Thinking ahead to Autumn Already. . .

This lovely, and very heavy, Southwick 3/2 suit arrived today.

It pays to be foresighted when assembling an adult male wardrobe. While we haven't even had any hot weather (and only a few warm days) to speak of this spring in my neck of the woods, I already find myself thinking ahead to late fall and next winter. Why? This vintage Southwick beauty by arrived with the mail earlier today. A fairly reasonable 'Or Best Offer' Ebay purchase when you consider that it's a full suit with several quality features.

Made in the U.S. of A., the suit is sized as a 40 Long. The coat fits cleanly across my back, chest, and sides without being too snug or hanging on my still reasonably trim frame. The pants, while far too long currently, are fully lined to the ankles and have brace buttons already on the inside of the waistband, so I'll have the belt loops removed and wear the suit with braces. Best off all, it is very comfortable. Delightfully soft and HEAVY wool flannel with a gray, charcoal, rust, and teal houndstooth pattern. Gorgeous up close, yet still understated. Perfect for those chilly autumn or colder winter days when I want to dress up a bit more than the usual tweed sports jacket with odd flannel or corduroy pants.

Of course, a few minor alterations are necessary (a bit of sleeve shortening and adding cuffs/turn-ups to the pants), but that's not a problem. The coat already has a nice silhouette with a bit of waist suppression, but I might see about having a tiny bit more added later depending on what my tailor Mrs. V. has to say. Far too heavy for summer or early fall, but I can't wait to put it on when we have our first really chilly morning in about five or six months' time. I'm very pleased to add this suit to my wardrobe.

Fine, but so what? Well, the point to take away here is that you need to think long term when adding items to your wardrobe, and don't simply make purchases based on the current season or whatever the legions of menswear I-gent fashionistas out there might deem the current flavor of the month. Think farther afield than that and make your purchases, instead, with the aim of bucking trends. Go for timeless items that you'll break in and enjoy wearing for years.

-- Heinz-Ulrich

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

Almost Mid-June Sunday Style. . .

A fter two months, Blogger has decided to allow me in the door once again, so I can add a long overdue post documenting my take on classic male style. Since we are almost in the throes of summer, let's go with a warm weather theme this morning. Now, the items above will not be to everyone's taste: Deck shoes without socks, shorts, pleats, skinny pale legs, etc. All invite tisk-tisking and debate in certain online fora, but that's ok. I wouldn't wear attire this to campus Monday through Friday, or to church. But for relaxed, comfortable warm weather-wear around the house during the weekends, with maybe a quick trip down the road for a gallon of milk at the super market, this will do nicely, thank you very much. It's certainly preferable to the wrinkled, torn, stained sloppy alternative we see everywhere in 2022. Neither is it at all far removed from how the various men and boys across three generations of my extended family presented themselves during even

Classic Style

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