I am fascinated by the various ways silk can be used on ties. While being a fan of Chris Modoo on the Rampley & Co videos, they often showcase their shantung silk ties. Their texture is beautiful. Shantung silk is prized for its irregular slubs, dry hand, and matte texture, which give a tie depth without the shine of smoother silk twills. It reads slightly relaxed and artisanal, but in restrained colors—like today's Rampley & Co blue, cream, and ecru stripe I am wearing—it can still sit comfortably in business-formal territory. Rampley & Co's version works well here because the texture adds visual interest on camera while the classic stripe and muted palette keep the look controlled. • Suit — SJ-014, SL-023 (Enzo Tovare): A navy Enzo Tovare two-button suit in light Super 150s worsted wool, with a subtle sheen and restrained pattern scale. The roped, padded shoulder and clean navy line give it business-formal polish for a video-conference day while still pairing naturally with the softer brown suede accessories. • Shirt — DS-044 (Charles Tyrwhitt): A white non-iron poplin French-cuff dress shirt from Charles Tyrwhitt. The semi-spread collar, French cuffs, medium opacity, and formal white ground make it a crisp canvas for the textured shantung silk tie and enamel cufflinks. • Undershirt — US-022 (Sene): A white Sene made-to-measure undershirt in Peruvian Pima cotton with elastane. The excellent drape and fantastic fit support the dress shirt without adding bulk or show-through distraction. • Tie — NT-057 (Rampley & Co): A blue, cream, and ecru striped Rampley & Co shantung silk tie, three-fold, self-tipped, hand-rolled, and matte in finish. The slubby shantung texture brings casual richness and movement to the navy suit while the business-formal color palette keeps the look sharp rather than rustic. • Pocket Square — PS-003 (Charles Tyrwhitt): An ivory silk pocket square with navy polka dots. It echoes the navy suit and blue tie without matching too literally, adding a small patterned lift above the jacket pocket.

Started with my lime green RL polo slipped on in the closet while my wife was still sleeping and built a three color outfit from there. Grabbed some steel blue trousers and a black linen sport coat. I accessorized with blue Pendleton socks, Clark’s blue leather derby’s, and an Orvis Watch. The coat is over 35 years old bought on sale in Europe, the pants are inexpensive department store trousers picked up as my weight was swinging back and forth a few years back, and the shirt was on clearance at Macy’s next door to my office and the shoes were at a Clark’s outlet store buy one get one free. Even the Orvis watch I picked up at an Orvis outlet that used to be in far western part of Virginia 9 years ago. The only thing I paid full boat on was the reversible lime green gingham and pink silk pocket square on a trip to San Antonio a few years back. all seemed to me to work on what is anticipated as another warm day.