Unsubtle Subtlety

I like to peacock a bit from time to time, meaning the hours of the day when I am awake and not in the house, especially as the weather turns and the darker suits come out of the storage closet.  Not-really-hidden red at the neck and ankles makes a great pop and acts as an in-joke between you and yourself and which you are constantly telling to relative strangers at parties.

Scarlet socks from Dapper Classics, a Christmas gift from Dapper-in-Law, a professional scrapbooker.  Bowtie by Cinabre, a gift from Dapper Spouse, nice muted almost-olive color on the front, crimson on the back.

N.B. The socks also coordinate with the red highlights in our VW GTI's upholstery and steering-wheel thread.  Are you detecting a pattern? 

(Shameless plug: if you or someone you know likes scrapbooking with top-notch production values, this scrapbooking retreat at the Hyatt Dulles next year, organized by Dapper-in-Law and other scrappers, should be, well, epic.)

Shutdownomics: Caveat Emptor

Had a recent run of good luck finding knitted silk ties at JAB.  Found another one at Nordstrom Rack at Potomac Mills, a few times more expensive than JAB clearance, but you figure store-brand at Nordstrom, must be pretty good, right, so you buy it on the spot.

Get home, discover that it's 100% polyester.

Books, covers, etc.  To Goodwill!

Shutdownomics

Burgundy briefcase: $20 on ebay, shipped.  Real leather.  Functional locks.  Multiple pockets.  Suede lining.

Black briefcase: gift from many years ago. Clasp stopped working. Emailed the manufacturer, Aaron Irvin, who sent me a replacement clasp free of charge.

Belt at top of image: the rats (pet rats...) chewed on the leather at the end, which caused the fabric underneath to start to unravel a bit. I tuck or fold it so it doesn't show.

Shred of dry-cleaners tag on the left edge: laundering and ironing my own shirts for the time being. Got tired of how fast they shrink, stain, improperly flatten, and otherwise wear out at the dry cleaners.

Entire image: meant to just photograph the briefcases. Accidentally photographed belt and tag.  Rather than re-take photograph, used it as is.  Money saved: $0.  Still, it's the principle!

Do your part!