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

Polo Ralph Lauren seersucker sport coat and gingham shirt | Countess Mara vintage raw silk tie | Levi's 541 denim | Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses | Sperry Top-Siders 

Stacking Away the Shorts

Polo Ralph Lauren seersucker and oxford shorts

Polo Ralph Lauren madras shorts

See you in spring! (shorts... not readers)

Seersucker Spread

I'm all for breaking the rules of sartorial standards, but a spread collar on seersucker? Give me a white oxford button-down atop this seersucker and the thing would already be in my closet.

National Seersucker Day

If you're anywhere near Charleston (WV) today, stop by Tony the Tailor to celebrate National Seersucker Day. From 1:00PM-7:00PM, Tony will be offering sales on custom seersucker and cotton jackets, linen shirts, and seersucker products throughout the shop. I'm especially excited about the offering of High Cotton bow ties for only $29.99. In addition, refreshments and hors d'oeuvres will be served, including the Seersucker and the Madras. Please stop by and support this incredible local business!

The Seersucker

2 ounces Flor de Cana white rum
1/2 ounce cinnamon schnapps
1 ounce lemon juice
1 1/2 strawberry
Muddle one strawberry, shake
ingredients with three ice cubes
and strain into a pilsner glass
with crushed ice. Garnish with
1/2 strawberry.

The Madras
 
1 1/2 oz Kettle One vodka
4 oz cranberry juice
1 oz orange juice
1 orange wedge
Shake ingredients with three ice
cubes and strain into a pilsner
glass with crushed ice. Garnish
with orange slice.

PS: Don't forget to wear seersucker!

Belk Bonus Shorts

As prep continues to reach the mass market, classic summer staples are becoming more readily available.

 At Belk, you'll find a line of Izod oxford shorts on par with Polo's model, yet one-third the price.

 

From Belk's in-store brand, Saddlebred, you can pick up a set of quintessential seersucker shorts.

So Far From Summer

It's the coldest night of the year and I couldn't be missing summer more. 

See you in a few months, madras and seersucker.

Would You Wear This

Oh, the things one finds on eBay. If you're a 40L, I'd suggest looking up this jacket now.

Would you wear this?

Belk's Bargains

When it comes to buying retail, patience and research are crucial. Why? Brand quality just isn't what it used to be. I take a good look through the thrift racks for something comparable to, if not better than, any piece I find at an absurd retail price. Yet, clearance deals come around or nothing similar is to be thrifted and then buying retail isn't so bad.

Today's case - Belk's Saddlebred sport coats. For those unfamiliar with the brand, Saddlebred is similar in design and quality to Chaps or Izod. Browsing online today I discovered a couple summer staples worth a look at under sixty dollars.

A safe and simple linen sport coat is a must-have for the summer rotation. Then an updated classic, tattersall seersucker, is summer's equivalent to bold houndstooth.

Chambray ups the dandy factor. Very underutilized but rather trendy. Finally the classic blue seersucker. Not for beginners. I'll admit, I would be hesitant to invest the latter seersucker for the sake of practicality. I have a Polo tan seersucker blazer from which I extract much greater use.

Summer Send-Off

I discovered these photos a couple days ago taken before my cousin's birthday lawn party in late August. The invitation stated casual - this is casual for me. When the temperature descends throughout the evening, a layering piece like a lightweight sweater vest or blazer slightly dresses up a standard button-front shirt and keeps you warm.

I was quite happy to get one last run from my Polo seersucker blazer before autumn. Tan and white seersucker makes a subtler statement than flashy yet traditional light blue and white. I continued to dress up the look a bit with a linen navy pocket square.


Given the use of a pocket square, I opted out of wearing a tie. However, the navy and light blue of the pocket square are picked up in the sweater vest. I came away with the white Polo shirt and Club Room sweater vest for around $30 on clearance at Macy's.


I forgot to flash my socks in this one - Club Room yellow pair to match the sweater vest. The jeans are yet another great pick-up from my store - Polo Stanton jeans at $22. The tassel loafers are my trusty Johnston and Murphy's I've totally worn down by now. I can't get over the shoes I thrift sometimes. This pair cost as much as the socks.


Go together, never matchy-matchy.