(image:http://workingclassheroes.tumblr.com/)

By now, I hope that you’re dressing a little better than you have to. But have you considered your laptop, or your iPhone? Standard sleeves and bags (mine’s neoprene and fits in my J. Peterman’s Mail Bag) are just that… standard issue. Why not consider something more sartorially advanced for your most important tools?

Take the asphalt collection from Working Class Heroes. I stumbled upon these beauties through Refinery 29’s suggestion. And I now covet one of the sleeves (shown above.) Wool felt, buttery leather, what’s not to love?

(Rear Admiral Alan G. Kirk, USN on his way to Sicily, 1943. Photo Department of the Navy Somehow he pulls it off. The genuine article.)

It’s a dreary day here in Richmond. 34ºF and freezing rain. I am unshaven, and since I didn’t have class today and had to venture into the weather, I have on my version of foul weather gear: Jawbone® bluetooth device (I drive a standard), tweed cargo pants, GSG9 boots, technical fabric t-shirt, black cashmere half-zip sweater, waterproof deerskin (shooting) gloves, rolled up balaclava and Barbour jacket. “There’s no such thing as bad weather,” said Instructor McGuire, “just bad gear.”

I feel terrible.

Well not terrible, terribilitá? I feel like I should be better armed and grimacing. I definitely shouldn’t be driving a Jetta with two children in the back.

“HAVOC!”

All of which brings me to my point. Clothing, like the music we choose to which we choose to listen, can radically alter our moods. The next time you feel like your biorhythms are low, the weather’s lousy, or you just can’t believe it’s Monday, dress accordingly. Have a perfect sartorial happiness day. Wear whatever it takes to elevate your mood and put a song in your heart and a spring in your step.

At home? Belgian slippers, cashmere socks, moleskin trousers, oxford cloth shirt and a cashmere sweater will do much for your mood.

At work? Your best suit — the one you wear for a first date/cocktails — French-cuffed shirt, heaviest silk tie, pocket square, superfine merino wool socks, highly polished captoes or those perfect suede shoes. Wear a boutonnière if you can get away with it. Women: silks, suedes, cashmeres, pearls, exotic skin shoes … you know your closets better than I.

I’m going upstairs now to change into something far more elegant. And like the song reference in the title “…no more blue songs, only hoop-de-do songs.” Happy weekend.

I do….

So goes the Cole Porter song from “High Society.” And while I’m decidedly short of funds, I do have a trick to feeling like a million bucks that I’d like to pass along.

I think the story goes that when a certain young actor, who was then penniless, was asked to play a millionaire playboy, he asked in return how he could possibly feel like a very rich man? The director told him to go to the bank and withdraw USD$5,000 and put it into his front trouser pocket to carry around for the day.

It worked like a charm and the young actor went on to become a famous actor who specialized in playing the gentry. (Sorry, I can’t remember who it was. Maybe it’s an urban myth. But I think I heard it on “Frrr-esh Air with Teri Gross.”)

Now, I wouldn’t even know where to lay my hands on that much cash. Nor would I be very good at carrying it on my person (for any length of time.) But I do like to carry $50 around in case I have to pick up a bar tab or cab home or tip someone helpful.

And when I do carry cash, I carry it in the sterling silver money clip seen above. It is the second one I’ve had in the shape of a paper clip (a marvel of industrial design.) The first didn’t have the monogrammable disk. (I’m thinking of having this one engraved with “Pls. Refill.”) Both were gifts from very special people, my father in the first case (it went missing some time ago) and the disarming Mrs. E in the other.

They really do make thoughtful gifts.

Carrying a money clip serves more than one purpose; it makes me think about the cash I’m using, and it keeps me from having to carry a “billfold.” Which in turn keeps me from walking around with the bulging back pocket and popped open pleats. (My “wallet” is a credit card case that holds only a few necessary cards and identification. When I did carry a wallet, it was one of those larger ones that fits inside your inner breast pocket in your suit.)

In other words, it makes me feel more elegant. And I bet it will you, too.

So until that lucky day when my man will carry my umbrella and cheque book and wear a watch for me, I will continue to use my money clip — just four smaller bills, please.