Winter's end wishlist

I wish that there was a black and green striped rugby style scarf for sale.  Like this:



Except black and green.  Sorta like this:



Except not such narrow stripes.  And a better shade of green.

Basically I want a hipster looking Type O Negative rugby scarf.  Which means I am going to hell.  But I don't care.  I also want a hat that just has the logo on it, nothing else.  But since Pete died the merch has dried up.  Are you listening Bluegrape???

The end of Japan

Did you know that Japan's birth rate is below replacement levels and the population is shrinking?  Do you know why?  Well I will show you why.


Yup, a clear case of guitarsterbation.  Such wankery will sour you with fertile women.  I'm sorry, it's true.

Dress shirt lifestyle

You may have come across this article on the Dude's t-shirts in the Big Lebowski.

Most anyone dedicated to the T-shirt lifestyle maintains some sort of T-shirt rotation. Typically, there's a staff ace – the first shirt worn after laundry day – plus a couple of innings-eater types, maybe a long reliever and spot starter that's useful for mop-up duty late in the laundry cycle, and for some even a closer reserved for high-leverage nights out. 

From the looks of it, the Kaoru Bettu shirt maintained a spot near the front of Bridges' rotation for nearly a decade at the least, looking fresh but untested in the late 80s, blossoming into a star in the early 90s and sticking around with veteran savvy as the new millennium approached.

I was unaware that there is a t-shirt lifestyle, though I confess I was once unknowingly a part. You have your basic rotation through the week as well as dedicated "special occasion" shirts for concerts and parties and whatnot.  But I moved on.



Circa 1999 [via being hessian]

These days the old man is living the dress shirt lifestyle.  You have your Monday all business dress shirt which gradually gives way to the Friday casual dress shirt.  Tucking in is optional with this bad boy.  Because it's casual Friday and those jeans don't give a damn.



Casual Friday



Circa 2013 [via being an oldster]

There is also a rotation for the seasons.  To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. Lighter shirts and sleeveless in the summer, darker colors and heavier fabrics in the winter.

The beauty of this system is that you are a man for all occasions.  You don't have to plan, you just are.  End up some place upscale?  Just tuck in your tails and you are already "dressed up".  End up someplace casual?  Pull the tails out and suddenly you are the casual gentleman.  I know some people build their wardrobe from the shoes up.  Piffle.  Nobody looks at your shoes.  The shirt is the heart and soul of your attire.

Sure, you can dress up the t-shirt.  But a t-shirt will always say casual, even if you make it a more iustus.



dressy casual is still casual

If this is all new to you and you are ready to get old and embrace the dress shirt lifestyle, remember to be patient.  That closet full of black band t-shirts didn't spring up over night.  In the early days maybe bum around TJ Maxx and Marshalls for some basics and over time you can pick one here and one there to fill in the collection.