There are a few late summer dressing debates going on across the web. Will, over at A Suitable Wardrobe quite rightly points out that this is more a time to switch palettes rather than fabrics. I agree and only wish that I had more flexibility in my wardrobe to do so. This photo shows a wool jacket (lightweight) with navy linen trousers, a light blue and tan checked shirt and a navy linen tie. Gingham pocket square. Are the tan jacket and pocket square too light for late summer dressing?

At The Sartorialist there is a European vs. American debate about the suitability of wearing one’s jacket over one’s shoulders during hot weather. What’s your vote? It’s a tough look to pull off, in my opinion. I left myself unshaven and tried gesticulating more whilst soliloquizing to lend the photo more of an Italian/Mediterranean air.

And finally, Turling was kind enough to inspire this look: linen trousers, no tie. I can’t quite bring myself to do without the jacket, which has always functioned as a sort of camouflage for me. Is there a significant level of difference between the two looks? (Think in terms of appropriateness to the work environment rather than formality.)

There is a very good discussion going on among An Aesthete’s Lament, The House of Beauty and Culture and the blogosphere. Go see what’s what and weigh in with your opinions.

In the meantime, I will give you this wonderful interview that HOBAC was kind enough to bring to my attention via his most excellent blog.

The Charlie Rose interview with Hubert de Givenchy. Just a snippet of what you have to look forward to hearing:

To be well-dressed, clean, bien coife, to be elegant, I think, is a most marvelous thing. But to wear (ugly?) shoes, too much black, no construction in the clothes, this is not fashion. I think it’s terrible to see. This laissez-allez is not for me.

What is it that makes this man so elegant? He is wearing a very simple suit, well-cut, with a white shirt and dark (knitted?) tie. He is clean shaven. He answers questions in English (it was not his native tongue) fluently. He is very well-spoken and engaging. He appears to be enjoying the conversation — relaxed and confident. Judging by the comment that I have transcribed above, it is because he makes it a point to be elegant.

In this case outward appearances reflect the inner man. I should make it a point to watch this first thing every morning, whilst dressing. It is 15 minutes of perfect example.

I’m new at this. Design throws me. But with my new interest in art history, I realize that my eyes are being opened to the beauty that surrounds me. And that’s getting troublesome.

Now I’m becoming obsessed with interior decoration. I mean, I know what I like when I see it. But why do I like it? And how come I can’t do that? I figured that interior design/decoration would sort of springboard from my ability to put together the elements of my wardrobe in a tasteful way. Why can I get away with combining five patterns when dressing but have no idea where to start with decor?

So, being a good William and Mary graduate, I’ve decided to do some research. There are many wonderful blogs out there (Peak of Chic, Brilliant Asylum, {this is glamorous}, All the Best, Style Court, Habitually Chic, Things that Inspire, The House of Beauty and Culture and Pigtown*Design to name a few on my reading list) whose authors not only know good taste, but can comment intelligently on why something is great design. Wow!

After a few weeks of reading, I figured I’d pick up some books at Barnes and Noble to help me out.

I have a sort of design hangover at the moment. Too much time spent staring at the shelves. Too many names, too many styles, too, too, too much information for the neophyte to absorb.

So I’m throwing the question to the experts in the audience. Dear readers: where would you start your education? Dorothy Draper? Kelly Werstler? Nancy Lancaster? John Fowler? Or a time period? Pompeii? Lascaux? Publishers? Taschen? Assouline? Elle Decor?

If you had to pick the textbook for Great Interior Design 101, what would it be?