What's Your Routine: The Art of Starting Your Day Right

March 11, 2025

Text by Charlie Kolbrener

In 1953, Salvador Dalí boasted: “Every morning upon awakening, I experience a supreme pleasure: that of being Salvador Dalí.” Andy Warhol spent 11 years beginning every day with a lengthy phone call to friend Pat Hackett, recounting the activities of the previous day. Benjamin Franklin opined: “I wake up every morning at nine and grab for the morning paper. Then I look at the obituary page. If my name is not on it, I get up.” Today, the VMAN morning is a two-pronged approach to the day ahead: one part pragmatism, one part aesthetic. An early rise grants ample time to get started on a routine preempting a busy day.

Niyo wears blouson **GUCCI** | Shorts **MM6 MAISON MARGIELA** | Ring **SEAMAN SCHEPPS** | Socks **MR. P** | Shoes **SAINT LAURENT** by Anthony Vaccarello / On Bed **MONTBLANC** Collection Black Meisterstück Eau de Parfum

The basics of every good morning should consist of the same action items: wake up early (ideally before the crack of dawn—have to beat the sunrise). Scrub those pearly whites and collect your belongings. It’s time to hit the gym, time to break a sweat. And like any activity: the more the merrier. Go recruit a friend and do your pull-ups, sweat a little, kick a soccer ball, sweat some more, one final stretch, and exhale. Finished. After that, you’re staring down the last hour before you head off to work. Spend some time experimenting with outfits—maybe try on some Tom Ford shades. Take a bath (friends optional). Put your Versace jeans back on, zip up your Ferragamo hoodie. Now it’s 8:00 AM. Beauty sleep? Check. Beauty routine? Check. Beautiful day? Pending, but likely.