Charmed

Not a beat missed on or off her bicycle.

Self Portrait

Coat

A great look. The flashes of red lining - against the dark colors of his ensemble - as he was moving about were striking.

Self Portrait

A self portrait to add my style to the discussion. As with all pictures posted on Sartorial Vancouver, this picture was not planned and happened by chance - here, an opportunity was provided by a reflective facing on a building.

Colors

Scarf

I love how she wears her scarf, and the play of colors, patterns and textures in her look.

Truly Luxurious

Luxury for me is appreciating what is before me. My shirts and shoes are made all the more luxurious when I care for them.

The simple act of laundering my own shirts, hanging them to dry and hand-ironing them reminds me of how beautiful they are. The flowing cut of a collar, the intricate weave of the fabric, and the sheen of a button are all appreciated even more - not just through wear.

Seeing the shine emerge on a pair of shoes during polishing is akin to that aha moment when a day's look works out perfectly. The detail of decorative perforations, the antiquing of a fine-grained upper, or the beauty of closely-spaced stitching is fully enjoyed.

Luxury in wear and care.

Wardrobe Mishaps

We have all experienced a wardrobe mishap sometime or another. A dropped hem or a run in a stocking may be considered manageable while others such as an open zipper or tissue paper on the bottom of one's shoe would be cause for embarrassment depending on who made the discovery. Still, there are other situations such as being the target of a bird or stepping in a gift left by a dog that are truly unfortunate.

What wardrobe mishaps come to mind for you?

My most recent mishap involved a rainy day, a muddy puddle and a white pair of shoes.

White canvas sneaker: Hopefully machine-washable.

Monkeying Around

I was greeted by this chap - chimp actually - in a dinner jacket with a kind wink and thumbs up. I gathered from the way he was dressed that he must have felt good, because he certainly looked good. Now monkeying around does not usually get one anywhere, but being well dressed does get you noticed for all the right reasons.

The trim fit of his jacket and simplicity of his look are standouts for me, and the red cummerbund lets his personality show through in a tasteful manner - hanging off a lamppost notwithstanding.

Black silk bow tie: Self-tie, the only way to go.

Unsung Heroes - Part 2

Some items in a wardrobe never see the light of day, but are no less important - no, cherished - than a favorite piece. The tools integral to wardrobe storage, care and maintenance keep that pair of shoes or shirt looking new and, with the passage of time and wear, loved. Items which I keep close by include my garment bag, brush, iron, needle and thread, shoe trees, hangers, and hat box.

Horsehair brush: Perfect for dusting off shoes post-wear and pre-shine, and keeping fur felt hats looking their best.

Wood hanger: Stained solid maple, wide shoulder flare, felted trouser bar, available in three widths. A fine companion for any tailored jacket and pant.

Hermes

I was drawn to this window display because of the hat. As rare as the bag is, the top hat is even rarer.

Student of Style

I like the mix of clothes and books. There is something scholarly about it for me. Afterall, are sartorial souls not students of style?

Umbrella: Unsung Hero

These paintings remind me of how important umbrellas are - rain as it does - in Vancouver.

My umbrella is my trusty companion, and a bonafide piece in my wardrobe. It is there to keep me looking my best, whether it is folded up during fair weather, or deployed in rain and wind.

Contrary to the brightly colored umbrellas depicted in the paintings, I prefer mine in an understated black so as to share the stage with whatever else I happen to be wearing.

Black umbrella: Wood frame, hand-carved handle, locally-made and fully serviceable.