Classic Style

I n view of the generally deplorable state of the world politically and socially -- Just take a gander at almost everything featured in Yahoo News. -- I offer a brief interlude of fairly innocuous escape this morning via what  I like to call my sartorial frivolity. Three separate ensembles worn this week illustrate how a man who cares about pulling himself together might do so in our current age of apparent low self-esteem, societally speaking that is, and the resulting dress downism of the last two decades or so.  At the very least, these photos show that it's ok to have some fun with your clothes while getting on with the day to day challenges of life.  In other words, dressing well doesn't have to hurt, guys. -- Heinz-Ulrich

The upper half this last Thursday, featuring said necktie (thrifted for about US$2.00 a few years back) and one of my four navy blazers.  I know, I know. . . I t's funny.  Not 'funny ha-ha' so, but rather more 'funny peculiar' as my maternal grandmother used to say.   At this point in my sartorial journey, I vary things from day to day during the weekly schlepp from Monday through Friday, combining a suit or two with somewhat more casual sports jacket-odd pants combos the remaining days.  And always with some kind of decent leather dress shoes and a necktie (almost always) of one sort or another except in the warmest August and September weather.   A few of the classrooms I am stuck in by the unseen, unfeeling, and enigmatic classroom assignment gods each semester are in older, unrenovated buildings with inadequate climate control.  That means, that when 35+ bodies are crammed into said rooms for classes lasting an hour or more that thin...

As above. A t last, the autumn weather is here.  So, a gray, rainy and cool day today here in Mid-Michigan.  Hence the J. Press 3/2 roll tweed sports jacket, ocbd, wool necktie, corduroy pants, and Norwegian-made SWIMS to protect the Allen Edmonds gunboats.  Not shown are the accompanying London Fog trenchcoat that has served me for almost 20 years along with the cream, red, and navy plaid umbrella (with a genuine wooden handle and shaft) by Brooks Brothers. -- Heinz-Ulrich So below.

The upper half, including the limited edition Ivy Style club necktie and a cotton 3/2 roll jacket from Brook's Brothers. The lower half, featuring socks by Dapper classics and Land's End dress chinos.  A bit matchy-matchy with the socks, but I couldn't manage to locate a plain navy or tan pair in the early morning darkness. Canary yellow might have been interesting though! F inally, a refreshingly cool October day that doesn't leave you damp and sweaty after walking from one side of campus to another at a brisk pace to make a lunchtime meeting.  A little olive green, tan, blue, and red here today. -- Heinz-Ulrich von B.

The upper half this bright blue October Thursday, featuring a must-iron Brooks Brothers  university stripe OCBD shirt worn with a BB 'Makers' tie that is strikingly like the club tie worn by members of P. G. Wodehouse's Drones Club. . .  save that the stripes slant the wrong way of course. And the lower half, featuring a chopped off pair of Allen Edmonds chocolate suede brogues and a pair of Land's End dress chinos. S omething between a G. Bruce Boyer and a Bertie Wooster look here in Mid-Michigan today.  Still a bit too warm for tweed and corduroy but a very pleasant lower 70s Fahrenheit (about 22 C. give or take) in any case. -- Heinz-Ulrich.

 The upper half during early morning coffee and work email before heading across campus to my office for the obligatory office hours.  In other words, additional prep time before class meets. And the lower half. S unny and warm again here in Mid-Michigan today, so I hauled out the cotton Belvest suit for one final wearing early this morning.   Other items included a genuine Panama hat sent to me by good ol' Mom last June, a cream-colored cotton pocket square from Put This On, recently recrafted Allen Edmonds shoes, and a peach-colored Italian silk necktie by Kenneth Roberts.  I must get a few pairs of navy cotton dress socks at some point.  The several pairs I have now are wool and too warm for this sort of Indian Summer weather.  I made do with these, but they're a little busy.  Fortunately, you can't see 'em when I stand. The Belvest suit is something I splurged on last spring, new with original price tags still intact, but I neve...