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

Comments

Avoid Careless Chatter. . .

E specially about the personal details of our lives. There is a lot that OUGHT to be kept more private in 2022 than has become the accepted norm for many. With the conscious and intentional cultivation of classic style in mind, however, we want to avoid oversharing and keep a bit more of ourselves to ourselves. Exactly what personal information and how much of it to keep private seems to be a slippery concept though. Here’s my take based on what I was told and observed as a child and young person at home. Basically, one should keep oneself to oneself in all respects (finances, personal worth, accomplishments, politics, sex, dirty laundry, etc.). As my late father used to advise when we were very small, and I am talking preschool and kindergarten, there were particular subjects that were not discussed outside the immediate family. There is a time and place for sharing certain details of one’s life, but most of the time, those should be played very close to the chest,

Chilly Late April Wednesday Attire. . .

Y ou know, if it is going to remain this cold and blustery, I need about eight inches of snow for some more cross-country skiing. But since the white stuff is long gone, it was time to fish through the cedar closet down in Zum Stollenkeller and pull out some cold weather attire for a seasonal reboot. But I decided to forgo the usual gray herringbone jacket from J. Press (my go-to tweed sports jacket) and instead opted for this number from Hart, Schaffner, and Marx plus the tan cords that hang on the same hanger, so strenuous mental effort was not required. Pressed the shirt after tucking in the Young Master last night at 8:30, grabbed these shoes, and socks, and Bob is your mother's brother as they say. Occasionally gazing through the large library window to my immediate left this morning, and I keep hearing that old Jobim tune drift through my mind this morning (aided by the windmills), as sung by Astrud Gilberto ( together with Leonard Cohen and Paolo Conte, the musi

The Pleasaures of a Well-trained Dog. . .

A few final photographs from my visit to my sister in Washington, D.C. last week. These include one of 'Mr. Beau,' my sister's meticulously trained and truly wonderful Doberman, another of my sister, second cousin, step-father, and yours truly on the steps of the church outside Lexington, North Carolina just after our late mother's interment service, two of me solo at the National Cathedral, and a final one of my sister and me hamming it up during a long evening walk the day before I returned to Michigan. My sister routinely walks to the cathedral, about three blocks from her place, to enjoy the grounds and gardens. The Bishop's Garden, in particular, is a place she likes to sit for quiet contemplation and internal dialogues with our late maternal grandparents and mother, very much in keeping with the Episcopal side of things. Our grandfather, who was raised Methodist, became an Episcopalian when he married our grandmother. Before you ask, I am not sure tha

Classic Style

Search This Blog