Classic Style

  Y esterday, Saturday, was a bustling day here in the Grand Duchy.  In and around picking up the Christmas trees after breakfast and decorating them that evening, there is also a virtual stack of final student projects and independent capstone reflections to wade through.   Still quite a way to go with all of that before I can tally and submit final course grades along with the usual panicked emails AFTER the fact. Typically, these attemot to jockey for a grade change and offer 1001 reasons to explain why students oughtn't, didn't, couldn't, wouldn't, or shouldn't have to.  Sigh.  I really wonder what message so many parents have sent to their children during the last 30+ years or so.  But onto more pleasant things. Since the Grand Duchess leaves midday today for a few days with aging parents and sister in the Seattle area, we lit our third Advent candle during dinner yesterday evening.  The Young Master was again otherwise engaged (he's 16 now),...

  E njoyed (yes, really) my program's final meeting of the semester earlier today.  Coffee and pastries were part of the equation, both of which make any work function easier to sit through.  That said, there was some sharing of personal plans and laughter around the table during the first 35 minutes, so it was actually pleasant as far as these things go.  As usual, I was terribly overdressed, but it was an occasional after all.  Hey, anytime there is coffee, it's an occasion in my book. Final course grades are due next Tuesday afternoon. Although grades have yet to be entered into the learning management system for Collaborative Project #3 and the Independent Course Capstone Project (the latter due by 11:59pm tonight), the whiny, entitled emails have already been coming in for a few days as students try to relitigate previous grades from weeks ago.  I guess grades, in their minds, are like a plate of overcooked pasta at The Olive Garden.  If you don't...

  C ontinued snow and cold here in the Grand Duchy as I wade through final student team projects and related semester independent capstone reflections plus a few last minute grade-grubbing situations that require much more time and mental effort than they are worth.   If students simply kept up with course requirements/expectations, there would be no problem at the very end of the semester during which they try to backtrack with all manner of claims and excuses.  The part of my job I like the least. In more interesting sartorial matters, here's the attire for yesterday.  The red corduroy jeans were a winter clearance item three of even four years ago from Land's End, and less than US$20.  I really like 'em and enjoy unpacking them each fall after five or six months of storage in one of the off-season plastic tubs beneath our bed.  Fun old friends by this point, and they're in regular at home attire rotation between mid-October and late April each year....

  C old and snowy outside, and after yesterday's ski tour it's back to the salt mines this morning starting to review and determine grades for the third student learning team projects. Clearing the path, you understand, ahead of 100+ independent capstone reflections at the end of the week. But before settling down to some genuine work, how about a dash of avoidance?  Hence the quick photos of today's at-home attire.  One needn't resemble a basket of soiled laundry you know.  Even at a busy time of year. -- Heinz-Ulrich

S hortly before the Grand Duchess and I sat down to dinner yesterday evening.  The Young Master was otherwise engaged.  Should have crumbed his place before snapping this photograph however.  A meal of wonderful roasted vegetables (olive oil and Rosemary) with fresh banana bread and coffee for dessert.   Back to work today (Monday) wading through a digital stack of final student team projects ahead of their independent 'capstone' semester reflections on Friday.  And in the meantime, a week not entirely free of the usual last minute drama from a few students who sat on their hands throughout most of the 15-week term until the last 10 days or so.   The 5 to10% of my job that I could do without.  Sigh. -- Heinz-Ulrich

    F inally managed to get out for about 90 minutes midday for the first jaunt on my classic skis at a nearby park that has actually rolled trails for skate technique.  Not quite enough snow yet for classic tracks, but that didn't stop many of us from taking a tour through the Mid-Michigan woods.  Quite a few other skiers out early this afternoon.   I was a bit wobbly for about the first 10 minutes,but I found my balance and stride and did pretty well for the first outing this season.  Some nice glide and no wipeouts.  Even managed a few tricky downhills.  Yes!!! Besides yoga and meditation with the Grand Duchess, there is nothing that makes me feel as happy and at peace as cross-country skiing.  Except a ski tour with her.  It was not so today, but plenty of couple skiing is on the way over the next few months.  For the present, however, amazing early season conditions for local skiing 10 minutes from home.. -- Heinz-Ulrich

W hile I've sung many of these familiar tunes in English, Norwegian, and Swedish at different times in various choirs myself, nothing gives me the same chill -- and even brings tears to my eyes (I'm a sentimental sap, at heart) -- as their German language versions.  If you're seeking more traditional music for the Advent and Christmas seasons, I also recommend these CD's (or their streaming or MP3 versions): Christmas in Vienna -- Vienna Boys Choir (Philips, 1991) German Christmas Music: Kammerorchester; Carl Philipp Emmanuel Bach; Hartmut Haenchen, Conductor (Sony Music Special Products, 1993) Weihnachten: A German Christmas (Seattle Pro Musica, 2002) Delightful, quiet, and contemplative seasonal music.  Perfect for solo listening, family dinners, holiday gatherings, Christmas Day, or Christmas Week.  A welcome departure from the overplayed Bings, Britneys, Mariahs, and hippopotami  that otherwise clog the airwaves at this time of year. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  W ith lots of fresh snow all over the place following our first major winter storm of the season, tweed, corduroys, oxford cloth, and other assorted woolen items seemed like the way to go this morning.  Merry and bright as they say. -- Heinz-Ulrich

    M y sole concession to Christmastime kitsch, a miniature version of the infamous leg lamp from the 1983 film A Christmas Story , based on the short stories in humorist Jean Shepherd's In God We Trust.  All Others Pay Cash (1966).  My lamp occupies a place of honor (?) on my desk for but one month each year before it is carefully stored away once again after January 1st.  Hey, we've got to keep up appearances, you know. -- Heinz-Ulrich 

    T hanksgiving Weekend 2025 has ended nicely with our first appreciable winter storm of the season during last night, yielding about five to six inches of snow.  That came after I hung the icicle lights along the front porch eaves and set out a few other seasonal items inside to lend a festive air to the house yesterday afternoon.  Just back from seeing the Vienna Boys' Choir here in East Lansing with the Grand Duchess late this afternoon.  Beautiful as long as they stuck to traditional carols.  A warming dinner of soup with crispy, crunchy Italian bread followed with fresh, strong black coffee afterward accompanies by a few pieces of chocolate.   My final classes of the semester meet tomorrow. Hopefully, everyone will finish and turn in their final projects without any last minute drama or desperate emails after final course grades have been submitted just before Christmas.  Time will tell. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  A n easy, relaxed day around the house today after a busy but very pleasant Thanksgiving Day.  Best of all, two of our favorite Nordic ski centers in Northern Michigan have already had appreciable snowfall and opened for the 2025-2026 ski season!  It's extremely tempting to head up for some early season solo skiing next weekend even in light of the usual end-of-semester business.  Must keep an eye on the weather forecast and grooming conditions for the next several days.  Decisions, decisions! -- Heinz-Ulrich

T he Young Master at the table before Thanksgiving dinner was served yesterday afternoon.  This was about the only photograph I could manage to snap without him pulling some kind of goonish face, so I was unable to get a full-length shot of him in his new suit just back from the tailor.  Not quite what I would have suggested for a first suit, but it was given to him by a family friend, and Paul actually likes wearing it, so we'll leave it at that.  But the three-piece model and peaked lapels are nice touches. My own attire was slightly less dressy, but still pulled together and appropriate to the occasion.  Even managed to nail the temperamental wool bow tie on the first attempt, which is always a pleasant surprise.  I find bow ties are ideal for food holidays.  When one is serving and enjoying special meals, as well as clearing the table and loading the dishwasher afterward, you don't have to worry quite as much as with a long necktie. As my late and much ...

  H appy Thanksgiving 2025 to Classic Style visitors wherever in the world you might find yourselves.  Whether you observe in the sanity and sanctity of your own home, or join others as a guest, be gracious, present yourself well, and set an example for others in your conduct. Keep the faith. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  A lthough many students typically decamp for home the weekend before our Thanksgiving holiday here in the U.S., classes are still in session for a couple of days early in the week.  And while I have cancelled my own classes in the past, I decided to run them this year since I currently teach hybrid courses, and we meet just once per week.   Yesterday (Monday), seven of the little darlings showed up the the 8am class and 10 at 9:10. I decided beforehand to run a workshop session for students to work on their remaining projects while I answered questions and provided assignment clarification as and when needed.  An easy day as teaching goes. The attire highlighted above also featured a matching chocolate suede belt and dark green Merino wool socks with many small flying pheasants on them.  The jacket has not appeared in quite some time, possibly two years, so it was time to trot it out.   I typically enjoy combining a lot of browns, tans, and gree...

A few minutes between classes this morning, so I snapped  pictures of today's attire and accessories.  The first wearing this season of the Optimo 'Dearborn' fedora, and the tie is a vintage number from Orvis, a nod to my late father's fly-fishing and fly-tying hobbies.  It's been two or three years since this particular necktie's last appearance, so high time to pull it out and knot it carefully around the ol' neck.  Managed to nail it on the first attempt too.  Could this be the start of a trend? -- Heinz-Ulrich

  Y esterday, a colleague and I facilitated a workshop on how the various professors in our program can (re: "need to") remediate their online course materials to meet the new accessibility requirements that go into effect on January 01, 2026 at our institution.  Lots of work to do in a relatively short amount of time to ensure any visually or hearing impaired students -- or those with an invisible learning disability -- have full access to the materials in the the learning management system (LMS) we use here.   Or, at the very least, as the educational technology guy we brought in to lead the workshop told us, start with the syllabus if nothing else. In any case, it was an excuse to get dolled up for the few hours spent on campus, and here's what I put together for public consumption.  All built around the typical tweed jacket (Harris in this instance), corduroy dress pants, and penny loafers. As I have no doubt mentioned many times before, when you have the ri...

P rematurely cold with intermittent snow here in Mid-Michigan the last several days.  Ideal weather for variations on the tween, cords, and assorted seasonal items.  Here is today's version thereof.  A long tweed overcoat, houndstooth cap, and long woolen 'school boy' scarf completed the ensemble.  Probably less Laurence Fellows and more Dr. Who if we're brutally honest, but I felt good.   By the way, the rose J. Press cords above were a gift last Christmas from  the Grand Duchess, so it was fun to get 'em out of storage and put 'em on once again.  They seem to pair well with this particular jacket, also J. Press from a thrift/charity shop find many years ago now in, of all places, Bloomington, Illinois.  Out old stomping grounds before we decamped for Michigan in 2015. -- Heinz-Ulrich Heinz-Ulrich

  A not displeasing sartorial array for the Monday of Week 13 (of the Fall 2025 term), but the uppermost photograph does illustrate why one should give their jacket, coat, or blazer a good going over with the clothes brush after a summer in the cedar closet.  The blazer seems to have attracted every piece of fuzz, dust, and lint in the house.  My haste to dress and leave post-shower and shave this morning meant that I neglected this important detail.  Sadly since the combination of items today otherwise works well.  I could almost be an extra in a village scene on any season of Midsomer Murders .  Badger's Drift anyone? -- Heinz-Ulrich

  Y ou know, it's not all suits, sports jackets, and bow ties here at Classic Style .  Nope.  Sometimes, you've gotta buckle down, and power through a virtual stack of middle-of-the-road collaborative student projects waiting in their online submission folders.   And since the weather now has a decidedly cool edge to it, what better way to do that than dressed in corduroy jeans with a canvas ribbon belt, flannel shirt, and suede camp moccasins? Just one more variation of my typical at home attire for fall, winter, and early spring.   Not to get too Dickensian about it, but even when at home with the door closed and the figurative curtains drawn, there's no reason to appear like a street urchin.  -- Heinz-Ulrich

  D ecided yo go with something a bit more casual this morning and opted for houndstooth, cords, and Argyle.  Not a bad look overall if I might be so bold. As I quipped to a student about 20 years ago, "If you aren't interested in what I have to say, you can at least get a kick out of looking at me."  In any case, a comfortable combination of items for a chilly November morning. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  I f you're a fan of old films noir from the 1940s and 50s, you'll get the reference.  I couldn't help but think of that as I perused these photos shot very early this morning while I waited on my first mug of coffee at a cafe ner campus that I like thanks to their large tables, usual choice of music, and low key (ahem) aesthetic early in the morning. IN any case, we've now had a couple of heavy frosts, and the mornings have a decided nip about them.  Time to reintroduce a few more seasonally appropriate items.  This time, of the favorite tweed, cords, and suede variety.  Not visible is the houndstooth tweed cap atop my noggin that appeared for the first time since last April.  A gift from the Grand Duchess a few Christmases back, it worls very well with a less formal ensemble like today's -- Heinz-Ulrich

  F inally chilly enough for the return of one of my favorite seasonal suits, a vintage Polo wool flannel three-piece number that I stumbled onto quite a few years ago now in a thrift/charity shop in our old stomping grounds of Central Illinois.  No tags, but it had been worn only once if at all and was in my size (40R) although it has had a few minor alterations since then.   Worn here with a necktie from J. Press, shirt from Mercer & Sons, and shoes from Allen Edmonds.  Not visible are the vintage silk Polo braces (small navy, crimson, and silver paisleys) that I usually wear with this particular suit.  Toasty warm and extremely comfortable, yet "pulled together" as my maternal grandmother used to term looking presentable. -- Heinz-Ulrich