OOTD-CW - 20 July 2026 - Boarding the Cruise · Real Men Real Style Community

16h (edited) • OOTD 👔

OOTD-CW - 20 July 2026 - Boarding the Cruise

Well, everyone gets one of those photos with the family boarding the cruise. We were no exception. However, the unexpected part is that it takes a while to access these photos, so I just have a photo of me for today. Alas. My wife took me to a shopping area by out AB&B this morning as she saw "hats and linen" I would like. She's the best. As my Panama is a bit tight (I am horrible at taking my own measurements, which is ironic since I am literally a measurement expert), wind makes it fly off of my head. We found a shop with lots of hot weather hats, including a paper-made Panama. If I had not watch Chap's Guide, I would have thought this was crazy. Now I knew it was a great alternative for something cheap enough to leave behind, if necessary (not easily packed and neither of my boys would wear one on the plane!). They also had a beautiful plant-based Panama (traditional) that looked twice as nice as mine, but then the problem of the return came into effect. So, I picked up the paper-material Panama for a practical headwear when engaging in a windy port.

This might be my first Royal Caribbean cruise (at least since the 1980s) and WOW do they may boarding and your first day easier. Self-administered safety class with individual check in at your muster point. Small pools of embarkation times to make boarding fast (didn't hurt that my wife upgrades everything so we had a priority lane), and the luggage made it to us hours before we expected. So far, they have already made cruising more enjoyable and we're still in dock.

Wore something fun and Mediterranean for the embarkation.

• Shirt: Charles Tyrwhitt HS-010 — Gold/rust linen/cotton blend summer shirt in a bird's eye weave. Slim fit with soft point collar. The linen-cotton blend provides breathability while the bird's eye texture adds visual interest without being overly casual. Perfect for warm-weather sophistication.

• Undershirt: Pro Club US-007 — Chocolate brown heavy cotton crew neck undershirt. The dark color prevents any show-through under the lighter shirt, while the substantial weight provides a smooth foundation.

• Trousers: Cubavera PN-015 — White linen lounge pants in a classic fit with matte finish. Pure linen construction embraces the nautical vacation aesthetic while the relaxed silhouette allows for comfortable movement on deck.

• Belt: W. Kleinberg B-015 — Chocolate brown suede belt with silver-tone buckle. Handcrafted in the USA. The suede texture adds casual refinement while the chocolate brown creates intentional contrast with the white trousers. Matches the undershirt and sock tones for color cohesion.

• Footwear: Carmina DSh-019 — Dark brown braided leather slippers from Spain. Goodyear welted construction on the Simpson last. The intricate braiding elevates these beyond standard casual shoes, while the slipper silhouette maintains vacation comfort. A perfect bridge between dressy and relaxed.

• Socks: Bresciani DSo-080 — Chocolate brown and copper ribbed cotton lisle over-the-calf socks, made in Italy. The subtle copper undertones complement the gold/rust shirt while the cotton lisle keeps feet cool in Mediterranean heat.

• Watch: Orient W-010 (Bambino Version 8 Weekly Calendar) — Red sunburst dial with applied indices, Orient in-house automatic movement with weekly calendar complication. The striking dial adds a refined pop of color, while the 40.5mm polished steel case and dark brown leather strap coordinate with the overall brown leather accessories. Display caseback shows off the F6T22 caliber.

• Ankle Watch: Apple Watch 10 (W-001) — Slate titanium smartwatch for discreet health tracking and notifications. Worn at ankle for functionality without disrupting the classic dress watch presentation.

• Ring: Ellie's Jewelry R-001 — Platinum wedding ring with diamonds. The constant.

• Wallet: Fort Belvedere WL-002 — Classic 10-card bifold in mahogany with petrol blue contrast stitching. Full-grain Italian bullhide leather with forest green viscose moire lining. RFID blocking. The mahogany tones bridge the gap between the chocolate brown accessories and the red watch dial. Purchased this month in anticipation of this trip.

• Business Card Carrier: Fort Belvedere BCC-002 — Brown bison leather bifold clasp carrier with tan quilted interior and silver hardware. Even on vacation, one never knows when networking opportunities arise.

• Leather Carry: Carl Friedrik CRY-002 (Palissy Double Heritage) — Chocolate brown Italian vachetta leather briefcase with Smart Holder trolley attachment. Dual zipped compartments, 15" laptop sleeve. Silver hardware. Professional and travel-ready, this GQ-recognized briefcase carries all cruise day essentials while maintaining polished presentation.

• Fragrance: Tom Ford FR-026 (Grey Vetiver Parfum) — The 2023 Parfum concentration, purchased from Hondos Center in Athens just days ago. Top notes of orange flower and grapefruit give way to saffron and nutmeg heart, resting on a base of Haitian vetiver and oakmoss. 8-12 hour longevity. Refined, debonair, and perfectly suited for Mediterranean elegance.

• Eyewear: Randolph EW-004 (Concorde) — Gold-framed aviator sunglasses with gray polarized glass lenses, made in USA. Bayonet temples and adjustable nose pads. Personalized engraving: "Dr. Cole." American military heritage meets classic sophistication.

• Headwear: Karfil Hats HW-007 — Very light tan Panama hat with center dent crown and snap brim, purchased from a local hatory in Athens, Greece. Paper construction (traditional toquilla palm equivalent) with tan canvas hatband and pin detail. Packable for travel (not so sure, Co-Pilot!). The quintessential warm-weather accessory, freshly acquired for this Mediterranean adventure.

Style Notes:

Color Story: This outfit builds around a warm Mediterranean palette — the gold/rust shirt anchors the warmth, while chocolate brown leather accessories (belt, shoes, briefcase, socks) create visual harmony. The white linen trousers provide crisp contrast and nautical freshness, while the Orient's red sunburst dial adds a surprising yet complementary accent.

Intentional Contrasts: White pants against chocolate brown accessories creates deliberate visual separation. The suede belt texture plays against suede braided leather slippers and smooth leather structured briefcase.

Hardware Coordination: Silver-tone elements throughout — belt buckle, watch case, briefcase hardware, and business card carrier clasp maintain the 2J2 rule (match metals within two visible items of jewelry/accessories).

Vacation Refinement: This isn't a "casual Friday" outfit masquerading as vacation wear. It's purposefully curated relaxed elegance — linen breathability, slip-on comfort, warm-weather appropriate materials — while maintaining the standard of a man who takes presentation seriously even at leisure. (Ahh, thanks Co-Pilot - I did create this one without you!)

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OOTD-CW - 20 July 2026 - Boarding the Cruise