As much as I like to dine out, I sometimes enjoy a quiet evening at home (don't worry, this is not another story about how I get the girl). This evening my wife and I decided to prepare dinner for her 82 year old grandpa. I find men of his generation fascinating, and their wealth of knowledge and experience is abundant. His stories about politics, clothing, and growing up are so captivating. He reminisced about shopping at the gentleman's store where he grew up, and he repeatedly pointed out that nobody makes a good suit anymore. "Everything is mass produced," he exclaimed. I comforted him by assuring him that I would take him to buy a quality suit. He replied, "A guy has to look good you know, even at 82." As we moved from the sitting room to the dining room, we all sat down to a beautiful table prepared by my wife. I am wearing a linen and silk blend fair isle sweater, cream wool trouser, candy stripe oxford, and canvas spectator shoes. I sorely wanted a picture of my wife and her grandfather, but they were skeptical about being on the internet. He constantly reminded me that it would destroy the world :) Regardless, he was wearing a red plaid shirt, brown corduroy blazer, olive chinos, and brown wing-tips (all from Brooks Brothers).
Dinner was fabulous, and the conversation continued. We all enjoyed the lamb chops, green salad, baked potatos, and rolls. We finished the meal with peach ice cream and peach cobler. After dinner, her grandpa wanted to sit on the deck and have a smoke. "Come smoke with me, Richard", he said. "It will clear your lungs and mind." :) It had become quiet brisk outside, so I ventured into my closet and grabbed my camel hair blazer and tweed cap. I usually don't wear a hat, but he brought his, and he told me I needed to get mine. "You must never let your head get cold!" he exclaimed. I did not argue! As he fired up his pipe, I began to puff on my Macanudo Maduro. The conversation continued, and he continued to school me about great suits and occasionally tobacco. He encouraged me to smoke a pipe. "You will love it," he said. I explained to him that I did have a pipe, but I seldom use it. As the evening came to a close, I realized how much I could learn from this man. I thoroughly enjoyed my quiet evening at home!
A Look From Behind
Close Look
The Shoes
17 comments:
And I thoroughly enjoyed reading this charming story Richard!
Wonderful, Richard. This is probably my favourite post so far. Impeccable pics. Just amazing. These clothes are better than anything I've seen online in a long time, including Will's blog [sorry Will]. Your spectators are identical to the ones I recently picked up. They do look nice. I have yet to try them out. I like the fact you are wearing a candy striped oxford (this is one of my staples). Your pocket square does not match anything in your outfit, yet it looks great. Your wife's grandpa sounds like a gent. Brown cord sport coat, plaid shirt, brown wingtips, olive chinos -- what's not to like? I would love to see a pic, but I can understand his attitude towards the interwebs. Well done.
smashing ensemble! the sweater & coat are great, but the shoes are amazing.
always love the stories. i want to adopt gramps. i'm jealous.
Suzanne,
Unless I'm mistaken, you're not jealous, you're envious.
The Talented Mister Ripley would approve.
Richard,
Since you don't listen to anything anyone else says about the way your clothes fit, look at the photo taken of you from behind and the close up of the chest. What do you think about the way your jacket and pants fit?
Now, since you don't seem willing or able to self-help, let me go ahead and tell you what I see. The pants are too baggy in the seat. Look at the hanging fabric that ruins the line of the pants and rather than presents a long line of the leg makes your rear end look like it starts just above the knee. A good tailor could take in the seat and shorten the rise of the crotch, but I suspect the pants are still too big in the thigh. Treat yourself to a custom pair of pants (Notice Richard none of this is a comment about your weight. This is a comment about your pants being too big!)
The shoulders of the jacket are too broad. Look at the bunching of fabric in front and behind at the right shoulder. (Mind you, Richard you are standing straight with your arms relaxed so there is no way you can blame this on pose.) Try a soft shouldered jacket. I know you like the sack jacket rather than a darted one for reasons of purity over good fit and fashion, so if you insist on staying with this cut, invest in a custom sports jacket with a lower button stance. And the rear vent, Richard, I dont think it is open because your but is too big, I think it is open because your jacket is too baggy and your body is causing the excess fabric to bunch, pull, and pucker.
I like the argyle sock/shoe combo.
Seen from an European perspective, this is really a ridiculous "post"
" I find men of his generation fascinating, and their wealth of knowledge and experience is abundant."
And what will men of the present generation--when they are 82-- be able to tell their grandchildren?
Grandpa sounds like a hoot...
:)
It sounds like you had a nice visit with "Grandpa". I have a question. I was always told that one does not wear spectators after Labor Day. Was I told wrong?
I suppose you were told correctly about spectators, but I violate all kinds of fashion rules. Spectators and White Bucks were worn year around with tweed (especially with tweed) in the early Ivy League Days. Somewhere along the line, somebody said it is not fashionable. The spectators I am wearing have a dirty white patina (purchased that way), and I think they look great in the fall/winter. I also wear heavy woolen cream trousers and cream colored trousers year around. I have even considered buying a cream flannel suit. So, do what you will with the so called rules, but I encourage you to have fun and wear what you want confidently.
Listen long enough and Gramps might explain his seasonally appropriate clothing. I imagine these light colored pants are breezy and lightweight, but you toss a heavy camel hair coat over a sweater and top off with a tweed cap. And think this is consistent with cloth/leather spectators.
Perhaps when your (grand)children start dressing oddly, you'll become a bit more staid. How exactly did you know where he bought his pants and shoes?!?
I am one of your biggest anonymous critics, but this is one great post. Love the outfit!
Richard,
Looking good Brother.
Duck
Richard,
The spectator shoes are fantastic!
I have two questions:
1.) Where did you get them?
2.) Would you ever wear black and white spectators?
I must agree with the lengthy poster. The picture from the rear is telling...show is to your tailor.
Haven't seen Worthington around the Club lately.
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