A quiet day today, but also have my eldest (11) daughter home as she is feeling a title ill. I have gone with a 3 piece today as it has been a while since I last wore one and I have lost a little weight. It does fit better and is not a tight plus I can sit down in it and not feel it pulling again. Todays outfit consists of; M.J. Bale Martello 3 Piece Suit in Sand with Navy Pinstripe Charles Tyrwhitt Twill Prince of Wales Check Shirt in Light Blue Cambridge Floral tie in Cappuccino Ecco Citytray Slip-On in Cognac Whiskey Glass socks Magic Eye Cufflinks (a gift from a member, that has since left the platform, Doc for those who remember) SOTD - Dior Fahrenheit Parfum WOTD - Cadisen AP Homage

Into the office for a Town Hall today, luckily I dress the way I do for WFH as it makes the transition easy. I have also been put forward for 2 separate contracts to our clients, guess that’s what happens when you do god work 😬 Today outfit consists of; M.J. Bale Ashford suit in Charcoal Charles Tyrwitt Royal Oxford Windowpane Check Shirt in Steel Blue OTAA Feild of Poppies Tie OTAA Bond Silver Tie Clip OTAA White Pocket Square in White with Rolled Red Edge Anson Oxblood Leather Strap on a Traditional Silver Buckle OTAA Cheeky Monkey socks in Pink Bespoke Full Brogue Monkstrap in Oxblood hand made by Ivassi from Civic Shoes Canberra SOTD - Versace Scandal Parfum WOTD - Erebus Origin GMT (Clark) I almost wore the Silver Surfer today, however I think this watch combo complimented my outfit much better.

To celebrate my 50th (tomorrow), I've booked a trip to Chicago for the first weekend of October. I plan on attempting to reconnect with family that I haven't seen in years, and I want to visit some places I remember enjoying when I was much younger. I live in the Austin, TX area, and the shopping here is dismal. Most of the major stores are nothing more than outlets, and boutiques are rare. I'm looking for suggestions on good shopping for men's fashion. I'm not going all out for North Shore bespoke, mind you, but I do want options with quality. Clothes, hats, shoes, accessories...I'm open to all suggestions. What are some places you enjoy? As a bonus, any restaurants, food vendors, coffee houses, etc. you'd recommend? It's been a minute since I've had real Chicago pizza. Thanks! I'm sure the weather will be significantly different from Texas. Having lived in Illinois and Alaska as well, I'd like to think I'm not a huge wimp when it comes to cold! Still, I plan on taking some light clothes to keep me warm in the evenings (and there's an architecture cruise I plan to take which I'm sure will require an extra layer).

Back in the days Harold’s was known for being the non department store look. In those days that meant we were trained (there were some excellently trained department store guys then as well like anybody from Marshall fields but for the most part that was the exception not the rule) . To this day I can spot a guy in one of our ties. A fraternity brother used to be the president of the Boy Scout board I am on. He is the managing partner for one of Tulsa’s law firms. After the meeting I walked up to him and said-“I’ll bet that’s a Harold’s tie” and he turned it over and was surprised that I was right. Today’s Indian Nations Boy Scout Council board meeting inspired me to go uber classic today with one of my old Harold’s ties. Harold used to say that classic menswear, like classical music, should harmonize rather than coordinate. This means that instead of matchy matchy the colors should complement each other. There are a few stores (J Press and Ben Silver) that still get this concept (as well as a few of the icons of clothing like G Bruce Boyers, Alan Flusser, and of course Ralph Lauren). In an OOTD post it’s hard to express this. But let me attempt to do so. If a navy blazer, blue shirt and olive chino is a classic and great combination, then why not a navy suit, blue shirt and olive tie? Exact same colors just re arranged differently. Many guys get hung up on the fact there’s no blue in that tie. Exactly-so what. It’s all a matter of intentionality and harmonized color. This old Harold’s tie is pretty wide but it actually is the correct width for the 30 year old lapel width. Sorry for the nerd out here guys. Bla Bla Bla green tie navy suit OOTD 1995 MTM true blue herringbone CT Egyptian cotton shirt Reversible wool pocket square Harold’s green tie (80s/90s?) Fly fishing fly braces 1982 shell cordovan Alden Tassels 1940s Ernest Borel automatic watch

Went to a father’s club meeting at my son’s new high school last night. As shown in my OOTD yesterday I wore a suit to work and went directly to the meeting. First guy I saw in parking lot said “well I feel under dressed “ as he walked in with flip flops, shorts and t-shirt. Later at the table I was at another father said he was trying to remember everyone then turned to me and said “but I remember you from orientation. You were dressed up then too”. I don’t relate this story to brag or to disparage the other men who were universally dressed comfortably but to say that it was the first time I realized that taking care with how I present myself does help me to be memorable in a group.