Strive for Playful Irreverence in Your Attire. . .

Monday's playfully irreverent ensemble.

While it is important to have some general knowledge of "the rules" with regard to menswear, it is equally important not to become so bound to them that you can't have a little fun from time to time with what you put on. I'm not even sure what rules might have been ignored with yesterday's combination of clothes, but it all seemed to look reasonably good once I finished dressing and glanced quickly in the mirror before heading to campus. Here's the rundown:

* Ralph Lauren double-breasted wool jacket in glen plaid, courtesy of An Affordable Wardrobe
* Bachrach charcoal wool flannel trousers
* Allen Edmonds shoes newly shined (old nylon stockings do wonders for getting that glassy shine on the toes and heels).
* Land's End cotton oxford cloth button-down shirt in blue university stripe
* Land's End silk whale necktie
* Land's End leather dress belt
* Allen Edmonds Merino wool socks
* Nameless silk pocket square with hand-rolled edges that's actually a woman's scarf, but the size was right, so hey. . .

As usual, everything shown was either thrifted, purchased new but on sale, or via Ebay. The notable exception was the jacket, a bit more expensive, but worth every penny in my book given it's style, pattern, and absolutely amazing fit. I only wish there had been suit pants to go with it!

The point is that we shouldn't feel absolutely hogtied by the perceived rules of correct dress. Relax a little and have some fun with your clothes. As long as you don't resemble Ted Knight's character on the old Mary Tyler Moore TV show, you'll very probably look leagues better than most guys you'll bump into these days. And that's perfectly ok. We're trying, after all, to kick up our everyday style several notches, find, and develop the confidence necessary to leave the house actually looking like we've got places to go and people to see five days a week. Somehow, bagged out sweatpants, relaxed fit dad jeans, fleeces, and over-sized white sneakers along with a ratty old baseball cap don't quite leave the same impression. Know what I mean?

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...

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

Tan Suit Tuesday. . .

W hile it's now after Labor Day here in the U.S,. we still have almost three weeks left of summer according to the calendar. And since today was bright, sunny, and pleasantly warm (though far from hot), it seemed like a perfect opportunity to trot out my tan cotton suit and tan loafers/belt. Slightly disheveled, yes. And the shoes need some Renovateur to moisten 'em up But not a bad overall look if I might be so bold. -- Heinz-Ulrich

Classic Style

Search This Blog