Happy Friday, everyone. The day began very well with our longest client asking us to prepare a contract for a two-year project. She was also providing us for information on a presentation we just had accepted at a major conference (major for my niche industry) on the comfort and appropriateness of using AI in patient-reported outcomes research from the perspective of experts from pharmaceutical companies, major consultancies, and AI experts (who, interestingly, are the most hesitant). I will be presenting this research in Vienna in November. Today is also a good day in that it is my first official wear outside (after my 24 hours of break in) for my Yearn oxblood Balmoral boots! I am loving them. Unfortunately, the outfit I have on reveals that the slacks and jacket need alterations, and the slacks were already altered! I think I may have grown taller... Charcoal, blue and oxblood for a polished Friday video-conference look Friday rotation check: The Friday rule was met at the time of selection: DS-051, NT-065, and DSo-095 each had zero prior recorded wears and therefore fell within the 35 least-worn items. Today’s entry raised each to one wear; additional low-use pieces included DSh-022 (the new boots! I did count a wear inside my house one day as it was all I wore during a weekend day) and DOJ-008, while overall harmony took priority over forcing more zero-wear items into the outfit. • Jacket — DOJ-008 (Hart Schaffner & Marx): A charcoal-gray wool odd jacket with restrained light-brown detailing, notch lapels and a fully lined construction. The charcoal contrasts deliberately with the light-brown trousers, while its brown accent connects naturally to the oxblood leather. • Trousers — SL-019 (Ralph Lauren Green Label): Light-brown basket-weave wool trousers with dark-brown and cream details, cut in a classic 34W × 27L fit. Their subtle sheen and warm coloring bridge the charcoal jacket and oxblood boots without resembling an attempted matched suit.

It’s Friday!! And while I certainly enjoy the feeling of reaching the end of another work week, I don’t look at Friday as a day to simply coast toward the weekend. For me, intentionality means finishing the week the same way I try to begin it — with purpose. Today is a more casual office Friday, and with a cooler August day here in NY, I went with light grey trousers, a checked shirt, brown shoes and a coordinating belt. Relaxed? Absolutely. But still intentional. I think there is something important about finishing things well. Whether it is the work week, a meeting, a project, or simply the commitments I made to myself on Monday, I want to arrive at the finish line knowing I gave the week my attention all the way through. And then comes the weekend. I try to be just as intentional about that time. Time with family. Time to slow down. Time to enjoy some of the things I love. Time to reflect. And time to reset so that when Monday arrives, I’m ready and excited to begin again. The older I get, the more aware I become that none of these days are promised. Every day really is a blessing. Happiness is also a choice. I choose to be happy. I choose to be thankful. And I choose to be grateful — not just when everything goes perfectly, but every single day I’m fortunate enough to wake up and have another opportunity to live, work, learn and spend time with the people I love. So today I’ll finish the work week strong… …and then very intentionally enjoy the weekend. 😎 Be grateful. Choose happiness. Finish strong.

I wore this outfit the other day. I like the blue, not a shade I have worn before. I am curious to know the view on the length of the chinos, personal I think with loafers no break is the go. But I am very interested to get the group view on this one.

Most men think they know why they look bad in a blazer. They blame the wrong size. The wrong brand. Or they tell themselves they're just "not a blazer guy." The real reasons? Hiding in the details and almost nobody talks about them.