The Blue Suit

The Little Black Dress is a staple in women's closets. It can be dressed up, it can be dressed down, but it is always appropriate. In many parts of the US black is ubiquitous. Not so much in Mayberry, but perhaps in your community.

Somehow though, unless your name is George Clooney, black just doesn't cut it for men.

When you think black, what comes to mind? Funeral directors, mafia hit men? Both necessary occupations, but sartorially not much to build on. Men simply do not have the accessories to pull black off well. If you're honest with yourself, you will admit that black tie sounds like a good idea, but few pull it off with aplomb, James Bond not withstanding.

So what's the male equivalent of the LBD? Navy Blue.

Looks good on almost everyone. A navy Tux radiates. The unstated purpose of the tux is to be neutral, to make the woman on your arm look better. You can't do that in a suit that washes out in all but the brightest light. Navy makes the LBD look even bettter.



It works casually in linen or poplin.

Paired with a simple white shirt, and solid tie its a neutral.

Smarten up the shirt, add some color, simple accessories and it suddenly becomes very elegant, in a Cary Grant kind of way.



Proof that any schlub looks better in a simple navy blue suit.

Toad

Photos

Life Magazine Archives

The Sartorialist

wre Images

Sartorialist

Easy and Elegant Life

Who'd a thunk?

Anyone else really surprised my new friends with the shovels and other cool gadgets showed up around noon, worked an hour or so, told me this project wasn't going to be as hard they estimated, then left? Not I.

toad

Vacation's Over

You know that feeling you get, when you arrive home from vacation? You are glad to be home, but tired to the bone. There has been too much of everything. Too much food, sun, fun. Ready to get back to work, so you can recover.

That's me!

Number 1 son and his family left us this afternoon, so that they could begin their recuperation. I'm beat, although I can't exactly explain why.

We've had a wonderful week. I got to be a hands on grandpa every day for the past 10 days. Watched as 9 yo Paige overcame her fear of the water, and became a very accomplished swimmer in just a few short days. If you asked she would tell you she learned "automatically". It may have been the gills she was growing.

So now things are back to normal. I can catch up on all the chores I wouldn't do when it was 98 out, but it is going to be lonely. Even Ted the wonder dog is moping around looking for his friend.

On the bright side. Driveway work begins this tomorrow. Supposedly the work will take two days, and we will have to keep off it for several days after. Sounds like a 4 day project, with the weekend screwed up. Pictures tomorrow, let's hope the EPA stays away.

Toad

Odds and Ends

Farah
I'm going to miss Farah. For those too young to have known her in her heyday Ms. Fawcett was more than a drunken bimbo on David Letterman. She will always be rightfully remembered for two things. 1. She looked pretty good in a swimsuit, and more importantly

#2. In perhaps the nadir of women's fashion, the mid 1970's, thousands of young women traipsed to their beautician with a photo of Ms. Fawcett in their purses and said I want my hair like that. She was the Jennifer Anniston of her day. Single handedly, Farah made girls worth looking at. Their outfits certainly offered no reason to.

Keep in mind, the woman could not act, but that does not necessarily grease the skids for her oblivion. I'll remember her fondly.

Respects to her son and family.


Michael
No comment. As I write this his spokespeople are sticking to the heart attact story. Reminds me of the gov and the AT however.

Respects to his family.


Channeling Bunny
Channeling Bunny needs your input. Holiday, party,va(stay)cation, backyard news, pictures, fashions, tips, ideas, and hopes dreams and aspirations welcome.


The Sartorialist
Every now and again I get the notion that Scott's losing it. I realize the impossibility of the task he has set for himself, and admire the career he has created, but sometimes I just wonder what he has done with himself.

Then he does something like this.

I either blame or credit The Sartorialist for my interest in men's clothing. I found him early in his blog career, at a time when I was seeking something sartorially special. Scott showed me the way. I'll never doubt him again.


Wearable Towel?
One of the reasons many of you lament the heat, is that you're forced to put your slanket away for the season. Worry not my friends, now there is the wearable towel. Perfect for warm weather occasions which require that something extra. I endorse the white or blue toga.

Toad

Mrs. T's Birthday

Today is the anniversary of Mrs. T's birth. It is the most festive day of the year at The Park.

As every married man worth his salt will attest, they married well above their station. So it is with me. I'm not going to go into that "she completes me" nonsense, or the we're best friends, BS. Neither of which is necessarily true.

She is however the love of my life though. I adore her, am blessed to be married to her, and am happiest whenever she is near.

Happy BD my love.

Mouses

In the division of household chores I can be something of a wuss if the occasion demands, but this time I knew it wouldn't work.

Positively, no one stands in front of me in the line which sings the praises of rodents, and reptiles and most insects. My voice is heard first and loudest extolling their virtues. However, I draw a line, not in the sand, but at the front door.

Something just hasn't felt right around here the past few days. I couldn't figure it out, and I didn't want to talk about it either. I just wanted whatever bad vibe was lingering to go away.

So last evening, at cocktail time, #1 son quietly says, "oh my, don't tell my wife". What? answers I. There, a mouse. The fog lifted. Immediately, I knew what I always knew, but didn't want to face.

So after, everyone goes to bed, son and I lay out a couple of traps. Please don't tell PETA. Almost instantly, bam.

From the other room, "What's that noise?" Nothing, I lied, as I set another trap. Bam, bam.

Now, Mrs. T is up. What's going on? I had to fess up.

God, I hate getting rid of mouse meat. Makes me wish for a mouser. I set a few more traps and went to bed.

Around 4AM I get a poke in the ribs. Got another one, my wife says. Get it, you don't want the girls to get up and see the traps, or a mouse. Grumble.

Four down and mouse free all day. Plugged many of the possible entry points, and have so far avoided being noticed by our guests. Tonight I'll set a few more traps and pray for an undisturbed sleep.

Toad

Sky Zone

I get to be grandpa this week. It's a pretty cool job, and it comes with lots of perks. Like entertaining two girls, a 16 year old and a 9 year old.

So what's a guy to do in the middle of the afternoon, when it's near 100 outdoors, and its too hot to swim? Sky Zone!!!!

Sky Zone is the creation of a local guy. He purchased the rights to a patent which safely and securely locks multiple trampolines in place. Then he proceeded to create some semblance of a sport, and had many studies and tests done which "prove" that trampolines make for great cardio workouts and are good for you besides the benefits you get.

What he may not have expected is that it is also The Place for the tweens to hang out, and was recently voted in one of the local fan mags as the "best" place for a boy's birthday party. Actually, its a very fun place for boys and girls, and this afternoon Sky Zone crowd drew from several local camps, VBS, and just kids and bored moms.

It was fun to watch. You buy an hours time, and the kids begin by being kids, jumping and playing and having fun by themselves or in groups of two or so. Soon some kid calls out for a dodge ball game. Invariably, it begins girls v boys, but its obviously unfair, so the girls pick teams. That lasts for a few games and teams disband and reform based on some invisible formula.

All in all it was a great time. The place was well supervised. A number of Big Kids were the bosses. Their job was to segregate the kids by age or size if it became necessary. Otherwise they watched, and were helpful without being intrusive.


This might come as surprise to some, but franchise rights are available.


Toad

My two cents worth

1. OK, many of you watched the show last night, or looked up the big announcement later on, admit it. Deep down, can you really blame the guy?


2. Governor's office: Sanford is hiking the Appalachian Trail
June 22, 2009 10:18 PM CDT

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - After questions of his whereabouts, Gov. Mark Sanford's office says he's hiking the Appalachian Trail.
Joel Sawyer, the governor's spokesman, released a statement and wanted to emphasize that the staff or the governor's wife weren't concerned about his location because Sanford has done something like this before.


Anyone else suspect the Gov is really on a bender in Cherokee with ADG and some of Spitzer's friends? He's no more hiking the AT than I am.

Toad

Be careful of what you ask!

OK, so we still live behind the moat, although we have created a small bridge to get from here to there, instead of the old switch cars routine.

So you are asking yourself "how dumb are these people that they put up with this for so long?"

Dumber than you'd hope.

A week or so ago, we hired a contractor, and to protect his and our backsides he went to Mayberry City Hall to enquire if he/we needed a building permit. A reasonable safeguard I would think. Except he asked on the wrong day.

We live a mile or so from the Missouri river. Our lake drains into a neighboring lake, which drains into a neighboring lake, all the way downhill until it hits a creek which drains into the river. So far so good.

The day the contractor asked about the permit, the EPA was in the office. We live in a protected water run off area, and since it flows directly (more or less) into the river the EPA can claim jurisdiction. They decided they needed to take a look.

Somehow it reminded me of Arlo Guthrie waiting on the Group W bench.

Two reps from the EPA stopped by, with the largest binders I have ever seen. They had regulations and pictures, and site surveys, and god only knows what else. After consulting with the contractor, reviewing our plans and listening to us beg, they finally relented and told us we could safely build, if we followed their guidelines.

Alleluia! It will only cost us another leg.

Since we have number one son and his family with us this week, work commences next Monday. The EPA promises to stop by.

Toad

Wanna make my life easier?

All fellow bloggers in favor of making my life easier raise your hands.


Good. here's how.


Add the gadget to your blog layout that says "Subscribe" (followers is good too!).


Since I am inherently lazy, I'm trying to load as many of my favorite bloggers into Google Reader, as I can. I consider it one stop shopping. Via Reader I am unlikely to miss even a day of your favorite posts.


Just thinking out loud, and thanking you in advance.

Toad

On planet Toad

A year or so before his death producer Don Simpson and his partner Jerry Bruckheimer did a joint interview in either Esquire or perhaps GQ. Those were drug addled days, but they boasted that every blessed day they would each don a brand new pair of black Levi's, discarding the pair from the day before. I didn't necessarily believe it then but I want to now.

If I were King of the Forest I would have just one request. Every day, after completing my ablutions, I would want to put on a brand new pair of undies, and whenever I wanted to wear a polo style shirt, it would also be brand new. Very few things feel better than new undies and polo shirts. I like Ralph's polo's but these are troubled times.

So, I'm not king, and I followed Egadfly's advice dragging myself to the local Old Navy where I picked up several white polos. I may have been the last ON virgin in America, but I was gobsmacked. Polo's for $7.50. The navy gingham I have been shopping for around the world to no avail. Right there on the rack $12.

I left deeply troubled though. A number of stores were advertising "end of the season" sales. Presumably the season is summer.

Friends, in Mayberry we have had 5 inches of rain so far this month. Temps have climbed over 80 twice before today. Today was 95 and is expected to remain that way foreseeably. Summer has finally arrived. I would reasonably expect temps to stay in the high 80's to low 100's from now until near the end of September. I'd hate to get a jump on fall wear before the 4th of July.

Could that be what's wrong with retail?

On another note, I plan on taking weekends off this summer, so stop back Monday. Also, if you are a father have a Happy Father's Day. If you are not a father, but have one wish him an HFD for me.

Toad

news you can use

1. Suppose you were considering attending a Mardi Gras parade in Louisiana next year, but were a tad concerned after reading that several of the locals were popped on St. Charles in the Garden District of NOLA this year. Worry no more, the state legislature has chimed in, and passed this momentous piece of drivel.

Bill would prevent firing guns at parades
by Ed Anderson, The Times-Picayune
Wednesday June 17, 2009, 3:54 PM
BATON ROUGE -- Barring a gubernatorial veto, it will be illegal to recklessly discharge a firearm within 1,000 feet of a parade or demonstration starting Aug. 15.


My suspicion is the operative word is "recklessly". I doubt seriously state troopers really want to get involved in a local matter. The Gov, recently released from Chinese quarantine, has not yet offered his two cents worth.



2. The Joad's may be moving again after all.


Calif. Aid Request Spurned By U.S.
Officials Push State To Repair Budget

By David Cho, Brady Dennis and Karl Vick
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, June 16, 2009

The Obama administration has turned back pleas for emergency aid from one of the biggest remaining threats to the economy -- the state of California.

Top state officials have gone hat in hand to the administration, armed with dire warnings of a fast-approaching "fiscal meltdown" caused by a budget shortfall. Concern has grown inside the White House in recent weeks as California's fiscal condition has worsened, leading to high-level administration meetings. But federal officials are worried that a bailout of California would set off a cascade of demands from other states.

With an economy larger than Canada's or Brazil's, the state is too big to fail, California officials urge.


Hold on to your hats boys and girls this is gonna get ugly. The state of California will eventually receive the money, but there will be a new Terminator in charge.

California census data suggests the population will add the equivalent of a city the size of LA within the next 20 years. I am willing to publicly predict there will be a MASSIVE outflow of citizens from the Golden State beginning later this year. I base this on a jump in the cost of living, continuing falling housing prices, crumbling infrastructure and lousy schools. Weather is not everything.

In the mean time:

3. PETA takes exception to Obama fly-swatting

WASHINGTON — People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals wants the fly-swatter in chief to take a more humane attitude the next time he’s bedeviled by a fly. PETA is sending President Barack Obama a Katcha Bug Humane Bug Catcher, a device that allows users to trap a housefly and then release it. During an interview Tuesday, a fly intruded on Obama’s conversation. "Get out of here," the president told the insect. When it didn’t, he put his hand up and then smacked it dead. — The Associated Press

Wanna bet the Katcha Bug never makes it past security?

End of my rant.

Toad

Hell comes one bite sooner

Founded in Greenville, Mississippi by Wilbur Hardee, the Hardees restaurant chain has long been the last word in exquisite fine dining. Sadly, they are located mostly east of the muddy Mississippi, while their little brother, Carl's Jr. rules the west. Perhaps fortunate travelers have had opportunity to partake of Hardee's notable fare.

Allow me to present the classic Hardees nutrition facts for your edification. Absolutely stunning the lengths they are willing to travel in a corporate effort to kill off one generation of eaters in hopes another comes around.

To speed the process of mass extinction Hardees has a new breakfast sandwich coming in August. Get ready, its a doozy....

The Fried Bologna Breakfast Biscuit.

Publicly, there has been no corporate announcement regarding the health benefits of such a breakfast, but if history is any guide, you may wish to order a side of angioplasty to go with that.

Toad

Separated at Birth?

Chesney Sullenberger

from the Sartorialist

The Master

Happy Bloomsday!

Toad

For Ms. Mindless

Toad

Droopy Ankles

While taking the weekend off, I haven't been lounging in the pool, I've been busy. I've acquired, another clothing pet peeve, droopy ankles.

This is another example where women are smarter than men. Allow me to explain.

By definition, clothing off the rack fits no one. Its not supposed to, it only gotta be close. A competent tailor can make it fit you later. As systems go, its mostly OK, but falls apart in the details. It implies an informed consumer and a competent tailor. Both are in short supply.

While having suit pants measured or pants altered, the tailor will begin at the waist. Do the pants fit comfortably there? If so, he works his way down. Does the seat fit. Do you want cuffs? Do you want a slight "break" at the bottom.


The photo above is from Alan Flusser's "Dressing the Man". Notice the left illustration. " Cuffed bottoms should rest with a slight break on top of the shoe". "Break" is defined as the amount of folding or creasing of a trouser bottom when it meets and sits on top of the shoe.

So how is this interpreted? Look at the ankles. Looks like hell don't they?

Several things cause this. Gravity is the main culprit. Clothing SHOULD hang from the shoulders. Suits especially. That is why for generations stylish men have worn braces. They hold pants up, far better than a belt will. Over the course of a day belted pants begin to sag, at the waist and down below. The other offender is an overly generous tailor.

Now look at these photos.

Which looks better? The straight elegant line, or the droopy puddle?

I prefer Mr Flusser's mid Atlantic solution. Once I noticed it, I couldn't get how badly the break looks out of my head. Women know the importance of the shoe, and would never intentionally draw attention away from it.

Toad

photos from The Sartorialist, and Well Dressed. Thank you.

Today's Gadget - Soil Moist

Any container gardeners out there?

I am a much better hedge and bush gardener than a flower guy, and that is not saying much. That being said let me introduce to you a product which Mrs. T swears by, Soil Moist.

Soil Moist is a granule, about the size of sea salt grain, that you place in containers or in and around plants. The granules absorb water and expand to almost the size of an ice cube, over time they slowly release the water.

It's perfect for those containers you should water daily, but when its hot you may forget for several days.

There is one catch. Do not use too many, or as they say, follow the directions. The expanding granules may actually push the plants out of the soil, if you over do it.

It works, we approve.

Toad

Scents for Sense?

There something just not quite right about your Kindle or Sony Book Reader, but you haven't quite figured out what it is. It doesn't smell right does it?

A little spritz on your e-bookreader and you're set for the day.

Toad

Do we KNOW anything?

Perhaps it's the latent Indiana Jones in me, but I have always been fascinated by ancients sites throughout the world. Stonehenge leaves me speechless, and one of my life goals is to some day see the Easter Island monoliths. Naturally, my more pragmatic bride, sees hokum in everyone of them. Locally, are a number of ancient burial mounds which have been here for a thousand years or more.

Unsurprisingly, the catholic church worked overtime to build on top of them, when they could.

I bring this up as a follow up to the darling Meg, of PigTown Design post today on recent monuments. They reminded me of ancient runes.

Runes are a Norse version of Kilroy was here. Nordic explorers would engrave stones along their journeys to leave behind a record of their exploits. Most naturally are in Britain and Ireland, but surprisingly a number have been discovered in North America.

The most famous, The Kensington Stone, was uncovered in the 1890's by a Swedish bachelor farmer pulling tree stumps from his field near Kensington, Minnesota. Researchers will forever dispute the authenticity of the stone, but it tells an incredible story.

"Eight Goths and 22 Norwegians on a journey of exploration from Vinland very far west. We had camp by two rocky islands one day's journey north from this stone. We were out fishing one day. After we came home we found ten men red with blood and dead. AVM save from evil. Have ten men by the sea to look after our ships fourteen days' journey from this island. Year 1362"

Scientists believe the men died of bubonic plague brought with them from Europe. AVM refers to Ave Maria.

Another 6 stones, somewhat older, have been located in Oklahoma.

So say they are authentic. Imagine the skill set required, after returning from a hunt, and finding 10 men dead, the boss asks Olaf, to do a little stone carving. Olaf finds a suitable rock, and begins chiseling. Try it, you won't like it.

Stories like this keep me up nights wondering about how little we really know.

Toad

fantasy land

The multi talented Hovey sisters have a lock on the Raj. I have always preferred the fantasy land created by Mr. Somerset Maugham.

The pre WW-II world of the British ex-pat in the far east. Raffles Hotel, Singapore, China, Malay. The weather reminds me a lot of living in the Low Country only with better clothes.

After the master engineers left, and after lunch, Mrs. T decided to leave me alone for the afternoon. It was rainy, so I curled up with TIVO, and re-watched a lot of old movies. The Letter, with Herbert Marshall and Bette Davis.

Bette is cold as ice. It's a role she played a hundred times. Scheming, cheating wife of a decent guy. Half the men in the movie sell their soul to do her bidding. Based on a Maugham short story. The men's clothes are fantastic. Mostly all white, silk suits for day wear, dinner jackets in the evenings. I realize movies are made of magic, but I have never seen such structured clothes move so well in real life. Life in the tropics in uncreasable suits. Go figure.

The Painted Veil came next.

Another Maugham story based in China, after the first world war. It's gloriously filmed. If you haven't seen it, you must. Naomi Watts is stunning. Its the story of a couple who marry although they barely know each other. She is quickly bored by being a doctor's wife in Shanghai, and has an affair with the British Consul. The good doctor quickly finds out and for revenge drags his wife to the interior to help him fight a cholera epidemic. He's half hoping she dies. She's half expecting to.

Over time they mature, appreciate each other and eventually fall in love. I cry every time.

As a period piece it works well. In the hottest weather, in the worst muck, he's buttoned up. Dressed in linen suits, with vest and tie. The suit rumples, shows sweat stains and he doesn't care a wit. The clothes throughout are fantastic. Did I mention Naomi is stunning?

Toad