Recently, I have been away from the community for a while. Life has been rather busy and, to be honest, a little messy as well. I was trying to adjust to working remotely and manage my time properly, while also getting used to spending most of my time in the same place. At the same time, I was putting a large portion of my salary aside for some long-term goals, keeping it somewhere that wasn't easily accessible. It was the right decision financially, but it also left me feeling rather tight with money for a while. All of that together made the past period quite difficult. Thankfully, I'm in a much better place mentally now, and I'm slowly getting myself back into the things I enjoy. As for style, I haven't been going out nearly as much since starting my new job, so naturally, there haven't been as many outfits to share. I did, however, receive a couple of new pieces as birthday gifts, including some linen, which I'll share in a future post. And honestly, linen couldn't have arrived at a better time. Summer here in Egypt has been extremely hot. I'm actually quite happy that I don't have to commute and dress for the outside world every day like I used to with my previous job. Wearing most of my usual clothes in this weather can be quite a challenge, while linen has been absolutely perfect for it. Another thing I've become increasingly interested in lately is coffee. Since I work from home, I finally had the time and reason to get deeper into something I've loved for years. I got an espresso machine and started learning more about coffee — recipes, brewing techniques, bean origins, extraction, and the little details that make a difference. It became one of those small rituals that brought some calm back into my days. Making a coffee carefully, paying attention to the details, then simply sitting down and enjoying it was surprisingly therapeutic. It brought me back to the idea of dolce far niente — the Italian expression for the pleasure of simply doing nothing and enjoying the simple things in life.

I currently have two Panama hats from Truffaux Hatmakers - The Meridien (image #2) & The Blue Valentine (image #3). I've had The Meridien for over two years, and The Blue Valentine for a few months. When I ordered that one, I also ordered The Mandrake (image #4), but it was backordered and should be arriving in a few days (at last note it was on a plane). A couple of days ago, I got an email from Truffaux about a sale - and a great one at that: 25% off all Panama hats! So, naturally, I ordered two more. 😁 I ordered The Marakesh (image #5) and The Casablanca Fedora (image #6), but for that one I opted to upgrade to a deluxe burgundy ribbon. Even though the hats are listed in basic sizes, when Oska knows your exact head size, he chooses one specifically for you - taking into account how much the hat is expected to shrink. For this order, Oska is also lengthening each hat into a long oval for my head shape. This service is a $1 (yes, one dollar) add-on with a hat purchase. The ribbon upgrade was $30. You can also add feathers to your hats if you desire (which I usually do). My first experience with Truffaux was asking for advice, using the email link from the website. Out of the four or five he recommended for my face shape, I chose The Meridien. Obviously, I was not disappointed... So, if you want to take advantage of this sale, here's what I recommend: Step 1: Visit Truffaux Hatmakers to get an idea of their offerings. Step 2: Optionally, email Oska ([email protected]) a picture of your face, asking for recommendations. Step 3: Order your favorite hat or hats in the size you think is correct, using coupon code RESTLESS25. Step 4: Reply to the follow-up email about getting your size correct with your actual head size. (Centimeters is preferred, use a flexible tape to measure. You can follow this guide.)

Summer outfits are naturally simpler, which means the smallest details become even more important. In this video, I’m breaking down eight timeless summer accessories that can add personality and refinement to almost any warm-weather wardrobe. Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FDWMo6_gkQ

I’m mastering the art of cooking, every gentleman should know it, in my opinion. Today’s menu item, sirloin steak. I marinated it in a combination of Spanish olive oil, lemon pepper, salt, garlic powder, and liquid smoke. It sits atop buttered fettuccine noodles, seasoned in salt, pepper, and garlic. What’s the verdict?

It's been awhile since the last time I posted anything in the group. But recently I have been going through a lot. And not really able to post or even talk with most people.