A quick walk to drop my youngest to school and call into the local cafe (Moker Bean Cafe) for my daily Java. I grabbed a different flat cap today, and not the usual blue cap. I think it works very well with the tie, plus there is still some blue accents to work in with the suit. Anyway have a terrific day everyone. Todays outfit consists of; M.J. Bale Ballard Suit in True Blue made from a Super 110’s Merino wool cloth Charles Tyrwhitt Semi-Cutaway Collar Egyptian Cotton Prince Of Wales Check Shirt in Lilac Purple Trent Nathan Balanced Striped Tie in Light Brown. This is one of five thrifted items I own. OTAA Silver Shining Tie Clip OTAA White Pocket Square with rolled Blue edges Anson Cognac Strap on a Classic Buckle with a Curve in Gunmetal Brixton Brood Snap Cap in Oatmeal and Charcoal houndstooth White Howlite is a stone commonly known for promoting calm, tranquility, and patience. Whiskey Glasses Socks, another prize from The Watch Bros Ecco CityTray Slip-On in Cognac SOTD - Mancera Red Tobacco, it is bold, sweet-spicy tobacco fragrance built around cinnamon, saffron, and smoky tobacco, with a big, syrupy vanilla/amber dry-down and a touch of woods. Loud and very long-lasting WOTD - Erebus Ascent 41 Blue MoP, such a stunning watch.

Gents today’s win goes out to my grandfather in law a WW2 Airforce Vet. 3time Purple Heart. Arthur To sit and speak With this man is a walk in history. Even at 100 he still can out dress anyone.

I’m grateful for evenings like this—sharing time with my two grown children, hearing about their lives, and simply enjoying being together. As parents, we spend years raising them, and it is a special blessing when those relationships mature into genuine friendship and companionship. Tonight, overlooking downtown Durham, NC from a rooftop restaurant, I’m reminded that some of life’s greatest gifts are not found in places or possessions, but in the moments we share with family.

For another early morning meeting I threw on the Same shirt and socks worn yesterday (had changed out of them after yesterdays early morning meeting as soon as i got home and they were close early today) Sorry for all the boring dimensions below but I am trying to illustrate a point. I’ve written many times about fit and the issue with modern coats and their odd dimensions. In one area however the off the rack coat works pretty well for me. I broke down a bought one on a 60% off sale from a very high quality store a few weeks back. At a 67 3/4” inch height and a 32” sleeve length and 29” inseam-off the rack clothing is a struggle. Added to that, my weight fluctuation over the past 10 years has seen me float between a 42 regular and 44 regular. Many guys don’t realize that the length of a coat changes between 42r and 44r off the rack. When I have had coats made in the past I have the length specified at about 30.25”. That’s what this 42R finishes out (covers ass checks and crotch). I am still less than pleased with the height of the button. The natural waist is where my body hinges (think little teapot song🎶). When wearing jeans or low rise trousers a little bit of that weird inverted triangle is to be expected (to offset I usually leave the coat un buttoned when wearing jeans). But normal mid rise or high rise trousers should make that disappear. That’s not the biggest issue with the button too high. The real issue is the sillouette of the coat. With a normal natural waist-high button, the shoulders are accentuated and the waist is narrowed (see pics creating an X where the right shoulder makes a line to your left hand at attention on the left side and the other half of the X left shoulder to right hand= silhouette: blue coat with red X is right; brown coat with yellow X about 3” too high) The top of the side pockets on the coat should be at the hip points with the natural waist just a few inches above. Where the body hinges-That is the button line. One of the challenges is the 3” or 3.5” lapel width presently. If you look at early 1960’s coats they too had a slightly higher middle button. At 4” lapels this is easier to get that lower stance.