Skip to main content

"But what if I'm just hanging around the house on a Saturday?"

Here's Heinz-Ulrich during August 2009, as casual as it gets, in khaki shorts (NOTE! -- not a cargo pocket in sight), with a madras shirt and (shudder) Teva sandals.  Cool, comfortable, and pulled together.  Oh, and everything worn was purchased on sale at one time or another.

Recently, I heard from a regular visitor to the Average Guy's Guide to Classic Style, who asked about casual warm weather clothes for simply hanging around the house.  Well, the answer is to go classic and keep it simple.  In other words, go for khaki shorts combined with a knit polo or a short-sleeve, button-down madras shirt, and a pair of leather deck shoes.  Acceptable hot weather alternatives include poplin, Bermuda (Thanks, Jim!), or madras shorts along with seersucker and/or lighter weight twill shirts.


Here's Heinz-Ulrich with the Young von Boffke in early July 2011.  Von Boffke the Elder wears leather deck shoes, khaki shorts, and a knit polo shirt while von Boffke the Younger wears a madras shirt, navy camp shorts, and sneakers.  Outfit yourself with a few similar pairs of shorts and shirts.  Everything can be mixed and matched in various combinations.  Suddenly, dressing more nicely for those relaxed summer evenings, weekends, and holidays becomes easy and carefree.  And nary a ratty logo'ed t-shirt or rumpled pair of cargo shorts in sight. 


Garments like these will give you a simple and relaxed look that's timeless.  It's also easy to assemble without a lot of thought.  As I explained to a neighbor the other day, with a drawer of this stuff, a guy can simply pull out the clean clothes, unfold them, and be all dressed in about 90 seconds.  Various shirts and shorts can, in addition, be combined in a wide variety of ways without worrying too much about clashing colors or patterns.  And it doesn't get much easier than that unless one visits a naturist colony.  But I can't get too enthused about that prospect.  There are just some things best left to the imagination, thank you.  


 
Finally, here is Heinz-Ulrich during mid-July 2013 in a familiar summer activity. . .  chatting on the front porch.   This time, he is wearing (surprise) another pair of khaki shorts, a light weight twill shirt, and a pair of suede Allen Edmonds not-quite-your-average pair of deck shoes, recently purchased on sale.


Two final seasonal caveats this morning.  Sure it's hot.  It is the summer in the Northern Hemisphere after all.  But unless you're at the beach or the pool, keep those shirts on guys.  No one really wants to see our nipples, slight paunch, chest hair, or those rad outlaw tatts.  Trust me.  And if your brow is a bit sweaty, please resist the urge to use your shirt tails to wipe your face.  Ugh!  Carry a clean and folded cotton handkerchief in your pocket (always) and discretely mop your brow with it instead.  If you are that hot, retire inside to air-conditioned comfort, or, barring that, take a bracing shower or bath, towel off, apply baby powder, and put on some  fresh clothes.  A tall glass of iced tea with plenty of sugar and mint, or a bubbly gin & tonic, always helps too. 

Let's all work together to rediscover/maintain/project an aura of classic male style, grooming, and sophistication.  Even when it's hot, humid, and just plain uncomfortable during the dog days of summer.  Your mom, wife, girl-friend, boy-friend, live-in, partner, S.O. -- take your pick here -- will appreciate your efforts to present yourself and come across in a more polished way.  Even when no one else is around.  After all, you ain't ten years old or a college sophomore any longer.  Let's not dress or behave like it.

Comments

Post a Comment

All opinions are welcome here. Even those that differ from mine. But let's keep it clean and civil, please.

-- Heinz-Ulrich

Popular Posts

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...
3 comments
Read more

Friday on Campus Style. . .

S omewhat atypically, I was on campus for several hours today helping with an interview that is part of a larger documentary project on which a colleague and I are working.  Although I am behind the camera (I'm the audio guy in fact), what better reason does one need to dress presentably?  Exactly.   Everything worn, barring the recently purchased University of Wisconsin socks, a gift from the Grand Duchess, has been in the rotation for a while now.  And, of course, there was the Panama hat, which I'll wear until we pass October 1st when the felt fedoras reappear. -- Heinz-Ulrich      
2 comments
Read more

The Power of Ideas. . .

  T he end is nigh!  The autumn semester/term approaches.  And while we still have almost two months of summer left according to the calendar, "Summer is over and gone," as the crickets sang in Charlotte's Web .  At least for those of us who head back to the classroom in less than a month.   In advance of a meeting with my program director late Monday morning, I spent about 40 minutes total during the weekend to jot down several ideas about planned workshops and related activities for the coming 2024-2025 academic year.  At an opportune moment, I mentioned "I have a few ideas," and opened my leather portfolio.   My director was highly receptive to almost everything I suggested, and we had a very productive planning session for just over 90 minutes.  Just about everything I sketched out on Sunday aligns with his own ideas.  It's nice when meetings go that well, and two related things occur to me in hindsight. One, it pays to exercise...
1 comment
Read more