Mixing new (to me) and old today. New: Brooks Brothers button down shirt, Tom James trousers Old: Allen Edmonds Park Avenues and Jones New York suit jacket I bought in the late 90s. The weather here is gray today, so I'll be accompanied by my gray hat, also from the 90s.

And there it is! The title that I've happily struggled on paper and orally for four years! I'm officially a PhD (Dr Luis Maia de Freitas). Last week, 18th of September, I successfully defended my dissertation in ancient cities in Greco-Roman Syria and Mesopotamia while employing Homi Bhabha's concepts of hybridity and the third space. Not only the topic was a hard one, but the experience of researching and writing at a level of a PhD opened various opportunities to showcase my research internationally, as well as enhancing my current skills for both the academic and industry worlds. Most importantly, throughout this positive journey is the amount of contacts and friendships I will keep them for life, from supervisors to PhD colleagues and friends; from entrepreneurs to scholars. That is what makes a PhD journey fulfilling, and not just sitting down and do your research, where having a life balance helps you to store energy to absorb more knowledge. In sum, between the 1st of July 2021 until the 18th of September 2025 (and with a six month corrections lasting until March 2026), here's a breakdown of my journey beyond the thesis: Self-funded my PhD by working part-time at a restaurant to prepare and serve food, and other jobs as a teaching assistant, cover supervisor and student leader to deliver workshops, mark assessments and supervising pupils to collect and invest my pocket-money; Participated in 6 international conferences and organised, as well as spearheaded 3 of them to share different topics in ancient history and classics towards 500+ speakers and attendants, including scholars and PhD candidates; Created PhD Lounge podcast since the 29th of June 2021, leading me to two awards: Outstanding contributor for the PGR community of Swansea University and to the top 40 best PhD podcast content. Had chats and made friends with different PhDs across the world, and continuing to do so to increase my outreach internationally; Three industry placements in education and corporate social responsibility community projects: The Brilliant Club, Rewise Ltd (still working there), and MFL Languages (will start soon).

Day 1 - Heading to my local city town hall meeting in an outfit I never thought I’d wear. Kinda like it. Tommy Hilfiger jeans, Moretti shoes, white Murano button up shirt with subtle gray herringbone pattern, a suit jacket (unknown) hanging in the closet, and a random cowboy hat i picked up (only one I own and never wear it). RayBan green aviators and Apple Watch for the accessories.

In my travels this week, I’ve seen more men wearing a sling bag for their belongings. I’m not one to look at that as an option, kinda reminds me of a fanny pick from back in the 80s, but then again a better alternative to wearing cargo shorts and stuffing them full of your belongings, aside from a six pack of beer during a Mardi Gras parade when you’re in your teens, or did I just reveal too much. Just wanted to get y’all’s thoughts on them, I’d be more inclined to just use a small backpack, but that’s just me.

On a rainy upper 70s and humid day it is a bit too swampy to go tweeds in Tulsa Oklahoma in spite of the season. Enter the Barbour jacket. I frequently replace a sport coat with a Barbour and occasionally wear it as an overcoat. I think if I had to pick any single garment that has given me the greatest VALUE using Antonio’s Style system it would have to be my Barbour(s). From casual with jeans to sporty dress down-even while wearing my kilt😉 this jacket gets used-a lot . (Even more than my navy blazer). A big fan of the whole English country look- I can think of nothing (including my tweeds) that achieves that so frequently by giving me so many wearings. https://www.barbour.com/us/our-history.html OOTD. • Barbour jacket • CT blue Oxford (basket weave) • RL wool tartan fringe end Tie (wife EBAY gift) • Steel blue trousers • Brighton fly fishing belt (because I wanted to😏) • Pendleton Rocky Mountain Nat Park Socks • Alden Indiana Jones Boots • more wrist time with my new nato band on Wenger