Classic Style

  W asting a few minutes this early morning (7:20am) before diving into university email and whatever else is on the almighty 'To Do' list for the day.   A bit more restrained with today's attire except for the vintage Polo bow tie, which I managed to get tied to a reasonably satisfactory standard on the second attempt.  A bit rumpled, yes, but that's the charm of a self-tie model versus the pre-tied variety, which looks too perfect. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  B ack to the salt mines on a cold, very blustery Monday in late February, after another (probably final) weekend "Up North" skiing the trails, hills, and dales in the snow belt.  My usual trusty J. Press 3/2 tweed jacket, golden tan dress cords from Land's End (almost 20 years in the rotation), and various other items for a visually pleasing and comfortable combination of attire. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  A bit colorful on the upper half today, but with the pocket square stuffed a bit further down into the jacket pocket, it ought to look ok.  In any case, I'm out of the house, on campus, and time to get some work done, so let's not fret too much about it. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  B ack on the figurative horse today.  Seeking comfort in some well-worn, cozy cold weather items helps a bit. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  Arielle Anderson, Alexandria Verner, and Brian Fraser. T hree students here at Michigan State University died senselessly in yet another (apparently random) mass shooting earlier this week.  Five others were seriously injured.   A colleague, a man with whom I have served on a committee in the recent past, taught two of them and saw them shot during his evening class on Cuban history.   Not the first time something like this has happened in the U.S., and I expect not the last.  There really are no words to adequately describe or explain any of this.  But yes.  Let's do keep shouting loudly about and lobbying for the right to keep and bear arms.  You know.  To keep that secretive world army at bay, which is just poised to invade beyond the Canadian border.   If finding an academic job, picking up, and moving were easier, I am now ready to relocate to a somewhat more peaceful society.  What a world we have created. -- ...

  B ack to the salt mines after a weekend of cross-country skiing in Northern Michigan.  No sore muscles today, which means either that I am doing something right after all of these years, or that I am not working hard enough.  In any case, I decided to go with a navy blazer and tan flannel pants rather than a suit this morning.  Still reasonably formal and pulled together, as is my wont, without straying into evening attire.  -- Heinz-Ulrich

  A not unpleasant combination of items for today.  Hard to go wrong with green, pink, and any shade of gray.  The jacket seems muted enough to avoid throwing off everything else, and the tie, at least from a distance, calm enough to avoid screaming whatever it is that bow ties might scream to some in 2023.  Shoes and (always) matching belt seem to work reasonably well with everything else.  Not a bad effort if you'll pardon me saying so myself. Ok, time to get some real work done. -- Heinz-Ulrich

    T oo often, we forget that it IS possible to have fun with our clothes.  Even the dressier stuff. And so it is this Monday morning.  Another double-breasted suit along with various other items long in the rotation, including a Brooks Brothers 'Makers' necktie that is very close to that worn by members of The Drones in all of those Wodehouse stories.   Unintentional of course.  But I was quietly tickled when the similarity dawned on me seven or eight years back.  Hmm.  I assure you the coat sits better than this across my upper back when standing or sitting normally.  The consequence of taking a selfie I suspect.  Ugh!  Still, it might be something worth having my tailor look at at some point.  In any case, a fairly restrained and not unpleasant combination of items. -- Heinz-Ulrich        

  S ometimes, there is considerable style to be found in the simplest, most mundane things.  Perhaps I am just easily entertained?  Following three hours or so of solo cross-country skiing through the Michigan woods yesterday, just ten minutes from the house, I indulged in a hot chocolate and time by the fire outside after a pleasant, brief chat with the two guys manning the rental-warming hut. The only thing missing was the company of the Grand Duchess and Young Master, who were busy with other things during the latter half of the afternoon when I ventured out.  Too bad since the skiing, while not perfect, wasn't bad.  Hey, almost any skiing is good skiing in my book.  Still incredibly relaxed, mellow, and euphoric today.  There is indeed nothing quite like the physical and mental benefits of extended physical exercise.  -- Heinz-Ulrich

  W arm, slouchy, and eminently comfortable.  Yet pulled together.  It's easy. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  S till quite cold here in Mid-Michigan, so no better time than to break out the very heavy tweed suit.  Here, it is combined with a wool waistcoat, necktie, socks, full brogues, and (not visible) braces.  Together, everything made for a very comfortable and toasty warm ensemble for the morning's work in the library cafe with a couple of large, fresh dark roast coffees. On a related note, the practice of being kind and talkative  with staff when they engage you in conversation early in the morning has its rewards.   As but one example, the middle-aged lady who manages this particular cafe has been supplying me with a free, very early morning (well ahead of the 8am opening time), and freshly brewed coffee since late November.  Not everyday, but often enough.   You just never know, as Sir Michael Caine might say, what the result of a smile and a pleasant few words exchanged with a stranger might be. -- Heinz-Ulrich