Wet April Thursday Attire. . .

Warmer today, so I am able to wear the attire set out for Tuesday but switched at the last minute due to the cold, blustery conditions two days ago.

While I like the overall look of this combination of items, I remember now why this particular pair of shoes is problematic and seldom worn. No matter what I do (Safir Renovateur and creme polish), the leather does not retain its oxblood coloring across the vamps where they crease.

It's maddening when you consider that these by Allen Edmonds were not exactly 'bargain bin' shoes when I purchased them a few years back. But after a walk from the house to the car in the morning, and then from the car to the office or elsewhere on campus, this is the result. Not a problem on any of my other pairs from the same manufacturer by the way, but perhaps this is the quality control issue that has plagued the company in recent years, which I have read about online.

Maybe a trip to the cobbler for stripping and re-dying is in order? Or maybe just bite the bullet, donate these, and purchase some split-toe oxfords by Alden, which some would probably argue I should have done in the first place. Penny wise, pound foolish, and all that.

Sigh. How we suffer for our attempts to present ourselves reasonably well.

-- Heinz-Ulrich

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Mid-November Monday. . .

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

The Problem of "Business Casual" Attire. . .

This is how it's done. Business Casual the RIGHT way, ladies and gentlemen. Even during the summer months. A photograph (taken by Studio B Portraits ) which appeared in 425 Business Magazine in May 2017. T his post on the problem of business casual dress began as a quick postscript to a previous blog entry last week but quickly grew and grew as additional thoughts occurred, were developed in more detail, and revisions made. So much so, that it seemed, eventually, like a better idea to make the initial P.S. afterthought into its own entry . Are ya ready, Freddy? Then, here we go. . . ------------ U nless you actually plan to sell beach snacks and trinkets on Cozumel, become a serial barista, or greet customers at a fancy nightclub after taking out huge student loans to attend university somewhere for four or five years, plus an MBA afterward, it's really a better idea to err on the side of (somewhat) more formal work at...

My Preferred Oxford Cloth Button-Down Shirts. . .

One of several light blue cotton oxford cloth button-down collar shirts in my rotation, worn here with a wool flannel navy blazer and a vintage Italian silk necktie once sold under the Rooster label. An orange-brown with silvery paisleys, ideal for the autumn. T he other day, a regular visitor to Classic Style for the Average Guy left a comment in which he asked for information and my recommendations on the classic oxford cloth button-down shirt, commonly abbreviated to 'ocbd.' "Me? Are you tawkin' to me?" Oblique Robert DeNiro references aside, let's talk oxford cloth button-down shirts. This particular type of shirt is one of the bedrock items every man should have a few of hanging in his closet, especially when he wishes to present himself to the world in a way better -- yes, I said better -- than what has become the sad accepted average among so much of the male populace. First things first though. Lots of people automatically...

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