Whew! Thank you for indulging me during my little sabbatical. The week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve is always pleasantly hectic. Mrs. E. and I have finally dug out from under the rubble of the party and The Manse is none the worse for the wear. I hope that everyone has had a marvelous start to the decade and has resolved to do things a little more elegantly with a lot less effort this coming year. Thank you all for the emails, comments and best wishes. They mean a lot to me and Mrs. E. is amazed at the community we have built together.
The photo that you see above (please bear with me whilst I figure out exactly how to use the new camera) was taken on the morning of New Year’s Eve. I’ve chosen this one because that is the sort of kit that I wear to a doctor’s appointment.
“What,” you may be thinking, “is he thinking? Having to climb out of that clobber and back into it must be a nightmare.”
Well, I’ll grant you that, yes, it is a bit time consuming. But clothing can be armour, a sartorial shield if you will. Faced with the prospect of hearing rough news, sitting across from an expert in his field, meeting with a new client or facing the bench, I like to be certain that I am seen as taking this thing seriously. Besides, as I’ve often pointed out, I feel better when I’m dressed.
Especially when I’m wearing a new tie. And especially when that tie is one for which I’d been hunting for a number of years ever since seeing it in a layout in a book. Grey and yellow striped.
Yellow ties always cheer me up and the addition of grey makes it that much more elegant in my book. The tie comes from Four-In-Hand and was handmade in Italy. It is self-tipped, has an all-wool interliner, and is bar tacked at the ends, all marks of a high quality tie. Four-In-Hand ties are exclusive designs and the company also stocks some wonderful vintage silk pocket squares. For those of you who struggle with colour matching, Johnathan Fischer, the owner of the store, also runs a blog that features almost any combination of which you can conceive. Appropriately entitled From the Waist Up. Give a visit. You might find something that you love. I did. Tell ’em I sent you.
What a beautiful, generous, REAL Christmas tree. That is the way it should look! Thank you for setting and example of what is sincere, genuine, and authentic.
I agree with you that it is best to wear a jacket and tie when meeting a professional such as a solicitor, dentist, or physician, but with some caveats.
Firstly, I fear that if I’m too well turned out, I might get “fleeced” by the physician. Secondly, it is my experience that nowadays when things are more casual, many “professionals” feel somewhat threatened by someone who has their act together sartorially. Does this make sense?
Better to take the middle road. Best to look impeccably clean and opt for something that a slightly destitute university prof might wear. In these situations of meeting professionals, I opt for plain, dark tweed sport coat, white shirt with tie, grey flannels, polished beef roll Sebagos. Dapper pocket square is omitted or replaced with plain white linen. The look is more square and shows minimal flair.
Square with Flair
Love the tie, love the trimmings, love the news. JUST having perspective on the height of you ceiling and am in full on envy. Terrific.
I always try to dress extremely well when I visit with my doctors. It makes me feel good to know I look my best and I think the office staff is nicer or more respectful to me because I took the time to care.
Donna
Your (armor) looks fantastic – my best wishes for nothing but good news from the doctor from me!
A million thank you also for leading me to “The Waist Up” – as you know I’m a klutz on matching and pairing it all. This is why you are so valued in this blog genre – you know what we need and ask all the appropriate questions.
Svieks! In Lithuanian – To Your Health!
Thank you Paul. All good news. Yassas! Greek for “to our health” if I remember correctly. Say hi to Jonathan for me.
I want the toy train set.
You’d have to fight him for it… and he’s in no mood these days.