Classic Style

  D uring our chat in the car on the way to his Tae Kwon Do lessons yesterday, my son informed me yesterday, apropos of nothing, that numerous children and male teachers at his intermediate school not only keep their baseball caps on inside all day, but they also sit down to the lunch table without first removing said headgear.  He asked "Why?" to which I replied that they probably did not know any better since it was obvious no one had ever told them otherwise. My question is, why don't any teachers instruct the children to leave their hats and caps in their lockers?  Where am I?  The present is indeed a foreign country.   These days, there are probably many who (knowingly) take great pleasure and pride in flaunting social convention.  Just go to any public space where trashy, crass, loud, and downright rude are on full display without any embarrassment whatsoever.  And that is without even taking the virtual world of social media into consideratio...

    I n keeping with our recent cooler weather here in Mid-Michigan, the vintage flannel three-piece made an appearance last Tuesday.  Comfortable, toasty warm, and a heck of a lot more stylish than the ubiquitous sweatpants and hooded sweatshirt, which, off the practice field or court, succeed only in making one look like he (or she) is about to knock off a convenience store. -- Heinz-Ulrich  

  A dark, chilly, and very rainy Monday last week, so it was time too break out the tweed, corduroy, oxford cloth, and brogues along with wool socks and necktie.  A not unpleasant combination of of fall items resulted.  My wife, The Grand Duchess, could not decide whether the ensemble was Bertie-Wooster meets Tuppy Glossop or more All Creatures Great and Small. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  A favorite combination of items made their return this last Wednesday after many months hanging in the closet.   A bit of whimsy is always a fun thing to toss into the mix without screaming to the world "Look at my Sylvester the Cat/ Tweety Pie/ Tasmanian Devil necktie!  I'm being subversive!  I'm really sticking it to The Man.  That'll show 'em!"   These Warner Brothers cartoon characters seem to be the three that turn up most on those horrendous novelty neckties.  I once noticed a fellow job candidate wearing one of these things to a corporate job interview for which we had been instructed to wear standard business formal attire.   It was Tas.  The job candidate in questions was more than old enough to know better.  Like decades. I prefer a bit more subtlety (and quality), even with my goofier ties. -- Heinz-Ulrich

W orking and meeting from home this Friday morning via Zoom.  A bit more relaxed today, but still pulled together with my favorite cool weather iteration of the classics: tan corduroy jeans (with canvas surcingle belt), chocolatey suede camp mocs, and an old, heavy Rugby jersey.  As I have said so many time before, it is entirely and easily possible to be both comfortable YET presentable at home without straying into soiled laundry hamper on legs territory. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  A bit of playful irreverence is kind of fun now and then.  And while it does not show up well here, the wool necktie is a very pretty dark green similar in shade to the dinosaur pocket square, which I believe is also wool or maybe linen.  A nod to my soon to turn 12 years old son and his ongoing fascination with the prehistoric lizards. -- Heinz-Ulrich

        O ne of the nicest things about moving into the fall (with the winter and early spring to follow) is that it becomes cooler and thus comfortable to sport the occasional double-breasted suit or navy blazer.  This particular suit had to be taken in during the summer, and I also asked about waist suppression for a bit more shape.  The next time I wear it, I'll try to get a full torso shot to illustrate that better.   The 40R jacket still looks a tiny bit long on my 5' 11" frame though, so I may at some point ask my tailor what he thinks and see if he can shorten it by an inch.  You don't want to throw off the proportions and buttons of course, but I remember reading some years ago that an inch will not throw things off too much.   But that's a conversation for another time. Have any of you visitors to Classic Style ever had a jacket shortened?  Were you pleased with the results? -- Heinz-Ulrich

        W hile it has certainly cooled off in my neck of the woods during the last several days, Monday a week ago was summer like, with temperatures reaching the low 80s Fahrenheit by early afternoon.  So, the beige cotton suit saw one final wearing for the season.   I have since swapped seasonal items into the appropriate closets and will now enjoy flannel, tweed, corduroy through the next several months.  Along with the odd double-breasted suit.  I know, I know.  But I have reached the age where it does not bother me if others get a giggle from my attire.   I enjoy my clothes and feel lucky to be in a line of work where, while more formal clothing has not been the expectation for many years, no one will drag me into the team leader's office for a lecture on the evils of neckties, sports jackets, or (shudder) a suit.  I've actually heard of this odd phenomenon in some corners of the corporate world and service industry ...

  N ot exactly chilly here in Mid-Michigan yesterday, but pleasantly cool and gray.  Perfect weather for breaking out the tweed and cords along with the gunboats for the feet.  A not unpleasant combination of items resulted I think.   Frustratingly, I noticed when I changed into pajamas before dinner yesterday evening that I had failed to turn the wool socks right side out when last they were washed, so they are inside out here.  Not a huge tragedy as things go, but the already subtle pattern is less pronounced than might be hoped in the third photograph. Picked up a couple of suits from the tailor today, and dropped off a few pairs of dress corduroy pants for minor alterations.  The waists must be taken in two inches on three pairs, and a full three inches on the fourth.  The latter fit comfortably when purchased two years ago, but they fall off me now.   The end result of almost 13 months of eating less, exercising more, and really wat...

  L ately, these items accompany me each morning as I lock the front door and walk to the car for the 15-minute jaunt to campus.  A leather briefcase, which was a birthday gift from The Grand Duchess back in 2016 when I reached a certain milestone, a new umbrella (a birthday-Christmas gift this year from my sister), and the hat, a 2017 birthday gift from my late mother. The Blueberries for Sal carryall peaking out from beneath everything else, was a gift several years back from my sister.  Blueberries for Sal is an old picture book with some text for small children that dates to the 1940s I think.  It has been a running joke in my family since I neglected to return the copy I borrowed from my 1st Grade teacher Mrs. P. before the school year ended way back in 1974. In the years since, said book has resurfaced a number of times as we, and later I, have moved around the country due to parental transfers, family moves, later college- and graduate school-related moves fo...

  M y son's "friend" Dad Rat accompanied me to school last Thursday morning.  Really my rat, but on long term loan to The Young Master, Dad Rat is one of 14 or 15 Ikea rats in his possession.  The rats usually reside in a pyramid on the sofa in the upstairs TV room.   I know.  I know.  Don't ask. The other shots illustrate, or course, the attire for last Thursday.   Most interesting, is the vintage New Yorker necktie, which features Eustace Tilley and dates to the 1960s.  A longtime subscriber to the magazine The New Yorker , how could I resist?  I picked it up on Ebay two or three years ago. -- Heinz-Ulric h

  A couple of early Wednesday morning shots, before the library opened, illustrating the attire for that day.  It was based around a three-button wool flannel sports jacket that has been in the rotation for about 10 years.  The pheasant necktie is by J. Press.   This has been the first wearing since 2019 following some alterations to take in the upper back and sides after the 2020-2021 weight loss.  My tailor has a very good eye for such things.  Depending on the garment, and whether, or not it has no vent, a center vent, or two side vents, he takes in the side seams, center seam, or a bit of all three.   In any case, the results have been pleasing.  And it's so much fun to wear my gear once more after 18 months at home in, mostly corduroy jeans and rugby tops during the cooler part of the year or chino shorts, polo, or Madras shirts during the warmer months. -- Heinz-Ulrich 

    A dark, wet day yesterday.  The perfect excuse to try out an early birthday gift from my wonderful sister, who presented my with a Davek umbrella in navy blue.  Worked like a charm!   Not sure about yesterday's combination of odd pants and sports jacket however.  Both might work better if paired with different pieces.  But, ah well.  Live and learn as the saying goes.  It wasn't quite used car salesman territory by any stretch. -- Heinz-Ulrich

        W ith the change in season now well and truly underway, and to avoid remaining a gauche hayseed wearing warm weather items out of season, I packed away the Panama hat last week and got out the small assortment of genuine fedoras.  I've been wearing the Optimo 'Dearborn' model above since then along with the Phi Kappa Phi necktie (Yes, I'm a member and served on the national committee for a couple of years.) last Thursday.  I know, I know. -- Heinz-Ulrich