It starts innocently enough… bad weather, spring break, really too warm for March, lazy weekend … whatever. Oh, I’m just running errands. Or it’s St. Patrick’s Day and that [...]]]>
(S Taylor, Torn from the pages of “The New Yorker” and used without permission. Please let me know and I’ll take it off the refrigerator, too.)

It starts innocently enough… bad weather, spring break, really too warm for March, lazy weekend … whatever. Oh, I’m just running errands. Or it’s St. Patrick’s Day and that emerald sweater really goes nicely with the tweedy trousers. Downpour = Barbour. Barbour is too short for a coat beneath. Barbour = sweater and slacks.

Get the picture?

(80ºF and a trip to Maymont to see the animals with the kids. The sweater is linen.)

(St. Patrick’s Day. No, I’m not Irish or I would have remembered about the orange tie… whoops.)

Easy, yes. Elegant… ?

Country clothes and the city have a long history, Friday tweeds signaling that you were about to flee to the country house for Friday to Sunday. Monday tweeds signaling that you were just back in and hadn’t time to change for luncheon at the Club before changing for dinner and the opera.

You know how this goes. Fast forward a few decades and it’s khakis and polos unless you’re the groom. Then I caught sight of this gentleman, thanks to The Peak of Chic. It turns out Mr. Adams is a Virginian and he is putting this Richmonder to shame today (and I love the RL style jazz that starts up when you visit the site.)

I’ve written before about the need for eternal vigilance. Surrounding yourself with beauty and culture is the first step toward changing the mindset that only special occasions call for elevated standards. (Would that Mrs. E. and I could afford a decorator and those household furnishings which we covet.)

The second step is to set higher standards in your day-to-day dress. You’ve got the stuff, so do I. How much better do you feel when dressed to the nines? Elegance in dress, I’m afraid, tends to the more formal lounge suit. I say “tends” as there are always exceptions and one should always feel comfortable.

So look to your tie rack or your drawer full of pocket squares today as you think about wearing a bit of the green. And then follow Coco Chanel’s maxim and take one thing off before you go out the door. I originally planned to wear a grey vest with a two tone yellow and gold overplaid with the suit and tie. To strive for elegance strive for sleek simplicity.

(This is my old school tie… considering that it is from The College of William (of Orange) and Mary, it, too, is probably not in the the best of taste today. But it is green.)

In the meantime, here’s to the always elegant Mrs. PvE on the occasion of her birthday. Making it look so easy is the most elegant trick of all. Many happy returns of the day.

Make an appointment with his barber. I’m going Tuesday.

There are any number of haircuts that we are allowed these days. This one would work a little better on me if I were a silver-maned millionaire with a St. Tropez tan.

Maybe next year. In the meantime it’s more “Cary Grant” and less “Jim Carrey” for me.

I’ll [...]]]>

Make an appointment with his barber. I’m going Tuesday.

There are any number of haircuts that we are allowed these days. This one would work a little better on me if I were a silver-maned millionaire with a St. Tropez tan.

Maybe next year. In the meantime it’s more “Cary Grant” and less “Jim Carrey” for me.

I’ll opt instead for a shorter back and sides while maintaining the length on top (for the most part.) At least that’s the plan today. Tomorrow is the acid test.

The classic short sides and back is timeless. You may choose to wear your hair longer (like Tod’s founder Diego Della Valle) or shaved into a sort of all around five o’clock shadow to match your stubble (Jason Statham does this well. See his turn as “Handsome Rob” in “The Italian Job.”) But on the whole I’ve decided that I prefer to avoid making a statement with my hair. Like the suit that wears you and gets all the attention, a hairstyle that stands out shifts focus from your face to the top of your head. My attitude will change as I get older, I’m sure.

I like to think of this as my “North by Northwest” suit. It’s a close approximation and certainly as close as I’ll ever get to aping Mr. Grant; should I have had the chance to stand in his proximity, the comparison to a dancing chimpanzee would have been unavoidable. Call me Cheetah.

But back to the suit. It’s an Oxxford make and is an example of a lighter weight fabric with a very subtle pattern (a windowpane overlay in darker grey and there is a faint light blue stripe that shadows it) that I think looks best with a crisp white, spread collar shirt (this one is an open weave that lets the air through) and a tonal grey (Prince of Wales) tie. A French (double) cuffed shirt and silver cuff links would dress this up even more. I should have worn my black captoes with it (and would if I were wearing the cufflinks), but swung to the dark brown suede plain toes instead. Serious enough for a Monday, lightweight enough for an 80ºF day.

If, as is claimed by some, making a conscious effort at being happy, cheerful, optimistic, etc. will actually change your outlook, this is a good place to start. Wear and look your best on Monday.

The white linen suit and odd trousers are getting ready to be drycleaned and stored for the duration. The spectator shoes have been relegated to the higher shelves. The seersucker and madras trousers are pressed and waiting to be swapped with the heavier woolen ones that haven’t quite made it down from the [...]]]>

Don't Panic....

The white linen suit and odd trousers are getting ready to be drycleaned and stored for the duration. The spectator shoes have been relegated to the higher shelves. The seersucker and madras trousers are pressed and waiting to be swapped with the heavier woolen ones that haven’t quite made it down from the topmost hanging bar in the closet. It is September, that mixed month of cool nights and warm days.

Did I just write warm? Today the mercury will register 91ºF, if the predictions come true. It is hot enough for you? It is for me. And that presents a unique problem when one is overly concerned with the trivialities of elegant dressing. For what items of clothing will one reach given the fluctuating temperatures during these post-Labor Day weeks?

Here is where I break with tradition. If it is hot enough to require air-conditioning, it is hot enough to continue to take advantage of summer weight fabrics.

During the day, I continue to wear linen trousers and lightweight sportscoats. For the most part, I stick to darker colours, though. Navy linen trousers, or black for evenings. Patterned cotton trousers in shades of cream and brown, black and tan, black and white and plain old lightweight khakis (“chinos”) do nicely in this weather. Most often I pair them with a white, very light blue or pale pink shirt. The coats are navy blazers (single-breasted), or wheat with a light blue overplaid, or dark brown Prince of Wales check.

But what about those days which require something more formal? I am not so fortunate to own a suit made of fresco — an open weave wool which allows air to circulate and cool. But I do have a couple of lightweight and lighter coloured wool suits the jackets of which are half lined. At roughly 7 1/2 oz., they are as flimsy as a politician’s excuses for accepting certain campaign contributions. Wool, is a natural wicking agent and can be quite comfortable during these days. The trick is to let your clothing rest a day or two after having worn it, preferably in a place where it can catch the breezes and air out a bit.

Footwear doesn’t change that much. Socks are lightweight wools or cotton. I like to wear unlined suede shoes, which breathe well and are unexpected as most people think of suede for Fall use only.

Add a lightweight scarf or linen sweater for evening and you’re ready for anything.

Being well dressed requires a constant commitment to trying to be well-dressed. Eternal vigilance is the price to pay. Yes, it’s a challenge, but with a bit of forethought, careful editing and commitment, you’ll stay ahead of the game.

Does all this mean that you should cease and desist? Not at all. In fact, I think that if you made all white your signature look (especially for my women readers. We already have Tom Wolfe… ), it can work in your favour. (Well, maybe not white shoes worn all the time. And that would mean handbags that match…) As long as your clothing is in good repair, fits beautifully and is well-cut for your figure, you will be putting your best foot forward.

Or, in other words, keep fighting the good fight.

A hastily shot photo whilst rushing out the door in post-Labor Day linen trousers