2015 is THE Year of Polish and Sophistication. . .

The wonderful Stephen Fry as the Wodehousian character 'Jeeves,' the very embodiment of polish and reserved sophistication.

Two weeks into the new year, but let's resolve to make 2015 the year of "polish and sophistication," to use a term that recently came from the mouth of my five-year old son. Make it your business to learn how best to present yourself to the world through improved attire, speech, and personal behavior.

There are lots of books out there on these subjects -- my personal favorites are by names like Peter Post and Bernhard Roetzel for example -- or you can drop by The Average Guy's Guide to Classic Style for occasional how-to musings and discussions of why this kind of thing remains important and relevant in the 21st century despite the fact that many people in 2015, inexplicably, seem to take great pride in being coarse.

With a nod to the infamous 'Dean Wormer' in National Lampoon's Animal House (1978), badly dressed, crass, and smelly with a habitually foul mouth is no way to go through life. You can to better than that. I challenge average guys everywhere to make 2015 your year of polish and sophistication.

-- Heinz-Ulrich

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Mid-November Monday. . .

A few minutes between classes this morning, so I snapped pictures of today's attire and accessories. The first wearing this season of the Optimo 'Dearborn' fedora, and the tie is a vintage number from Orvis, a nod to my late father's fly-fishing and fly-tying hobbies. It's been two or three years since this particular necktie's last appearance, so high time to pull it out and knot it carefully around the ol' neck. Managed to nail it on the first attempt too. Could this be the start of a trend? -- Heinz-Ulrich

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

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