Classic Style

How do you feel about yourself and your abilities?  Your answer can exert considerable influence over the kinds of opportunities presented to you. C ontinuing with our theme of self-improvement, there are many internal ways of thinking that can and do prevent people from realizing and reaching their full potential.  To my mind, two of the most crippling stumbling blocks around are an apparent complete and utter lack of self-confidence and the closely related lack of mental agility.  While many who suffer here will go to great lengths to make it look like this isn't the case, lack of self-confidence is usually pretty clear when interacting with people who struggle with this particular habit of thought.  We all have our low points from time to time, but it is important to remember that we can't let the unexpected derail us and prevent us from moving forward.  My advice, whatever one's education, career, financial, or other aspirations might be is have a se...

  Said fleece, a Christmas gift last year from m y wife, The Grand Duchess. W hile the now ubiquitous fleece is hardly 'classic' in the same sense as a jaunty tweed sports jacket, a well-tailored suit, or high quality leather dress shoes, it does have its uses. First, they are great as a top layer for any sort of outdoor winter sport when a sweater would be too bulky.  We are avid cross-country (Nordic) skiers in the winter, weather permitting here in Mid-Michigan, and a fleece worn over some long silk underwear and a wicking middle layer will be all you need on the upper half for all but the coldest days.  Second, fleeces are ideal wear during a chilly fall day like today whether your outdoor activities include preparing the lawn and garden beds for the coming winter, or a brisk walk around the neighborhood. The fleece pictured above features the logo of my alma mater, the might University of Wisconsin-Madison, where I completed two degree programs before movin...

A s an addendum to my observations and remarks here the other day on conducting oneself with a bit more classic style and tasteful restraint, one more thing occurs to me.  And it's really a subset of the whole drama queen point I made a day or three ago.  Ready?  Here it is.  It's really time for everyone to stop playing the victim whenever things don't go your way.   The tendency to play the victim and engage in what I'll call attempted victim bullying -- trying to use your perceived victim status to ram your self-deluding visions through the system and down everyone else's throats at any cost -- is rampant on U.S. college and university campuses, and indeed throughout American society in 2019.   Tell me I'm wrong.   For starters, I see it on a daily basis among university undergraduates, aged roughly 18-23, too many of whom pay little to no attention to course requirements, expectations, policies, reading/viewing assignments,...

 Whether in your personal or professional life, it pays to make (and leave  behind) a favorable impression regardless of the setting or situation. I 've written about this point before in many ways over the years here at Classic Style , but it occurs to me that a concise list of reminders might be in order for any men (or women) of any age reading this.  Keep in mind, this is not a comprehensive list of tips for making and maintaining a favorable impression with those around you, but it is a start toward ensuring that you are a pleasant person to be around.  Off the top of my head, here are half a dozen points to keep in mind as you move through daily life with all of its interpersonal complexities and interactions: 1) Be conscious of and vigilant about how you present yourself. Not simply in how you look, but in how you speak and behave.  You've got one chance to make a favorable impression with new acquaintances, and you want to maintain that impres...

The childhood home of singer Taylor Swift outside Reading, Pennsylvania (very near my old stomping grounds).  If memory serves, Ms. Swift took quite a bit of flack several years back, in the early flush of success, when it became more generally known that she came from a relatively comfortable background.  Oh, how dare she! C aricatures.  Stereotypes.  Formulaic cliches.  How many times have we seen the well off portrayed as superficial jerks in popular entertainment?   In the context of a new Netflix series entitled The Politician , can you imagine the righteous indignation, social media uproar, and unfettered rage that would result if a series mocking and deriding the working class actually were to make it online or to television?   --Heinz-Ulrich

The upper half early today while working through the first student projects delivered this semester/term in one of the dormitory 'neighborhoods' where I teach a course on Henrik Ibsen and social problem dramas.  Not visible are a mid-blue and dark red striped cotton poplin button-down collar shirt and a silk herringbone necktie also in a shade approximating dark red, maroon, or perhaps bergundy. And the lower half. C an you believe that it is already October 1st?  Where in the world did September go?  Lest you think Autumn has arrived here in Mid-Michigan, the temperature is quite warm right now (mid-80s Fahrenheit), and it is, to say the least, sticky.  A perfect excuse to trot out my linen suit one final time this season along with the Panama hat and spectator shoes.  Breezy and cool to wear, which is a good thing because even with air-conditioning and ceiling fans on high, classrooms become rather close with 40+ student bodies writhing within....