’t say that I’m the perfect gentleman, but I would say that I aspire to carry myself in a gentlemanly way”, says Baker. Would his wife consider him a gentleman? "At times she considers me a gentleman”, he says, with a coy grin. "But sometimes, she doesn’t want me to be a gentleman – it swings backwards and forwards.”

Have varied interests. Aside from being an avid surfer (he rode waves competitively as a teenager), Baker has an affinity for photography. "It’s always been something that I’ve been interested in and that I’ve always pursued, "he says. "I’m looking forward to doing more of that as I have to work less.” Baker also directed three episodes of ‘The Mentalist’ and he admits that if he wasn’t an actor, he’d likely be a cinematographer.

Be genuine. On signing with Givenchy, Baker admits there’s a certain responsibility, not only in associating himself with such a storied brand, but in taking on the role of the ultimate gentleman. However, it’s a role that he aspires to on a daily basis. "For this [partnership] to work for me, it had to fit with who I am.” He says. "Being a gentleman has never gone out of fashion; people always respond positively to chivalrous behaviour.”

Wear your fragrance; don’t let the fragrance wear you. "I think the key to fragrance is that you find one that you feel confident and comfortable in that doesn’t overpower the essence of who you are, not unlike clothes – you wear the clothes, you don’t let them wear you.”

When it comes to style, practicality is just as important as looking good. "I stick to the basic things that I know work for me,” says Baker. "I’m a practical human – I like to feel comfortable in what I’m wearing and part of that is knowing that it looks okay for my aesthetic, so I just keep it very simple and efficient. If I find a pair of jeans that fit me well and I like the way they look and they’re comfortable, I’ll buy four pairs of them.” The same can be said for his now trademark Oliver Peoples glasses, which he’s had since 2002, which he bought for sight reasons. "I’ve tried to find other pairs, because they’re kind of common now, but they weren’t really when I bought them,” he says. "People wear them as a fashion thing now and it bugs me a bit, because now I feel like I’m a bit of a fashion victim. But they work for me, and I can see as well, which is very handy,” he quips.

Look up to iconic gentlemen. Baker models his own gallant behaviour after his friend and former agent in Australia, who passed away a few years ago, and who was Baker’s best man at his wedding. "He was always very gracious, very considerate of others and carried himself with great poise and dignity. Selfless,” he says wistfully. "At the same time, he was very male. He was independent, hard-working and wasn’t afraid to get dirty – no job was too difficult.” Quite an ambitious aim, but no doubt Baker’s up to the task.