Courtwear

There is no time when I am more conservative in my dress than when I am presenting a case to a jury. Some lawyers wear the exact same suit and tie every day of a trial on the theory that wardrobe changes would distract the jurors. I have more faith than that but nevertheless wear a dark suit, subdued tie, and oxford shoes. It is a matter not only of respect for the jury but also of self-confidence.

Shameless plug for the legal system: other than voting and giving unlimited sums of cash to political candidates, jury service is one of the few ways we can participate directly in the political system. Smart jurors are essential to justice. If you think juries are out of control (and I assure you that they are not), the best thing you can do is to appear when summoned for jury service.

I like your ties, your posts actually got me to wear more ties. i also started trying to dress sharper and unique. Why is that if a guy tries to dress sharp and different, people assume your gay?

An excellent response over at eight-in-hand.

Proportion

Maybe I'm being silly, but this necktie knot strikes me as too small for these lapels. The tie is unusually thin, and the lapels are unusually wide, and the knot-collar assemblage seems overpowered by the lapels.

There are worse problems to have, I suppose. Food for thought, though. The same thing happens with trendy suits with skinny lapels when worn with a necktie of normal width. The tie seems huge in context.

Summer Colors

When the weather is just right and I don't have court, out come the new knit tie (25% off at JAB the other day) and veteran coordinating cuff knots. They aren't exactly the same shade of gold, but nobody is going to notice. Naturally, the blue dots pick up the dominant color in the shirt (from Brooks Brothers).

Summer Breeze Casual

Khaki shorts from an outlet somewhere, Soludos espadrilles, and a J. Crew Breton-style T-shirt. It's hard to work around the mass of khaki and cream, but I felt like the shoes brought it all together well enough to leave the house.

But seriously, you need a pair of espadrilles for the summer. They are cheap, durable, and not flip flops. I now own another pair in a cream color.

Shirt Retirement

Observe the wrinkling/unevenness/ whatever you want to call it on the collar of this shirt, which I've had for a while. I assume this is the result of day after day of being folded up and down and being steamed to hell and back every ten days or so. The French cuffs show similar distortion. It is time to retire this old friend.