Tonight's event will feature some fine food and wine pairings at one of our favorite, local restaurants. Tonight's outfit is based around my newest thrift purchase - an Italian wool, light tan and light blue sportscoat by Cremieux. I combined it with a set of made-to-measure offerings - a light blue puppytooth, Reda merino wool dress shirt and ivory, Japanese selvedge denim jeans.

I repeated a process that I did this summer while on my current trip to Vienna. In consultation with my style consultant and with my AI bot, I researched some of the local Viennese and Austrian business attire wardrobe items that would complement my current wardrobe and style of dress while showing something that was identifiably from here (even if others can't spot it, thus requiring a good story behind the item). My initial list of ten places to visit was whittled down to three, Ludwig Reiten - men's shoes. This was the highest on the list. I love shoes, but would not have thought of them on my own. The recommendation was to speak to the sales staff about a shoe that could not readily be found from a TLB Mallorca or Carmina (about the same level for their upper range, though happened. a bit more expensive for the LRs). The store was so beautiful (definitely a theme for today), their staff was very knowledgeable, and getting to try on nuanced differences between different lasts, widths, and leathers allowed me to easily settle on my final shoe. I went for the Capuchins (single monk-straps in black box calf leather; Capuchins - AW26 - Ludwig Reiter Schuhmanufaktur). I was easily influenced by the dark charcoal suit I was wearing and how stunning the shoes looked with it. The only monk-strap shoes I current own are from Thursday Boots and are double monks. The straps are a bit flimsy, probably what you'd expect at 1/5 the price of the LRs. The straps on these are like buckling a very expensive and well-made valise with vachetta leather straps and solid brass buckles. One hilarious moment happened. She asked if I knew how to break in leather shoes. I told her that I wear them on carpeted floors for a total of 24 hours before every taking them outside, which usually is about 5-6 evenings of wearing them about the house. She looked at me and said "I don't need to teach you anything, do I?" This was a Bond quote! I noted that it was, and she intended it to be one!

I deserve to look good and feel good. Does it have to come at the cost of me dressing in the same sterile clothes as every other rack shopper and Amazon Click Fiend? Everyone knows the simplicity of High Formal and Lazy Casual. High Formal is presenting Competence, Confidence, Charisma and Class, and Lazy Casual is what feels most comfortable on your skin without regard to looks. While I've been quiet as of late, working towards the financial ability to rectify my wardrobe to always look good and feel better, I feel I may have an issue. I am finding several pieces in the Everyday Wear that work for most people, but don't feel right on me. Too branded, too stiff, too sterile, too cheap. It feels like every aisle and link is catered to Guy Business, Wily Wilderness, Kyle in the Lifted Silverado, Chad SportsBro and the most generic and disposable bare bones every day wear and workwear. All the personality is sitting in pop culture graphic tees, and as awesome as those are, they lack the class I am looking for in my wardrobe elevation. All of my yapping and griping aside, here is my question. Is it just a universal and fundamental truth that all men's clothing with any amount of style in America fits this sterile, stiff and clean cut mold? Or is there a way to uncover hidden gems better able to express my individuality and expression filled personality? I feel best when I look good, but would be remiss to deny these fears.

This weekend I came across a very interesting video on YouTube. The video follows a week-long experiment in which the creator adopts the clothing and grooming standards associated with a 1950s American man. He replaces modern casual wear with high-waisted pleated trousers, tailored suits, shirt stays, and fedoras, while also using period-style grooming practices such as safety-razor shaving, hair tonic, and Brylcreem. Its central question is whether prioritizing formal presentation over modern comfort changes how a man feels and how others respond to him. The creator tests the look in ordinary contemporary settings and reflects on the tradeoff between the discipline and confidence of deliberate dress versus the convenience of current casual fashion. Bottom line: It is a lifestyle-and-style experiment arguing that intentional grooming and clothing can affect self-presentation and social interactions, while recognizing that full 1950s-style dress is less comfortable and less practical for everyday modern life. Interesting comment: "The guy goes from Bruh to Sir!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCH0eUXFMk0

Gentlemen, there is a fine line between looking like a dapper menswear aficionado and looking like you pulled your pocket square out of a dog's mouth. Most guys skip wearing pocket squares simply because they can never find the one they want—or when they do, it’s creased beyond recognition. The good news? You can rescue your collection today using things you already own, completely skipping the expensive specialty organizers. To fix this sartorial crisis, you can go full minimalist and neatly file your squares inside an old shoebox, or channel your inner mad scientist by stuffing them into wide-mouth glass jars like high-fashion pickled eggs. However, my absolute favorite power move is the trouser hanger; hanging them alongside your suits makes you feel like you’re browsing a private Savile Row boutique every morning while gravity does all the ironing for you. Best of all, using a wooden trouser hanger lined with felt leaves your dresser top completely clear, keeps your silks wrinkle-free, and ensures your kitchen jars remain safely dedicated to actual food—or bourbon. Alright gentlemen, moment of truth. Is your pocket square collection neatly filed away, elegantly hanging, or still living in a crumpled pile on your dresser? Cast your vote in our quick poll below—and if you have a genius storage hack of your own, drop it in the comments! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4e__x0HaoM