"Not every artistic masterpiece was created in a dirty hoodie. . ."

Benton Nilson, a millennial trad, rocking a Madras jacket among other Trad/Ivy/Prep staples. The photo comes from Christian Chensvold's Ivy Style website.

There is a fascinating interview with millennial trad Benton Nilson over on Ivy Style that you ought to read if there remains any doubt in your mind about the need for men to present themselves well in public life in 2019, or that young men these days don't care about appearance beyond the bare minimum of sweats, cargo shorts, backwards ball caps, and flip-flops, items that were already a blight on the social landscape 20 years ago before Y2K.

Judging by his approach to clothes, Benton Nilson gets it, dressing in a traditional vein while managing to impart his own fresh take on this particular style of dress. In the interview, he shares several well-founded observations that are particularly germane to the broader discussion of men's attire.

See for yourself. Head on over to Ivy Style, if you have not done so as part of your online routine already, and have a closer look at the interview. Lots of great photographs too, which provide plenty of inspiration on how to dress well while maintaining a laid back approach. Plenty of us old dogs -- and younger ones too of course -- could learn a thing or two from this guy. Bravo!

-- Heinz-Ulrich

Comments

Avoid Careless Chatter. . .

E specially about the personal details of our lives. There is a lot that OUGHT to be kept more private in 2022 than has become the accepted norm for many. With the conscious and intentional cultivation of classic style in mind, however, we want to avoid oversharing and keep a bit more of ourselves to ourselves. Exactly what personal information and how much of it to keep private seems to be a slippery concept though. Here’s my take based on what I was told and observed as a child and young person at home. Basically, one should keep oneself to oneself in all respects (finances, personal worth, accomplishments, politics, sex, dirty laundry, etc.). As my late father used to advise when we were very small, and I am talking preschool and kindergarten, there were particular subjects that were not discussed outside the immediate family. There is a time and place for sharing certain details of one’s life, but most of the time, those should be played very close to the chest,

Chilly Late April Wednesday Attire. . .

Y ou know, if it is going to remain this cold and blustery, I need about eight inches of snow for some more cross-country skiing. But since the white stuff is long gone, it was time to fish through the cedar closet down in Zum Stollenkeller and pull out some cold weather attire for a seasonal reboot. But I decided to forgo the usual gray herringbone jacket from J. Press (my go-to tweed sports jacket) and instead opted for this number from Hart, Schaffner, and Marx plus the tan cords that hang on the same hanger, so strenuous mental effort was not required. Pressed the shirt after tucking in the Young Master last night at 8:30, grabbed these shoes, and socks, and Bob is your mother's brother as they say. Occasionally gazing through the large library window to my immediate left this morning, and I keep hearing that old Jobim tune drift through my mind this morning (aided by the windmills), as sung by Astrud Gilberto ( together with Leonard Cohen and Paolo Conte, the musi

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

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