Tweedishly Dandy Thursday. . .

A seasonal and slightly dandy version of the typical attire today. Is 'dandy' a dirty word in conversations about classic male attire? Does the term necessarily connote straying into flamboyant, even clownish territory consciously or otherwise?

Interesting questions to consider and possible fodder for a future discussion.

I had planned to wear a wool flannel double-breasted suit, but cords and tweed wear harder given the high wind and rain we are experiencing today. So, a last minute change of plans this morning following shower and shave before my usual 6:10 am departure.

Lately, I seem to be the least bothered and most productive during the first half of the day. From about 11am onward, productivity takes a nosedive as students, colleagues, meetings, and various other things intervene and vie for my time.

And once our son is home just after 3pm, in the words of The Sopranos, "Fuggeddaboutit!" Family life takes over, and accomplishing work-related stuff becomes impossible. So early mornings it is.

But I digress. Again.

Highlights for today include the Harris Tweed jacket and a vintage cross country skier necktie from L.L. Bean that I picked up somewhere in the last 10 or 12 years.

The silk pocket square was purchased back in December 2005 at the former Marshall-Fields (now Macy's) near Daly Plaza in Chicago when the Grand Duchess and I journeyed up from Bloomington-Normal one chilly Saturday to visit the German Christmas Market and do some early Christmas shopping. The array of pocket squares in the men's department was stunning. While I would have liked to purchase several, this one leapt out at me and now takes pride of place during the holiday season each year given its bright, festive appearance.

My vaguely Yankee Candle palette notwithstanding -- Go on. It's ok to laugh. I don't mind. -- it's a colorful and not entirely displeasing combination of items.

-- 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

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