Saturday Conference Style. . .

The third iteration of this year's travel-conference attire, featuring the same J. Press blazer and another broadcloth shirt. The first thing I did when the blazer and shirts arrived earlier this spring was take the former to my tailor for the usual minor alterations. I also asked him to move my university buttons from the previous 20-year old blazer to this one, personalizing it a bit in the process.

While there were a number of other men in evidence sporting the occasional suit, odd sports jacket, and even a nave blazer or two, I was the only one among almost 700 participants dressed thusly. And boy oh boy, what others have advised is true. If you're gonna wear a full suit, don't forget the necktie. It looks decidedly odd without one. Far easier to pull off a tie-less look with a blazer of sports jacket.

By and large, however, and keeping in mind this was an academic conference, most of the men in attendance presented themselves as though they were overgrown, slightly paunchy 12-year olds right down to the wrinkled shorts, sneakers, and faded, old baseball caps. Much more Dennis the Menace and his pal Joey than overly educated, professional adults.

How can you expect others to take what you have to say seriously when you look like you're playing video games in the basement rec room with your buddies from school while upstairs your mom mixes a pitcher of grape Kool-Aid and prepares baloney sandwiches for the you and the gang?

There truly are no words.

-- 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

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