Like always I am trying to see everyones opinion on controversial "trends" and today's I can across a denim and black leather derby shoe (not the one depicted) and I wanted to see how everyone felt about it although I think I know what is coming .Does anyone think they belong in certain outfits?

Somehow I got on the Articles of style mail list. A few weeks back I did a post on a flair legged (bell bottom) suit that was another porkey pig fitting too short skirted too high operable button atrocity for $2,000 that they had done. (Each pic same model) I was happy to open up their e mail to see an appropriate length on the tweed: Operable button buttons at models waist- Skirt is at least as long as his crotch. They had the grey flannel pic in the email but cut off the bell bottoms this time. Note how the grey flannel is not only too short at the skirt and too high at the operable button. This fashion trend which a lot of guys have become complacent about has become so common I believe guys aren’t recognizing its biggest risk. Just like the baggy three button (not 3/2) cuts of the 90s aren’t worn anymore-once this “fashion”oddity flips back to a more normal proportion with suits fitting as they have for over 100 years it will equal a lot wardrobe $$$$$$$$$$$$. While I will concede that the grey flannel is a more fitted versus the traditional sack cut front chest panel- that doesn’t excuse its length. Whew.😅 Sanity remains. There is some hope

Got out of the suit and have been doing interviews for scholarships for youth to go to Israel with us. Home and comfortable in my stegman house shoes. Filson short sleeve fly fishing shirt, Orvis duck cloth pants with man made suede trim. Night fellas

Watch 76 years old✅ Shoes 43 years old✅ Tie 35 years old✅ Suit 30 years old✅ Shirt 10 years old✅ Any one who has taken the time to read any of my posts has heard me blather on about Classic TIMELESS menswear and how it is timeless because this style endures and thus provides some great value because one can wear it for many years on many occasions. Today I thought I might blather on about the use of adding interest to the basic grey timeless suit with the use of harmonizing colors and patterns. Firstly colors. While I am not a color wheel guy- I do use the “color wheel” of nature. The greatest artist of all time provides some pretty compelling combinations: a backdrop of Blue sky filled with clouds, and in the foreground grey barked trees with deep green leaves = grey suit, with blue and white shirt, with teal green tie. While some store clerks might recommend trying to match a color of thread or even the grey suit with some matching color in a tie to “blend” it together- Harold used to teach us to “harmonize color” the same way that harmonizing with a melody adds depth to a piece of music. This quote of his was drilled into us. Another thing Harold explained was that our inventory was what he called narrow and deep (fewer colors but a bigger variety of suitings and sport coats in each of those fewer number of colors.) This forced us to add accesory colors together more creatively. Most department stores and many wearhouse stores are wide and deep (with many colors and patterns of suits and sport coats) naturally with this huge inventory to unload on customers, the task is to pick some thread or base color and blend the tie and shirt together. I find this much less creative. In the old days I could delineate guys who shopped at one of our quality competitors versus a department store based upon their accessories. Secondly patterns. Again to add interest to the basic grey suit pattern, harmonizing patterns can add interest as well. Antonio has some brilliant videos about how to match the size and directions of patterns together. A beginner on upping their wardrobe should probably stick with Antonio’s great solid module or “capsule” plan at first. Mixing patterns can take several years for a guy to do on his own without help from a professional clothier. What is sad is when guys get stuck and still think that patterns can’t be mixed. I assure you they can. Today’s OOTD began with my windowpane shirt. I knew a grey suit would be a no brainer and even though the suit has a ghosted lighter grey window pane I knew it’s larger style, thinner line, and pale color wouldn’t conflict with the shirt pattern. Then as I mentioned earlier knowing that grey with green and blue were great combos-I went looking for a suitable green tie (my ties are arranged by color). The woven silk tie I chose had a larger ameba pattern so I knew it couldn’t conflict with the windowpane shirt. The tie “reads” green but is actually a black background with small teal houndstooth repeating pattern. How a pattern (and color) “reads” is important when harmonizing. At 5 feet away the tie appears (reads) as a solid green. At about 2 feet the pattern becomes visible. Working at mastering this concept of how colors and patterns read adds depth to a very basic suit.

Team, I used AI to help me write this because I wanted to drive home, via application of one of Flusser's many principles on Pattern Pairing. Did I get it right? In "Dressing the Man: Mastering the Art of Permanent Fashion", Alan Flusser dedicates significant attention to pattern coordination in the "Neckwear" chapter (pp. 144–169), emphasizing that successful mixing hinges on scale, contrast, and harmony rather than rigid rules—timeless principles drawn from classic menswear's history. He advises starting with a solid suit as a "blank canvas" to let shirt and tie patterns shine, then layering patterns by varying their sizes (scales): pair a small-patterned shirt (e.g., fine check or subtle stripe) with a larger, bolder tie pattern (or vice versa) to create visual interest without chaos. For contrast, ensure the tie is darker than the shirt to draw the eye upward, while harmonizing colors via the color wheel—complementary shades (e.g., blue shirt with orange accents in the tie) or analogous tones (blues and greens) prevent clashing. Flusser warns against "competing" patterns of similar scale and motif (e.g., two large plaids), which can overwhelm; instead, he champions "pattern-on-pattern" as an art form for the discerning dresser. Application to My Recent Outfit (Tan Suit, Blue Checkered Shirt, Patterned Tie & Pocket Square) Your ensemble—a tan suit (likely solid or subtle texture), blue checkered shirt, patterned tie, and coordinating pocket square—aligns well with Flusser's guidelines, making it a correct and effective application for a polished, versatile look suitable for San Antonio's mild September weather. The solid tan suit provides the ideal neutral base, allowing the shirt's check pattern (assuming a fine-to-medium scale) to interplay with the tie's bolder pattern (e.g., stripes or geometric), creating balanced contrast as long as the tie's tones echo the shirt's blues without matching exactly. The pocket square adds a harmonious "echo" (Flusser's term for subtle repetition of colors/motifs across accessories), elevating the outfit without overcomplicating it—perfect for daytime professionalism or evening transitions.