There is terrible weather in the East but here in California the day was warm and it was the last week for the good local tomatoes. Though it was the end of October we decided to observe one final summer day and so for an early dinner we chose a menu from the South of France for half a dozen guests. Antoine Bouterin's recipe for blanc de volaille pané aux herbs was the centerpiece served with tomatoes Provençal and diced sauteed potatoes. They were followed by greens with goat cheese and finished with mixed fruit and more cheeses.
I emulated Luciano Barbera by wearing Napolisumisura's cream linen jacket out of season. It was Mr. Barbera who said, "Everyone knows you wear wool in the winter, linen in the summer, and a straw hat from June 15th to Labor Day. Everyone is right. And therein lies the problem. Follow these rules and you will look like everyone else. Better that you display a little originality. On the gravest days of winter I put on my gray flannels, a cashmere tie in a sober color and my white linen jacket."
Gabardine trousers and a knitted silk necktie were not flannel and cashmere but they were a better match for the 75 degree (24 C) temperature. Afterwards the jacket went back into storage and I went back to wearing Harrison's mid-weight Moonbean.
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5 comments:
I think it's the opposite! Follow the rules in this instance and you'll look different to everyone else- so many people wear whatever they want without regard to the seasons that dressing seasonally looks unique.
Moonbeam? Were you entertaining the governor?
Dressing seasonally makes sense where there are seasons. But Will and I live in California where we jokingly say we have five: wet, dry, fire, flood and quake. And he's several hundred miles north of me. How seasonally can one dress where the local idea of a frigid winter day is above 40? And we only get about a month of those every year. In SoCal one may as well just buy summer weight suits and keep a plentiful supply of panama hats on stock. As the movie of my youth said, it's The Endless Summer.
A wonderful ensemble, as always. Do you ever let that jacket out in the evening for black tie duty?
Evenings with charcoal or dress trousers and a bow tie. Daytime with white gabardine trousers and a four in hand. Both are good.
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