à souhait

Rouge Basier can be spotted in her vintage 1954 London Fog trench coat, with lined black stockings, red lipstick and writing in her journal at La Belle Hortense si, vous etes chanceux.  She is Parisian and a woman for watchful Princes.  She brings the style, beauty and class, which makes every man suck in their gut and run a comb through their hair. Intimidating, yes. Socially awkward, no. But only a few have the talent to keep up with this one.

The Fitted Man

Fashion fades. Style is eternal. 

Yves Saint Laurent

The reasons are many, why most American men are dying to shed off their suits, like molted snake skin, after a days work.  Reluctantly, this entry is not for them. It is for the men that care. The men that draw comfort from style.  By no means should one follow this as instruction but more as a personal take. $300 with a bit of give is what you need.  Assembled is a classic black suit, nothing special but special when done right.

Top Man & Zara

$100 ~ 'Top Man' Skinny or Slim Two-Button Jacket

$  40 ~ 'Top Man' Skinny or Slim Dress Trousers *Do not go ultra skinny.

$  99 ~ 'Zara' Classic Ankle Boot * A gentlemen should not walk like a duck nor dress like a witch so please avoid shoes that have squared or extremely pointed toe-boxes.  

$  29 ~ 'Zara' dress shirts are typically $59.50 but Zara usually has sales to turn over inventory. Look for the slim cut shirts in colors of white, light blue, pink and black. If you can find these shirts with black buttons, stock up.

$  16 ~ 'Top Man' Black Slim Tie * I don't want to hide behind a fat tie. Aaron Vogel

= $284

Final Touches 

`With the money left over get the suit taken in or hemmed at a tailor if need be.

`If one's watch matches the color of the belt buckle...well that is just a beautiful thing.

`Henriot, 'Cuvee des Enchanteleurs' 1996.

Fate and Reflections

As I usually feel most home in Nolita.  I found myself vagabonding the scenic Greenwich village to keep it fresh. One block comes to mind. A sleepy one with a nonchalant attitude lined with brownstones and beneath it, the youthfully mature Hotel Griffou. It is frightfully old fashioned in it's decorative manner, dimly lit, elegant women bartenders dressed in black and les garcons tied and vested. One does lose sense of time past the two door entrance submerged under the pavement, which depletes any chance of natural light. The theme of multiply dining rooms brings curiosity as Serge Gainsbourg, The Greenhorns and Francoise Hardy rotate through the playlist.  I can not say the pint-sized crowd had much style or swagger but it was an hour too early for most sensible people to be drinking a Hendrick's martini alone. This place is bait for like-minded Dandys and Lappels so Griffou your cocktail and keep a watchful eye for people whose clothes match their moxie.