Avoid the Seamy, the Sordid, and the Sleazy. . .

Hopefully, this fellow from 1935, sporting a seersucker double-breasted suit and tartan socks (a nice touch), is contemplating how to avoid becoming ensnared in anything seamy, sordid, and/or sleazy.

In our ongoing campaign to encourage a greater sense of style and self-improvement in the broadest sense, let's talk briefly today about the seamy, the sordid, and the sleazy. You can look the words up online. They mean about the same thing.

The seedy, the tawdry, and the disreputable are all around us in 2021. You needn't look far to find them. Either online, or in the real world. But you want to steer well clear of anything, anyone, or any activity in that particular constellation. Use your common sense here.

You remember what common sense is, right? Surely visitors to Classic Style have and exercise it on a regular basis. Good. I thought so.

Then let's return to the point at hand.

My maternal grandparents, parents, and extended family used to advise us kids 40+ years ago, if you have to ask whether, or not you ought to pursue a certain course of action -- in this particular case whether, or not you should involve yourself with something that is potentially seamy -- then that is probably not a choice you want to make.

Turn yourself around and get out of the trouble tunnel before you reach the tipping point, and the situation becomes more difficult to rectify.

In short, spare yourself the potential for drama, discord, shame, and embarrassment. Keep your nose clean and stay on the straight and narrow. Life is simply easier and, dare I suggest, far nicer when you avoid the sordid and sleazy.

-- 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 attire any time you head into the

The Average Guy's Guide to Classic Style Now on Ebay!!!

Another great old Laurence Fellows illustration of menswear from the classic era, the 1930s. T he Average Guy's Guide to Classic Style is up and running on Ebay. -- Heinz-Ulrich

"If you see something you want. . ."

The above photograph has been "borrowed" from the J. Press website. "I f you see something you want," advised my late mother, "buy it. It won't be there when you go back later." A favorite (and wise) adage hers that I still follow whenever possible. So when this item appeared on clearance at J. Press, I mulled it over for a couple of days, and then clicked the requisite boxes to make the online purchase. Should be here within the week. Once upon a time, I had a similar jacket by Corbin that I foolishly purged before we left Central Illinois ('Illi-noir' anyone?) for Michigan almost 10 years ago. Not sure what I was thinking at the time since I did like the item and wore it routinely. This one will be a bit nicer and help me make sartorial amends. At least to myself. -- Heinz-Ulrich

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