Post-Birthday Monday. . .

Taking a page from my late mother's handbook, I celebrated yet another 29th birthday yesterday and enjoyed a lovely, quiet Sunday at home with The Grand Duchess and Young Master. A late waffle breakfast and Thai take-out later that evening, courtesy of my wife, plus chocolate cake and a few gifts after dinner. The Grand Duchess, bless her, gave me a bottle of St. John's Bay Rum aftershave, which is divine. Easily the most fragrant Bay Rum I have found. Even more so than Royall Bay Rum.

Attire for today (Monday) includes a vintage Harris Tweed jacket that I found in my old Central Illinois thrift/charity shop for about US$7 about eight or 10 years ago. Almost everything today, now that I think about it, came from Land's End except the Allen Edmonds shoes and belt. The vintage Land's End necktie, a favorite this time of year, is 100% wool, hand sewn in the U.S.A. of fabric woven in Italy.

Yes, Virginia. At one time, you could actually purchase quality items at reasonable prices from LE that did not resemble stretchy sweats, Snuggies, or lycra-infused, so called "comfort" items that might be more at home in a Kindergarten classroom than an adult workplace.

So the lesson for today? Smaller and fewer portions at mealtimes, limit snacking, and know your precise clothing sizes. The comfort issue will solve itself.

On a related note, just say "No more!" to the ongoing infantilization of life and society at all levels. You can start by taking a conscious step back from the perpetually rumpled, torn, and food-stained soiled laundry hamper aesthetic that dominates the cultural landscape in 2022, and instead dress like an adult who gives a damn. It's not at all difficult, and far from the erroneous hardship that so many imagine dressing better than the average must invariably be.

I know, I know. The genie is already well out of the bottle. But a guy can still hope, eh?

-- Heinz-Ulrich

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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

Classic Style

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