Recent content by UrbanAristocrat

Great to hear from you again shindeco! Please check your Private Messages as I have been trying to follow up with you about my Black Tie book.

Yes, I've heard about these before and the book actually has photos of many different designs. Never seen that hooked leaf design though - pretty smart!

Believe me, I'm used to getting blank stares when it comes to dressing in a classic style. I've taken to brining my copy of Dressing the Man with me to show my tailor exactly what I'm talking about. And I have become used to having lengthy arguements with menswear salesmen about the fact that...

I went to the library on my lunch break today and checked out "The Boutonniere: Style in One's Lapel" which answered all my questions. Turns out that the trick to getting a carnation (or any other flower with a very thick bud) to lie flat on the lapel is to have it made into a proper...

Actually there is :). To be truly classic, a boutonniere should be a white or red carnation, a white gardenia or a blue cornflower. According to vintage Esquire issues, the red carnation was definitely the most popular option in the thirties. I will give the large carnation another try in...

I noticed that earlier but it doesn't look bad at all. Is that a small carnation?

It looks like I edited my post while you were responding! I'm sure you were saying yes to my previous question of whether it's normal for the bulb to be so prominent. thanks for the advice

I find that if I don't put the bulb through then the bulb becomes more prominent than the bloom which ends up sitting perpendicular to the jacket. Is there a way to avoid this? (I have seen the miniature carnations but was hoping for something a little more substantial.)

I want to add a classic red carnation to my tuxedo but can't fit the bulb portion through the lapel buttonhole. Any idea how this is done? Or is the bloom actually supposed to face up to the sky rather than lie flat against the lapel? OT, the new Matt Dusk album is great background music...

I've been researching tuxedo history and etiquette for the past three years and I haven't come across that one!

Thanks! Thanks everyone! I have read through Panama Bob's site, Brent Black's site and Panamas.biz (suggested in a PM sent to me) and I will be following up with Sharpetoys to get recommendations on sellers.

Thanks for the tip. Is PanamaBob a retailer? How can I get in touch with him/them?

I did a Fedora LOunge search on this topic but haven't come up with a primer on Panama hats. The only info I have is from "The Indispensible Guide to Classic Men's Clothing" (my bible, after Flusser's "Dressing the Man"!). If anyone has any advice to add (e.g. reputable makers, different...

I have thick hair too and if I don't get it cut every 2-3 weeks I end up with "hat forehead" (i.e. the leather sweatband leaves a pinkish impression on my skin). I tried on a larger hat size but it was too loose so now I just consider my hat as my watchdog for staying clean cut!

Currently, I just own a grey single-crease crown fedora and I consider it a dress accessory which means I wear it whenever I wear a suit. My office has a very casual dress code but about six months ago I figured "screw it" and began dressing in suits whenever I felt like it. At first I got the...