Polo gingham shirt and seersucker short | Brooks Brothers linen bow tie | Florsheim vintage saddle shoe

Just in from eBay - Purple Label Linen

Today's Outfit

Wish List - Gant

I'm over navy double-breasted blazers. Take me straight to glen plaid.

Wish List - Ted Baker

I hate red and I've never worn Ted Baker, but I'm always a fan of bold windowpanes.

Wish List - Everything

This is my kind of outfit. Now, if only I could afford that fantastic blazer.

Today at the Thrift

John Ashford: Macy's junky house-brand

Givenchy: Legendary Parisian fashion house

Two ties of different worlds but both perfect for summer. 

Just in from eBay - Aran Shawl Cardigan

Wish List - Austen Reed

Old and New - Wembley Ties

Ah, the 1940's, when ties were no more expensive than a soda is now. I've found a number of early Wembley ties made from silk, linen and wool. I've also discovered a bunch of later Wembleys made of acrylic, polyester and acetate. Fortunately, the company is back at it with a line at JCP, and these ties are once again constructed of natural fibers. Inspired by old collections, the new ties are slim but not skinny and feature simple stripes, plaids, and motifs. Check them out, you might be pleasantly surprised. 

Also while you're at JCP, check out the Happy Socks collection.

Just in from eBay - Linen Gingham Tie

~$5. Not bad.

Just in from eBay - Ties

Polo linen tie, Faconnable textured silk tie - $17

Today's Outfit - New Cardigan

Polo green/white oxford - eBay, $15

*Merona cotton cardigan - Target, $25

Polo repp silk paisley - ebay, $7

Vintage linen/cotton trouser - thrift shop, $3

Cabot & Sons thick cotton socks, made in Vermont - Marshall's, $2.50 ($5 for two-pack)

**Allen Edmonds Park Avenue - thrift shop, $1

*This cardigan comes from the latest Merona line. It's lightweight yet warm and very well made for such a low price. Also, there's much more depth to the cardigan's colors than is visible in this photo.

**I would generally reserve brown cap-toe shoes for business, but having bought these so beat up, they're perfect for everyday wear.

Going Green

In honor of my newly acquired green chinos (which I'll discuss in an upcoming post), I thought I'd share a selection of my favorite green trousers of the past few years.

Shawls and Stripes

Polo Ralph Lauren plaid poplin shirt
Polo Ralph Lauren Irish linen tie
Merona cotton striped shawl sweater

(not pictured)
Polo Ralph Lauren Prospect olive chinos
Club Room olive socks
(Unknown) chocolate suede oxfords

Aside from the chinos, each piece of this outfit cost under $10. The socks came from Macy's while everything else was gathered from the thrifts and eBay.

Mellow in Yellow

Bad photo, good outfit... at least I'd like to think so. As autumn slowly rolls in, I plan to get back to posting more outfits. I'll start here.

Polo Ralph Lauren oxford
Polo Ralph Lauren cotton vest
Countess Mara linen bow tie
Polo Ralph Lauren Stanton jean
Smart Turnout striped socks
Cole Haan Country bit loafers

I happened to pull this look together at the last moment before a party. After picking the yellow bow tie, I realized the vest and socks would complete the outfit nicely. Jeans keep the look casual while the bit loafers are an upgrade from standard pennies.

Favorite Fair Isles

The Casualization of an American Man's Clothing

To some people, dressing down means wearing a polo and chinos, as opposed to the usual office-only suit. To others, sadly, dressing up means wearing a polo and chinos, with a suit or even a sport coat out of the question.

I'm not much of a suit guy - I own five - but thanks to my bargain-hunting efforts, I own around forty sport coats. To me, wearing a tuxedo is dressing up; wearing a sport coat is simply dressing well.

On three occasions whilst running errands today, I was asked in one way or another, "Why are you so dressed up?" I could only affirm that this is how I often dress. The casualization of the American man's wardrobe, something that seems to be be very slowly reversing, is just absurd.

Shouldn't the guy in camo cargo shorts and an embroidered muscle tee be the person in question? (Yes, that guy was standing behind me at Target checkout.) I realize I'm not spot-on with every outfit, but I'll proudly hold my style against that of the Affliction-afflicted, Tapout-tapping, Abercrombie-abominating masses.


I'm all for artistic freedom, the freedom of sartorial expression and such, but I believe a certain level of respect should be upheld when out in public. I dress in such a manner as to look well for myself, while respecting my surroundings (both people and places).

To succumb to a routine of dress which doesn't at least attempt to best display one's attributes is an injustice to oneself.  I don't expect anyone to change who doesn't want to change. But you see, that's the problem - the lack of effort to wear something appropriate, to wear something that fits, even to wear something clean.

What passes for proper is preposterous.







Michael Kors gingham blazer, Polo shirt and pima sweater, Breuer tie, Oak Hill linen trouser, Club Room socks and Bally loafers.





A little effort, fellas.

Pleasantly Purple

New to the rotation, around $20 for all three via eBay.

Polo linen/cotton stripe, Chaps silk paisley, Polo linen solid.

Lime Linen

Vintage lime sherbet linen blazer

Polo Ralph Lauren striped poplin shirt

Brooks Brothers sea island cotton v-neck sweater

J. Crew vintage paisley cotton tie

Oak Hill linen trouser

Chaps white oxfords (not pictured)