Classic Style

    W asting a little bit of time between tasks this morning with a post on today's attire.  Still nippy here in Mid-Michigan, hence the cords and lovely blue houndstooth tweed.  The vintage necktie features Eustace Tilley, who will be familiar to readers of The New Yorker magazine.    We actually had a few hours of light snow yesterday (April 25th) although it melted almost as soon as it stopped during the afternoon.  Today is sunny yet cool, so I felt safe wearing the suede brogues (with matching belt) one last time this academic year.  Easily one of the most comfortable pairs of shoes in the rotation.  Classes for Spring 2023 conclude on Friday this week.  While I have a few events on campus during May and very early June, I will transition to the usual more casual uniform just as soon as the weather cooperates and warms up a bit. In the meantime, a long overdue post tomorrow from my sister in Washing, D.C.  She will share one of her recent winning looks.  She works from home 9

  T uesday saw me at home looking after the Grand Duchess, who is now almost three weeks into her post-foot surgery recovery.  She gets around alright on her crutches, and is back at work via Zoom meetings of one kind or another.  No different than the previous three years have largely been since Covid exploded in March 2020.  But she need help getting meals, showering, dressing, going up- or downstairs and the like.  So, yours truly has been home most of the week too. Tuesday saw me recording and producing another 7-minute podcast episode for my students, Episode 68 thank you very much, which I embed in the various online course modules I have designed within our learning management system.  I've been teaching hybrid courses this year, and these meet once a week, but most of the collaborative work students do remains online (primary and secondary course materials, project packets, and other assorted "tools").    In any case, no reason to resemble a walking dirty laundry

  W ell, it might have been warm enough for short sleeves and shorts during the weekend, but winter returned with a vengeance Sunday evening through Tuesday, with intermittent snow showers and rather chilly temperatures.  Fortunately, I've still got a few changes of tweed jackets and corduroy pants hanging in the ol' armoire , so it only took a moment to rethink the planned attire and pull out the above items.   One of my 'go to' ensembles.  When your collection of preferred pieces reaches a certain point -- and you don't need more than a few key items to mix and match --it's easy and fast to assemble combinations that look acceptable without a whole lot of time or thought.  Another instance of the "uniform" doing all of the heavy mental lifting. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  A wonderful illustration sent to my by 'Old School'.  Thank you! A warm and sunny spring morning outside with the birds singing.  After breakfast for the Young Master and Grand Duchess, I'll continue getting the flower beds and lawn into shape for the coming summer followed by some work this evening and maybe a bit of time painting some toy soldiers before joining the Grand Duchess for a glass or two of wine late tonight.   Time now to make a fresh pot of coffee before preparing breakfast for everyone.  Happy weekend everyone! -- Heinz-Ulrich

  A mostly linen  Polo University Club jacket with a J. Press necktie, Put This On pocket square, and Brooks Brothers cotton shirt. Land's End khakis, Polo socks, and Allen Edmonds penny loafers along with an almost matching reddish-brown braided leather belt.  Easy, fast, and looks pretty good. O ne of the "joys," if I might use that word, of having a uniform of sorts is that dressing is easy and fast.  Since I overslept and was late in getting the Young Master breakfasted and to the school bus on time before helping the Grand Duchess -- who is recovering from foot surgery two weeks ago and using crutches -- get showered, dressed, and downstairs for her own day of work via Zoom, you'll understand the need for wardrobe expediency.   Unusually, I have two face-to-face meetings on campus this morning, which meant that the usual Rugby pullover and corduroy jeans would not suffice.  Following a shower and shave, it was fairly easy to open the closet doors and pull out a f

  K icking off Week #13 -- But who's counting? -- of the semester/term with a navy plaid sports jacket and pink oxford cloth button-down collar shirt from J. Press combined with various other items for a colorful but not displeasing springtime look. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  H aving fun with color, pattern, texture, and some lighter weight gear now that the weather has turned, and it actually feels like Spring.   Not visible are a dark reddish brown braided leather belt, the usual tan leather briefcase, and a lighter sage-taupe "Temple" fedora from Stetson.  Gentlemen, it's perfectly fine to enjoy your attire and does not necessarily convey that one is a vapid popinjay. . .  Like yours truly. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  W hile I would still rather be skiing up north -- and my favorite Nordic center was still open for business this weekend -- Spring has sprung as we move into the shoulder season with lighter gear for the day to day.  Not entirely sure this particular necktie works with everything else, but figured I'd trot it out and give it a shot. On campus just long enough to meet with my students, and then it's back home to check on the Grand Duchess, who is ensconced on the chaise in the library once again and in various Zoom meetings thins morning.  A quick stop at midday along the way to pick up some dry-cleaning, milk, and orange juice, and then Bob's your uncle. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  O r how we spent the day Friday. The Grand Duchess had surgery on one of her feet yesterday, which left the Young Master (on his Spring Break) and yours truly to hang around the waiting area and cafeteria reading, drawing, and watching Science Max videos on YouTube for a good six plus hours.  My wife's surgery was delayed  by 90 minutes once we arrived by complications for an earlier patient already in the operating room with the surgical team as far as we could tell from the large, color-coded progress screen for patients' families in the large waiting area.  Hurry up and wait, eh?  After the nurses finally wheeled the Grand Duchess away,  Paul and I enjoyed a fairly palatable lunch in the cafeteria before returning to the waiting area to continue our time-killing activities. Anyway, the procedure went well, and we finally returned home late yesterday afternoon after a quick stop at the pharmacy to pick up a couple of prescriptions.  The Grand Duchess is resting now after a