Today's Outfit

Polo Ralph Lauren semi-spread shirt and pima cotton sweater

Rooster repp silk tie

Vintage grey gabardine trouser

Club Room solid lavender sock

Allen Edmonds black leather bit loafer

Today's Outfit

Chaps blue oxford shirt

J. Crew silk knit tie, made in Italy

Polo Ralph Lauren hand-knit pima cotton shawl sweater

Lands' End reversible cotton plaid scarf

Polo Ralph Lauren green Andrew chino

American Eagle marled cotton boot sock

Polo Ralph Lauren shearling Ranger boot

Today's Outfit - Red on Red on Red

Corbin tartan wool blazer

Polo Ralph Lauren oxford stripe shirt

Chaps tartan silk tie

Polo Ralph Lauren pima cotton sweater vest

Oak Hill brown corduroy pant

Lands' End cotton socks

Austen Heller Red Rovers loafers

Today's Outfit - Back in Boots

Without power the past several days, I've been unable to work, unable to blog, unable to function. Of course, I'm blessed not to have been worse off, and those still suffering on the east coast are in my prayers. Today I thought it appropriate to share some of my regular cold weather gear. 

Polo cotton flannel shirt - Flannel is a must this time of year.

Polo aran-knit pima cotton sweater - Quite functional and warm for cotton, still stylish. 

Levi's 550 jeans - Everybody needs jeans that can be beat up and worn down in snow. 

American Eagle boot socks - A cotton blend, these socks from the other AE are a fall favorite. 

Eddie Bauer vintage duck boots - With a shearling lining, this $1 thrift find beats Bean's standard duck mocs. 

Not pictured are my Polo quilted jacket and quilted leather (cashmere lined) gloves.

Today's Outfit - Thursday Blues

Polo pima cotton sweater - eBay, $16

Polo broadcloth shirt - Macy's, $19

Polo tie - eBay, $6

Vintage worsted wool gabardine trouser - thrift shop, $3

River Island striped cotton socks - $3 (out of $15 five-pack)

Florsheim vintage Custom Grade shortwings - thrift shop, $1

Madrasity

First time breaking out the patchwork madras this year.

Polo Ralph Lauren blazer, shirt and vest; Robert Talbott patchwork repp tie

Oak Hill tan linen trouser, Chaps white bucks (not pictured)

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.

Three Piece Polo

Polo Ralph Lauren oxford ($20), pima cotton v-neck ($10), and tie ($1)

Accompanied by Levi's 559 Tumbled Rigid jeans ($30), Allen Edmonds Grayson loafers ($1)

Polo Pima Cotton

Quite frequently overlooked during warmer months is the lightweight cotton sweater. During breezy days or chilly nights of spring and summer, I turn to the Polo pima v-neck. These retail for $98 but can be found on eBay and the occasional Macy's or Dillard's clearance sale under $30. The three shown above just came in from eBay for a total of $60. Though Brooks Brothers makes a similar sweater, I prefer the Polo model for its lighter weight, collar, shape retention and overall fit.