I’m not sure about those cufflinks though…

There was someone on the tube this morning wearing a white shirt, white tie and black cardigan (yes, really). I’m still reeling. I might establish badly (or perhaps distastefully) dressed Friday or somesuch as a tribute.

True, but the fellow’s expression transcends any cuff-link failure.

White shirt and white tie, on the other hand, demands a tailcoat and not a black cardigan. Even so, it’d be an odd thing to wear on the tube first thing in the morning.

I conceded the first point…

This was more at the British Home Stores end of the market, and the wearer had delusions of elegance.

Delusions of Elegance would be a great name for a band. Or a blog…

He appears to be wearing a poloneck jumper with shirt cuffs and cufflinks. Really most bizarre. And I’ve never been a fan of the blazer as a garment.

But his glasses are tres chic.

Puss

Ah but Puss, helas, my own delusions of same mean anything I say is not only suspect but also of little interest so no blog, and I cannot sing so no band.

Is it only a blazer if it has brass buttons? I think the polo neck may actually be some sort of cravat affair but I may be wrong. Quite a feat (the outfit, I mean, not my own inevitable malfeasance).

On closer inspection, I’d say they’re weird clamps on his jumper. Tut - these Venezuelans, eh?

Ben, I have been remiss of late but you will be pleased to know that Baroque Mansions is once more (I hope) elegant today.

Your offering today is inspired, by the way.

Good to see EDW is back at Baroque Mansions, Ms B.

By the way, and I mean you in particular Mortdecai - all this talk about details like cufflinks, and not one of you noticed the very obvious error in this post’s title.

What - that he’s standing in front of her?

Do you think there’s a market for ‘weird jumper clamps’? I reckon if you stuck a few pairs in a Hoxton boutique they’d sell out in minutes.

@ Mortdecai : No, I think a blazer doesn’t have to have brass buttons - they stripey ones don’t as a rule. I think it’s more about the cut and the fabric, but my knowledge of such matters is both limited and rusty. Blazers always remind me of a certain type of chap who wants to appear to be a gentleman but who is usually anything but. A horrible generalisation but there you go. Blazer = bounder in my experience.

Puss

Yes, I think I’m with you, Puss, on blazers, but I’d also nominate certain tattersall check shirts for the same. The bigger and more vulgar the checks the more suspect the wearer. More controversially I think velvet collars on covert coats are also deeply recherche, but without I think the c.coat is a thing of beauty.

Ben - sorry - what is the error? Enlighten me. My attention to detail is as poor as ever.

Error - he’s not standing next to her, he’s sitting. Or propped up.

Blazers are okay for veterans - a sort of unofficial uniform for them. I don’t like them much, but I like the expression of the chap in the photo above. As I said, it transcends pretty much everything else.

Puss - weird jumper clamps. Weird jumper clamps…. hmm there’s the spark of something brilliant in that.

Weird jumper clamps sound like the sort of thing the Daily Mail might instigate a campaign against (probably suggesting they lower house prices nearby)…

Mmmm, covert coats. I’m a sucker for Keeper’s tweed.

I’m sure the jumper clamps would be popular among the trendier sections of the community, thus leading the Daily Mail to object on principle - it’s a short step from a fancy haircut to illict use of drugs/sex/Polish immigrants/garden gnomes y’know…

I like the idea your man is propped up - possibly explains the exression on his face and the gesture.

Puss