Classic Style

  A cold but sunny morning here in Mid-Michigan with a heavy frost during the night.  Items for today include a vintage overcoat from Botany 500 that I found in my favorite thrift-/charity shop for less than US$10 about ten years or so ago when we still lived in the wilds of Central Illinois (Bloomington-Normal).   The necktie for today is a navy grenadine from Chipp by the way, in contrast (?!) to yesterday's wool number, which was also navy.  A bit matchy-matchy with the shirt and pocket square this morning, sure, but otherwise a not unpleasant combination of items. Tomorrow is the final day of the Spring '22 semester.  While today is relatively easy with just a few things to take care of, tomorrow I will be swamped with about 150 semester reflections.  Provided they follow directions laid out in the assignment prompt (and not everyone does), students will revisit and assess their learning for the last 15 weeks.  In keeping with pedagogical thought about the practice of meta

    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,

    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

    A beautiful sunrise here early this morning, but now very gray and chilly with highs forecast for the low 40s F.  So, back to the flannel on top but paired with yet another pair of lighter colored dress chinos -- I call 'em 'khakis' regardless of the precise shade.  Even those in olive green. -- and various other items.   The tweeds and cords are put away in the cedar closet for the season although I have the feeling a tweed suit might have been just the thing today given the nip still in the air.  And to think I had on shorts, short sleeves, and dock-siders (sans socks) for Sunday mowing when temperatures climbed to the low 8os F.   As the saying goes, springtime in Michigan.  Not quite time for the seersucker, linen, Madras shirts and neckties. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  I don't know about chestnuts in blossom, but here's the attire for today.  The shirt is from Mercer & Sons while the silk necktie is old (or 'vintage' in polite company) and features Eustace Tilley for those who might wonder that  about that dandy chap.  Not sure if this means the tie is of the critter variety, or the club, but when I spotted it on Ebay a few years back, I pulled the trigger immediately.  How could I resist? Given our weather forecast for later today, I've also brought along an old topcoat in a Prince of Wales plaid and a lovely heavy navy blue umbrella from Davek, which was given to me by my sister for the last birthday.  That hat is from Borsalino and one of five fur felt fedoras in the rotation.   Yes, I've become a hat guy.  At least during the week.  I know.  And I'm so ashamed.  When the weather warms up, I've got a nice Panama that will make the rounds.  At least when I'm dressed for campus. -- Heinz Ulrich

  W armer today, so I am able to wear the attire set out for Tuesday but switched at the last minute due to the cold, blustery conditions two days ago.   While I like the overall look of this combination of items, I remember now why this particular pair of shoes is problematic and seldom worn.  No matter what I do (Safir Renovateur and creme polish), the leather does not retain its oxblood coloring across the vamps where they crease.   It's maddening when you consider that these by Allen Edmonds were not exactly 'bargain bin' shoes when I purchased them a few years back.  But after a walk from the house to the car in the morning, and then from the car to the office or elsewhere on campus, this is the result.  Not a problem on any of my other pairs from the same manufacturer by the way, but perhaps this is the quality control issue that has plagued the company in recent years, which I have read about online. Maybe a trip to the cobbler for stripping and re-dying is in order?

    I t is still cold with falling snow (!) here in Mid-Michigan, so the suit and shoes I planned to wear today were replaced by my trusty J. Press tweed jacket and a pair of pleated cords at an early hour after I checked the weather forecast online.  And we thought it was Springtime!   My late mother always maintained that April was the cruelest of months.  Most people are ready for warmth and spring flowers, but so often, Mother Nature has other plans in store.  Part of the reason ol' Mom always gravitated toward the tropics and lived for many years in Merida on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Anyway, a quick trip by the cedar closet on my way upstairs from the (finished) basement where my home office is located made the switch relatively easy.  So too did grabbing an oxford cloth button-down collar shirt from the laundry room closet where my clean shirts hang.   And voila!   Warmer, yet presentable attire in about 90 seconds.  This particular jacket and pair of pants reside on

    A s promised, my Washington, D.C.-based sister (she lives within walking distance of The National Cathedral) has sent some photographs of one recent combination of items that are pretty typical of her attire for both work and during her off hours.  Without further ado, let's turn things over to my sister for her particular philosophy on how to present oneself in a put-together way regardless of the situation or occasion: As a wardrobe minimalist, and one raised on Ivy Style, every item in my wardrobe has a purpose. Living in the city, and walking almost everywhere, my clothes need to function in an active capacity.  While I have a classic style, it is most often married with functional edgy pieces (boots, skinny jeans, etc.). In the past 15 years, I have gravitated to a neutral color palette for the clothing items in my closet and, at present, my wardrobe is comprised of 65% black items, 15% blue (including denim), 15% grey, with the balance most likely white (shirts, tees, p

  I tems for today feature an old necktie from Land's End (purchased in 2003 or 2004).  If memory serves, it features the regimental stripe of Britain's Royal Hussars.  Although I could be mistaken.   In any case, it has not seen the light of day in quite some time, so it seemed just the thing for a sunny, albeit brisk, April morning.  Always fun to rediscover and wear things one has forgotten about.   My repp stripe ties, as mentioned in another post, hang on a tie rack mounted along the right side of my wardrobe.  The others are rolled in one of five carefully organized shoeboxes on the top shelf of said cabinet.   This particular number has been on one of the rearmost pegs for three or four years, so high time to pull it out.  Best of all, it dimpled wonderfully on the first try.  Yes, it's a good day. . . -- Heinz Ulrich

    A not unpleasing combination of items today.  Attire from Press, Silver, Barbera, Polo, Classics, and Edmonds.   A sunny, quiet morning.  Almost no one in the university library where I spend a lot of time while on campus.  Enjoying a small thermos of coffee from home and Santana playing softly in the background courtesy of the manager of the recently reopened cafe on the premises. Best of all, the stack of student work for today has been reviewed and feedback sent (within four days of submission).  Some of that work was even thoughtful and rather interesting.   Time now to do some actual work on my own projects. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  A lmost too busy on top this rainy Monday morning.  A plain white pocket handkerchief would have reined things in a bit better.   And possibly a solid shirt.   I will not combine a windowpane and Tattersall again.  No, Sir!  Live and learn as the saying goes. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  A nother dark, rainy April day here at Classic Style, so why not brighten it up a bit with some pleasing attire?  Key items include a vintage sports jacket from Corbin, which arrived last summer with tags still attached and pockets stitched shut, and a Borsalino 'Alessandria' fedora.   I had planned (hoped?) to don the dark chocolate suede brogues and belt this morning, but Mother Nature had other plans.  The olive chinos are starting to look a little worn, but they still hold a crease nicely and work well for those more casual days.   Odd to consider that many (most?) people in 2022 would consider this particular combination of items dressed up.  It's official.  I am a dinosaur. -- Heinz-Ulrich

    F igured it was time to enjoy a suit this week, so pulled out a number from Samuelsohn that has been hanging in the TV room closet for several years, but I only got around to taking it in for alterations during Summer '21 in advance of returning to campus last year as the autumn semester loomed on the horizon.   Glad I did because I really like the mini-houndstooth pattern, and the wool material feels divine to the touch.  Wore the suit a few times early last fall, and today is the first outing for 2022. An exceedingly comfortable shoulder season item when one wants to kick it up a few notches for no particular reason at all. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  N one of the items featured today have seen the light of day in quite a few months save for the Land's End Hyde Park oxford cloth button-down collar shirt which is in the rotation year round.  At least in more temperate weather between late September and the end of May each year.   The necktie, an old Land's End number that purports to the the regimental stripe of Britain's Royal Welsh Fusiliers (ex-23rd Regiment of Foot), hasn't had a wearing in I don't know how long.  It remains one of my favorites however.  The problem is that the ol' necktie collection has grown exponentially -- Let's call it a guilty pleasure. -- in the last dozen years or so, which makes it a challenge to sport favored items more than a few times a semester.   I suppose that there are a few I could donate to Good Will at this point given the infrequency with which they are worn.  The problem is in deciding which ones to weed out. Land's End used to sell quality neckties at reason

    C old, blustery, and wet here in Mid-Michigan today although we might possibly have a couple of inches of wet snow at some point.  It just started actually.  Still some limited cross-country skiing up north at one of the Nordic ski centers we like, apparently, but I have not been able to get away for that. But it is springtime according to the calendar.  Attire-wise, I managed to stow the fall and winter stuff and bring out the spring-summer-early fall gear on Saturday.  Always fun to rediscover what you have not thought about in several months. Equally satisfying to discover items that have not ever seen the light of day.  Such is the case for today's shirt from J. Press (hanging in the closet for a year or more) and the necktie, which (hanging on the back of my tie rack, where I keep all of my repp stripe numbers) for 8-10 years.  Imagine that. -- Heinz Ulrich     P.S. Believe it, or not, someone actually just used word "please" (rather than the brusk "Can I ge