Warm Style for a Rainy, Chilly Day. . .

Cool, wet weather gear without a nylon rain hat or pair of ugly Birckenstock sandals worn with socks in sight. As Cheryl Crow might sing, "This ain't no country club. This ain't Seattle after all."

Yesterday was a wet one in my neck of the woods, and I prefer not to wear the really good shoes when it's like that. So, out came a pair of Johnston Murphy loafers, which, while not Allen Edmonds by any stretch of the imagination, don't look too bad with more casual ensembles. I almost got rid of these plasticy reverse grain leather shoes a year or so ago, but that I realized that a foul weather go-to shoe might be a good idea for those times when L.L. Bean duck shoes just don't cut it. The combination shown above included:

* Land's End corduroy sports jacket (purchased new in November 2003)
* Land's End cotton button-down shirt (on sale)
* No-name silk necktie (thrifted)
* No-name Italian silk pocket square (thrifted)
* Corbin wool flannel pants (thrifted)
* Land's End braided leather belt (on sale)
* Johnston Murphy loafers (thrifted)
* Socks (purchased new at Target in 2011)

A bit busy, perhaps, but the dark, chocolately brown jacket and tan pants seemed to keep everything else in check (no pun intended), especially when I stood, and the socks were hidden from view. At any rate, the ensemble did finally receive the coveted wifely approval, which ain't easy since my wife has, apparently, inherited her father's fear of any color or pattern at all. Sheesh! Talk about a monochromatic approach to life, the universe, and everything. As my maternal grandmother used to say to my grandfather when she teased him, "Oh, come on, Dave. Live a little!"

-- Heinz-Ulrich

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"If you see something you want. . ."

The above photograph has been "borrowed" from the J. Press website. "I f you see something you want," advised my late mother, "buy it. It won't be there when you go back later." A favorite (and wise) adage hers that I still follow whenever possible. So when this item appeared on clearance at J. Press, I mulled it over for a couple of days, and then clicked the requisite boxes to make the online purchase. Should be here within the week. Once upon a time, I had a similar jacket by Corbin that I foolishly purged before we left Central Illinois ('Illi-noir' anyone?) for Michigan almost 10 years ago. Not sure what I was thinking at the time since I did like the item and wore it routinely. This one will be a bit nicer and help me make sartorial amends. At least to myself. -- Heinz-Ulrich

The Average Guy's Guide to Classic Style Now on Ebay!!!

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Classic Style

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