Classic Style

W hile I've sung many of these familiar tunes in English, Norwegian, and Swedish at different times in various choirs myself, nothing gives me the same chill -- and even brings tears to my eyes (I'm a sentimental sap, at heart) -- as their German language versions.  If you're seeking more traditional music for the Advent and Christmas seasons, I also recommend these CD's (or their streaming or MP3 versions): Christmas in Vienna -- Vienna Boys Choir (Philips, 1991) German Christmas Music: Kammerorchester; Carl Philipp Emmanuel Bach; Hartmut Haenchen, Conductor (Sony Music Special Products, 1993) Weihnachten: A German Christmas (Seattle Pro Musica, 2002) Delightful, quiet, and contemplative seasonal music.  Perfect for solo listening, family dinners, holiday gatherings, Christmas Day, or Christmas Week.  A welcome departure from the overplayed Bings, Britneys, Mariahs, and hippopotami  that otherwise clog the airwaves at this time of year. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  W ith lots of fresh snow all over the place following our first major winter storm of the season, tweed, corduroys, oxford cloth, and other assorted woolen items seemed like the way to go this morning.  Merry and bright as they say. -- Heinz-Ulrich

    M y sole concession to Christmastime kitsch, a miniature version of the infamous leg lamp from the 1983 film A Christmas Story , based on the short stories in humorist Jean Shepherd's In God We Trust.  All Others Pay Cash (1966).  My lamp occupies a place of honor (?) on my desk for but one month each year before it is carefully stored away once again after January 1st.  Hey, we've got to keep up appearances, you know. -- Heinz-Ulrich 

    T hanksgiving Weekend 2025 has ended nicely with our first appreciable winter storm of the season during last night, yielding about five to six inches of snow.  That came after I hung the icicle lights along the front porch eaves and set out a few other seasonal items inside to lend a festive air to the house yesterday afternoon.  Just back from seeing the Vienna Boys' Choir here in East Lansing with the Grand Duchess late this afternoon.  Beautiful as long as they stuck to traditional carols.  A warming dinner of soup with crispy, crunchy Italian bread followed with fresh, strong black coffee afterward accompanies by a few pieces of chocolate.   My final classes of the semester meet tomorrow. Hopefully, everyone will finish and turn in their final projects without any last minute drama or desperate emails after final course grades have been submitted just before Christmas.  Time will tell. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  A n easy, relaxed day around the house today after a busy but very pleasant Thanksgiving Day.  Best of all, two of our favorite Nordic ski centers in Northern Michigan have already had appreciable snowfall and opened for the 2025-2026 ski season!  It's extremely tempting to head up for some early season solo skiing next weekend even in light of the usual end-of-semester business.  Must keep an eye on the weather forecast and grooming conditions for the next several days.  Decisions, decisions! -- Heinz-Ulrich

T he Young Master at the table before Thanksgiving dinner was served yesterday afternoon.  This was about the only photograph I could manage to snap without him pulling some kind of goonish face, so I was unable to get a full-length shot of him in his new suit just back from the tailor.  Not quite what I would have suggested for a first suit, but it was given to him by a family friend, and Paul actually likes wearing it, so we'll leave it at that.  But the three-piece model and peaked lapels are nice touches. My own attire was slightly less dressy, but still pulled together and appropriate to the occasion.  Even managed to nail the temperamental wool bow tie on the first attempt, which is always a pleasant surprise.  I find bow ties are ideal for food holidays.  When one is serving and enjoying special meals, as well as clearing the table and loading the dishwasher afterward, you don't have to worry quite as much as with a long necktie. As my late and much ...

  H appy Thanksgiving 2025 to Classic Style visitors wherever in the world you might find yourselves.  Whether you observe in the sanity and sanctity of your own home, or join others as a guest, be gracious, present yourself well, and set an example for others in your conduct. Keep the faith. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  A lthough many students typically decamp for home the weekend before our Thanksgiving holiday here in the U.S., classes are still in session for a couple of days early in the week.  And while I have cancelled my own classes in the past, I decided to run them this year since I currently teach hybrid courses, and we meet just once per week.   Yesterday (Monday), seven of the little darlings showed up the the 8am class and 10 at 9:10. I decided beforehand to run a workshop session for students to work on their remaining projects while I answered questions and provided assignment clarification as and when needed.  An easy day as teaching goes. The attire highlighted above also featured a matching chocolate suede belt and dark green Merino wool socks with many small flying pheasants on them.  The jacket has not appeared in quite some time, possibly two years, so it was time to trot it out.   I typically enjoy combining a lot of browns, tans, and gree...

A few minutes between classes this morning, so I snapped  pictures of today's attire and accessories.  The first wearing this season of the Optimo 'Dearborn' fedora, and the tie is a vintage number from Orvis, a nod to my late father's fly-fishing and fly-tying hobbies.  It's been two or three years since this particular necktie's last appearance, so high time to pull it out and knot it carefully around the ol' neck.  Managed to nail it on the first attempt too.  Could this be the start of a trend? -- Heinz-Ulrich

  Y esterday, a colleague and I facilitated a workshop on how the various professors in our program can (re: "need to") remediate their online course materials to meet the new accessibility requirements that go into effect on January 01, 2026 at our institution.  Lots of work to do in a relatively short amount of time to ensure any visually or hearing impaired students -- or those with an invisible learning disability -- have full access to the materials in the the learning management system (LMS) we use here.   Or, at the very least, as the educational technology guy we brought in to lead the workshop told us, start with the syllabus if nothing else. In any case, it was an excuse to get dolled up for the few hours spent on campus, and here's what I put together for public consumption.  All built around the typical tweed jacket (Harris in this instance), corduroy dress pants, and penny loafers. As I have no doubt mentioned many times before, when you have the ri...

P rematurely cold with intermittent snow here in Mid-Michigan the last several days.  Ideal weather for variations on the tween, cords, and assorted seasonal items.  Here is today's version thereof.  A long tweed overcoat, houndstooth cap, and long woolen 'school boy' scarf completed the ensemble.  Probably less Laurence Fellows and more Dr. Who if we're brutally honest, but I felt good.   By the way, the rose J. Press cords above were a gift last Christmas from  the Grand Duchess, so it was fun to get 'em out of storage and put 'em on once again.  They seem to pair well with this particular jacket, also J. Press from a thrift/charity shop find many years ago now in, of all places, Bloomington, Illinois.  Out old stomping grounds before we decamped for Michigan in 2015. -- Heinz-Ulrich Heinz-Ulrich

  A not displeasing sartorial array for the Monday of Week 13 (of the Fall 2025 term), but the uppermost photograph does illustrate why one should give their jacket, coat, or blazer a good going over with the clothes brush after a summer in the cedar closet.  The blazer seems to have attracted every piece of fuzz, dust, and lint in the house.  My haste to dress and leave post-shower and shave this morning meant that I neglected this important detail.  Sadly since the combination of items today otherwise works well.  I could almost be an extra in a village scene on any season of Midsomer Murders .  Badger's Drift anyone? -- Heinz-Ulrich

  Y ou know, it's not all suits, sports jackets, and bow ties here at Classic Style .  Nope.  Sometimes, you've gotta buckle down, and power through a virtual stack of middle-of-the-road collaborative student projects waiting in their online submission folders.   And since the weather now has a decidedly cool edge to it, what better way to do that than dressed in corduroy jeans with a canvas ribbon belt, flannel shirt, and suede camp moccasins? Just one more variation of my typical at home attire for fall, winter, and early spring.   Not to get too Dickensian about it, but even when at home with the door closed and the figurative curtains drawn, there's no reason to appear like a street urchin.  -- Heinz-Ulrich

  D ecided yo go with something a bit more casual this morning and opted for houndstooth, cords, and Argyle.  Not a bad look overall if I might be so bold. As I quipped to a student about 20 years ago, "If you aren't interested in what I have to say, you can at least get a kick out of looking at me."  In any case, a comfortable combination of items for a chilly November morning. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  I f you're a fan of old films noir from the 1940s and 50s, you'll get the reference.  I couldn't help but think of that as I perused these photos shot very early this morning while I waited on my first mug of coffee at a cafe ner campus that I like thanks to their large tables, usual choice of music, and low key (ahem) aesthetic early in the morning. IN any case, we've now had a couple of heavy frosts, and the mornings have a decided nip about them.  Time to reintroduce a few more seasonally appropriate items.  This time, of the favorite tweed, cords, and suede variety.  Not visible is the houndstooth tweed cap atop my noggin that appeared for the first time since last April.  A gift from the Grand Duchess a few Christmases back, it worls very well with a less formal ensemble like today's -- Heinz-Ulrich

  F inally chilly enough for the return of one of my favorite seasonal suits, a vintage Polo wool flannel three-piece number that I stumbled onto quite a few years ago now in a thrift/charity shop in our old stomping grounds of Central Illinois.  No tags, but it had been worn only once if at all and was in my size (40R) although it has had a few minor alterations since then.   Worn here with a necktie from J. Press, shirt from Mercer & Sons, and shoes from Allen Edmonds.  Not visible are the vintage silk Polo braces (small navy, crimson, and silver paisleys) that I usually wear with this particular suit.  Toasty warm and extremely comfortable, yet "pulled together" as my maternal grandmother used to term looking presentable. -- Heinz-Ulrich

I f it's Tuesday, then it must be the cafe just off campus for a solo morning work session and online office hours.  All caught up with everything and sitting in the latter with Zoom open right now and -- surprise, surprise -- no students banging on the figurative door to complain about grades thus far.  And an 11am collaborative work session with a colleague cancelled. What better time to catch up a bit here at Classic Style ? A slightly more casual look overall today with odd jacket, pants, penny loafers, and a knit silk necktie. Given the muted pattern of the jacket, I think a solid shirt would work better, but there we are.  Not a bad combo overall however. The socks are a nod to my alma mater the mighty University of Wisconsin-Madison.  All things being equal, I wish I were still there.   The years I spent in Madison during the 1990s were an amazing time, and campus, at least the older central part of it, is stunningly beautiful.  Especially once ...

  T here was a decided nip in the air very early this morning here in Mid-Michigan, so I broke out a flannel three-piece and vintage topcoat for the first wearing of the season along with one of my much loved genuine fedoras.  Vintage red, white, and blue Polo braces and solid navy Merino wool dress socks completed the ensemble.  The mark of a poorly dressed man, since I looked as unusual and out of place on campus as if I had emerged from a flying saucer in a glittery silver spacesuit.  Something I am completely comfortable with whatever the Beau Brummels of the style world might advise to the contrary.  Happier standing out than blending in with the hoodied masses you understand. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  T he weather finally turned last Tuesday following several hours of heavy rain and strong wind early Tuesday morning. Since I have no classes Tuesdays, I spent a delightful few hours working remotely in a coffee shop not far from campus where I also held Zoom office hours although no students turned up.  Also bumped into two former students from Fall 2018, both of whom are working as baristas in said establishment.  I hope they are not still occupying Mom and Dad's sofa in the basement recreation room by this point in their young lives, Attire-wise, transitional stuff, combining khakis and penny loafers with a J. Press number that has a decided autumnal vibe about it.  One of my favorite odd jackets between October ad April each year.  I wouldn't call it a heavy weight jacket by any stretch, but it traps enough air in its rough weave to keep you comfortable on a chilly, damp day.  Truth be told, I also sported a trench coat with the liner zipped out along...

A  busy couple of weeks with grading the first round of collaborative projects and chasing down team members who either neglected to ensure their names were on the materials submitted, or team members whose names were left off that work because they contributed nothing to the team effort.  Isn't putting your name on your work one of the most basic things?  Sigh.   Even with team reflections as but one component of collaborative projects, it remains exceedingly difficult to get a clear picture of the actual dynamics within learning teams.   It almost seems that most undergraduates would rather let a teammate receive credit for no actual contribution to the team effort than rat 'em out to the professor.  Mafiosi in training, the Code of Omerta, and all that jazz I guess.  Never go against the family, eh?    In any case, here are a couple of shots of last Monday's attire before the weather really cooled off later in the week.  Ru...

  C an you believe we are at the end of September already?  Where in the world does the time go? In any case, a wonderfully sunny, pleasant early autumn day, so summer items still suffice well, thank you very much.  A not unpleasant assemblage of attire, include a Mercer & Sons shirt with a knit silk necktie from J. Press along with many of the usual suspects.   Stuff like this makes dressing presentably both easy and a pleasure. -- Heinz-Ulrich