A Strapping Good Time!

You ain't gonna believe this!  I have purchased a nylon striped watch strap just like the one I had in 1985, except that one was blue/red instead of blue/green.  The fact that these things are still in style or maybe coming back in style is just one more testament to the great conservative fashions popular in the late 1980's. 

Heck, look at Polo.  Izod has been back for awhile.  Bean Boots are on their way back in!  Maybe it's just that I'm getting old and fashions do disappear and re-appear.  My dear Mom used to say, "see everything in the back of my closet...I'm gonna wear those again in about 15 years".  I guess she was pretty insightful.  Of course, I never stopped wearing all this stuff and never felt out of place.  Yes, some specific items have gone by the wayside and are now re-appearing, but for the most part clean, conservative stylish clothing hasn't gone anywhere!

That's why I take such issue with the awful stuff they are selling at Abercrombie and Aeropostle.  When I see teenagers wearing such drab threads I am understanding.  When I see a 35 year-old man with a crapped-out t-shirt with an eagle starting in his mid-section and reaching over his shoulder to his back haunch essentially advertising the store...that, I have to call out.  The fact that the schmuck is in the same nice restaurant where I've chosen a suit/tie as appropriate...that's just lazy.

 

Now I'm just ranting.  Sorry!  Back to my watch strap.  The big chronograph watch I thought would work with it is just too big..and the battery is dead.  So I'm now on a quest for a nice, inexpensive silver watch to go with my band.  Yes, I have to match the silver strap buckle to the watch if your were wondering.  I'll post the whole wrist rig when I find the watch.  Until then I'll just have to admire the strap sitting on my dresser awaiting it's debut. Here's a picture:

I think my 14 year old daughter actually thinks the strap is cool.  If I told her it was the same as the one from my high school years she would immediately change her mind and call me old.  Oh well, I guess I'll just keep quiet and enjoy her fascination with my colorful wrist decoration.

This just in from another blog I follow called Red Clay Soul.
 

Check out the rest of his collection here:  http://redclaysoul.blogspot.com/2011/02/rcs-collections-watch-straps-just-in.html

This just in...Thin Mints may cause brain damage! And some baseball...

Well, maybe not brain damage, but certainly temporary insanity.  That's right, just when you thought everything you knew to be sacred was indeed sacred, some dipstick goes and ruins it for everybody.  If these two young ladies in Florida cause the recall or delay of further thin mint deliveries to my house, I may go ballistic myself.  I need the Thin Mints....Bad!

I guess she dropped the scissors?  And then I suppose the board wasn't getting it done, so she tried with the sign?  I really want to know who won this Mint Battle?  We've got some crazy folks down here in Texas (Waco Cult Disaster, Lady with the Mercedes who ran over her husband, etc.), but the folks in FL take the cake.  Or the Thin Mints anyway.

In other news:

Daniel and I attended the SFA/University of Houston baseball game this week.  We enjoyed the game but the Lumberjacks got their axes handed to them!  After a big hot dog and M&M's, Daniel lasted until the 3rd inning and was really interested in watching the game...he's getting so fun.

Have a nice weekend!

Restaurant Review - The Lexington Grille

Monday night I had dinner with my Dad at The Lexington Grille, his favorite nightly supper spot where everyone knows his name.  He's like Norm on Cheers...when he walks in he's greeted with a collective "Dan!" from the staff and several patrons.  So I try and join him every couple of weeks.  And now I'm immediately greeted favorably with a martini at the bar where Dad has usually already set up shop.  Mark the barkeep makes a mean dry Martini.  After cocktails at the bar, we saunter off to Table 51, Dad's table, where Anton and Marisol will take good care of us for the rest of the evening.  The other extremely helpful waiter is Patrick, who I would just like to mention in this post but was not on duty Monday evening.

I've been wanting to write about the Lexington Grille for some time now.  The folks at this quaint establishment just North of Hwy 59 off of Shepherd have been an additional family for my Dad ever since my Mother became ill last year and was spending many months in the hospital.  They provided him a safe haven to hang his hat, have a cocktail and a meal whilst forgetting the hell he was going through dealing with my Mother's ailments.  So before I even discuss the food, I want to send them all a huge Thank You from me and my family.  Knowing Dad had a warm and comfortable place to spend his evenings gave us all great comfort as we too were dealing with the stress of losing my Mother.

Dad and I both decided it was pasta night, so he ordered pasta w/marinara and grilled chicken.  I did the same but opted for a garlic, pesto and olive oil topping.  While we were waiting, I asked the kind owner Hossein Shajarat about a small appetizer to keep us busy.  That's one of the really nice qualities of this place, you can just ask for something and they'll do it.  As Dad says, "It's like your kitchen at home except with world-class chefs!"  Anyway, Hossein suggested something with shrimp and brought us 2 grilled shrimp bathed in a lemon/wine sauce with capers and sun-dried tomatoes.  Unbelievably good and just the right amount of food to wet our appetite.

Our pastas arrived quickly followed by a glass of some fabulous Cabernet Savignon.  I don't bother asking about the wine because everything they serve is top-notch.  We ended the meal with a cappuccino and biscotti.

2005 Lexington Street

Houston, Texas 77098

713.524.9877

http://www.lexingtongrille.com/

Although the food is fantastic, it's the people and the atmosphere that create the memorable experience.  The entire staff goes out of their way to make you feel at home and elegantly served.  The Lexington has been around close to 20 years and many of the patrons are regulars, which is always a good sign.  Folks don't keep coming back regularly to a place unless the experience is superior.  So if you're in the area, stop into the Lexington for a try and tell them Britt Sudduth sent you.  This is actually one place that mentioning my name might help!  Enjoy!

Ralph's got huge shoulders...but I'm still a fan!

So I was perusing through my latest edition of Architectural Digest and was somewhat stunned at the picture of our friend Ralph on the cover.  At first glance, the whole suit/shirt/tie combo is his usual hip-cat cool.  Upon a closer look, the point to point shoulder width on that suit is way out of bounds.  You could land a small plane across his back!  Now Ralph is usually one step ahead of the rest of us, so maybe he's supporting a return to the 80's look, but I just don't think I'm ready yet.  Those big shoulders were just here it seems!

And is his shirt a bit tight in the neck?  Maybe I need to get my eyes checked.  Anyone else want to weigh in on this?  Ideas? Thoughts? 

Of course the magazine's spread on his new Women's shop in NY is outstanding.  Pure class all the way.  He had this built from the ground up though it looks like it's been sitting there steaming with maturity since 1920. 

On another note, the next time I get to Chicago or Paris, I've decided to drop a few nickels at Ralph's restaurant offering called RL.  The reviews all say it's amazing and a place any true Ralph fan should visit at least once.

Chicago

Chicago

Chicago

Paris

Paris

So although Ralph has confused me a little with his shoulder width, I'm still a big fan of his clothing and his lifestyle.  He is truly one of the coolest dudes on the planet!

What's in the Old Round Box?

I was digging around our attic last month looking for my old LL Bean Duck Boots (see post 1/7/11) and came across a special item given to me by my dear Mother years ago.  This peculiar little round leather box holds a very unique item not seen 'round these parts in many, many years...an antique detached collar.

Here's a little history lesson from our Wikipedia friends:

"A detachable collar is a shirt collar separate from the shirt, fastened to it by studs. The collar is usually made of a different fabric from the shirt, in which case it is virtually always white, and, being unattached to the shirt, can then be specially starched to a hard cardboard-like consistency.  Some believe that Hannah Lord Montague invented this collar in Troy, NY, in 1827, after she snipped off the collar from one of her husband's shirts to wash it, and then sewed it back on. The Rev. Ebenezar Brown, a businessman in town, proceeded to commercialize it. The manufacture of detachable collars and the associated shirts became a significant industry in Troy.

It was later that the benefit of being able to starch the collars became apparent, and for a short time, various other parts of the shirt, such as the front and cuffs, were also made detachable and treated to rigid stiffness. As more emphasis started to be placed on comfort in clothing this practice declined, and the stiff collar is the last surviving use of such heavily starched cotton in daywear; while a full dress (worn with white tie and occasionally black tie) still has a stiff, but attached, front and cuffs to accompany the stiff detachable collar.

The collar is attached to the shirt by a pair of studs like those shown above. The shirt has a tunic collar, a short upright band of fabric with a hole at the back and one on each side at the front. The stiff collar is attached at the back before the shirt is put on (and the tie placed under the collar for a turndown collar), then the shirt is put on, after which the front stud is pushed through the collar to fasten it."

This particular collar isn't special but for only one reason...it was a gift from Mom.  It's not a family heirloom, it didn't belong to a President and it's not significantly older than most.  It's just something I own that reminds me of Mom and how much she enjoyed sharing her son's passion of clothing and style.  So if you've never seen one of these things up close, next time you're over for supper, remind me to pull out this odd round box and let you take a gander.  Heck, you can even try it on if you like!

Another Typical Weekend...and a New Suit!

Just another fun-filled weekend around the Sudduth compound. 

Friday night I enjoyed attending the Houston Sigma Chi Alumni Chapter's 66th Annual Wild Game Dinner.  It's always nice to be around 150 of the Brothers.  The food was incredible, with at least 15 different dishes of wild game ranging from pheasant stew to venison loaf to alligator nuggets.  The guest speaker was Brother Clarence Gilyard, an accomplished actor who starred in Walker Texas Ranger, Matlock and several other notable TV shows.  He also had a part in Top Gun, although we're not talking about Goose, Iceman or Maverick.  He did not feel the need for speed!

Of course the big event of the evening was the debut of my latest custom suit.  This particular suit I decided to stay fairly conservative and went with a straight light weight worsted wool in solid navy blue.  I did however, choose a very fuzzy (to borrow a term from a blogger friend) lining of royal purple.  With a conservative suit, the option to go crazy with shirts and ties becomes wide open.  I can go with a striped or windowpane shirt and mix in some color with almost any tie.  A blue suit is like a great pair of blue jeans where any shirt will do and should be a staple garment in every man's wardrobe.

For the Sigma Chi dinner rig, I just stayed conservatively cool with a custom white spread collar shirt with french cuffs, a Stovelli Italian necktie finished off at the bottom with my black gucci horsebit slip-ons.  My son asked why I wasn't wearing my purple suit and I had to remind him that it was just the lining that was purple.  I do love my son!

Then  Saturday night our dear friends Dan and Allison Ownby joined us for dinner.  Although he does have a day job in the oil/gas pipeline industry, Dan's true passion is Scouting.  He has just been elected to the World Scout Council as one of 12 delegates and the only American.  This committee manages over 31 million Boy Scouts worldwide, making this a very important position.  Dan has spent many years working with Boy Scouts all over the world and has truly earned his seat at the big table. 

Dan's lovely wife Allison is also very accomplished in her own right, having attained a Ph.D. at Rice and an extra Master's degree in education just to round out her education.  Dr. A works for the University of Texas Medical School, is currently undertaking violin lessons, spends a great deal of time with her dressage horse Fritz and occasionaly follows Dan around the world, all while managing the houselhold's two labs Charlie and Mocha and a whole fish pond full of Koy.

The meal was a hit as there were 4 "Happy Plates" upon completion.  I prepared a Filet Mignon with Roquefort Sauce next to butter/garlic/parmesan green beans and gnocchi.  We ended with pound cake/strawberries w/whipped cream.  The wine flowed freely and we even had Tom and Amber Caver stop in for wine late in the evening.

And now I'm sitting here Sunday preparing smoked chickens that will cook until about 6:00 or about 6 hours.  We'll be entertaining my in-laws Sharon and Fred, in from Austin.  So lots of fun that just doesn't seem to stop!  Yes, another normal, jam-packed weekend at the Sudduth camp!  Bring on Monday!  This week Sand Gnat 6 year old baseball kicks-off, and yours truly is back at the helm as Manager.

Friday Fashion Faux Pas...Men's Jeggings....NO!

It's Friday and it's time to point out another grave mistake in men's fashion.  Or should I say un-fashion.  Today we're going to focus on a new trend, instead of beating up old trends like I enjoy doing.  Kind of a strike while the iron is hot kinda thing.  So here we go, Men's Jeggings!  I don't usually use the weird texting language of the current generation, but on this one they got it right....OMG!  If you don't know what that means, just ask someone under the age of 18 and you'll get a quick answer.

Jeggings are not new although they haven't been around long.  Most of you will think I'm talking about leggings, with an  "L".  I'm not.  Some nutso designer somewhere decided it would be cool to make jeans that look like leggings...and then creatively called them "J"eggings.  He and the guy that created the fanny pack are probably somewhere sharing the mansion and the cash together...lounging in jeggings with a fanny pack.

The original jeggings were pretty much strictly for women, which I really don't have a problem with.  A nice female bum is a thing of beauty and should be admired, especially when the jeggings show everything our wonderful God has given her!  I digress...

Then the nutso guy mentioned above decided that men should have equal footing, or legging, and designed the first pair of men's jeggings.  This, my friends, was a very sad, sad day.  It's not enough that I gotta deal with fanny packs, Sansabelt slacks, my son's flu, Egypt, Afghanistan and my gut that won't seem to shrink...now I gotta deal with this?  Wow!

Luckily I have not personally witnessed a men's pair.  But that day will come, probably sooner than later, and I will have to choke back my burger and fries just to move along my merry way.  I have however, been introduced to them via our funny friend Conan O'Brien when he spoofed them on his show.  Herewith, in case you missed it, are some shots from that monologue:

So now they're out there, in all their glory, and will probably become mainstream in some weird faddish kind of way.  Herewith are some other flaky examples:

So dear readers, do I even have to say this?  Do NOT, under any circumstances, purchase or don a pair of Men's jeggings.  Got it!  Good!  I'd really like to put this debate to rest.  And if I do catch someone on the street showcasing their junk in their jeggings, they must assume that a photo will be captured, pasted and then ridiculed within this blog.  So please be careful!



Feel the love...in A Love Story

With Valentine's day just past and since I'm feeling quite the romantic, I ran across this video from fellow blogger Unabashedly Prep and just thought I would share.  The photography, music and style blend together beautifully.  And the gentleman's evening jacket is fantastic!  I really love how the couple is having their own formal dinner party at home....an idea I shall have to give a try!

This is actually an advertisement for the new Spring 2011 men's and women's clothing line from GANT by Michael Bastian.  I wish more retailers would put this much effort into cool advertising mediums.  The music track is called Koop Islands by the Swedish band Koop.  I just purchased the CD and it's on the way!

Enjoy!

Vanity Fair Caricatures have arrived!

Having admired the Vanity Fair Caricatures owned and displayed by my fellow blogger ADG at Maxminimus, I decided that I needed to start a collection of my own.  I diligently scoured the pages on eBay and finally decided on 2 prints dating in the late 1870's that needed a home in Texas.  I paid roughly $28 plus shipping from Germany for each print, which I now know was overpayment by about $10.  After patiently waiting for their arrival for about 2 weeks from Germany, they finally showed up yesterday.  And, after removing the prints from their carefully packaged shipping box, I was very happy. They are very cool indeed and just what I hoped for as a start to my collection.  And yes, Jen thinks they are pretty cool also.

So here they are...along with a picture of Mrs. S's Valentine roses:

My prints are caricatures of the following:

Top:  Published November 1, 1879 - Montagu Stephen Williams (1835-1892), barrister, magistrate and author.

Bottom:  Published June 29, 1878 - George Sackville Frederick Lane Fox, JP for West Riding of Yorks, Vice-Chancellor of the Primrose League; born Boston Spa, Yks, 9 Nov 1838; educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford (M.A.);

Now some of you are asking, "What in the heck are Vanity Fair Caricatures?"  So I'll explain.

Vanity Fair was a British weekly magazine published from 1868 to 1914.  Subtitled "A Weekly Show of Political, Social and Literary Wares", it was founded by Thomas Gibson Bowles, who aimed to expose the contemporary vanities of Victorian society. The first issue appeared in London on November 7, 1868. It offered its readership articles on fashion, current events, the theatre, books, social events and the latest scandals, together with serial fiction, word games and other trivia.

A full-page, color lithograph of a contemporary celebrity or dignitary appeared in most issues, and it is for these caricatures that Vanity Fair is best known today. Subjects included artists, athletes, royalty, statesmen, scientists, authors, actors, soldiers, religious personalities, businesspeople and scholars. More than two thousand of these images appeared, and they are considered the chief cultural legacy of the magazine, forming a pictorial record of the period. They were produced by an international group of artists, including Max Beerbolm, Sir Leslie Ward (who signed his work "Spy"), the Italians Carlo Pellegrini ("Singe" and "Ape"), Melchiorre Delfico ("Delfico") and Liborio Prosperi ("Lib"), the French artist James Jacques Tissot (Coïdé), and the American Thomas Nast.

The caricatures that I purchased were created by Sir Leslie Ward, who drew 1,325 cartoons for Vanity Fair between 1873 and 1911.  Here is a photo and self-caricature of Ward.