Classic Style

  V arious old friends reappear for this calm first day of Summer 2026 (on this side of the equator).  You can just about make out the ear of Lord Onyx, out old neutered tomcat, who loves to sit for hours purring on the back of my desk chair with a paw or his head resting on my left shoulder.  I suppose this is a holdover from when he was a kitten, and it took him six weeks to warm up following adoption from the animal shelter. He spent most of that time petrified and looking fearful in my lap with his sister, who was the complete opposite.  Gunnlaug warmed up immediately and purred as soon as we met them for the first time at the shelter.  Well, we couldn't just adopt the one cat, could we? -- Heinz-Ulrich

  N ot my vintage seersucker suit, unfortunately, but a recently acquired pair of shorts.  Complete with rumpled, slightly furry and dandruffy short-sleeved polo shirt thanks to an hour long visit from our aging neutered tomcat Onyx, who, I am quite convinced, would spend all of his time in my lap if permitted.  Or held while he rests his head and one paw on my left shoulder and purrs. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  S ince finishing that BIG project at the very end of May -- a few days ahead of the June 1st deadline, thank you very much -- I've been full on into late spring-early summer mode, catching up with flower bed maintenance, planting of annuals, mowing, and the like.  All of that Suburban. . .  dad (lower case "d" intentional) stuff.   Just about done now remulching a large bed that goes across the rear of the house, but I managed to spread 16 bags of the stuff yesterday (Saturday) afternoon among other tasks.  Then, time for a shower and clean clothes ahead of dinner on the screened-in back porch where we spend much of our time from May through September each year.   The uncooperative seersucker shirt is usually not quite so billowy when tucked in, but there we are.  Proof positive, nonetheless, that an adult male can be casual and feel comfortable when at home during the warmer stretch of the year without looking like he has oozed from beneat...

A fter the Young Master climbed aboard the school bus early this Friday morning, I poured a second mug of coffee, headed upstairs, and hit the shower, followed by a shave. I next dressed for a day spent with the Grand Duchess in nearby Ann Arbor. The city -- with its fantastic bookstores, array of charming cafes and restaurants, along with various other specialty establishments -- provides a lovely escape from East Lansing where we largely have very little like that.  Odd for a school of this size and its adjacent areas, but there we are. Although both institutions (with surrounding communities) are part of the original Big 10, and both have Research 1 status, the difference between the two is like night and day.   That's a topic for another time however. The main point of today's post, besides sharing my attire, is to extol the virtues of shaving with a mug, shaving soap. and a shaving brush, a once routine habit I have fallen out of during the last 10 years or so. It ta...

  S aturday.  A 10:30 breakfast with the Young Master.  Canteloup, a large mug of fresh coffee, and two slices of toasted raisin bread.  Clear table.  Brush teeth.  Shower.  Dress for the day.  Finish with a small splash of Royall Rugby.   All ready to answer the door should anyone ring the bell and run a quick errand to the supermarket. Followed by some much needed downtime at the painting table adding to the toy soldier collection.   What a nerd!   But a presentably attired nerd. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  W ednesday this week, we had the in-person day of our annual internal "Spring Talks" teaching and learning conference. During the event, instructors at all levels, from graduate students to tenured professors, have the opportunity to present papers, talks, round table discussions, and posters on their particular teaching approaches and methods.  This year's was well-attended, interesting, enthusiastic. and even vibrant you might say.   Yours truly presented a poster on Multimodal Student Supports for Hybrid General Education Courses . The subject matter dealt specifically with my use of brief explainer animations, audio podcast segments, and most recently fairly high production value talking-head videos to support students' collaborative problem-solving activities, around which all of my courses are designed regardless of specific subject matter.  Judging by the number of passers-by who hung around asking questions and engaging with me, there was a fair amount...

Y esterday was the final departmental meeting for Spring 2026.  Hallelujah!   Our current chair has gradually increased the frequency of these meetings during the two years since he took over the position from our previous chair who was, mercifully, a bit less hands-on.   These sessions always go on twice as long as is necessary.   Mind numbing is an apt term.    My apparently contrarian view is that if a group of people can't get through what needs to be covered in an hour or less, then there is some serious trimming of "business" to do.   Sadly, said chair -- someone I genuinely like as a person, so I play along -- has deemed it necessary to add  additional mandatory in-person meetings. to these sessions come the fall semester/term.   He rolled out the dates yesterday and asked us to get them on our calendars for the coming academic year.  Plus several optional online meetings during the 15-weeks for Fall '26 and Sp...

A busy week, but why not send 'em off with a bit more three-piece style than that to which most are accustomed?   -- Heinz-Ulrich

S ounds like the opening line of a tune by Sergio Mendez and Brazil '66.  Maybe the B-side of Mas Que Nada ?  A lthough I prefer the original version by Jorge Ben from 1962 .   But I digress. Monday was warmer and slightly muggy with temperatures in the low 70s Fahrenheit by early afternoon, so time to break out a warm weather navy blazer and gray gabardine trousers along with tan shoes, belt, and a suitably seasonal shirt from good ol' Mercer & Sons. Must admit I had a spring to my step as I made the short jaunt from the front door to the car early that morning. The shoes and pants have been in the rotation for years at this point.  Now, tan shoes are not everybody's cup of tea, but they work reasonably well on warm, sunny days unless one wears a dark suit when the combination looks a bit off.  Light gray, beige, or taupe pants are somewhat easier to pull off with tan footwear. The matching belt (not shown) was added about four or five years ago.  The...

  F riday's attire worn for several errands on campus that morning, culminating in a luncheon to recognize outstanding students and colleagues in my program.  Exceptional coursework on the one hand as well as retirements, teaching awards, and such on the other.   Into the shoulder season now, so lighter weight attire is/was in order even in light of still chilly mornings.  Probably few occasions before the end of the regular semester for heavier flannel, tweed, and corduroy.    The jacket here is one of my favorite mid-weight wool jackets.  An interesting pattern but not overpowering. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  O r back to the saltmines as my late maternal grandfather used to joke.  Remember when we used to have Good Friday and Easter Monday off?  How times have changed. Chilly and sporadically rainy yesterday (Monday), so corduroy and wool flannel along with oxford cloth were the order of the day.  Along with some newly moisturized and shined shoes, which have needed some TLC all winter.  I snapped these photos of my attire during and early morning stop at a cafe along the way for the obligatory large mug of fresh dark roast coffee ahead of my 8am class. The overcoat received a compliment later in the day as I ran some errands on the way home.  Never necessary, as I say, but always nice to hear. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  K eeping things calm, classic, and carrying on here this Easter Weekend.   Rather wintry today, with chilly temperatures, wind, leaden skies, and even some sleet ticking against the windows late this morning after an Easter breakfast with the Grand Duchess and Young Master.  Hence the flannel shirt and corduroy jeans yet again.   As I have said many times previously, for six months of the year, flannel shirts or Rugby jerseys with corduroy jeans and ribbon belt are an easy, comfortable way to attire oneself at home, during those occasional errands that either come up on weekends, or during evening early hours.  On a different note, I foresee egg salad sandwiches in our immediate future later this week. -- Heinz-Ulrich

M onday's attire captured very early in the morning while stopping at a cafe along the way to campus where I took about 45 minutes to enjoy some fresh coffee (in a real ceramic mug, not a paper cup) and simply ponder the world going by outside the window.   It was a sunny, warm day with temperatures approaching 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 C.) by midday, so I broke out the tan loafers and matching belt.  Still not quite sure if the olive chinos worked, or not, but there we are.   My students enjoyed the necktie, however, with several complimenting it across the classes I taught yesterday.  They must be worried about their grades. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  T he attire for last Thursday's quick jaunt into campus for one more meeting about something or other along with a series of errands along the way home.  These included a twice yearly check-in with the ophthalmologist, which turned out to be surprisingly quick.  A good report, so it looks like no prescription change is in order and the toy soldier painting (hundreds of tiny buttons anyone?) can continue for the foreseeable future. On a sartorial note, it always amazes me how people appear for appointments with professionals -- doctors, dentists, attorneys, and the like.  Without going into it ad nauseam one more time, appearance is important, men, and how you present yourself to the rest of the world has a direct bearing on how the rest of the world perceives and interacts with you.   Figure it out. -- Heinz-Ulrich 

  O f course, the way w e keep our dressier items looking nice is to change clothes after arriving home.  Admittedly, I opted to keep the shirt and add a gray sweatshirt from my alma mater along with a pair of the usual corduroy jeans and suede camp moccasins.  I typically sit cross-legged in this particular desk chair with my shoes off, however, so I thought it best to hide 'em since men's feet are unseemly at best.  Not something others should have to endure you understand. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  T he attire for my sojourn into campus and leading a couple of classes yesterday as we sail along to the end of March and April beyond with still, at times, wintry temperatures.  Sadly, all of our December, January, and February snow has been gone here in the East Lansing region since the week after Valentine's Day.   Not so in the Petoskey area, where they still have full coverage and routine trail grooming at Hickory Hills Nordic Center.  And how I wish I could escape northward for some late season skiing for a day or three more.   Alas, March is the cruelest month as the spring semester/term grows busier and encroaches into what little free time we have left during evenings and weekends.  I know, I know.  This is the life I've chosen.   But still. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  W ell, the calendar might say it's Spring, but it's still rather chilly.  So corduroy jeans (with surcingle belt) and oxford cloth are still the order of the day for a weekend at home.  Relaxed, casual, and comfortable, yet still pulled together enough to run a few errands mid-afternoon and a enjoy a coffee with the Grand Duchess on the way home without embarrassing myself.   Tossed a cream and charcoal Norwegian fisherman's sweater over the shirt before heading out given the decided nip in the air.   Between us, I'd still rather be skiing, but the mower was already at the shop, and it'll soon be time to think about cleaning up the winter debris and preparing the beds around the yard for the arrival of spring and summer perennials and planting of annuals.  But that's still several weeks away since it never really warms up here in Michigan until the latter half of May. And sometimes we're even into June before short sleeves and shorts are comfort...

  B lustery and cold here today with a heavy sky and sporadic snow flurries mean that it's a perfect excuse to trot out some cotton oxford cloth and wool flannel.  Fairly staid navy (socks too) and gray but with a wild Tattersall waistcoat, given to me for Christmas several years ago by the Grand Duchess.   The items shown come from various manufacturers, but they work well together, I think, and received a nod of approval and kind words delivered with a smile from a lady I do not know as we passed each other in the supermarket on my way home after leading a couple of classes for the day.  As I always say, compliments are never necessary, but always nice to hear.   And if you can leave someone with a smile on his, her, or their face simply through the clothes you wear, why not?  -- Heinz-Ulrich

  T oday's post responds to a question posed by a reader in Chile, Alfonso (26), who wrote to me in Spanish (Muchas gracias, Alfonso, y mucho gusto!) a week or so ago.  And while my own Spanish is very rusty at this point, I believe the gist of his email was the perennial question "How does someone interested in classic male style and attire get started?" Especially in our overly casual era. Well, many articles, books, blogs, and vlogs have been written on the subject, so the following advice echos what you might find elsewhere.  My own answer is to start small, make informed decisions, and purchase fewer items but spend enough for quality attire that will last a long time.  If money is tight, consider charity shops and watch for online sales.   Older  family members too might be able to help if you are similar in height and size.  Keep in mind that most tailors can handle a few basic alterations that will make your clothes look and feel like they...

B ack to the salt mines, as my late maternal grandfather used to say, following our recent Spring Break Week.  Definitely spring-like weather here, but still cool enough for flannel and tweed with the potential for a return of winter conditions by the weekend.   The photographs here show the attire for yesterday (Monday), including outerwear.  You can just about make out the Borsalino navy fedora in the top shot.  The charcoal wool overcoat (single-breasted) and colorful silk scarf are vintage items as well.  All things that have been in the winter rotation for 10-12+ years at this point.  Worn with vintage Polo braces, the suit too is vintage Polo, a 4/1 double-breasted number that's fun to trot out a few times each October-April.  Extremely comfortable and warm, yet far more appropriate for public consumption than the typical alternatives that blot the landscape in 2026. -- Heinz-Ulrich