My Cermet/ Starbucks Submariner getting some work while catching Blue fin 50 miles south of San Diego off the coast of Enanada..

May has been glorious. So far 4 days of fishing in Missouri; 2 days in Tennessee (group I’ve been fishing -and drinking single malts- with for 28 year). And Today-the annual family reunion (15th year) in Eastern Oklahoma. Waiting on the rain to subside a bit. Should get another couple of days. OOTD Orvis batik print shirt that I had the collar flipped Tennessee “South Holston River Co” souvenir cap Levi’s 501 shrink to fit BIG GRIN😊

On the first day of the week I like preparing by getting my alignment squared away which means day one equals a church day with the family. Grabbed an uber basic outfit: HSM navy blazer, red p square, CT tattersall oxford shirt, RL red rep tie (1982), charcoal pants, cashmere socks, Alden shell cordovan tassels (1982), Weneger field watch. Then quick nap and prepping for adventure Two The next fishing trip preparation involved a Barbour re-wax since there is potential rain in the Tennessee forecast. Started with a sponge wipe down before church and then left it out in the sun to dry and heat up. After church I boiled a pot of water to put the can of wax into and the brushing began. Lastly left it out in sun to stay heated followed by allowing it to rest in a warmer environment in doors overnight (it will ride in the back of the truck for the 14 hour drive sitting over my Orvis gear Bag to give it about 40 hours to cure). With a 5:15 AM departure I need to get some rest soon. Gear is ready. And so am I!!! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FjJLs29wt7s&feature=youtu.be

In the 1970’s the great Gatsby Movie with Robert Redford (clothing designer was none other than Ralph Lauren) had a big impact. It reminded gentlemen that there was a deep level of elegance in menswear from a bygone era (that movie was set in Long Island in the 1920’s). This reminder was desperately needed during the 1970’s, or as I like to call it. The style dark ages. As I said several times perhaps the present time is even darker ages. I’ve seen a lot of posts about the influences of the Peaky Blinder Series. Set in roughly the same era the recent Motorsport ads by Ralph Lauren kind of capture that same feel. Dressed up casual. A tie and tweed outfit set to be worn during an activity. On that last note I am all for it. When I lived in Virginia we used to attend Steeple Chases where most of the guys were in sport coats and functional hats (not a baseball cap) for hanging out in the sun all day. Our favorite was at the birthplace of James Madison called Montpelier. It was held on the first weekend in November so it might be in the 70’s or perhaps in the upper 40’s so the dress varied (plus the alcohol tended to cool the body down by the end of the all day race.😎 ) To me that is what the peaky blinder influence represents, a wool cap (flat or fedora) an overcoat of tweed, a sweater, and perhaps a dress shirt and tie. While I am not into costuming, there are elements of this look of which I am very fond. The Ben Affleck Batman wardrobe designer kind of caught this tweedy functional dressed up work attire in those films as well https://vmagazine.com/article/polo-originals-launches-motorsport-inspired-fw23-campaign-by-richard-phibbs/ If peaky blinders -or Ralph or even The Bat-Man (spoken in my best Cillian Murphy Scarecrow voice) can save us again from the mess of the past 15 years, I’ll get commissioner Gordon to fire up the Bat signal

My wife and I celebrated our eighteenth anniversary Sunday night. She said she thinks I look better and dress way better, now, than when we got married. That spoke a lot to me. It’s because of groups like this, RMRS, Gentlemen’s Gazette, among others, that really helped me improve and I am thankful.