No day in the park (city)

Acceptable travel attire.

Gucci: my endless love

Clients, courthouses and more snow

In the lobby, part ii.

In the lobby. waiting.

Alexander McQueen: legend.

For his brilliance and encouraging rebellion in the most stylish manner.

work + play +play + work

Italian zippers

The blue's blue (and a wrap)

Awaiting more snow and the gym

The colours of paul smith and monocle (for my brits)

Out for the afternoon on cobblestone streets

Under the influence: david bowie

Although ardent Ziggy Stardust followers experienced isolation with Bowie's exploration of the Gamble and Huff sounds from Philadelphia, plastic soul was my catalyst to all things Bowie. This Bowie emerged from the overtly glam rock era in stylish and fitting suits and crooning like Frank Sinatra backed by Luther Vandross.

Bowie's shock of red hair akin to my own crested his muted colors of suiting and shirting. A school-age accident resulting in his differently hued eyes served not as a malady but as his unique and celebrated feature. A performance on Soul Train portrayed Bowie as simultaneously coveting the street style of the Los Angeles youth of the audience while cheekily poking fun of himself as the "white limey." All of this while singing "Fame" and remaining nothing less than cool.

My introduction to The Thin White Duke precipitated my consumption of all things Bowie. His Ziggy Stardust obsessed with space and rock and roll; his Berlin that wandered lost in the soundscapes of new wave and the austere politics of the cold war; or his single-clad white suit that brought a reincarnation of soul to the sound of the materialist 1980s. Whatever his incarnation, Bowie is a critical influence and was pivotal in one of my style mantras: It is really not what you wear but how you wear it.

Sneaking away to see An Education

Iced in and working it out

Braving the ice to retrieve a package, part ii

Braving the ice to retrieve a package

Under the influence: a dandy little series

In my own custom of behaving, be it simultaneously calculated and glib, there reside myriad cultural influences and references. Akin to reading, subtleties are subject to the well-versed and curious. Is there something not wonderfully ironic and sublime about crossing your legs to reveal the haberdashery of a Paul Smith sock nestled in the light blue suede of a John Varvatos boat shoe? This is not Elvis' Americana non grata.

The crafting of my lifestyle, now a comfortable veneer, is a conjunction of many influences: cultural, natural, familial and popular. Coupled with my innate gruff and snarky outlook, this becomes the foundation of The Manly Dandy. Examining these influences is a task of affection and recognition, not a model for replication. This series investigates and celebrates these influences.

Although eager to reflect, I am equally, if not more intensely, curious about the influences of this community of readers. Again, not as a model for replication but as inspiration for personal integration and interpretation of style. As for me, I will continue to be stylish, Southern and quotidian.

It's in the bag: reusable shopper from Billy Reid

The shopper from Billy Reid has become a staple on trips to the grocery and newsstand. What's in the bag? Cereal, bananas, my water bottle, V magazine and the latest copy of Monocle. A snow-filled afternoon is both stylish and environmentally friendly.

Stopping for a coffee and errands on a snowy evening

Take a Wii break before a business meeting, part ii

Take a Wii break before a business meeting