Week Fifty: We're on the Homestretch, Baby!

What is a metro without his muse? Fortunate for me, Kumee's fashion sense and good taste isn't confined to all things men but transcends gender. Hey, if turning 35 years old merits owning a LV Alma bag in Cacao epi, then it's totalllyyy a-ok with moi!!!

Week Forty-eight of tweed and men...

(Kumee rocking tweed jacket, 'nuff said!)
Snuggling up beside a decked out Kumee the other day afforded me the opportunity to pay close scrutiny to the fabric of his new suit that I would normally just lump into the broad-ish category of "tweed." I was quite surprised to see that it was actually a herringbone overlaid with a simple check. Could it be? I never knew there was such a combo - I've always thought you could have either one or the other. But so it does, exist, that is! Apparently, it's traditionally Scottish (as is all tweed), but what makes this cloth and particular pattern distinct is that it would be woven with the dominant colors of the respective properties of estatemen who would commission (yes, that's the verb!) the resulting unique fabric as their own, to be worn by hunters under their employ. The garments made with the material provided its wearers with both warmth and camouflage. Those were the practical purposes the material served and really was intended for originally. These days, however, to wear tweed, especially in these parts, is guaranteed to actually set one apart from the crowd (a fact that Kumee's fully aware of and confidently capitalizes on!) and not blend into their immediate surroundings - no kidding! in a sea of black suits! Granted, a black suit will always have it's place in a gentleman's closet, but it's all too easy to get too comfortable with the same 'ol, same 'ol, which we tend to just gravitate to in a store, yes, even I've fallen into that insidious trap! So, before you write-off this bit of info as trivial, could tweed be an option, perhaps, to consider (?) for your next sports jacket?

Week Forty-seven: Kumee's Winter Suit Debut!

It takes a lot for Kumee to lose his temper, or it would have to do with something at least, that he feels strongly about and/or something he cares deeply for, for him to get all riled up. Muttering under his breath the other day, I couldn't quite make out what was bugging him, but I deduced that much, that it was "something about his new suit" - somehow not meeting his standards. Nevertheless, while my moods spike and dip, Kumee's otherwise even-tempered.

Kumee will be eulogized for his many virtues, but modesty - well, at least as far as his choice of patterns is concerned - will not be one of them!




Bold navy and white gingham Boss shirt, flannel pinstripe made to measure Harry Rosen suit, solid navy skinny Boss tie and fine gingham silk Boss pocket square (to continue the theme).

We're mid-November and already Kumee's fantastically winterized, meanwhile, besides my UGG's and staggering number of pairs of leggings, I'm not quite there yet!!!

Week Forty-six: Breaking out the Fall Wardrobe!

So Kumee had broken out his trusty 11 ounce navy corduroy suit and had worn it twice now since the weather dropped pretty drastically. If I am not mistaken, the first time, I was just too slow on the (camera) draw to take a picture as he walked out the door to head to work last Saturday or was it actually a weekday morning (?) - I forget - when taking a snapshot is kinda out of the question in the midst of the blur of maaaadddd activity that takes place, the short term goal of which is to drop off Jaden and Maya at daycare & Kindergarten respectively and in that order and make our way to work (on time!) - Yes, we are the typical modern urban family!

Today, I managed to get that picture albeit, a tad (understatement!) blurry. Kumee completely freshened up the look, though with a new black & white fine pinstripe Eton shirt and a navy paisley Corneliani tie. Up until today, Kumee had been wearing mainly, his four season suits - wow, who knew there were parallelisms between tires and suits?

Of course, Kumee's been due for a new winter suit, and had wasted no time in obtaining one, namely, a navy pinstripe flanel suit, well, at least, I am told, for I haven't seen it yet, because, although he did bring it home in a Harry suit bag the other day, it was promptly taken to the tailor's the following day for further tweaking per Kumee's specifications. I am safely assuming that it'll be rather snug and the pant length somewhat short when he gets it - yes, we do practice what we preach!

Week Forty-five: Summer Wrap-up :(

(photo credit: my cousin Vanessa, thank you!)

It seems like merely yesterday that I kicked off the summer with a post on seersucker, and now, some three months later, its inevitable end has arrived :( and yet as all Montrealers would agree, we couldn't possibly complain, considering that this summer was epic as far as the temperature was concerned (when it didn't take much nor too long to take care of last winter's pasty complexion and score myself a decent tan albeit of the "farmer's" variety!), and hopefully in many other respects too for everyone, as it was for Kumee and myself.

Hence it seems only fitting that I devote a post to summer 2011 and all that it was and pay homage as well to Adam Levine of Maroon five, who sings Moves Like Jagger which was kinda like the unofficial anthem/soundtrack of the season that had just past. Levine of course, is another notable metro guy. Now, as much as I'm all for street fashion and all that, I'm a self-confessed sucker for the pulled together look of a well-dressed man!

Week Forty-four: Mad Men Aspirations, etc.

I might have been M.I.A. from my little neck of the blogosphere, but rest assured that I haven't forsaken you guys! I did keep my eyes open whilst on vacation, for 52 Weeks noteworthy curiosities - well, it was kinda hard to miss anyways, the rather ubiquitous but nevertheless tasteful, ad campaign for Banana Republic's sophomore collabo with Mad Men:



I'm not too sure whether it's an actual casting call as it was the first time around, but it's clever. Are you Don? Or rather, is Kumee, Don? I should ask. LOL, ok, you be the judge of that!

I chuckled the very first time I saw the life-size poster of a Betty look-a-like at the BR at Rockland's here in Montreal a couple of weeks earlier - the question addressed to the female demographic, posed in French: "Etes-vous Betty?" If you were to ask me, I think, I kinda identify more with Joan, lol, or fancy myself as her...in my dreams!

Oh, and no trip Stateside of course, would be complete without a visit to the outlets...saw this at Brook Brothers in Grove City, PA:



As you can see, it's another one of my ineffectual shots where you can't even make out what it says the book's about. Basically, it's a guide to....ok, you read that much, and get the point. I didn't actually buy the book, hmmm, in hindsight now, maybe I should have just doled out the 40 $ (which went towards a purse instead!) It might prove to be handy in raising Jaden, at least as far as manners & etiquette are concerned. Sartorially, though, I know I need not be worried: Kumee's got the little guy covered...

Week Forty-three: Weddings!

Ok, so the news is just rife with sooo much bad and negativity, that when a co-worker of mine excitedly announced this week that she had just gotten engaged, it came as a veeerrryyy welcome breath of fresh air that took me back to our own wedding nine years ago and all of the sartorial preparations that were involved in it. Oooohhh, me love summer, and weddings, too!

I guess we took a rather unconventional route, in that Kumee forfeited the element of surprise and what would have been a breathtaking/ooooh-aaahhhh moment for him of seeing me in all my gazillion layers of gauzy tulle-y splendour for the first time, walking down the aisle, for instead, sharing with me the ultimate retail "high" of wedding dress shopping. Given our love and lust for clothes, it seemed like the most natural way to go, besides, I've always completely trusted his taste and still heavily rely on his opinion, well, when it comes to clothes, at least, lol!

As for Kumee, we thought it would be more practical, to invest in a good suit to wear for the wedding and that he could actually use again. Note, this was pre-Harry's so, he did get a granite Boss suit from, uh, a competitor, which I won't mention here, lol, but shortly before the big day as his brother/bestman and groomsmen were grooming up and trying on tuxes, Kumee couldn't help but want "in" on the action. "Just when do you get to wear a tux, anyways?" He said, using pretty much the same line of reasoning as I had, as to when would I ever
get the chance again to wear a ballgown and be a princess for a day??? Hah! Great minds do think alike after all!

Mind you, many people will buy their own tux because they might periodically attend functions where it's de riguer, either that or maybe they're just squeamish about renting and wearing something previously worn by somebody else and of course, must have lots of money to spend. Kumee has had the privilege of dressing up grooms for their big day either in part or in complete groom-ey garb, e.g. tuxedoes. I personally don't necessarily think that buying your own tux is that frivolous for there are many ways to put it to good use, like wearing it to bed or to the gym, lol, no, but seriously, have you ever watched on the Food Channel, how Bobby Flay will whip up a "deconstructed" burger? Well, that is exactly what you do with a tux, you pair each element up with something else to dress it down. I've seen this done a lot, and it really does work! For example, tux shirt with jeans, tux jacket with jeans, etc, etc.

Let's face it, all eyes will be on your bride that day, so let her revel in the attention and not to mention, your admiration, nevertheless, aim to look your best, too, as her complement. Suit or tux, it's your call.