Classic Style

The upper half of today's get-up. W ell, I don't know if March is going out like a lamb here in Lower Michigan, or not.  We have a mix of snow and rain in the forecast for the end of the week and weekend.  But, for today, let's pretend it's spring, albeit a chilly one, and pull out a wool flannel double-breasted suit for one of the last times this season before the weather becomes too warm (Really?) for it. The items pictured above include a 4/ 1 DB suite worn with a Kenneth Roberts necktie.  Both of these items were purchased within the last few years in the better of my two good thrift/charity shops back in Central Illinois, which reliably had quality items hanging on the racks.  The shirt is a recent new purchase from Land's End.  While I always liked the company's dress shirts in the past, I'm not so sure anymore.   I can live with the "no iron" treatment on the cotton fabric although I prefer the old-fashioned kind of shirts that you

The upper and lower halves this morning when we had a few moments of sunshine come through the window before the clouds closed ranks once again. W ell, Spring is here according to the calendar.  And while some guys might be almost ready to pull out the Madras, seersucker, and linen items, it's still feels more like February or early March in Lower Michigan at Totleigh-in-the-Wold.  Hence, more tweed, corduroy, and oxford cloth along with a dash, or two of wool quicker than you can say, "Why, Bertie!  Bertie Wooster!"  Still, I couldn't resist tossing the navy blue necktie into the mix.  How can my students fear approaching a guy with tiny green whales all over it? -- Heinz-Ulrich P.S. Billax, if you ever happen to drop by Classic S t yle for the Average Guy at all and read this, please contact me .

The new Geoff Stocker pocket square in use. I am a firm believer that a man should enjoy and have fun with his clothes, even when "dressed up."   With that sentiment in mind, I recently splurged a bit and ordered a new silk pocket square from Geoff Stocker in the U.K., featuring Harry the Labrador, owed by David Evans, the man behind the delightful Grey Fox blog , which deals with style for the older male.  Available in three colors, I chose the one in caramel (azure and strawberry are the other two), which should work especially well during the fall with tweeds, corduroys, and suede brogues.  However, the square shown will nevertheless adorn my pocket come Monday morning next week when Spring officially begins, and it will no doubt get a few more uses before the end of the university semester in early May.   My sole criticism of this pocket square has to do with its dimensions.  I prefer a larger silk square (15-16 inches), to prevent it disappearing down into yo

  The bottom half today, accented by a pair of Merino wool over-the-calf socks from Dapper Classics. E njoying suits all week this week since the snow has gone here in Lower Michigan, and I am once again able to wear dress shoes without fear of ruining them before the day ends.  Today, it was a heavy Southwick tweed suit with a 3/2 coat andpants with full lining to the ankles.  It won't be cool enough to wear this much longer I fear.   S i nce the bedroom was dark this morning, I grabbed the first pair of socks from the drawer that leapt out at me.  And this was the result.  Nonchalance?  Dumb luck?  Or the unfortunate and gauche result of having too many pairs of socks in the sock drawer and not enough sense to turn on the bedside lamp?  You be the judge.   I am reasonably certain my students were irreparably scarred when I sat down before them and the egg yolk yellow socks came into view although there was no visible giggling.  So, maybe not?  Or they were just polite en

The old central part of campus here at MSU this morning about 8:15. S till cold.  Still pretty snowy here in Lower Michigan.  Still dressing in tweed, corduroy, OCBD shirts with wool ties, and a crewneck sweater.  Still relying on L.L .Bean 10" boots , or duck shoes with ski socks on the feet each day.  But I'm not complaining.   I was struck by the beauty of late winter and early spring snows as I crossed campus this morning on the way to a three-hour pedagogy seminar (pretty interesting actually) and just had to take a couple of photographs with my phone.  Here's the nicest one.  To me, snow is always pretty, but it is at its most beautiful in February and March.   And w h o knows?  I might persuade myself to rise early in the morning and get out on the cross country skis early tomorrow (Saturday) morning before the sun is too high in the sky, bringing warmer temperatures and serious melting.  Still, we might, just might have one more appreciable snowfall befo