CW = Critiques are always welcome. Indeed, I will start us off! The shirt sleeves need to be shortened (I've been going through a process with my tailor which is working well now), my slacks need to go through my steam closet for a fresh crease, and I'm still not sure if this jacket really is a true midnight blue or just black. I've tried all of the optical checks, from AI, to asking others, and nothing is conclusive! Maybe that means it's the best possible midnight blue?! On the positives, I will continue to love these boots forever and I found a new retailor of quality accessories that is a blend of Japanese and European influence: Shibumi Firenze. This grenadine tie is a great blend of the sky blue and reddish/brown in the outfit. A warm-weather client-video-conference outfit built around midnight blue, sky blue, tan and oxblood, with burgundy and gold accents. - Blazer — BOJ-006 (Brooks Brothers): A midnight-blue Brooks Ease wool blazer in size 44R, with roped shoulders, patch pockets and gold buttons. Its structured silhouette provides business-formal presence while the solid color supports the outfit’s richer accessories. - - Shirt — DS-043 (Charles Tyrwhitt): A sky-blue non-iron cotton shirt with herringbone texture, spread collar and square French cuffs. The mid-blue weave connects naturally to the blazer and gives the grenadine tie a refined foundation. - - Undershirt — US-011 (Ralph Lauren): A navy cotton crew-neck undershirt in XL. It remains concealed while supporting the outfit’s blue color story. - - Trousers — SL-009 (Santorelli): Tailored tan wool-and-elastane odd trousers with a subtle micro-twill texture and faint medium-brown detail. They lighten the midnight blazer and provide a warm bridge to the oxblood leather. - - Tie — NT-078 (Shibumi Firenze): A hand-rolled, three-fold Garza Grossa grenadine in burgundy and sky-blue stripes. Its matte, open weave balances the shirt’s herringbone texture while the burgundy links directly to the boots and accessories. - - Pocket Square — PS-041 (Fort Belvedere): A generous 16.5-inch silk-wool square in mohair blue, burgundy, green and yellow, with a medallion-and-paisley border. The colors echo the shirt, tie and blazer without directly matching them; a puff or crown fold will showcase the palette effectively. - - Belt — B-017 (Nordstrom): A 1.25-inch oxblood leather belt with a silver buckle. Its restrained finish aligns with the boots while introducing a small cool-metal counterpoint. - - Footwear — DSh-022 (Yearn Shoemaker): Custom hand-welted Balmoral dress boots in oxblood museum calf with dark burnishing, Triumph toe plates and bark-tanned leather soles. Their formal closed-lacing silhouette and artisanal finishing anchor the outfit with authority. - - Socks — DSo-092 (Mes Chaussettes Rouges/Mazarin): Navy and royal-blue birdseye cotton-lisle socks, made knee-high with hand-linked toes and a hunter-green upper band. They reinforce the blue foundation while contributing quiet pattern below the trousers. - - Cufflinks — CL-031 (Unnamed): Small matte-gold cufflinks with opaque topaz-blue glass stones on rink-shaped mounts. They connect the shirt and blazer blues to the blazer buttons and gold tie bar. - - Tie Bar — TA-003 (Unnamed): A gold-plated tie bar with horizontal-line detailing. It provides a clean functional accent and reinforces the outfit’s warm-metal elements. - - Watch — W-010 (Orient): The 40.5 mm Orient Bambino Version 8 with a red sunburst dial, polished steel case and dark-brown leather strap. Its rich dial adds controlled warmth that relates to the burgundy tie and oxblood leather. - - Ankle Watch — W-001 (Apple): The 46 mm Apple Watch 10 is worn on the ankle solely for health and activity tracking. It is not visible and does not form part of the outfit’s visual composition. - - Pen — P-006 (Montblanc): The Meisterstück 149 in high-gloss black resin and platinum trim, fitted with a medium 18K-gold nib and Kon-Peki blue ink. Its substantial profile is appropriate for executive notes and client-facing work. - - Ring — R-001 (Ellie’s Jewelry): The platinum-and-diamond wedding ring remains the outfit’s personal constant. Its cool metal is independent of the deliberate gold accents elsewhere. - - Business Card Case — BCC-004 (Fort Belvedere): An oxblood long-grain box-calf bifold with a silver clasp and turquoise goat-suede interior. Its exterior aligns closely with the boots and belt while the interior provides a discreet blue accent. - - Wallet — WL-002 (Fort Belvedere): A mahogany-and-petrol-blue full-grain leather bifold with forest-green moiré lining. Its warm leather and muted blue-green details quietly continue the day’s palette. - - Eyewear — EW-004 (Randolph): Concorde aviator sunglasses with polished 24K-gold-plated frames, gray polarized glass lenses and green accents. The gold frame supports the blazer hardware and accessories while retaining a classic aviation profile. - - Fragrance — FR-025 (Yves Saint Laurent): MYSLF Le Parfum combines black pepper and orange blossom with amber, bourbon vanilla, patchouli and sandalwood. Its warm woody-floral character suits the navy tailoring and burgundy leather; apply lightly for video-conference office wear.

I'm pretty much finished with these "for now" as I want to wear them a bit. This is a timeline of photos. The first picture is an eBay listing picture, the second is how they arrived. A big difference in color for sure. It's all in the lighting! 😎 I decided to take them all the way down to the factory color with Renomat.Pic #3 Then I started bringing them back with some Renovator for nourishment and a little softening of the leather and color.Then I started with a couple of coats of burgundy shoe cream pic 4. Then I switched to medium brown for 2 light coats Pic #5 to soften the redness as t was almost looking purple. After that I did a couple of burnishing coats of dark brown on the front toe caps and heel counters to add a little dimension, and then some neutral wax polish for the toe cap and heel counters for a little pop of shine but nothing too shiny. New laces and we are ready for a trial run!! 😎 I love shoes and I love the care and maintenance of my collection. While I do have some more expensive shoes, there is something quite satisfying about finding a great pair of second hand shoes and bringing them back to life. I am always on the look out!! If you haven't tried it you should! It's not an expensive thing to get into and it can be rewarding and therapeutic!!

Wednesday OOTD. More meetings in Albuquerque and Santa Fe today with contractors and distributors. - khaki shortsleeved button down with company logos - Brown leather belt - Slim fit blue jeans - Brown derby’s - SOTD Spice bomb Night vision

The old adage in the women’s fashion world was no white after Labor Day. This bled over in to men’s clothing and consequently white bucks and seersuckers after Labor Day became a faux pax. Seersucker, especially in the southern states of US is the summer gentleman’s ubiquitous pinstripe. Its design that causes that classic puckering is what makes it the perfect summer suit or sportcoat because air flows through it. Where a linen suit is the summer’s version of a winter flannel suit-the other summer garment would then be the Seersucker. So irrespective of an arbitrary September holiday, at 106 degrees it’s just plain “DUCKING😎” hot. A couple of things about today’s outfit. I’ve posted frequently about taking cues from nature and one of my favorite combos is deep green against blue (think sky and trees- add clouds and a green tie with a seersucker’s blue and white is ideal. While I rarely wear a solid tie-I did some bold pattern matching today wearing a blue (that reads solid from a distance) PoW French cuff shirt that has a green accent (not essential but adds a nice touch), so the solid grenadine tie felt right. I accessorized with Guinness cufflinks, 1993 Shell Cordovan brogues in British Tan and a Caravelle Bulova watch. Quack Quack should I add a mint julip with my coffee😏🦆

Here Is Another Pod Cast on The Gentleman's Forum that you might find interesting Why De-Digitizing Your Life May Be the Smartest Move You Make Your phone may be making you less productive, less present, and less like yourself. Anthony Buntyn shares how a year of deliberately “de-digitizing” his life helped him regain focus, improve his memory, and create more meaningful routines, relationships, and habits. From limiting notifications and checking email only twice a day to swapping endless scrolling for handwritten notes, a daily planner, books, vinyl records, and even a safety razor, Anthony breaks down the real-world changes that made the biggest difference. He explains why slowing down can actually make you sharper, calmer, and more intentional in work, family life, and conversation. You’ll discover: - Why constant notifications fragment your attention and drain productivity - How handwriting, journaling, and cursive can strengthen memory and retention - The surprising way analog rituals like shaving, reading, and listening to records create calm and reflection - How setting phone boundaries can improve marriage, meetings, and real presence - Why privacy, discretion, and fewer digital distractions matter more than ever Anthony also shares practical steps for anyone who wants to reduce digital dependency without going off the grid, plus the mindset shift that helped him reclaim his time instead of reacting to algorithms all day. If you’ve ever felt controlled by your devices, overwhelmed by scrolling, or simply ready for a more grounded way to live, this episode is for you. Perfect for men who want to sharpen their focus, restore old-school habits, and become more intentional in how they live, work, and connect.