tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91607988557426117792024-02-20T11:52:10.231-05:00Dapper DistrictInspirations for Gentlefolk in D.C. and BeyondLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751115375803456640noreply@blogger.comBlogger370125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160798855742611779.post-70807146076004757802015-11-28T12:00:00.001-05:002015-11-28T12:00:19.485-05:00Saturday Errands<p dir="ltr">I don't wear a suit on the weekends or to bed. But going to Home Depot naked is illegal in Loudoun County. I put on an old pair of Gap outlet khaki shorts, a neon/pastel/??? blue H&M t-shirt, and my Clarks desert boots (50% off, no idea why). I also had on a Nats cap because I didn't wash my hair before going out.</p>
<p dir="ltr">No-show ankle socks are key here.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Also, before you ask, I was not front-tucking while I was out. That was so you could see my all-purpose d-ring belt.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gc031nG9QDU/VlndotMVjiI/AAAAAAAACxQ/TxaUyjxG958/s1600/20151128_105411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gc031nG9QDU/VlndotMVjiI/AAAAAAAACxQ/TxaUyjxG958/s640/20151128_105411.jpg"> </a> </div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751115375803456640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160798855742611779.post-35918188692948387472015-11-23T21:07:00.001-05:002015-11-23T21:07:11.239-05:00If You Have $500 And You Want To Spend It On Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cVIKltGiI3k/VlPGCpyPBbI/AAAAAAAACwo/qtEFwBaUouY/s1600/20151107_135147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cVIKltGiI3k/VlPGCpyPBbI/AAAAAAAACwo/qtEFwBaUouY/s320/20151107_135147.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
In the window of J. Press downtown. <a href="http://www.jpressonline.com/merino-wool-cardigan-brown/">I think this is it.</a>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751115375803456640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160798855742611779.post-79305955391202832652015-11-23T21:04:00.001-05:002015-11-23T21:04:14.301-05:00The Darkness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m1ehbsHosRQ/VlPFWIsFo5I/AAAAAAAACwg/OqX79dHOO1E/s1600/20151114_153826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m1ehbsHosRQ/VlPFWIsFo5I/AAAAAAAACwg/OqX79dHOO1E/s400/20151114_153826.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I have discovered its lair. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751115375803456640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160798855742611779.post-79258169238133633962015-09-29T23:11:00.005-04:002015-09-29T23:11:59.558-04:00On The Return Of Filene's BasementFilene's Basement on Connecticut downtown was one of my most favorite places of all time to go on a lunch break. Then the company went bankrupt and sold all its stuff and closed all its stores and took a long nap. <a href="https://www.filenesbasement.com/home">Now it's back, solely online.</a> I don't have my own PACER account, so I can't look at the bankruptcy filings, but I betcha what happened is somebody bought the marks and trade dress to relaunch it without the retail-space rent overhead. <br />
<br />
The website is an honest reflection of what Filene's always was. Random stock, only gently curated, not well-presented, but with value everywhere--like TJ Maxx without the vertigo. The shoe brands are in the same market level as always: Italianate names with prices at long last reflecting their actual value instead of a brand-based markup. The selection of suits is completely random. Some poor sod is having to take pictures of the suit jackets on a mannequin and use the lasso tool in Photoshop to make a cutout. It's very eBay at the moment. Greater things to come, I'm sure, if they can capitalize on the goodwill. Meanwhile, the inability to try things on is a drag.<br />
<br />
And they only have a few dozen ties. In my day, they had millions of ties. Millions, I tell you! Kids these days. No respect.Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751115375803456640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160798855742611779.post-15039160614259100532015-09-03T10:48:00.001-04:002015-09-03T10:48:15.947-04:00To The Members Of My Fantasy Football League<p dir="ltr">These socks are lavender colored.</p>
<p dir="ltr">For the rest of you: Socks from Dapper Classics, white bucs from Johnston & Murphy; blue seersucker suit from JAB for one seventh of list price.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8a593Lr2lD8/VehdrenMTFI/AAAAAAAACfw/g-8WR0ijUiY/s1600/20150903_090750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8a593Lr2lD8/VehdrenMTFI/AAAAAAAACfw/g-8WR0ijUiY/s640/20150903_090750.jpg"> </a> </div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751115375803456640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160798855742611779.post-61811821752210895452015-08-09T11:50:00.002-04:002015-08-09T11:50:32.951-04:00My horoscope for this week from The Onion<h3 class="astro-name">
Libra | <span class="date">Sept. 23 to Oct. 22</span></h3>
<a href="http://www.theonion.com/horoscope/your-horoscopes-week-august-4-2015-50996">They say the clothes make the man, but you and your beautiful, understated suits are proof that this is simply not the case. </a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">are you a wizard?</span>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751115375803456640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160798855742611779.post-10450276642014683252015-07-01T20:57:00.002-04:002015-07-01T20:57:23.552-04:00Nuptials/Acorns/Trees<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ze7VKAm9qhA/VZSLA3r-Z-I/AAAAAAAACTY/ugHN8kJJMQQ/s1600/20150627_185554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ze7VKAm9qhA/VZSLA3r-Z-I/AAAAAAAACTY/ugHN8kJJMQQ/s400/20150627_185554.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>Pater</i>, shown here. When you are the groom, you get to wear whatever you want. Dark gray chalkstripe single-breasted, two buttons with one to button, black tassel loafers, blue-gray shirt, necktie right down the middle of the shirt and suit colors, and boutonniere. Classic.<br />
<br />
Dapper District was on hand to rumble with any of the bride's brothers who might object to the wedding. Fortunately, there were only sisters, and they were on board.Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751115375803456640noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160798855742611779.post-17883638840382469502015-05-22T13:38:00.001-04:002015-05-22T13:38:29.349-04:00I am become Death, destroyer of worlds.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yvSSZvNOp4g/VV9pjzJQ6bI/AAAAAAAACI4/XUGqhOyIwY0/s1600/20150522_095748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yvSSZvNOp4g/VV9pjzJQ6bI/AAAAAAAACI4/XUGqhOyIwY0/s640/20150522_095748.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-doC2Pdhr1Lg/VV9pk_BU5FI/AAAAAAAACJA/wMu60XZ9FM4/s1600/20150522_124908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-doC2Pdhr1Lg/VV9pk_BU5FI/AAAAAAAACJA/wMu60XZ9FM4/s640/20150522_124908.jpg"> </a> </div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751115375803456640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160798855742611779.post-26199323997498252762015-05-10T13:02:00.001-04:002015-05-10T13:02:59.142-04:00SprezzaturaI don't usually go negative here, but<br />
1. I was an English major,<br />
2. I was a copy editor, and<br />
3. I read The Book of the Courtier in the course of my studies.<br />
<br />
So I winced a bit when I read <a href="http://putthison.com/post/118125258374/natural-sprezz-i-cant-wait-for-summer-to-arrive">"Natural Sprezz"</a> by the generally very smart guys at Put This On, itself probably the most widely followed #menswear blog around. Sprezzatura gets used a lot in describing menswear, but when Baldassare Castiglione coined the term, it basically meant <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprezzatura">apparently (but affectedly) effortless nonchalance.</a> That is, going to great lengths to appear not to have gone to great lengths. You see this every World Cup from the Italian team coaches--they tend to, say, tie their neckties so that the narrower blade hangs several inches below the wider blade. We are to believe that this was accidentally done for international television. So sprezzatura is a squishy concept, difficult to measure because measuring fixes it in spacetime.<br />
<br />
Wearing a linen suit is not, as PTO has it, sprezzatura. You cannot wear a linen suit in a way that makes it seem like you put on a linen suit by accident, especially in the summer. Linen suits are nonchalant and effortless, but there is an element of irony in the use of sprezzatura. Wearing a linen suit on purpose because it's effortless and nonchalant is a great idea, but anything worn in earnest is not sprezzatura. <br />
<br />
Likewise, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beau_Brummell">Beau Brummell's extraordinary attention to the tying of his cravat</a> was not sprezzatura. Sprezzatura is like Fight Club: rules #1 and #2 are that if you are talking about it, you are doing it wrong. Sprezzatura is futzing with your pocket square for five minutes (or hours), when you are alone, to get it to look like you just grabbed it off the shelf and stuffed it into your breast pocket without thinking.<br />
<br />
Sprezzatura is a fun, precise word! Let's keep it that way.Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751115375803456640noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160798855742611779.post-60029333238094676842015-04-05T09:37:00.002-04:002015-04-05T09:37:27.246-04:00Some Links You Will Enjoy<a href="http://www.huddersfieldcloth.com/Files/History-of-Cloth.pdf">Some English people made a guide to textiles used in clothing</a>. h/t <a href="http://putthison.com/post/111384344000/a-handy-fabric-reference-guide-our-reader-noah">Put This On</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://thesuitsofjamesbond.com/james-bond-shows-how-a-suit-should-fit/">Meanwhile, The Suits of James Bond has outdone himself to the nth degree with this post, showing how Bond shows how a suit should fit.</a><br />
<br />
<br />Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751115375803456640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160798855742611779.post-82121488527294076642015-03-09T19:28:00.003-04:002015-03-09T19:28:39.051-04:00Reader Question: Ganglitude, Surmounted"Matt" declares and inquires:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I'm working to transition from lower business casual (khakis and polos)
to higher business casual, which will involve more fitted shirts and
occasionally suits. I'd like to do it correctly...In addition, nearly everything I get must be tailored, or often built.
Long arms and torso, and very little fits me off the rack or even from
the package. </blockquote>
Matthias, dear reader, it sounds as though you are afflicted with the gangly. I am not a gangly person myself, but some of my best friends are gangly. Many of our nation's most famous power forwards, strong safeties, and presidents have been gangly. You know who else was gangly and dressed like a ****** *** ***** **ing *** ** * boss? <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=cary+grant+suits&num=100&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=mCr-VNmdOovdsASTv4HoAQ&ved=0CB4QsAQ&biw=1536&bih=755">Cary Grant.</a> You are in great company.<br />
<br />
Your biggest problem will be shirts. You, like every other reader of this blog, will definitely have to order shirts with a specific sleeve length (no more "34/35" for you) and collar circumference. You will have to go somewhere to get measured--your local menswear shop can do this. You will probably never buy a dress shirt in a store again as a result, except perhaps Brooks Brothers or Thomas Pink (drool). <br />
<br />
Start out at <a href="http://www.paulfredrick.com/Catalog/PFProducts.aspx?Category=Dress_Shirts">Paul Fredrick</a>; their shirt skirts are longer than is average these days, which is good for a long torso. <a href="https://www.paulfredrick.com/intropage/intropagepp4.aspx?pg=try_TWRSXX_TMK1900_Multi_901">Introductory white oxford deal here.</a> Good place to start for you sounds like button cuff with a button collar (assuming you will wear a tie only irregularly). Get 3 with button collars and one Windsor spread for when you wear a tie with a jacket.<br /><br />Last, if you have a long torso, you will probably need pants with a longer rise. This means you will probably not look proper in modern-cut suits like the kind you would get at Banana Republic or J. Crew. Pants length is not a problem if you buy pants with unfinished hems.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://josbank.com/">JAB</a> carries a lot of long-size jackets and suits, and their default pant fit has a lot of room in the crotch (easily handled by <i>your </i>alterations tailor, not the one that works in the back at the local JAB). Never pay more than 66% off list price at JAB. <br />
<br />
Drop another comment if you have more questions. I live to serve.Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751115375803456640noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160798855742611779.post-3229405431501259682015-03-08T10:29:00.002-04:002015-03-08T10:29:16.513-04:00A Large Compilation Of Infographics, Courtesy Of Clickbait's Takeover Of The Internet<a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/juliegerstein/clothes-make-the-man?bffb&utm_term=4ldqpgp#.pf6grLXEj">In their defense, at least they give credit to the site where they found each graphic, if not the site which created the graphic originally.</a><br />
<br />
Ignore the comments about how it's just too expensive to dress well. Seasoned readers will know that not to be true.Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751115375803456640noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160798855742611779.post-27800665216514041932015-03-04T21:37:00.002-05:002015-03-04T21:37:18.443-05:00ShenanigansI bent over to pick up a file from a bottom drawer at the office the other day and heard a dreaded sound. I knew I would have to get the seat re-stitched on my pants, but only once I got back into the office and hid myself could I survey the true damage. Not only had the seat seam come apart, but the fabric itself had suffered a massive blowout--probably five inches--orthogonal to the seat seam.<br />
<br />
I dashed to the Fair Oaks Mall Macy's and picked up a pair of winterweight dark-gray trousers. The original suit was a dark navy herringbone, so the slacks match the jacket in seasonal texture as well as tonal sobriety.<br />
<br />
This is, of course, shenanigan number two of this post: The old saw is that, while one might wear suit pants with a non-matching jacket in a pinch, one ought never do the reverse. A good rule in theory; most men's trousers have less sheen than most men's suit jackets. But when you have a jacket that is already not sheeny and even slightly more casual than, say, a pinstripe suit (due to the herringbone weave) and pants that are more formal (dark gray; fabric with a bit of nub to it), everything is fine, brah.<br />
<br />
And they were on sale!Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751115375803456640noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160798855742611779.post-60396023870394239882015-01-03T08:27:00.003-05:002015-01-03T08:27:26.926-05:00Texture And Physics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9c8ixihzSug/VJmvtRUaTHI/AAAAAAAAB5Y/CnBPI2q9kYk/s1600/20140905_174059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9c8ixihzSug/VJmvtRUaTHI/AAAAAAAAB5Y/CnBPI2q9kYk/s1600/20140905_174059.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
Cream wool trousers, gray wool vest (appears to be twill) with black weft, and navy blazer. Alongside burgundy briefcase, lest we forget. Click through to the big version. I just love texture. I am sure that by age 40 I will have developed a Grand Unified Theory of texture combinations in menswear, but for now, I am like Newton, delighted as apples fall on my head.Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751115375803456640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160798855742611779.post-92104438381738957092014-12-26T13:01:00.000-05:002014-12-26T13:01:00.121-05:00Public Transportation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A2XDzsH6Zpg/VAopzFipgkI/AAAAAAAABmE/HIEo4zuuza4/s1600/20140905_172302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A2XDzsH6Zpg/VAopzFipgkI/AAAAAAAABmE/HIEo4zuuza4/s1600/20140905_172302.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I think I was on a bus. Got this vest for about $20 from JAB. Great for adding an extra layer of good-looking warmth.<br />
<br />
See also the dimple on this tie. Not a problem like the last one. I prefer Countess Mara (often available on sale at Macy's et al.) for dimplage, although their ties are a bit more...fragile. Not by much, though.Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751115375803456640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160798855742611779.post-53793481815040250612014-12-23T12:24:00.003-05:002014-12-23T12:24:31.207-05:00Necktie Weirdness and Collar Conundrum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4mrWooTosaE/VEUT3QGl6MI/AAAAAAAABwg/kEIwTLkE-NI/s1600/20141020_095240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4mrWooTosaE/VEUT3QGl6MI/AAAAAAAABwg/kEIwTLkE-NI/s1600/20141020_095240.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
1. JAB Executive ties tend to do this thing where you can get a good dimple in the front but only if you accept that there's going to be a side dimple on the left side which will constantly be trying to work its way around to the front.<br />
<br />
2. Charles Tyrwhitt AND Paul Fredrick, my favorite mail-order shirtmakers, both have this problem now where the points of the collar just refuse to lie flat. This leads me to believe the problem lies with my body--perhaps my shoulder muscles moved around in a way that causes the points to catch on my collarbones as I move around. May need to start starching my collars.<br />
<br />
3. Buckle up for safety!Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751115375803456640noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160798855742611779.post-53246805446282096892014-09-29T21:35:00.001-04:002014-09-29T21:35:34.684-04:00Is There A Problem, Officer?<p dir="ltr">Because the only problem I see is that my watch wouldn't fit under my sleeve.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--ylJiOG2oqo/VCoI5NSpzuI/AAAAAAAABuA/6I-CdMsIkfM/s1600/20140912_152825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--ylJiOG2oqo/VCoI5NSpzuI/AAAAAAAABuA/6I-CdMsIkfM/s640/20140912_152825.jpg"> </a> </div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751115375803456640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160798855742611779.post-9666469975948550682014-09-03T19:07:00.001-04:002014-09-03T19:07:13.009-04:00Well-Earned Retirement<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Hdzxr-8pr0/VAZNMowAV1I/AAAAAAAABlM/W1BfpZDp5Ck/s1600/20140902_190446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Hdzxr-8pr0/VAZNMowAV1I/AAAAAAAABlM/W1BfpZDp5Ck/s1600/20140902_190446.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
My alterations guy was going to let some out of the seat of these beloved gray herringbone suit pants (JAB Signature line) and discovered that some previous alterations person had damaged the fabric in several places which damage would have shown if he had let the seat out any more. We took this to be a sign that it was time to retire this suit.<br />
<br />
I'm not too bent out of shape as I bought this more than five years ago on a buy-one-get-two-free sale. JAB still does those ever so regularly. The more things change, non?Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751115375803456640noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160798855742611779.post-75190579404268844562014-08-21T16:58:00.001-04:002014-08-21T16:58:51.885-04:00Come Again Another Day<p dir="ltr">There is precisely one drawback to wearing brown suede wingtips, and that is the paralysis occasioned by precipitation.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ny2f6ltCQ18/U_ZdifQFfEI/AAAAAAAABjE/_0zryoYFp0c/s1600/20140821_165542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ny2f6ltCQ18/U_ZdifQFfEI/AAAAAAAABjE/_0zryoYFp0c/s640/20140821_165542.jpg"> </a> </div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751115375803456640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160798855742611779.post-69091453036114871542014-07-27T12:58:00.000-04:002014-07-27T12:58:28.445-04:00An Humble Himplement<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VCl-nR6tzhc/U9Uuq0yo67I/AAAAAAAABVI/Wkm8puRVVRg/s1600/IMG_20140727_125334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VCl-nR6tzhc/U9Uuq0yo67I/AAAAAAAABVI/Wkm8puRVVRg/s1600/IMG_20140727_125334.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Behold the microfiber towel. I believe 20 were to be had at Costco for $19.99. My plan was to use them for their advertised use--car cleaning--but not only do they also work well for bathroom cleaning, but they far outstrip old undershirt-rags when it comes to shoe-shining.<br />
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If you've ever cleaned clearcoat paint with undershirt, you may have noticed minor scuffs in the top layer--nothing that wax won't fix, but still. It stands to reason that undershirt could do something similar to leather, even if we can't see it with the naked eye. Not so with microfiber on either count. It readily holds a dab of polish and soaks up dry wax when the process is done. And it's cheap enough that you can just pitch it when it gets too wax-laden.Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751115375803456640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160798855742611779.post-16012262465615099752014-06-30T21:05:00.001-04:002014-06-30T21:05:03.981-04:00Everything In Its Place<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-msSRgpiYyug/U7CT1F-RBBI/AAAAAAAABUc/-dl2YkULFkg/s1600/IMG_20140629_183006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-msSRgpiYyug/U7CT1F-RBBI/AAAAAAAABUc/-dl2YkULFkg/s1600/IMG_20140629_183006.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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My sister-in-law is a <a href="http://www.kathrynscraps.com/">personage of import and talent</a> in the scrapbooking world. Dapper Spouse does some work for this family business (one of several, including the previously mentioned <a href="http://5ringsfitness.us/">5 Rings Fitness</a>), such as verifying measurements, which sometimes requires her to have the final version of whatever project is at issue. <br />
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The device shown was apparently once known as a "folio cabinet." Dapper District disavows knowledge of folios, cabinets, folio cabinets, cabinet folios, or cabinolio folinets, but in any event, the item has been repurposed to hold my small accessories: unhangable knit ties, business cards, watches, pocketknives, sunglasses--all of those little things too large for the cufflink holder (also shown, in black) but too small for a valet tray or too cluttery for an ordinary shelf.<br />
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The doors even seal with a magnetic closure device. It is all quite high in production values.Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751115375803456640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160798855742611779.post-91933211061465788882014-06-01T20:24:00.001-04:002014-06-01T20:24:12.411-04:00Color Is Hard: Cont'd<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aISf6vHiJxo/U0vYOwg0diI/AAAAAAAABRU/zqaC6SZAPEI/s1600/IMG_20140414_084417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aISf6vHiJxo/U0vYOwg0diI/AAAAAAAABRU/zqaC6SZAPEI/s1600/IMG_20140414_084417.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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Cream trousers and burgundy oxfords, right? What could possibly go wrong? Tan socks. I didn't notice for an hour or so, after which the exceedingly faint lime green in the trousers became as glaring as the noonday sun. Like how all women on television right now have gently curled hair all of the time. And you can't wear green with tan like that. <br />
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Think back to the first time a significant other showed you paint swatches. Remember how you were irritated because the differences seemed so inconsequential? Well, bucko, you were actually irritated because the differences were <i>truly massive</i> but you weren't skilled enough to really distinguish them. It wasn't a dumb question; it was that the answer was beyond your brain's accrued powers of perception. It's not your fault. Male-presenting people grow up not having to learn this sort of thing. But it's there, boy-o, and people are noticing even if you aren't. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751115375803456640noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160798855742611779.post-8678220268447414102014-05-24T11:46:00.000-04:002014-05-24T11:46:00.414-04:00#menswear Givin' Back<a href="http://anaffordablewardrobe.blogspot.com/2014/04/one-for-good-guys-part-2.html">Giuseppe over at An Affordable Wardrobe threw a necktie drive. You won't believe what happened next.</a><br />
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(What happened next is that <a href="http://www.paulfredrick.com/">Paul Fredrick</a> donated a bunch of ties, too.)Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751115375803456640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160798855742611779.post-39719840933823485732014-05-22T20:35:00.000-04:002014-05-22T20:35:14.427-04:00Quality Control<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7SeDqBdqsyg/U2Acg_yqcFI/AAAAAAAABR4/-hj3nQ0EkGs/s1600/IMG_20140429_171030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7SeDqBdqsyg/U2Acg_yqcFI/AAAAAAAABR4/-hj3nQ0EkGs/s1600/IMG_20140429_171030.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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After much deliberation over needlessly long timeframes, I have concluded that Charles Tyrwhitt shirts are a slightly better value proposition than Paul Fredrick's pinpoint offerings. However, one thing CT needs to work on is consistency. This is a "spread" collar. So is this (from a previous post):<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ka2Fp38JHqk/Ue2u_FvFHeI/AAAAAAAAA_w/qVAKnluZFOU/s1600/IMG_20130722_180738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ka2Fp38JHqk/Ue2u_FvFHeI/AAAAAAAAA_w/qVAKnluZFOU/s1600/IMG_20130722_180738.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
The angle formed by the intersection of the collar points (which surely has a technical term which I don't know) is very very different. So is the gap between the points. I love the latter collar and feel quite dull in the former. But the next-widest collar they sell is the "cutaway" which is just a bit much for my tastes.<br />
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Problems galore.Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751115375803456640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160798855742611779.post-56980847438172970912014-05-12T19:10:00.001-04:002014-05-12T19:10:23.688-04:00DC Stroll: The Menswear Miracle MileAcceptable Metro stations:<br />
Dupont Circle (Red)<br />
Farragut West (Blue/Orange)<br />
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Begin at the Jos. A. Bank flagship location at 19th and M NW. As usual, don't buy for a discount of less than 66% off the MSRP.<br />
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Out the door, to the left one long block and across Connecticut Ave to Brooks Brothers. I mostly go here to grope the various fabrics and teach myself more about the kids of textures I like. They also have nice ideas for shoes, plus the occasional decent necktie sale. <br />
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Out the door, straight ahead across 19th to Burberry. Lust after the trench coats and leave without buying anything. <br />
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Out the door, straight ahead across Connecticut again to Johnston & Murphy. Get a great shoe shine for $10 plus tip, which will be well-earned. Grab a casual shoe on clearance if it grabs you back.<br />
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Out the door, to the right, down a ways, there's a Gap on your right, worth breezing through the clearance rack.<br />
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Out the door, to the right, pass by the Men's Wearhouse without entering. <br />
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On your right, Charles Tyrwhitt. Overall, a slightly better value proposition than Paul Fredrick, I think, but just barely. Nice to be able to grope the material in store rather than through mail-order.<br />
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Cross back over Connecticut Ave and hang a left. Allen Edmonds store on your right. I need say nothing more, although they tend to overstock weird shoes and understock cordovan. A good way to get your AE size, in any event.<br />
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Out the door, turn right, and Thomas Pink has a storefront in the Mayflower (natch). Marvel at the striking colors. Consider buying one of their tuxedo shirts.<br />
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Pop in to their bar for a tonic water. You've earned it. Pour out a little bit for Filene's Basement, which used to be just north of you, across the street.<br />
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Back out the door onto Conn Ave, hang a left, then right on L Street. Down a block and change, on your right, one of the few remaining J. Press retail locations in the world. I can't afford jack squat here but love to caress the tweeds anyway.<br />
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For your victory lap, hop a taxi to the Alden store near Metro Center.Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751115375803456640noreply@blogger.com0