Skip to main content

Reaching That Critical Mass. . .

Ignore the stiff, goofy expression, please.  My wife either snaps a photo after my natural smile has waned and a pained expression takes over, or before I've relaxed and can give her a genuine smile.  Maybe one day, we will get ourselves coordinated a bit better.  A mix of Brooks Brothers and Land's End items here with Cole Haan tasseled loafers on the feet.  These shoes my black rainy day pair, the reason I have not yet replaced them with something a bit better.

How do you know when you've got the right amount of stuff?  When you can easily assemble a different combination of clothes at the start of your day almost without thinking about it.  A guy does not need a huge amount of stuff in his wardrobe either.  Neither does kicking up your everyday style several notches and dressing better than average need to take a lot of time (a common misconception).  The main thing to keep in mind is, with all acquisitions, add only items that can be combined, without too much trouble, with stuff you have already in your wardrobe.  

As for things that work with relatively few other items, either jettison them from your wardrobe, or don't buy them in the first place.  I'm actually in the midst of weeding out a number of items that just don't get much wear, or aren't as great in practice as they seemed when I first got them.

The ensemble shown above took about two minutes to assemble after showering and shaving this morning with maybe another five minutes to put on everything.  Add the necktie, and I was back downstairs and ready to walk out the door about 15 minutes after replacing my shaving mug and brush on the shelf.  Factor in the shower and shave, and we're talking 30 minutes tops to appear reasonably presentable for public consumption.  

Looking decent does not, repeat does not need to take an inordinate about of time.  The belief that dressing better than average somehow will take more time that you have is fallacious and an excuse.  I'd be willing to bet that very few average guys are so busy that they can't find half an hour to pull themselves together a bit more than has become the  sad, pathetic norm  in our pilled fleece world of 2014.  Heck, you can always get out of bed 20 minutes early, right?

Tomorrow is the Friday of Homecoming Weekend at my small liberal arts school.  While administrative offices will be open, there are no classes.  Yes!  Time for yours truly to take two recently thrifted wool flannel suits -- a double-breasted Ermenegildo Zegna number in creamy Glen Plaid and a chalk stripe three-piece by Polo Ralph Lauren --  to my tailor Mrs. V. for a few minor alterations before I can wear them.  I must also drop off a pair of gray flannel pants and corduroy sports jacket and retrieve my wristwatches from the jeweler between walking our son to preschool early in the day and picking him up in the early afternoon.  Somewhere in there, my wife and I will meet for our semi-regular Friday cafe date too.  Busy, busy, busy. . .  but a nice kind of busy

-- Heinz-Ulrich

Comments

  1. My first purchase of Royall Lime was received this morning after your recommendation. Subtle warm lime scent, very pleasing to the nose. Next job is to sort out the socks -I am working from the ground up here!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Glad you're enjoying your new Royall Lime. It's my absolute favorite.

    Best Regards,

    Heinz-Ulrich

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

All opinions are welcome here. Even those that differ from mine. But let's keep it clean and civil, please.

-- Heinz-Ulrich

Popular Posts

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 attire any time you head into the

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

Another great old Laurence Fellows illustration of menswear from the classic era, the 1930s. T he Average Guy's Guide to Classic Style is up and running on Ebay.  -- Heinz-Ulrich

Friday Tweeds, Cords, and Coffee. . .

  I made the sojourn into campus this morning to have some coffee and talk shop with a colleague.  We had an enjoyable discussion for an hour in the recently opened library branch of the global abomination that is Starbuck's .  Can someone explain to me. . .  Why on earth do cities like Vienna and Rome even need them? I am of two minds here.  Starbuck's is handy in a lot of instances.  The coffee isn't bad.  Somewhat better than what is sold in the competing, campus owned and run Sparty's .  And the space in the library, occupied by a branch of Sparty's until early last May, is redesigned, bright, airy, and clean with plenty of new tables, chairs, and outlets for  laptop computers, tablets, and recharging phones.  All very convenient.   Yet it is locally owned, non-corporate cafes that have the character and quirkiness that makes them interesting places in which to kill time, work, and people watch.  Why the campus town adjacent to my employer does not have a bette