Classic Style

  W ell, it might be spring according to the calendar, but it certainly looked, felt, and acted more like winter today.  Gusty winds, cold temperatures, and occasional snow flurries.  Ideal weather for a vintage flannel three-piece suit by Polo.   Worn with braces, Merino wool dress socks, and the necktie of my alma mater.  A staid but not unpleasant combination of items for trotting students through one last in-class work session on their second collaborative project ahead of the Friday evening due date.  My beige trench coat and tweed driving cap completed the ensemble.  A fedora was my first inclination but I feared the wind might lift that from my head and lead to regrets.  The driving cap, by contrast, managed to avoid the wind gusts and remain seated firmly in place during those outdoor sojourns while on campus today. -- Heinz-Ulrich          

  Y et another variation of the usual theme for this cold, snowy, and wet Thursday in the latter half of March.  The combination of the shirt, jacket, and this particular necktie, which has been in the rotation for close to 20 years, is a favorite.  I actually keep the jacket and this pair of dress cords on the same hanger, making it easy to piece in the other items without a whole lot of thought, and Bob's your uncle.  Showered, shaved, and out the front door before you know it. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  A nother one of those blasted very early in the morning appointments today, this time to have a filling replaced at the dentist.  Actually, an easy in and out given the time I arrived.  It was so early, they took me back and got to work without delay.  Something to be said for that.  The shot of Novocaine to the gums, not so much. ------------   I have a very old friend, who I've known for 40+ years.  We go way back and played in a few hard rock bands together in around Philadelphia back during the heady days of the 1980s.  The two of us still talk about twice a year, and once in a while the subject of personal attire comes up.   His take is that he enjoys looking nice, but doesn't have a lot of time.  My own position, as you might recall, is that looking reasonably good needn't require much time at all provided your have a few essential items hanging in your closet that can be mixed and matched without a whole lot of thought....

    A fter a morning and early afternoon of Zoom meetings with various committees and a couple of working groups, I drove the 10 minutes into East Lansing to Whole Foods to pick up some things for the evening meal.  At the checkout counter, the cashier (female, approximately mid-20s) complimented the attire shown and asked where I'd been today.   I thanked her and replied that I had been in online meetings all day at home, and added that this was the first opportunity, just after 4pm, I had managed to get out of the house.  Big smile from her with the reply "Well, now you've had a compliment!" The admittedly flirty exchange outlined above supports a point that I make here with some regularity.  One, women of almost any age notice a man dressed somewhat more nicely that has become the average.  Two, dressing even reasonably well can turn mundane tasks into pleasant exchanges.   As I mentioned in a recent post, preaching to the choir here ...

  C ool once more here in Mid-Michigan today, even chilly this morning with frost in the night.  Ideal weather for a heavy, wool flannel double-breasted suit with the added pizzazz of a self-tie bow tie.   Managed to get the latter tied on the second attempt this morning, and it looks reasonably imperfect.  Part of the charm of a bow tie as I explained to the Grand Duchess in reply to her question as I prepared to leave for campus early this morning.   A trench coat (with liner zipped in), gray plaid wool scarf, and a felt fedora completed the picture.  All set for a late lunch with Barmy and Tuppy at The Drones' Club. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  A slightly more casual iteration of the usual Monday through Friday uniform here at Totleigh in the Wold.  The occasion was a faculty learning community a colleague and I were leading, as guest facilitators, on how to integrate and support international students more effectively within the college writing classroom.   It went reasonably well, but the discussion around our presentation and reflective questions leads me tho suspect we were not telling people anything that they did not already know.  Ah, well.  A pleasant hour and now it's done.  Certainly many other things in need of doing this coming week.   The latter half of the spring semester, in particular, is always brutal with the speed at which time elapses and the sheer number of tasks to address within that seven or eight week window.  It's almost head-spinning. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  M y program director (chair) and I joked yesterday, at the start of a Zoom meeting, that both of us had worn real pants throughout the pandemic when the world, it seemed, conducted daily business online with only our upper bodies visible.  Assuming one even bothered to turn on his/her/their camera of course.   I then observed, before we got down to yesterday's business ourselves, that his claim would make a fantastic t-shirt slogan.  "I wore pants throughout the pandemic!"  Wish I'd thought of it myself in about 2022 as we emerged from the worst of it.  I might now be living on the proceeds in a quieter, less chaotic and bellicose part of the world.  Ahem. Sartorial kidding aside, today's attire includes items from various merchants (the usual suspects), all of which combine easily to produce a not displeasing effect for late winter-early spring (though I'd still rather be skiing).  We're definitely in the shoulder season here in Mid-Michig...

  P ost-Spring Break has suddenly become very busy.  Somehow.  Some way.  As life is wont to do in the third decade of the 21st century.  One must sometimes squeeze in early (horribly early) morning appointments with the dentist, doctor, ophthalmologist, and so forth when openings become available.  Which is how I managed time early today against later commitments, hustling out the door to the car without my preferred necktie of some kind.   I've since rectified the situation and added a dark red knit silk number to complete today's ensemble.  The belt for today is a dark reddish brown braided leather item that typically is paired with these loafers.  Not an exact color match, mind you, but close enough to work reasonably well together.   Now, why bother dressing in a slightly more sophisticated way for appointments (even the early ones)?  Well, as I always advise -- and it holds true -- staff, specialists, technicians, an...

  G iven the warmer temperatures and sunshine here in Mid-Michigan today, the uninitiated might never guess about all of the cross-country skiing I've managed during the last two months.  But all good things must come to an end (Sniff!).  So, time for some lighter attire that isn't tweed and corduroy, which hold up better when we have snow, ice, and frigid wind.  Wool flannel and some dressier shoes than we've seen in a while along with one of my favorite vests/waistcoats, which was a Christmas gift from the Grand Duchess several years ago. -- Heinz-Ulrich

    O therwise know as cleaning style.  Dental cleaning that is.  I dressed thusly for a routine visit to the dentist this morning with a few other errands on the way home afterwards.  No necktie today given the risk of spraying rinse or other substances as one lies there in the reclined chair like a large mouthed bass in the bottom of a fishing boat.   Now, there must be a reason the gray herringbone tweed jacket is as classic as it is.  Without a doubt, the easiest item to pair with other things almost without a thought.  As I have mentioned before this particular model from J. Press has become my go-to sports jacket for cooler weather .  It quite literally works with anything else in my wardrobe, casual or dressy.   If there were only three main garments to include in a starter wardrobe, I'd suggest a gray herringbone tweed jacket, a navy blazer, and a solid charcoal suit. Impossible to go wrong with these hanging in your cl...

  O ne of the instructors up at Forbush Corner Nordic Center (outside of Frederic, Michigan 10 minutes up Interstate 75 from Grayling) snapped this photograph of yours truly fooling with a pair of skis outside the shop and lodge during the weekend of February 21-23.  I was up there again during February 28-March 02 for a final round of pushing myself to the limit and one last lesson for the season given the warming trend that is expected even up north later in the week.   I can report, however, that I have finally managed to achieve that holy grail of cross-country skiing and at long last can balance on one ski and then the other while moving along flats and downhills at a swift pace, alternating between the two legs.  This is where maneuverability and speed enter the picture.  Balance and weight transfer in other words.   And after only a quarter century.  What can I say?  I am slow on the uptake.  Sadly, I have yet to find a ski j...

  B ack to Earth with a thud this morning following a three-day solo cross-country skiing excursion to our favorite Nordic center less than 2.5 hours north of us.  Amazing conditions, a skate ski lesson, and solid feedback from two coaches.  My eventual goal of attaining Level One certification as a Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) coach seems to be within reach with more practice on the snow next season and careful study for the written exam.   Yes! Planning on a similar escape this coming weekend, with the blessings of the Grand Duchess, which might be the last such jaunt for the 2024-2025 ski season here in Lower Michigan.  Snow and snow conditions get iffy in March with the approach of Spring, but you never know.  I managed to ski locally last year right up until the tail end of the month.  The 28th or 29th if memory serves. As far as today's attire is concerned, pretty typical winter fare.  But the darned bow tie simply ref...

  H anging around the house this morning waiting for remodeling crew to arrive to begin installing a new shower in our master bathroom on the second floor and ceiling repair in the living room below.  Four months later.  Tucked-in shirt tails and a navy-orange ribbon belt complete the ensemble for today.  Hey, even in the face of waiting around, delays, and the second such project within the same space in two years (Don't ask!), there is no reason not to look reasonably presentable. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  L ots of snow on the ground with gusting winds and a subzero (Fahrenheit) windchill here in the Grand Duchy today, hence the slightly more casual look.  Brushing yet more snow off the car before departure for campus ain't exactly kind to neckties you understand.  But otherwise, the overall combination isn't too bad.  Corduroy jeans instead of the more typical dress cords along with L.L. Bean boots and my very heavy duffel coat.   We are actually having a genuine winter here in Mid-Michigan this year.  Fairly decent trail grooming for cross-country skiing at two of our area parks, so the Grand Duchess and I enjoyed skiing through meadows and woods Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (joined by a mutual friend yesterday).  I'm actually going to head over again later this afternoon to practice some V1 technique (and maybe V2 Alternate) on my skate skis.    I know, I know.  My late mother could never understand my love of winter either...

  On the lower half, a pair of cinnamon-colored corduroy jeans, ribbon belt, and LL Bean duck shoes with Smart Wool socks. Just home from a day of meetings on campus, my wife also wore charcoal wool dress pants with a crease and a pair of zip-up winter boots with heels to make her 5' 3" (160cm) frame a bit more commanding. T he Grand Duchess and I managed to escape yesterday (Friday) evening for a couple of hours to enjoy a rare dinner out for just the two of us.  We were lucky to find a small table at our favorite local Thai restaurant given that virtually all local eateries were booked solid since it was Valentine's Day.   Our small table in a corner was eventually crowded with Mango Curry, a delicious coconut and tofu soup, steamed dumplings, Drunken Noodles, and a steaming pot of Jasmine tea.  Perfect for the cold, snowy evening outside.  And yes, we brought home what we could not manage to finish.  But boy, did we try!   Sartorially spea...

  T aking the edge off a double-breasted flannel suit today with the addition of a vintage 'Makers' necktie from Brooks Brothers, featuring a heard of giraffes sporting polka dot neckties.  Several people expressed their approval of the combination beginning with the barista who rang up my organic dark roast coffee early this morning.  Never necessary, of course, but always nice to hear.  Other items shown are part of the usual winter time rotation, including SWIMS overshoes, a navy double-breasted polo coat, a 30+ year old wool scarf given to my by dear, departed ol' Mom, and a Borsalino fedora.  Either I frighten students to death, or make 'em laugh.  Probably a mix of both. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  A cold, gray, and crunchy February Saturday here in the Grand Duchy.  Not necessarily ideal for skiing, but perfect for a quick drive up the road and around the corner to pick up a prescription and several household items for the Grand Duchess and Young Master.  Illustrating yet again that it is entirely possible to dress comfortably for the season without devolving into something that resembles an overstuffed yet walking dirty laundry bag filled with soiled, wrinkled clothing.   Pictured here are my favorite Norwegian sweater of all, a 30+ year-old L.L. Bean number from when they were the genuine wool article made in Norway along with a well-worn pair of Land's End corduroy jeans, a pair of L.L. Bean duck shoes, both of which have been in the rotation for at least a dozen years, and a barely visible flannel shirt by L.L. Bean worn beneath the sweater.  Invisible are the newer but rather Nordic looking socks by Smart Wool (in blue, brown, and orange) and...

  W hich is really just a long-winded way of saying that I donned a tweed suit yesterday (Monday) by Chipp, with an odd waistcoat that picks up a color in the windowpane pattern on the suit, along with a few other items that worked with the overall visage.  Though, sadly, I lacked the 12-cylinder roadster needed for the drive down from London.   Sigh.  Somehow, a Subaru Outback doesn't have quite the same pizazz.  -- Heinz-Ulrich

    T he first workshop in our spring series on how college-level instructors might foster AI-literacy among undergraduates, with practical suggestions, was late this morning.  Since I ws one of the co-facilitators that brought in educator, author, and content creator Trevor Muir, who is based in neighboring Grand Rapids,  the day provided a ready excuse to get dolled up for the trip to campus.   Not visible here are a pair of wool argyle socks, in navy with dark green and red diamonds, plus a dark brown braided leather belt.  Given the crewneck sweat, I opted for a bow tie for that extra bit of sartorial pizzazz.  The usual blend of Totley Towers and Darrowby, which really works on cold, gray, wet days like today.   A trench coat and gray Borsalino fedora topped things off nicely. -- Heinz-Ulrich  

  A nd here we are at the end of January already!  My, how time does fly.   In any case, here are a couple of shots of Thursday's at-home attire, another variation of the usual cold weather uniform when I am not on campus.  The usual corduroy jeans in one color or another with either a plaid flannel shirt (tucked in), or a Rugby jersey, and one of six  ribbon belts in the rotation.  A cozy day spent down here in my office, aka Zum Stollenkeller , recording and processing the latest edition of my podcast to provide added support to the students in my hybrid courses for Spring 2025.   Gotta love the Shure and Rode hardware combined with the audio processing software from Waves and Universal Audio!  That's stuff for a different discussion however.  Yesterday's 12-minute episode was on the importance of learning teams taking a close look at, reevaluating, and modifying their collaborative work habits following completion and submission ...

Yours truly showing off some recently acquired skin skis near the trailhead at Cross-Country Ski HQ near Higgins Lake, MI.   My favorite picture of the bunch. The Young Master and I always do "Dead Bugs" when we ski.  It's actually a key part of untangling oneself after a spill and preparing to stand up again. And finally, another of the Young Master and Bad Dad (on a different pair of waxable classic skis) moving toward a more challenging series of climbs with the inevitable descents early on Saturday afternoon along one of the less traveled trails at Forbush Corner just outside of Frederic, MI.   A few pictures from our recent skiing trip "Up North" during the weekend of January 17th-20th.  Don't be fooled for a minute by the flat terrain shown into thinking that cross-country skiing is a boring, slow sport.  Plenty of winding hills to climb and hair raising descents to make through the woods and open meadows of Northern Michigan where some areas are surp...

  Well, here we are a month +2 beyond Christmas and at the start of Week Three of the Spring 2025 academic term.  Figured I'd give my students something few if any of them have ever seen before.  A man in a double-breasted suit.  Except for the whales on the necktie and green socks, a fairly staid look overall but not displeasing.   The shoulders on the coat are cleaner than they look, but the dimples come from taking a selfie with my phone.  Were I even more vain, I'd carry my small tripod in my briefcase for these occasions. If only I could find it! A trench coat with liner zipped in, gloves, long gray plaid wool scarf, and a Borsalino fedora completed the picture when I ventured outside.  Certainly nowhere near as cold as a week ago, but it's still wintertime for another couple of months after all. -- Heinz-Ulrich