These Are a Few of My Favorite Things...

SPRINGTIME FAVORITES

L.L. Bean Fair Isle Patterned Sweater Vest $10 purchase from Ask Andy. The original owner received it as a present from his girlfriend but never wore it. Her $250 present is now mine for less than 10% of the price.

100% silk, hand rolled edges, Churchill patterned pocket square in a very, very, bright red with black and silver spots. $2 shipped brand new from eBay.

R. Hanauer 100% silk, woven bow tie in a bright yellow, red, and blue repp stripe. I bought for $25 brand new at a reputable tailoring establishment in Buckhead. I no longer go there after they treated a friend of my terribly. Their sterling reputation makes me wonder how they get by with treating new customers the way they do. For embarrassing my friend, they will see me no more and receive nothing but bad word of mouth from me. Anyway, the tie is awesome when paired with the get up from post #5.

All of the items here are great for spring wear. Why? Well, they are bright, shiny and neatly patterned. It just happens to be more fun to wear when the items are favorites!

2 Pocket Squares & Why I Like Them.

Club Pocket Square made by Sam Hober for one of my clubs. The fold is something I've been working on and trying out. One of the cleanest designs. Elegant enough for business yet bright enough for play. The sheen on this Thai silk with the variations is quite awesome. Sam Hober makes a great product, pays his workers great wages, supports an ethnic traditional trade, and is an all-around nice person. The price for this square, I don't remember. It was around the $65 mark, too much for me but considering where the money would be going I gladly spent it. It also didn't hurt that Uncle had given me a wad of cash, for some reason or the other.

Awesome!!! It is like a flower in your pocket or a cascading grapes depending on how you fold it. I got it from MOMAstore.org for about $32 shipped to Atlanta. It is a shibori pocket square mady by Bunzaburo Katayama. Right now they are on sale for about $10.00. It really draws attention! I wear it on campus every once in a while when I'm feeling happy on the inside. It exudes happiness and that is a feeling I don't mind sharing.

On that note, happy reading and I hope you've been enjoying my blog so far.

Pocket Watches.....More to Come...

I purchased this pocket watch from an Austrian eBayer for $100. It is a nice, reliable, German silver(900) example. I recently broke my double Albert pocket watch chain in a number of places. Actually I ran it over, o.k. long story and I don't feel like talking about it. It is too sad an episode for this eccentric young gent to revisit. As a result, I will post a study on double Albert pocket watch chains. For 2 reasons:

1. To inform my reader*
2. Help me decide which way I want to go with my purchase
3. Its just plain fun

So, enjoy the photos of one of my eccentricities. Don't enlarge the photos they are not the best and are a little blurry when enlarged. Oh, it is resting on my red, linen, herringbone odd waistcoat.

*Word is in the singular because I only have one reader who comments. I'd like to receive more comments and questions if anyone else is reading this. If you have any email me at orangegentleman at gmail dot com. Just kidding but, do email me.

In Praise of the Link Between My Sleeves

On the very top you have a sterling silver cat cuff links, semi-3d. In the middle is a cuff button*, Victorian era in a guillouche flower pattern. The last is a pair of proper chain connected cuff links in a purple and white enamel design. They all cost under $20 on eBay; really less the sterling links are what brought the price higher.

In Praise of the Link Between My Sleeves

How does one secure the cloth on his arms but around one's wrists

Buttons buttons is the answer most commonly heard

Gentlemen, if that comes to mind then you've probably missed

The joys of cuff links in the shape of your favorite bird

Varieties galore, just implore at your nearest store

Sterling Silver, Ivory Sliver, snapping closed or simply with a lever

They'll definitely catch the eye of the one you adore

Difficult to put on, No your not clever

Push it through one side then manipulate it through to the other

They can add interest, elegance, and whimsy. Trust me my friend they are worth the bother

How does one secure the cloth on his arms but around one's wrists

Buttons buttons is the answer that most will say

Gentlemen, if that comes to mind then you've probably missed

The joys of cuff links that move and are fun for play

*Cuff buttons were a simpler form of cuff links made to look like buttons for everyday wear. They were composed of a short metal staff in between an elliptical. Some were simple metal for workers and others were mother of pearl, shaped like actual buttons. Those are the ones that sell for a steep penny at retailers and on eBay.

A Spot of Fun!

Pelikan 140, arrived yesterday

Today, I packaged two fountain pens to go to a nibmeister, one who fixes fountain pen nibs, and I got bored. So, I decided to decorate the packaging with purple and orange ink. The Pelikan 140 had Private Reserve Tanzanite, a purple, and my everyday pen, the Pelikan m250, was filled with J. Herbin Orange Indien. I am so glad I decided to try out the Tanzanite, it shades wonderfully and is dark enough to use in everyday situations. It is slowly becoming an ink I will have to restock on.

Some panels turned out well, others not so much. Either way I had fun and killed a couple of hours while talking to my sister, Julie. So, check it out:

Pelikan 140 detail shot