Classic Style

    T hanksgiving Weekend 2025 has ended nicely with our first appreciable winter storm of the season during last night, yielding about five to six inches of snow.  That came after I hung the icicle lights along the front porch eaves and set out a few other seasonal items inside to lend a festive air to the house yesterday afternoon.  Just back from seeing the Vienna Boys' Choir here in East Lansing with the Grand Duchess late this afternoon.  Beautiful as long as they stuck to traditional carols.  A warming dinner of soup with crispy, crunchy Italian bread followed with fresh, strong black coffee afterward accompanies by a few pieces of chocolate.   My final classes of the semester meet tomorrow. Hopefully, everyone will finish and turn in their final projects without any last minute drama or desperate emails after final course grades have been submitted just before Christmas.  Time will tell. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  A n easy, relaxed day around the house today after a busy but very pleasant Thanksgiving Day.  Best of all, two of our favorite Nordic ski centers in Northern Michigan have already had appreciable snowfall and opened for the 2025-2026 ski season!  It's extremely tempting to head up for some early season solo skiing next weekend even in light of the usual end-of-semester business.  Must keep an eye on the weather forecast and grooming conditions for the next several days.  Decisions, decisions! -- Heinz-Ulrich

T he Young Master at the table before Thanksgiving dinner was served yesterday afternoon.  This was about the only photograph I could manage to snap without him pulling some kind of goonish face, so I was unable to get a full-length shot of him in his new suit just back from the tailor.  Not quite what I would have suggested for a first suit, but it was given to him by a family friend, and Paul actually likes wearing it, so we'll leave it at that.  But the three-piece model and peaked lapels are nice touches. My own attire was slightly less dressy, but still pulled together and appropriate to the occasion.  Even managed to nail the temperamental wool bow tie on the first attempt, which is always a pleasant surprise.  I find bow ties are ideal for food holidays.  When one is serving and enjoying special meals, as well as clearing the table and loading the dishwasher afterward, you don't have to worry quite as much as with a long necktie. As my late and much ...

  H appy Thanksgiving 2025 to Classic Style visitors wherever in the world you might find yourselves.  Whether you observe in the sanity and sanctity of your own home, or join others as a guest, be gracious, present yourself well, and set an example for others in your conduct. Keep the faith. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  A lthough many students typically decamp for home the weekend before our Thanksgiving holiday here in the U.S., classes are still in session for a couple of days early in the week.  And while I have cancelled my own classes in the past, I decided to run them this year since I currently teach hybrid courses, and we meet just once per week.   Yesterday (Monday), seven of the little darlings showed up the the 8am class and 10 at 9:10. I decided beforehand to run a workshop session for students to work on their remaining projects while I answered questions and provided assignment clarification as and when needed.  An easy day as teaching goes. The attire highlighted above also featured a matching chocolate suede belt and dark green Merino wool socks with many small flying pheasants on them.  The jacket has not appeared in quite some time, possibly two years, so it was time to trot it out.   I typically enjoy combining a lot of browns, tans, and gree...

A few minutes between classes this morning, so I snapped  pictures of today's attire and accessories.  The first wearing this season of the Optimo 'Dearborn' fedora, and the tie is a vintage number from Orvis, a nod to my late father's fly-fishing and fly-tying hobbies.  It's been two or three years since this particular necktie's last appearance, so high time to pull it out and knot it carefully around the ol' neck.  Managed to nail it on the first attempt too.  Could this be the start of a trend? -- Heinz-Ulrich

  Y esterday, a colleague and I facilitated a workshop on how the various professors in our program can (re: "need to") remediate their online course materials to meet the new accessibility requirements that go into effect on January 01, 2026 at our institution.  Lots of work to do in a relatively short amount of time to ensure any visually or hearing impaired students -- or those with an invisible learning disability -- have full access to the materials in the the learning management system (LMS) we use here.   Or, at the very least, as the educational technology guy we brought in to lead the workshop told us, start with the syllabus if nothing else. In any case, it was an excuse to get dolled up for the few hours spent on campus, and here's what I put together for public consumption.  All built around the typical tweed jacket (Harris in this instance), corduroy dress pants, and penny loafers. As I have no doubt mentioned many times before, when you have the ri...

P rematurely cold with intermittent snow here in Mid-Michigan the last several days.  Ideal weather for variations on the tween, cords, and assorted seasonal items.  Here is today's version thereof.  A long tweed overcoat, houndstooth cap, and long woolen 'school boy' scarf completed the ensemble.  Probably less Laurence Fellows and more Dr. Who if we're brutally honest, but I felt good.   By the way, the rose J. Press cords above were a gift last Christmas from  the Grand Duchess, so it was fun to get 'em out of storage and put 'em on once again.  They seem to pair well with this particular jacket, also J. Press from a thrift/charity shop find many years ago now in, of all places, Bloomington, Illinois.  Out old stomping grounds before we decamped for Michigan in 2015. -- Heinz-Ulrich Heinz-Ulrich

  A not displeasing sartorial array for the Monday of Week 13 (of the Fall 2025 term), but the uppermost photograph does illustrate why one should give their jacket, coat, or blazer a good going over with the clothes brush after a summer in the cedar closet.  The blazer seems to have attracted every piece of fuzz, dust, and lint in the house.  My haste to dress and leave post-shower and shave this morning meant that I neglected this important detail.  Sadly since the combination of items today otherwise works well.  I could almost be an extra in a village scene on any season of Midsomer Murders .  Badger's Drift anyone? -- Heinz-Ulrich

  Y ou know, it's not all suits, sports jackets, and bow ties here at Classic Style .  Nope.  Sometimes, you've gotta buckle down, and power through a virtual stack of middle-of-the-road collaborative student projects waiting in their online submission folders.   And since the weather now has a decidedly cool edge to it, what better way to do that than dressed in corduroy jeans with a canvas ribbon belt, flannel shirt, and suede camp moccasins? Just one more variation of my typical at home attire for fall, winter, and early spring.   Not to get too Dickensian about it, but even when at home with the door closed and the figurative curtains drawn, there's no reason to appear like a street urchin.  -- Heinz-Ulrich

  D ecided yo go with something a bit more casual this morning and opted for houndstooth, cords, and Argyle.  Not a bad look overall if I might be so bold. As I quipped to a student about 20 years ago, "If you aren't interested in what I have to say, you can at least get a kick out of looking at me."  In any case, a comfortable combination of items for a chilly November morning. -- Heinz-Ulrich