Classic Style

  S omeone, please!  Make him stop!   M y biggest, boldest, baddest tweed jacket (Southwick) was the choice this morning, to mark the final day of January 2024.  Already?  A not displeasing combination of items here in any case.   And although the vintage jacket lapels are a bit wide, I don't worry about it too much given my penchant for even more prominent double-breasted lapels.  Go big, or go home as the saying goes.   Happy February everyone! -- Heinz-Ulrich

  A fun suit for today.  One of several vintage heavy wool flannel numbers from Polo that has been in the winter rotation for several years now.  Soft, warm, and every bit as comfortable as a pair of pajamas, yet a bit more acceptable in public.    Not shown are the vintage Polo braces work to hold up the trousers, a Borsalino fedora, and a light gray-tan-taupe trench coat (with liner zipped in) along with my usual tan Allen Edmonds attache case, given to me several birthdays ago by the Grand Duchess.   It's either a suit, or a combination of tweed and cords with sweater, and some kind of necktie four or five days per week during the colder months.  When you dress thusly all of the time, you quickly become part of the scenery and don't raise any eyebrows.   Were more men less worried about sticking out, society, in general, would appear more pulled together than it does at present.  Hey, a guy can dream, right?  -- Heinz-Ulrich

  T he weekend XC ski getaway sadly over (I could easily indulge the activity four or five days per week weather and snow permitting), it was back to campus bright and early Monday morning.  Another combination of many of the usual suspects here plus the orange SWIMS overshoes, a vintage camel polo coat, Stetson fedora, and long woolen schoolboy scarf rounded out today's ensemble.  As much as my wife and I enjoy what we do for a living, we're already watching the longer term forecast for another possible lost weekend on skis in a few weeks' time.  Propelling oneself through the woods, up hills, and down long descents during a snowy winter day while the trees creak in the breeze, and the only sound is the quiet schuss-schuss of skis gliding along the trail is addictive.   It's amazing how good physical activity makes you feel.  The Grand Duchess has done some kayaking, and I think I'd like to give it a try with her next summer. -- Heinz-Ulrich

    N ot particularly stylish, but tired, happy, and relaxed after a day of cross-country skiing in the woods and highlands of the Hanson Hills winter recreation area in Northern Michigan.   A wonderful post-ski euphoria you could say -- complete with a thermos of hot chocolate, oranges, cookies, and chocolate -- before we headed back to our weekend rental house for showers, dinner, and hot-buttered rum by the hearth once the Young Master had retired.  I could do this everyday. Up early Sunday to load the car and head to another nearby Nordic center for lessons and a few hours of skiing before heading home mid-afternoon Sunday.  The car was all unloaded and everything stowed by just after 5pm, and we finished the second half of the tuna casserole for dinner an hour or so later following showers.   Again, nothing particularly special about the meal, but it sure hits the spot after physical activity in the winter.   -- Heinz-Ulrich

  E xtremely cold with a mean windchill here in Mid-Michigan today, but warm and toasty in tweed, wood, and corduroy.  Topped off by the usual vintage camel polo coat, long woolen scarf, and a tweed cap given to me by the Grand Duchess for Christmas 2022.   The sweater vest is a recent purchase, having taken advantage of the year end sale at J. Press a couple of weeks back.  Very much Bertie Wooster--Bingo Little--All Creatures Great and Small territory, but it seems to work pretty well beneath the Harris Tweed jacket.   Some days, you just ant something a little more eye-catching than the usual navy or gray crew neck sweater.  Know what I mean? -- Heinz-Ulrich

As above. . . So below. My newly opened "other" office in the main library.  I spend a lot of my time working here each morning.   S omeone give that man a lint brush!  An otherwise nice look spoiled by a linty navy blazer.  Grrrrr.  Otherwise, a pair of overshoes to protect the Allen Edmonds from today's snow and slush although the temperature has dropped appreciably since early morning, and more snow is forecast, so skiing might actually happen this long weekend given Martin Luther King Day next Monday.  By the way, my students always get a kick out of the orange SWIMS, which seem even more popular than the red ones that wore out a winter or two ago. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  N ot a bad effort for the day attire-wise, and the new Mermaid is now open for business in our library (finally after several months of delay) , where I spent a delightful few hours working while taking the occasional sip from a large hot chocolate as the snow fell outside the window.  More of the usual suspects combined in different ways, you understand, and very much in keeping with the usual visage I cultivate during the academic year. -- Heinz-Ulrich      

  D ecided to wear a new three-piece flannel number from J. Press for the start of the new semester/term yesterday.  A pre-Christmas treat for myself after some good news in early December.  Hard to find three-piece suits these days, and I would have preferred navy, but charcoal will do nicely in its stead, thank you very much.  My tailor had it ready in just a week following the usual minor alterations, but I waited until yesterday  to give the suit its first outing.   The slightly messy bow tie is vintage Brooks Bros. and not quite as large as the angle of the photograph makes it seem here.  I also wore some very attractive, Art Deco-inspired vintage Polo braces to hold up the pants.  A pair of wool navy dress socks with very small, dark red polka dots rounded out the ensemble.  -- Heinz-Ulrich

  D oing the Snow Dance while running midday Saturday errands with the Grand Duchess.  Here, we were on the way to the indoor  Winter Farmers' Market with hot chocolate afterwards when I broke into song and step in an effort to coax some heavy snow from the clouds for local cross-country skiing.  Pretty typical cold weather casual gear here. -- Heinz-Ulrich

N o grand resolutions for the new year?  Then how about the goal of finding small pleasures in the 'physical' everyday for the coming twelve months?  Here are just a few suggestions: 1) Wear a suit once or twice per week -- even if or when you don't HAVE to -- simply to enjoy the pleasure of tailored clothing.  It makes no sense to leave items like these hanging in the closet except for the odd wedding, funeral, or, ahem, court date.  And hey, even a sports jacket or navy blazer, when combined with a pair of odd pants a couple of times per week is a nice habit to cultivate.  The point is, learn to wear and enjoy the nice things we have as part of the weekly routine. 2) Same thing with a fine necktie.  Most of us do not necessarily have to wear one anymore, but most neckties are lovely things and will almost always garner favorable comments.  And if your collar size and knot are done right, it's not uncomfortable. 3) Go the extra distance.  Learn to tie and wear a bow ti