Sometimes, the Stars Line Up. . .

Yesterday's ensemble, detailed below. This is as casual as I allow my Friday's get.

In just the right way. Friday morning, before daylight, I managed to throw on the garments pictured above without effort or thought post-shower and shave. In the dark. And then forgot about them and strode forth into my day of teaching, meetings with students, and another with colleagues. Never realized quite how nicely everything worked together until late afternoon, when I arrived home and changed into more casual attire. Not bad for no planning at all, if I do say so myself. Here's a break down of the clothing and accessories shown:

* Polo University Club wool blazer (thrifted)
* Brooks Brothers oxford cloth button down (Ebay)
* No-name, unlined wool necktie in MacDonald tartan (thrifted)
* Land's End Dress Chinos, which hold a crease (purchased on sale)
* Land's End braided leather belt (end of season clearance)
* Johnston Murphy loafers, worn on rainy, wet days to spare better shoes
* Target to-the-knee dress socks (purchased on sale)
* No-name Italian silk pocket square with hand-rolled edges (thrifted)

Could it be? Might I have reached another level of dressing with this particular combination of items? That coveted nonchalance and insouciance about one's appearance that we read so much about online -- I refuse to use that terrific but nevertheless overused Italian word. -- and in the better books on how men ought to dress. Yet, it still looked pretty good when all was said and done.

The shirt collar rolled wonderfully, the tie (worn for the first time yesterday) knotted into a four-in-hand easily with a slight arch, and there was 3/4" of cuff showing beyond the jacket sleeve when my arms hung at my sides. And nothing seemed to scream used car salesman in the making. My best guess is that the dark blazer and plain paints anchored the more colorful shirt, tie, and pocket square. The socks, of course, were invisible since I was on my feet most of the day. Now, the question begs. Can this stroke of dumb luck be repeated again anytime soon?

-- Heinz-Ulrich

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Job Talk #3. . .

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